Hannah Khalique-Brown | |
|---|---|
| Born | Birmingham, England |
| Education | King's College London (BA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Agent | The Gersh Agency |
| Notable work | The Undeclared War , Barbie , Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light |
| Spouse | Benedict Mann (m. 2024) |
Hannah Rose Khalique-Brown is a British actress. On television, she is known for portraying the lead role, Saara Parvin, in the Channel 4 series The Undeclared War (2022). Her films include Barbie (2023).
Hannah Khalique-Brown was born in Birmingham, England. Her father worked as an NHS surgeon and her mother, a barrister. [1]
She attended King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, where she completed A Levels in English, history, and philosophy & ethics. [2] [3] She had her first acting experience in a year 9 boys' school production of Alice in Wonderland . [4]
Khalique-Brown graduated with first class honours from King's College London in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. [5]
In August 2019, Khalique-Brown auditioned for The DABB Generals Day, and won, a spot to perform in front of leading industry profesional's at their partnered location, Southwark Playhouse, after which she received three agents' offers. In 2021, Khalique-Brown made her television debut with a seven-episode role as Anita Chandola in the BBC One medical soap opera Doctors . [6] [7]
The following year, she earned her breakout role as series lead Saara Parvin in Peter Kosminsky's Channel 4 thriller series The Undeclared War , supported by a cast of Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance, Alex Jennings, and Adrian Lester to name a few. [1] [8] Khalique-Brown was lauded by critics for her breakout, as a “newcomer” who "lead the cast in her scene-stealing (and surely star making) breakout role as Saara”. [9] She was praised unanimously in broadsheets for her performance, with The Times writing “Khalique-Brown gives a masterclass in restrained acting”. [10] The New Statesman wrote, “Khalique-Brown, a newcomer, is sensational” [11] and the Sunday Times wrote “there are few experienced actors who can share a scene with Rylance and not disappear and Khalique-Brown holds her own.” [12]
A second season of The Undeclared War was announced in 2025, with Kosminsky stepping down as writer and director, welcoming in Colin Teevan as writer and Paul McGuigan as director. There is currently no release date set. [13]
In 2024, Khalique-Brown reunited with Kosminsky and Rylance to play Dorothea Wolsey in the BAFTA nominated Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light . [14] [15] The Telegraph wrote “The standout scene […] sees Cromwell at his most vulnerable, as he attempts to reach out to Cardinal Wolsey's illegitimate daughter, Dorothea (Hannah Khalique-Brown)”. [16] Other critics also praised Khalique-Brown’s performance opposite Rylance as a standout, with The Guardian writing “There is an extraordinary scene with the illegitimate daughter of his beloved Cardinal Wolsey that blows your mind as it breaks your heart. Along with him, you must gather the scattered pieces of both before you can continue.” [17]
After making her feature film debut with a minor role in What's Love Got to Do with It? , Khalique-Brown played the discontinued Growing Up Skipper doll in the film Barbie directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie. [18]
She starred in the silent horror film Year 10 [19] and appeared in the HBO series Dune: Prophecy as Sister Farouz, the Netflix series Black Doves as Maggie, and the BBC series Virdee as Leila.
On stage, Khalique-Brown starred as lead role Alice in the 2021 Southwark Playhouse production of I Know, I Know, I Know, with critics praising her as “outstanding as the exposed and vulnerable Alice in what is essentially an extended monologue”. [20] [21]
Khalique-Brown's latest theatre role was as Mary Lennox in the 2024 stage adaptation of The Secret Garden at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, [22] which won numerous five-star reviews, written by fellow KCL alumnus Holly Robinson. Khalique-Brown was lauded by broadsheet critics, with The Independent praising her as "a real find", [23] TimeOut describing Khalique-Brown as "outstanding as Mary Lennox – imperious and fragile and very funny", [24] and The Times naming her "a fast rising star". [25]
Khalique-Brown voiced the lead role of Indira in the BBC Radio 4 audio drama War of Words, an espionage drama about weaponised narrative and conspiracy written by Neil Brand. [26] She portrayed Hanna in 2025 Audible audio drama Mrs Bibi. [27]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Tin Luck | Leila | Short film |
| 2020 | Two's a Menace | Charlene | Short film |
| 2021 | Muse | Bonnie | |
| 2022 | What's Love Got to Do with It? | Girl in Hijab | |
| 2023 | Barbie | Growing Up Skipper | |
| 2024 | Year 10 | Girl | |
| 2024 | Worst. Experience. Ever. | Maya | Short Film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Doctors | Anita Chandola | 7 episodes |
| 2022 | The Undeclared War | Saara Parvin | Lead role |
| 2024 | Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light | Dorothea | 5 episodes |
| 2024 | Dune: Prophecy | Sister Farouz | Episode: "The Hidden Hand" |
| 2024 | Black Doves | Maggie | 2 episodes |
| 2025 | Virdee | Leila | |
| TBC | The Undeclared War Season 2 | Saara Parvin | Reprisal |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | I Know, I Know, I Know | Alice | Lead role, Southwark Playhouse |
| 2024 | The Secret Garden | Mary Lennox | Lead role, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | War of Words | Indira | Lead role, BBC Radio 4 |
| 2025 | Mrs Bibi | Hannah | Audio Drama, Audible |
Hannah Khalique-Brown is married to musician Benedict Mann. [28] They perform together in British five-piece band Big Sky Orchestra, [29] hailed by Americana UK as 'rising stars of the jam band scene’ [30] and praised by Relix Magazine as “Paving the way for the jam scene across the pond, Big Sky Orchestra are at the forefront of the genre in the United Kingdom, with distinctly unique live shows”. [31]
In 2025, Khalique-Brown was elected into the Young Members Committee of the British actors’ union, Equity. [32]