The success of 1996 film Trainspotting helped launch the careers of its cast with barely any other Scottish film celebrated like it two decades on.

People think it's all about misery and desperation and death - and in this case they may be quite right. But that hasn't stopped Scots reminiscing about the Danny Boyle film which was released exactly 20 years ago on Tuesday.

The twists and turns experienced by Mark "Rent Boy" Renton along with Spud, Sick Boy, Franco, Tommy and Diane continue to entertain audiences with a sequel based on Irvine Welsh's follow-up novel, Porno, being lined up for release next year.

A lot has changed in 20 years, in Scotland especially, but even more so in the actors themselves. Here we take a look at each of the main cast members in a movie which in 2004 was voted "the best Scottish film of all time".

"It seems, however, I really am the luckiest guy in the world."

He's the narrator of the piece with some of the most quotable lines of the film. And he also dives down "the worst toilet in Scotland" very early on in proceedings.

It was only McGregor's fourth film role after initially earning recognition in Boyle's directorial debut Shallow Grave. Only three years later the Scottish star would find himself wielding a lightsabre in the first of three new Star Wars films as fan favourite Obi Wan Kenobi.

Interspersed between a galaxy far, far away were roles in the romantic musical Moulin Rouge and war epic Black Hawk Down. Later roles came in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and The Impossible, as well as taking on a personal mission in television show Long Way Round where he got to express his love of motorcycles.

Two Golden Globe nominations and an OBE later, McGregor readies himself to return to the role of Renton as well as playing Lumiere in a live-action version of Beauty and the Beast in 2017.

"It's like, my pleasure in other people's leisure."

The Edinburgh-born actor took on the role of the group's somewhat simplest member. But with the naivety came the loyalty which was reciprocated by those who lay joke after joke upon the kleptomaniac.

Trainspotting was Bremner's first major role after starring in only six other television productions beforehand including a one-off appearance in another Scottish staple: Taggart.

Despite winning Empire's Best Newcomer award for the role in the 1996 film he had actually played the role of Rent Boy in a stage production of the novel the previous year.

Bremner also had minor roles in Pearl Harbour, as Red Winkle, and Black Hawk Down alongside his previous co-star McGregor.

He would again go on to co-star with McGregor in 2013's Jack the Giant Slayer, based on the beanstalk fairytale of the similar name, and is among the cast for the new Wonder Woman film being released in 2017.

"It's certainly a phenomenon in all walks of life."

Miller might be from London but it did not stop him taking the rough with the smooth in his portrayal of the womanising con artist who also struggles following the death of his young daughter.

He began acting around the age of nine with an uncredited role in a Doctor Who episode and numerous television roles. But Trainspotting was Miller's second major movie role, coming a year after he starred in crime thriller Hackers with future wife Angelina Jolie.

Miller was nominated for a Bafta and London Film Critics Circle Award in 2006 in his portrayal of another Scottish figure, cyclist Graeme Obree in The Flying Scotsman.

In 2011 he and Benedict Cumberbatch performed in Frankenstein at the Royal National Theatre with both actors alternating in their roles of the titular doctor as well as the monstrous creation that comes to live. The production won both actors a joint Laurence Olivier Award.

The following year Miller went on to again follow in the footsteps of his co-star by signing up to the role of Sherlock Holmes, however in American reimagining Elementary.

"Begbie didn't do drugs either. He just did people."

If you watch Trainspotting and do not find yourself quoting Renton, you are more than likely to be quoting Begbie. He is the hard man of the collective cast who may not be particularly fond of him but find themselves with his support and loyalty.

Carlyle had already made himself a household name in BBC Scotlands's Hamish Macbeth police series but further earned recognition in 1997's The Full Monty which won over critics and earned the Scot numerous awards including a Bafta.

A villainous streak continued in his later work with a role in James Bond film The World is not Enough and as Adolf Hitler in a Canadian TV miniseries Hitler: The Rise of Evil. Carlyle further flirted with Hollywood by starring in The Beach with Leonardo di Caprio and in The 51st State with Samuel L Jackson.

More recently though the 54-year-old has done more television work with roles in 24: Redemption, Stargate Universe and fairytale series Once Upon a Time. Despite this he still made time for his directorial debut The Legend of Barney Thomson.

As well as appearing in the Trainspotting sequel Porno, Irvine Welsh wrote a Begbie special in The Big Issue which later turned into a full novel which is due to be released in April.

"Well, what's wrong boy - cat got your tongue?"

Danny Boyle wanted an unknown actress and he got it in 19-year-old Macdonald who would portray the underage schoolgirl that became a big part of Renton's life.

Trainspotting would go on to be a big part of the actress's life having been nominated as Best Film Actress by Bafta Scotland. More awards followed in her next big movie Gosford Park which was released five years later.

The big awards came a decade after the Trainspotting release with her performance in The Girl in the Cafe earning her a Primetime Emmy Award as well as a Golden Globe nomination. More nominations came after her turn in No Country for Old Men and, like Carlyle, she made the move to American television by appearing in every episode of Boardwalk Empire.

Macdonald also made a cameo in the final Harry Potter film and voiced the main character of Disney's Brave which was set in medieval Scotland.

Kevin McKidd - We should really have him billed higher up, we know that. He has appeared in nearly 200 episodes of Grey's Anatomy. But his character Tommy MacKenzie in Trainspotting died (spoilers) after going from being a clean athlete to fellow heroin user. So there is little chance of him appearing in the sequel. McKidd too provided a voice in Brave in 2012.

Peter Mullan - He played drug dealer Mother Superior from the mean streets of Edinburgh. The actor and director fought in Braveheart, Children of Men, Harry Potter and War Horse but showed a lighter side in the movie version of Proclaimers-themed musical Sunshine on Leith. Recently he starred alongside Dwayne Jonhon in Hercules and in Aberdeenshire-set Sunset Song. Next year his voice will be behind the character of Akela in Jungle Book: Origins.

James Cosmo - A veteran of screen both big and small who played the father of Mark Renton. He also appeared in Braveheart along with Highlander, Troy and 2004's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. After appearing in 12 episodes of Game of Thrones he will next be seen in remakes of Whisky Galore and Ben-Hur.

Shirley Henderson - The Moray actress played Spud's unfortunate girlfriend and made her name in Hamish MacBeth alongside Robert Carlyle. She also had roles in Bridget Jones's Diary, The Way We Live Now and two Harry Potter films.

Keith Allen - The father of singer Lily and actor Alfie played the same role in 1994's Shallow Grave and Trainspotting, a deliberate decision by both Boyle and Welsh. Allen also appeared as the Sheriff of Nottingham in BBC's adaptation of Robin Hood.