Polly Walker
{{short description|English actress (born 1966)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Polly Walker
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Polly Alexandra Walker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|5|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Warrington, Lancashire, England
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1988–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Laurence Penry-Jones|23 October 2008}}
| children = 2
| relatives = Rupert Penry-Jones (brother-in-law)
}}
Polly Alexandra Walker (born 19 May 1966) is an English actress.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/people/polly_walker_person_page.shtml| title = BBC – Drama – People Index: Polly Walker| work=bbc.co.uk| year = 2007| access-date = 9 February 2013}} She has starred in the films Enchanted April (1991), Patriot Games (1992), Sliver (1993), Restoration (1995), The Gambler (1997), and Savage Messiah (2002). In 2006, she received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role in the drama series Rome (2005–2007). She is also known for her roles in BBC One dramas Prisoners’ Wives (2012–2013), Line of Duty (2016, 2019) and Netflix's Bridgerton (2020-present).
Early life
Walker was born in Warrington, Lancashire. She attended PadgateChurch of England Primary School in Warrington, and Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts in East Grinstead until joining Twickenham's Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance at age 16.{{Cite web |title=Polly Walker: 'My greatest achievement? Continuing to work in this business in my fifties' |url= https://www.ft.com/content/9e599b40-ad1b-42a5-b749-654498db3df2 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.ft.com}} She had to abandon dancing after a leg injury at the age of 18, deciding to focus on acting.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-31 |title=Who Is Polly Walker? The 'Age Before Beauty' Star Might Look Familiar |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/who-is-polly-walker-the-age-before-beauty-star-might-look-familiar-9943035 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Bustle |language=en}}
She attended Drama Centre London, before working at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Career
= Film and television =
Walker landed the title role in the television series Lorna Doone (1990), before making her feature debut in Journey of Honor (1991). In that same year she appeared in Les Equilibristes and in Mike Newell's Enchanted April, in which she played an aristocrat eager to escape the attentions of her persistent male admirers.{{Cite web |title=Enchanted April - Official Site - Miramax |url= https://www.miramax.com/movie/enchanted-april |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.miramax.com |language=en}} Walker first gained international attention in 1992 as a single-minded English member of an Irish terrorist group in Phillip Noyce's Patriot Games.{{Cite web|title= Polly Walker Credits |url= https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/polly-walker/credits/3030389172/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=tvguide.com}}
She appeared in Douglas McGrath's 1996 adaption of Jane Austen's Emma, as Jane Fairfax, the titular character's rival.{{Cite web |title=Bridgerton's Polly Walker Talks Season 2 and the Hilarious Behind-the-Scenes 'Disaster' Moment |url=https://people.com/tv/bridgerton-polly-walker-talks-season-2-behind-the-scenes-moments/ |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}
In 2003 she had a starring role in the BBC drama series State of Play.{{Cite web |last=Cremona |first=Patrick |date=31 August 2021 |title=State of Play writer Paul Abbott confirms he's writing a sequel to the acclaimed 2003 drama |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/state-of-play-paul-abbott-sequel-newsupdate/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}
Between 2005 and 2007, Walker played Atia of the Julii in both seasons of the HBO–BBC2 television series Rome. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination in 2006 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama.{{cite web |url= http://www.hbo.com/rome/news/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20051217174922/http://www.hbo.com/rome/news/ |archive-date=17 December 2005 |title=Rome News: Rome receives Golden Globe Nominations |website=HBO.com |date=13 December 2005 |access-date=10 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/13/golden.globes/ |title=Brokeback Mountain leads Golden Globe nominations |website=CNN.com |date=15 December 2005 |access-date=10 July 2014}}
She next played the sinister Catherine Braithwaite in "Deus Ex Machina", a two-episode story of the BBC television "cold case" crime series Waking the Dead (2007). In May 2007, she appeared as Lady Bess Sedgwick in ITV's Marple: At Bertram's Hotel,{{Cite web |title="AT BERTRAM'S HOTEL" (2007) Review |url= https://brtmh.livejournal.com/189929.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=brtmh.livejournal.com |language=en-us}} and then played sugar heiress Ellis Samuels in the CBS television drama Cane (2007).{{Cite web |last=Wyatt |first=Edward |title=New 'Cane' serves up hot rum, family intrigue |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/north/2007/09/24/new-cane-serves-up-hot/52788212007/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=The Worcester Telegram & Gazette |language=en-US}}
In May 2008, Walker was cast as Sister Clarice Willow, headmistress of a private religious school, in Syfy's Battlestar Galactica prequel series Caprica.{{Cite web |date=2010-10-05 |title='Caprica' looks for more action; Polly Walker's Sister Clarice codes a 'digital Heaven' |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/show-tracker/story/2010-10-05/caprica-looks-for-more-action-polly-walkers-sister-clarice-codes-a-digital-heaven |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} She appeared in Louis Leterrier's 2010 action fantasy remake, Clash of the Titans as Cassiopeia.{{Cite web |date=2010-03-31 |title='Clash of the Titans' |url=https://www.today.com/slideshow/clash-titans-36020492 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}}
In 2011 she guest starred as Ranna Seneschal, leader of the underground city of Praxis, on the Canadian sci-fy fantasy show Sanctuary.
Walker starred in BBC's crime drama Prisoners' Wives as crime wife Francesca Miller from 2012 to 2013.{{Cite news |last=Raeside |first=Julia |date=2012-02-16 |title=Have you been watching … Prisoners' Wives? |url= https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/feb/16/have-you-been-watching-prisoners-wives |access-date=2024-03-01 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} She went on to appear in Andrew Staunton's 2012 science fiction action-adventure film John Carter as Sarkoja, a merciless Thark.{{Cite web |last=Weintraub |first=Steve |date=2012-03-05 |title=Director Andrew Stanton Talks JOHN CARTER |url=https://collider.com/andrew-stanton-john-carter-reshoots-interview/ |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Collider |language=en}}
In 2014, she had a recurring role as the character Delphine Day in the ITV series Mr Selfridge.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-02 |title=Mr Selfridge: Along came Polly |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/mr-selfridge-along-came-polly/45RK5HKTIRDPCTPEBFZADSXVUQ/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
In 2018, Walker starred as Bel, the leading character in Age Before Beauty. From 2019 to 2022, she portrayed dominatrix Margaret "Peggy" Skyes in the action crime drama show Pennyworth.{{Cite web |last=Elvy |first=Craig |date=2018-12-04 |title=Epix's Pennyworth DC Show Casts Polly Walker |url= https://screenrant.com/pennyworth-tv-show-polly-walker-cast/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}
In 2020, she appeared as Lady Lunete, the Queen Regent and mother to Uther Pendragon, a recurring character for 5 episodes in the Netflix series, Cursed. Since December 2020, Walker has starred in the Netflix series Bridgerton as Portia, Lady Featherington. She earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination in 2021 with the series cast for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.{{Cite web |last=Ivie |first=Devon |date=2022-04-09 |title=Polly Walker Won't Let Lady Featherington Become Bridgerton's 'Old Fool' |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/04/polly-walker-on-bridgerton-season-2-and-lady-featherington.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Vulture |language=en}}
Personal life
On 23 October 2008, Walker married the former actor Laurence Penry-Jones (brother of Rupert Penry-Jones) with whom she lived in the United States for several years. In 2015, they returned to London.Katherine Hassell: [https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/713759/Actress-Polly-Walker-ITV-Paranoid Paranoid's Polly Walker: I like playing a troublemaker]. Express, 25 September 2016
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="3" | 1991
| Journey of Honour | Cecilia | Original title: "Kabuto", also known as "Shogun Mayeda" |
| Ao Fim da Noite
| | |
| Walking a Tightrope
| Hélène Lagache | |
| rowspan="2" |1992
| Caroline Dester | |
| Patriot Games
| Annette | |
| rowspan="2" | 1993
| {{sortname|The|Trial|The Trial (1993 film)}} | Leni | |
| Sliver
| Vida Warren | |
| 1995
| Celia Clemence | |
| 1996
| Emma | |
| rowspan="4" | 1997
| Cecilia | |
| Robinson Crusoe
| Mary McGregor | |
| {{sortname|The|Gambler|The Gambler (1997 film)}}
| Polina | |
| Bastard
| Mara | |
| rowspan="3" | 1998
| Julia | |
| Talk of Angels
| Mary Lavelle | |
| Dark Harbor
| Alexis Chandler Weinberg | |
| 1999
| 8½ Women | Palmira | |
| 2000
| Dr. Vera Swann | |
| rowspan="2" | 2002
| D-Tox | Jenny Munroe | |
| Savage Messiah
| Paula Jackson | |
| 2004
| Control | Barbara Copeland | |
| 2006
| Esther | |
| 2010
| |
| 2012
| Sarkoja | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 1989
| Storyboard | Margaret Niner | Episode: "Hunted Down" |
| Rules of Engagement
| Fiona | mini-series, 2 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 1990
| Nick Buckley | Episode: "Peril at End House" |
| Screen Two
| Nadja | Episode: "The Kremlin, Farewell" |
| Lorna Doone
|Lorna Doone | rowspan="5" |TV film |
| rowspan="2" |1992
|A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia |Mme. Dumont |
| The Secret World of Spying
|Annette |
| 1997
|The Woodlanders |Mrs. Charmond |
| 2002
|Mrs. Archer |
| rowspan="2" | 2003
| {{sortname|The|Mayor of Casterbridge}} | Lucetta Templeman | |
| State of Play
| Anne Collins | 6 episodes |
| 2005–2007
| Rome | 22 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 2007
| Catherine Braithwaite | 2 episodes: "Deus Ex Machina" |
| Agatha Christie's Marple
| Bess Sedgwick | Episode: "At Bertram's Hotel" |
| Cane
| Ellis Samuels | 13 episodes |
| 2009
| Numbers | Dr. Lorna Ludlow | Episode: "Animal Rites" |
| 2009–2010
| Caprica | 17 episodes |
| 2010
| Ranna Seneschal | 2 episodes |
| 2011
| Psych | Randa Tabet | Episode: "Shawn Rescues Darth Vader" |
| 2012–2013
| Francesca Miller | 10 episodes |
| 2012
| FBI Agent Alexa Shultz | 2 episodes |
| 2013
| Charlotte Dupres | 4 episodes |
| 2014
| Delphine Day | 9 episodes |
| 2015
| DI Lynn Baker | 6 episodes |
| 2016
| Paranoid | Monica Wayfield | 5 episodes |
| 2016; 2019
| Gill Biggeloe | Series 3 and 5 |
| 2018
| Bel Finch | 6 episodes |
| 2019-2022
| Margaret "Peggy" Sykes | 17 episodes |
| 2020
| Cursed | Lady Lunete |5 episodes |
| 2020-present
| Portia, Lady Featherington | Series regular |
| 2024
|Sonya Harkonnen |Guest Star; Episode 3 |
| 2025
| Bookish | Trottie Book | 6 episodes |
= Theatre =
= Audio dramas =
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| 2010
| Ava, Survivors | |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !Ref. |
| 2003
|Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role |{{Nominated}} |
| rowspan="2" |2005
|Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture made for Television | rowspan="3" |Rome |{{Nominated}} |
| Online Film & Television Association
|Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series |{{Won}} |
| 2006
|Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama |{{Nominated}} |
| 2021
|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series |{{Nominated}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0908116|Polly Walker}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Polly}}
Category:20th-century English actresses
Category:21st-century English actresses
Category:Alumni of the Drama Centre London
Category:English film actresses
Category:English stage actresses
Category:English television actresses
Category:Royal Shakespeare Company members