Laura Carmichael
| Laura Carmichael | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Laura Elizabeth Carmichael 16 July 1986 Southampton, Hampshire, UK |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Notable work |
Downton Abbey as Lady Edith Crawley (2010–2015) Madame Bovary as Henrietta (2014) |
Laura Elizabeth Carmichael (born 16 July 1986)[1] is an English actress, most widely known for her role as Lady Edith Crawley in the TV period drama series Downton Abbey. In 2016, Carmichael starred in a play production, The Maids, alongside Uzo Aduba and Zawe Ashton.
Early life
Laura Elizabeth Carmichael was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England,[1] the daughter of Sarah, a radiographer, and Andy Carmichael, a software consultant.[2] She has two sisters: Amy, who works for a software start-up company, and Olivia, a charity fundraiser with the NHS.[3]
One of her paternal great-grandfathers was aviator Norman Blackburn.[2] Carmichael was educated at Shirley Junior School, The Mountbatten School,[4] and Peter Symonds College.[5] She trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating in 2007.[6]
Career
Film and television
Between 2010 and 2015 Carmichael played Lady Edith Crawley in Downton Abbey, a part which brought her worldwide recognition.[7]
Other television roles include parts in The Heart of Thomas Hardy, and End of Our Street.[5]
In 2011 she appeared in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and she played Henriette in the 2014 film of Madame Bovary.[5]
Carmichael plays Seph in the comedy film Burn, Burn, Burn, which was released in October 2015.[8]
She is set to star in A United Kingdom[6] as Muriel Williams, and Marcella[5] as Maddy Stevenson, both during 2016.
Theatre
Carmichael made her West End debut in Uncle Vanya opposite Anna Friel and Samuel West in October 2012.[9]
She played Arabella in The Fitzrovia Radio Hour at The Underglobe Theatre in early 2013.[10]
In early 2016, Carmichael will play Madam in Jamie Lloyd's production of The Maids at the Trafalgar Studios in London's West End.[11]
Carmichael has also appeared in Plenty at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre, and played Laura in Reasons for Living as part of the Scratch Festival at Battersea Arts Centre. In late 2009 she played Miranda in a touring production of Shakespeare's The Tempest.[10]
Personal life
Laura Carmichael lives in Camden, north London.[3] She is close friends with Michelle Dockery, who played her sister Mary in Downton Abbey.[3]
Prior to landing the role of Lady Edith in early 2010, Carmichael had worked as a secretary in a doctor's surgery.[12]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | House at the End of Our Street | Yvonne | |
| 2010 | The Heart of Thomas Hardy | Hardy's maid | |
| 2010–2015 | Downton Abbey | Lady Edith Crawley | TV series 52 episodes Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2012, 2014, 2015) |
| 2011 | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy | Sal | |
| 2014 | Madame Bovary | Henrietta | |
| 2015 | Burn, Burn, Burn | Seph | |
| 2016 | A United Kingdom | Muriel Williams | |
| 2016 | Marcella | Maddy Stevenson | |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Reasons for Living | Laura | BAC |
| 2009 | The Tempest | Miranda/Ariel | UK tour |
| 2011 | Plenty | Louise/Dorcas | Sheffield Crucible Theatre |
| 2012 | Uncle Vanya | Sonya | Vaudeville Theatre |
| 2013 | The Fitzrovia Radio Hour | Arabella | Underglobe Theatre |
| 2016 | The Maids | Madam | Trafalgar Studios |
References
- 1 2 "Laura Carmichael". TVGuide.com. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
- 1 2 Davies, Barbara (1 October 2011). "Real secrets of Downton's girls: On screen they play the Earl's daughters, each with something to hide, but what are the dramas that lie in their own family histories?". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- 1 2 3 Woods, Judith (19 December 2015). "Downton Abbey's Laura Carmichael: 'Who's to say a husband constitutes a happy ending?'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- ↑ "My Inspirational Teacher: by Downton Abbey star Laura Carmichael". www.aworldatschool.org. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 "The Jamie Lloyd Company (The Maids): Laura Carmichael biography". www.thejamielloydcompany.com. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- 1 2 Gilbert, Gerard (31 October 2015). "Laura Carmichael: 'Downton was a real miracle in my career'". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- ↑ "Downton Abbey: Laura Carmichael on Lady Edith". Radio Times. 29 October 2011.
- ↑ Razaq, Rashid (15 October 2015). "Downton Abbey's Laura Carmichael hits the road in new comedy Burn, Burn, Burn". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- ↑ "Downton Abbey Star Laura Carmichael Joins Cast of West End's Uncle Vanya". Playbill. 31 August 2012.
- 1 2 "United Agents: Laura Carmichael". www.unitedagents.co.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- ↑ Mayo, Doug. "Jamie Lloyd to direct Uzo Aduba, Zawe Ashton and Laura Carmichael in The Maids". www.britishtheatre.com. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- ↑ Woods, Judith (16 September 2012). "Laura Carmichael: Frocks, shocks and Lady Edith unveiled". Mail Online. Retrieved 18 November 2015.