Set in the glam rock scene of the early '70s, 'Velvet Goldmine' is a film that tells the story of a fictional singer named Brian Slade, a character largely inspired by David Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust period. Directed by Todd Haynes, the movie looks and sounds as extravagant and explosive as the era it was based on.

Starring a cast of young actors including Christian Bale and Ewan McGregor, 'Velvet Goldmine' also featured a to-die-for soundtrack including glam classics from the likes of Roxy Music and Lou Reed, plus a mix of covers and originals courtesy of Pulp, Teenage Fanclub, and many other contemporary artists. Although the film wasn't a big box office hit, 'Velvet Goldmine' has gone on to become a cult classic since its 1999 DVD release. Diffuser.fm has a special place in its heart for the movie, so we've decided to take a look at the cast of 'Velvet Goldmine' to see where they are today.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Brian Slade

YouTube/Ben Pruchnie, Getty Images
YouTube/Ben Pruchnie, Getty Images
loading...

Then: The Irish actor played Brian Slade, a glam rock god that disappears from view after a publicity stunt sours the public to him.

Now: Meyers has built up quite the impressive resume, which includes a Golden Globe for Best Actor award for his portrayal of the King of Rock in the biographical miniseries 'Elvis.' After a successful four season starring run on Showtime's 'The Tudors,' the actor is playing the titular character on NBC's 'Dracula.'

Christian Bale, Arthur Stuart

YouTube/Rob Kim, Getty Images
YouTube/Rob Kim, Getty Images
loading...

Then: Bale played a British journalist tasked with covering the Slade mystery.

Now: Since getting his first big break in Steven Spielberg's 'Empire of the Sun' in 1987, the 39-year-old actor has built an impressive career and been red hot in the past few years. Bale not only ushered in a new era of comic book hero films with his critically acclaimed three-film turn playing Batman; he also won an Oscar, Golden Globe and Screen Actor's Guild Award for his portrayal of Dicky Eklund in 'The Fighter.' The English star has also garnered rave reviews for his tour de force performance playing scam artist Irving Rosenfeld in 'American Hustle.'

Ewan McGregor, Curt Wild

YouTube/Chelsea Lauren, Getty Images
YouTube/Chelsea Lauren, Getty Images
loading...

Then: The 'Trainspotting' star played Curt Wild, a former collaborator and love interest of Slade.

Now: McGregor is living the dream, appearing in box office hits such as ‘Black Hawk Down,’ ‘Moulin Rouge!' and the ‘Star Wars‘ prequel trilogy. The actor is also doing his part to make the world a better place by spending time as a UNICEF Ambassador.

Toni Collette, Mandy Slade

YouTube/Slavin Vlasic, Getty Images
YouTube/Slavin Vlasic, Getty Images
loading...

Then: Collette played Mandy, Slade's former wife.

Now: Currently a cast member of the CBS series 'Hostages,' Collette won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe in 2010 for her work on the Showtime drama 'United States of Tara.'

Eddie Izzard, Jerry Devine

YouTube/Anthony Harvey, Getty Images
YouTube/Anthony Harvey, Getty Images
loading...

Then: The English comedian played Jerry Devine, Slade's manager.

Now: Izzard won an Emmy in 2000 for his comedy special 'Dress to Kill' and has also kept the acting roles coming. In addition to appearing in films like 'Valkyrie' and 'Ocean's 12,' Izzard has proved to be a talent behind the mic, lending his voice to the animated films 'Cars 2' and 'The Wild,' among others.

Brian Molko, Malcolm

YouTube/Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images
YouTube/Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images
loading...

Then: Lead singer and guitarist of British trio Placebo, Molko played a member of the Flaming Creatures, a fictional band in the film. Molko's two bandmates -- bassist Stefan Osdal and drummer Steven Hewitt -- also appeared as musicians in the film.

Now: Hewitt left Placebo in 2007 after nine years with the band, but the trio marched on and hired drummer Steve Forrest. 'Loud Like Love,' the group's seventh studio album, was released in September of 2013.

Todd Haynes, 'Velvet Goldmine' director

Miramax/Slaven Vlasic, Getty Images
Miramax/Slaven Vlasic, Getty Images
loading...

Then: Hot in the indie film circuit for his 1995 drama '[Safe],' Haynes modeled the narrative structure of 'Velvet Goldmine' after Orson Welle's 1941 cinematic opus, 'Citizen Kane.'

Then: Haynes followed up 'Velvet Goldmine' with 'Far from Heaven,' a drama that earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay. In 2011, the director's 'Mildred Pierce' miniseries for HBO was a success with critics and scored various nominations during awards season that year in a slew of categories.

More From Diffuser.fm