British Women Theater Personalities

Alice Eve is best known as Molly McCleish from She's Out of My League and as Sophia from the series Entourage. She has also been seen in the series Black Mirror and The Raven. Due to a rare condition, her right eye is green and her left eye is blue.

Anna Friel is a British actress who gained international recognition after portraying Charlotte "Chuck" Charles on the popular American fantasy mystery TV series Pushing Daisies. After starting her professional acting career at the age of 13, Friel went on to establish herself as a successful adult actress. Friel also serves as an ambassador for The World Wide Fund for Nature.

British actress and narrator Indira Varma became a sensation with her debut film, Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love. An alumnus of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, she is a trained method actress. Besides films and TV shows, she has acted in many theater productions and is the winner of an Olivier Award.

Emily Mortimer is an English-American screenwriter and actress. Mortimer, who started her acting career in stage productions, went on to establish herself as a bankable actress in the British film and TV industry. In 2010, she became an American citizen and has since been playing important roles in American films.

Brenda Blethyn is best known for her Golden Globe- and BAFTA-winning role in Secrets & Lies. She was also appreciated for her performances in the films Little Voice and Saving Grace, and the mini-series Anne Frank: The Whole Story. She has also performed on stage in Manchester. 

Deborah Kerr was a Scottish actress who holds the record for having the most Academy Award nominations under the Best Actress category without a win. However, she received an Academy Honorary Award in 1994 for her contribution to the entertainment industry. Deborah Kerr was made a CBE in 1998 and also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Natalia Tena is an English actress and musician,  best known for playing Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter film series. She was interested in the performing arts since childhood. She began her career as a street musician, working as a busker on the London Underground. She then joined a theater group and soon branched out into acting.

Penelope Wilton is an English actress known for her work in theatre, film, and TV. The winner of several prestigious awards, such as the Olivier Award, Penelope Wilton was appointed an OBE for services to drama in the 2004 New Year Honours. In the 2016 Birthday Honours, she was elevated to become a DBE.

Sophie Thompson is a British actress known for her portrayal of the Baker's Wife in the London revival of Into the Woods, for which she received the Olivier Award under the Best Actress in a Musical category. She has received six other nominations at the Olivier Awards. Also a writer, Thompson has authored a recipe book and a children's book.

Gemma Jones is an English actress best known for playing Madam Poppy Pomfrey in the popular Harry Potter film series. A talented actress, Jones won the prestigious British Academy Television Award for playing Mary in the critically acclaimed television film, Marvellous.

Rosemary Harris is an English actress known for playing Aunt May in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man film series. The winner of several awards, including a Golden Globe Award and Tony Award, Harris was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1986. In 1994, she received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in the 1994 film Tom & Viv.

Saskia Reeves is an English actress known for playing important roles in films like Close My Eyes and I.D. She has also contributed to the success of TV movies, such as The Perfect Match and A Christmas Carol. Over the years, Saskia Reeves has also contributed as a voice artist, lending her voice for book readings, narration, and commercials.

Miranda Raison gained fame playing Jo Portman in the series Spooks and Abbey in Married Single Other. She has also portrayed Anne Boleyn in Howard Brenton’s play of the same name and in Henry VIII. Raison has also voiced Millie in King of the Railway and Thomas & Friends.

Ruta Gedmintas is a British actress best known for playing Kirsten Velders in the American horror drama TV series, The Strain. Before establishing herself as an actress, Gedmintas studied acting under Reuven Adiv at the Drama Centre London.  Although Gedmintas predominantly works in TV, she has played supporting roles in films like You Instead and A Street Cat Named Bob.

Actor and novelist Jill Gascoine is best remembered for her role as Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes in the series The Gentle Touch and its spin-off, C.A.T.S. Eyes. She wrote three novels and also appeared in films such as King of the Wind. She was also a kidney cancer survivor.

Luise Rainer, the first actor to win consecutive Academy Awards, had decided to make a career as an actor after watching a circus performance at age 6. A prominent stage actor in Germany, she secured an MGM movie deal and move to the U.S. during the Nazi regime.