Actors and Actresses

If you’re a fan of British programming of any stripe – or were even just a casual Game of Thrones viewer – then you’re definitely familiar with Natalie Dormer, an actress that’s made quite a name for herself for playing complicated female characters from Anne Boleyn to Margaery Tyrell and beyond.

We remember the talented Dame Diana Rigg whose career in theatre, film, and television was a study in playing strong, intelligent women.

In this installment of British Actresses You Should Know, we feature Rosamund Pike and her decades-long film journey from Bond girl to Marie Curie.

Last Friday the world said farewell to the accomplished Sir Ian Holm. A classically trained actor, his career spanned almost six decades. Mr. Holm’s talents were generously displayed through the mediums of stage, television and film. He received his knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his services to drama.

Most people have probably seen British actor Sean Bean in something. After all, even if we haven’t necessarily seen Game of Thrones or the Lord of the Rings movies, we’re aware that they exist. That’s how outsize this particular actor’s contributions to pop culture have been.

British actress Jessica Raine is likely familiar to many PBS viewers from her roles on period drama Call the Midwife and mystery series Baptiste, but that's certainly not all she's done.  

The talented British actress is currently winning raves for her turn in Masterpiece drama World on Fire, but Academy Award nominee Lesley Manville has been in everything from period dramas to contemporary sitcoms.

British actress Jodie Comer is one of the buzziest stars in Hollywood right now. She picked up her first Emmy for her ferociously bold performance on Killing Eve, but for those Anglophiles in the know her turn as the female assassin Villanelle was hardly her first great small-screen role.

We take a moment to remember and celebrate Monty Python writer/performer Terry Jones who passed away last week at his home in London. The comedian, author, poet, director and historian was 77.

Florence Pugh is one of those buzzy, up and coming young actresses whose work you’ll likely be watching for years to come.

At just 24 years of age, this Oxford-born actress with the self-professed "weirdly low voice" has been showered with accolades. Since 2017, the awards she’s been nominated for and won tell the story of her work.  From her 2018 BAFTA EE Rising Star nomination to being named 2019’s Chopard Trophy winner at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, Pugh's performances have been described as brave, breakthrough and revelatory. Here's why.