Fenella Justine Therese Woolgar[1] (born 4 August 1969) is an English film, theatre, television and radio actress. She is known for her roles in the films Bright Young Things (2003) and Judy (2019). She is also well known for appearing in TV shows Doctor Who as crime novelist Agatha Christie, Inside Number 9, and Call the Midwife as Sister Hilda.
This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (December 2019) |
Fenella Woolgar | |
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Born | Fenella Justine Therese Woolgar (1969-08-04) 4 August 1969 (age 53) Hillingdon, England, UK |
Education | Durham University Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1999–present |
Spouse | Robert Harland (m. 2006) |
Children | 3 |
Website | fenellawoolgar |
Woolgar was born in the West London Borough of Hillingdon to parents Michael and Maureen née McCann) Woolgar. Her mother is of Irish descent. Woolgar's early years were spent in New Canaan, Connecticut, USA. She was educated at Mayfield School, Durham University, and then Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).[1]
At university, along with acting she directed Murder in the Cathedral in Durham Cathedral and wrote and performed comedy in The Durham Revue.
Following Woolgar's graduation from RADA in 1999 she worked in rep at The Royal Exchange, Manchester, York Theatre Royal, Sheffield Crucible and for the BBC in both television and radio. In 2002 she was cast as Agatha in Stephen Fry's film Bright Young Things for which she was nominated for several awards. She subsequently went on to work with Mike Leigh in Vera Drake and Mr. Turner, Conor McPherson in The Veil at the National Theatre and Woody Allen in Scoop and You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. She played Agatha Christie in Doctor Who in 2008.[2] In 2010 she voiced the character of Dr. Sofia Lamb, the main antagonist in the video game BioShock 2.
Woolgar has most recently worked in theatre at the Donmar, Royal Court, National Theatre; the Old Vic and in the West End. She won the Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting Actress in the West End in 2013 and the Sunday Times Culture Award for Stage Performance of the Year 2014 for playing Margaret Thatcher in Handbagged. She is regularly heard on the radio and was nominated for Best Actress on the radio in 2013 for An American Rose in which she played Rosemary Kennedy. She played the title role in Mrs Dalloway for BBC Radio 4 and Edith Wharton in both The Jinx Element and Ethan Frome. She stars in the BBC Radio 4 comedy Dot. She has narrated several audiobooks and was nominated for Audio Book of the Year 2013.[3]
Woolgar's recent work includes two television roles. She appeared in 2014 and 2015 as Alison Scotlock in Home Fires. She joined the cast of Call the Midwife in series 8 as Sister Hilda.[4]
Woolgar has been nominated for several awards, including:
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2003 | Bright Young Things | Agatha | Nominated - Empire Award for Best Newcomer Nominated - London Film Critics' Circle Award for Supporting Actress of the Year Nominated - British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer |
Stage Beauty | Aurelia Meresvale | ||
Vera Drake | Hester | ||
2004 | Wah-Wah | June Broughton | |
2005 | Scoop | Jane Cook | |
2007 | St Trinian's | Miss Cleaver | |
2009 | You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger | Jane | |
2011 | Cheerful Weather for the Wedding | Nancy Dakin | |
2013 | Mr. Turner | Elizabeth Eastlake | |
2016 | Swallows and Amazons | Miss Crummock | |
Whisky Galore! | Dolly | ||
2017 | Victoria & Abdul | Miss Phipps | |
2019 | Mr Jones | Miss Stephenson | |
Judy | Margaret Hamilton |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2000 | Poirot | Ellis | Episode: "Lord Edgware Dies" |
2001 | People Like Us | Episode: "The Bank Manager" | |
The Way We Live Now | Lady Julia Monogram | Mini-Series | |
Mr Charity | Lady Sophie | Series Regular | |
2003 | Eroica | Princess Marie Lobkowitz | TV film |
2004 | He Knew He Was Right | Arabella French | Mini-series |
2006 | Mr. Loveday's Little Outing | Angela Moping | TV film |
2007 | Jekyll | Min | Series regular |
2008 | Freezing | Heidi | 1 episode |
Doctor Who | Agatha Christie | Episode: "The Unicorn and the Wasp" | |
2010 | Agatha Christie’s Poirot | Miss Whittaker | Episode: "Hallowe'en Party" |
2011 | Silk | Wendy Ford | TV Series, 1 episode |
Case Histories | Amelia Land | Part 1 & 2 "Case Histories" | |
2013 | Spies of Warsaw | Lady Angela Hope | TV Mini-series, 4 episodes |
2015-2016 | Home Fires | Alison Scotlock | Series regular |
2016 | War & Peace | Catiche Kuragina | 3 episodes |
2017 | The Halcyon | Lady Ashworth | 1 episode |
Harlots | Lady Repton | 4 episodes | |
Quacks | Lady Campbell | 2 episodes | |
2018-present | Call the Midwife | Sister Hilda | Series regular |
2018 | Inside No. 9 | June | Episode: "And the Winner Is....." |
Midsomer Murders | Hazel Webster | Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part" | |
2019 | Plebs | Jocasta | Episode: "The Grumbrella" |
2020 | Unprecedented: Real Time Theatre from a State of Isolation | Tara | 1 episode |
2021 | Dalgliesh | Sister Mavis Gearing | 2 episodes: "Shroud for a Nightingale" |
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National libraries | |
Other |
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