Holliday Grainger

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Holliday Grainger
Holliday Grainger, Tell It To Th Bees (cropped).jpg
Grainger in 2018
Born
Holliday Clark Grainger

(1988-03-27) 27 March 1988 (age 37)
Didsbury, Manchester, England
Other namesHolly Grainger
Alma mater University of Leeds and finally Open University
OccupationActress
Years active1994–present
Notable work
Partner Harry Treadaway (2015–present)
Children2

Holliday Clark Grainger (born 27 March 1988), also credited as Holly Grainger, is an English screen and stage actress. Some of her prominent roles are Kate Beckett in the BAFTA award-winning children's series Roger and the Rottentrolls , Lucrezia Borgia in the Showtime series The Borgias , Robin Ellacott in the BBC One crime drama Strike , Rachel Carey in the Peacock/BBC One conspiracy thriller The Capture , and Estella in Mike Newell's 2012 film adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1861 novel Great Expectations .

Contents

Early life

Grainger was born on 27 March 1988 in Didsbury, Manchester. Her maternal grandfather was Italian. [1] [2] Her first experience of acting was at the age of five when she was scouted for a BBC TV series. She appeared in many television shows and independent films as a child actress. [2]

Grainger attended Parrs Wood High School from 1999 to 2006, [3] and in 2007 began studying for a degree in English literature at the University of Leeds, however, she eventually opted for the Open University as it allowed her to continue acting alongside her studies. [2]

Career

Roles followed in Casualty , Doctors and Dalziel and Pascoe . Grainger played Megan Boothe in Where the Heart Is , Stacey Appleyard in Waterloo Road and Sophia in Merlin . In 2011, she appeared in the television series The Borgias , playing Lucrezia Borgia opposite Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI. The series, created by Neil Jordan and shot in Hungary, ran for three seasons. [4]

After her role as Emily in the film The Scouting Book for Boys (2009), [5] she played one of the Rivers sisters opposite Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender in Cary Fukunaga's 2011 retelling of Jane Eyre , and had a minor role in Bel Ami alongside Robert Pattinson and Uma Thurman. In June 2011, she was cast in the leading role of Estella in Mike Newell's film adaptation of Great Expectations , opposite Jeremy Irvine and Helena Bonham Carter. [6] The movie, screened at Toronto International Film Festival 2012, had its European premiere as the closing night film of the BFI London Film Festival. [7] She had a minor role in the 2012 film Anna Karenina as Baroness Shilton.

On stage, in 2013 she appeared in Disassociation, a play by Luke Bailey, at The Lowry in Salford. [8] In the same year, she played Bonnie Parker in the 2013 TV mini-series Bonnie & Clyde . She was one of the female leads in the 2014 film The Riot Club , adapted from the play Posh , alongside Max Irons. In the same year, she appeared on stage in Anton Chekhov's play Three Sisters at the Southwark Playhouse. [9] Grainger played Cinderella's stepsister Anastasia Tremaine in Kenneth Branagh's 2015 film version of Cinderella . [10]

In 2016, Grainger starred in Disney's The Finest Hours . [11] On 20 June 2016, World Refugee Day, Grainger, as well as Jack O'Connell, featured in a film from the United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR to help raise awareness of the global refugee crisis. [12] The film, titled Home , has a family take a reverse migration into the middle of a war zone. It is inspired by primary accounts of refugees, and is part of UNHCR's #WithRefugees campaign, which also includes a petition to governments to expand asylum to provide further shelter, integrating job opportunities, and education. [13] Home , written and directed by Daniel Mulloy, went on to win a BAFTA Award and a Gold Lion at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity among many other awards. [14]

In 2017, she appeared in a film adaptation of the novel Tulip Fever alongside Alicia Vikander. [15] From 2017, she plays Robin Ellacott in the TV series Strike (aired in the United States and Canada as C.B. Strike) based on the novels by J. K. Rowling. [16] Grainger played one of the two lead female roles in the feature film Animals, along with Alia Shawkat. Based on the novel by Emma Jane Unsworth, who also wrote the script, the film was directed by Sophie Hyde and filmed in Dublin. [17] Since 2019, Grainger stars in the BBC conspiracy thriller The Capture. [18]

Personal life

In May 2021, she had twin children with her partner Harry Treadaway, himself a twin (brother of Luke Treadaway). [19]

Acting Credits

Film

YearTitleRole
TBAHalo of StarsEmm
2025 Mickey 17 Red Hair
2019 Animals Laura
2018 Tell It to the Bees Lydia Weekes
2017 Tulip Fever Maria
My Cousin Rachel Louise
Robot & ScarecrowRobot
2016 Home Holly
The Finest Hours Miriam Webber
2015 Cinderella Anastasia Tremaine
2014 The Riot Club Lauren
Goblin?Liz
2012 Great Expectations Estella Havisham
Anna Karenina Baroness
Bel Ami Suzanne Rousset
RachaelSamantha
2011 Jane Eyre Diana Rivers
2010ColetteColette
2009 The Scouting Book for Boys Emily
Awaydays Molly Carty

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2019–present The Capture Rachel CareyLead Role
2017–present Strike Robin ElliottLead Role
2025 The Stolen Girl Rebecca WalshMiniseries; Main Role
2022Impact WinterDarcy DunravenVoice; Main Role
2018 Patrick Melrose Bridget Watson-ScottMiniseries; 2 Episodes
2017 Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams HonorEpisode: "The Hood Maker"
2015 Lady Chatterley's Lover Lady Constance ChatterleyTelevision Film
2013 Bonnie & Clyde Bonnie Parker Miniseries; Lead Role
2011-2013 The Borgias Lucrezia Borgia Main Role
2010 Any Human Heart Tess ScabiusMiniseries; 2 Episodes
Stanley Park Dirty DebbieEpisode: "Pilot"
Five Daughters AliceMiniseries; 2 Episodes
Above Suspicion Sharon BilkinMain Role (Series 2)
2009 Blue Murder Jess BurgessEpisode: "Having It All"
Robin Hood MegEpisode: "A Dangerous Deal"
Mark's Brilliant BlogMaryTelevision Film
Demons RubyMiniseries; Main Role
2008 Merlin Sophia Series 1; Episode 7
Waking the Dead Nicola BennetSeries 7; Episodes 5 & 6
Dis/Connected JennyTelevision Film
Fairy Tales Leeza GruffEpisode: "Billy Goat"
The Royal Today AbigailSeries 1; Episode 3
M.I. High Leah RetsamEpisode: "It's a Kind of Magic"
2007 Waterloo Road Stacey AppleyardSeries 2; 4 Episodes
The Bad Mother's Handbook Charlotte CooperTelevision Film
2006 New Street Law Katie LewisSeries 1; Episode 1
Johnny and the Bomb Rose BushellMiniseries; Main Role
2005Magnificent 7Louise JacksonTelevision Film
Doctors Holly LeavisEpisode: "Indestructible"
No Angels SimoneSeries 2, Episode 5
2003-2005 Where the Heart Is Megan BootheMain Role (Series 7–9)
2003 The Illustrated Mum Star WestwardTelevision Film
The Royal Carole GreenEpisode: "Coffin Fit"
2002 Sparkhouse Older Lisa BoltonMiniseries; Main Role
2001 Dalziel and Pascoe Nichola CrowleyEpisode: "Walls of Silence"
Doctors Nita HarmerEpisode: "Writing to Charlie"
2000DaddyfoxYoung MaggieTelevision Film
Casualty Katie StoppardEpisode: "Seize the Night"
Comin' Atcha! PaulineEpisode: "The Day Off"
1998-2000 Roger and the Rottentrolls Kate BeckettMain Role (Series 3-4)
1997 The Missing Postman HarrietTelevision Film
1994-1997 All Quiet on the Preston Front KirstyMain Role

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenue
2014 Three Sisters Irina Donmar Warehouse, London
2009DimetosLydia Southwark Playhouse, London

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2011 Golden Nymph Awards Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series The Borgias Nominated
2013 Empire Awards Best Female Newcomer Great Expectations Nominated
2014 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries Bonnie & Clyde Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
2019Kingston Reelout Film FestivalOutstanding Lead Performance Tell it to the Bees Nominated
British Independent Film Awards Best Actress Animals Nominated
2022 TV Times Awards Favourite Dramatic Performance The Capture Nominated

References

  1. "Holliday Grainger Interview THE BORGIAS; Updates on BEL AMI and JANE EYRE". Collider . 30 January 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "Holliday Grainger Interview". 1883 Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  3. "Parrs Wood Alumni". parrswood.manchester.sch.uk. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  4. Harnick, Chris (4 May 2012). "The Borgias renewed season 3". The Huffington Post . Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  5. French, Philip (21 March 2010). "The Scouting Book for Boys". The Guardian . Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  6. Ge, Linda (17 June 2011). "Holliday Grainger cast as Estella in "Great Expectations" opposite Jeremy Irvine". Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  7. "Great Expectations to close BFI London Film Festival". number9films. Archived from the original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  8. Eden, Richard (13 January 2013). "Downton Abbey star Jim Carter enjoys 'bamboo massage'". The Daily Telegraph .
  9. Cavendish, Dominic (10 April 2014). "'Three Sisters, Southwark Playhouse, review'". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  10. Sneider, Jeff (10 June 2013). "'The Borgias' Star Holliday Grainger Joins Disney's 'Cinderella' (Exclusive)". TheWrap . Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  11. Schager, Nick (26 January 2016). "Review: 'The Finest Hours' Starring Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Eric Bana, Ben Foster, Holliday Grainger, And More". IndieWire . Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  12. "Jack O'Connell, Holliday Grainger refugee drama 'Home' sets release" . Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  13. "What They Took With Them - #WithRefugees". Unhcr. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  14. "BAFTABritish Short Film and Short Animation". 18 January 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  15. Jagernauth, Kevin (8 July 2013). "Alicia Vikander To Star In Long-Developing 'Tulip Fever,' Matthias Schoenaerts Sought For Role". indiewire.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  16. "Holliday Grainger to Star in J.K. Rowling's 'Cormoran Strike'". Variety. 1 November 2016.
  17. Animals interview: Alia Shawkat, Holliday Grainger, Sophie Hyde, Emma Jane Unsworth - 8 Feb 2019 on YouTube
  18. "Meet the cast of BBC conspiracy thriller 'The Capture'". Radio Times. 8 October 2019.
  19. "Actress Holliday Grainger gives birth to newborn twins with beau Harry Treadaway". Daily Mirror . 29 May 2021.