Bel Powley

Isobel Dorothy Powley Booth (born 7 March 1992) is an English actress. Born and raised in London, Powley was educated at Holland Park School. She began acting as a teenager on television, starring on the CBBC action television series M.I. High (2007–2008).

Powley gained critical praise for her portrayal of Princess Margaret in A Royal Night Out (2015), for which she was nominated for the British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer, and a sexually confused teenager in the coming-of-age film The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015), for which she was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead and won the Trophée Chopard at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.

On television, Powley starred in the National Geographic miniseries A Small Light (2023). For her performance as Miep Gies, Powley received critical acclaim and was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award and Screen Actors Guild Award.

Early life Powley was born in the Hammersmith borough of London, England, to British actor Mark Powley and casting director Janis Jaffa. Her mother is the descendant of Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire to Little Jerusalem in Dublin, Ireland. Powley attended Holland Park School.

Career Screen From 2007 until 2008, Powley was one of the lead characters in M.I. High, starring in 23 episodes. Powley has also appeared in several other productions such as Murderland (three episodes, 2009), Little Dorrit (2008), The Bill (2008) and The Whistleblowers (2007). In 2013, Powley was joining the cast of the ITV series Benidorm for series six.

In 2015, Powley portrayed Princess Margaret in the biographical comedy-drama A Royal Night Out, alongside Sarah Gadon as Princess Elizabeth. Powley played the lead role of Minnie Goetze in the comedy-drama film The Diary of a Teenage Girl, which premiered in New York City and Los Angeles in August 2015. Shortly afterward, Powley starred as the titular character in the 2016 indie film Carrie Pilby, taking over the role from Hailee Steinfeld.

Her films since include Carrie Pilby (2016), Mary Shelley (2017) and Ashes in the Snow (2018). In 2018, Powley starred opposite Liv Tyler in the horror film Wildling, and appeared in the crime-drama film White Boy Rick. That same year, Powley played a lead role as Holly Morten in the BBC One drama Informer. In June 2020, Powley appeared in The King of Staten Island as the love interest of Pete Davidson's character. On television, Powley has appeared in the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show (2019–2021) and in 2022, Powley played Birdy, one of the main characters in the TV series Everything I Know About Love of the BBC.

Powley was most recently seen in Masters of the Air (2024). On June 9, 2025, it was announced that Powley would be playing Petunia Dursley in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.

Stage Powley appeared as Maggie in Tusk Tusk at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in March 2009. On Broadway, she was Thomasina in the 2011 revival of Arcadia at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. In October 2011, she once again appeared at the Royal Court as Tilly in Jumpy, a role to which she returned in the West End transfer of Jumpy to the Duke of York's Theatre in August 2012. She appeared as Dawn in the March 2018 revival of Lobby Hero at the Hayes Theatre, alongside Chris Evans, Michael Cera and Brian Tyree Henry.

Personal life In an interview in 2013, Powley said she had been accepted to study history at the University of Manchester,

It was announced in July 2021 via actor Douglas Booth's Instagram page that he and Powley were engaged to be married, having met on the set of the film Mary Shelley in 2016. The wedding took place on 28 October 2023 at Petersham Nurseries in Richmond, followed by an afterparty at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. The couple were married under a chuppah made by Booth's sister, an artist, to honour Powley's Jewish heritage.

Filmography +Key Denotes projects that have not yet been released Film Year Title Role Notes 2011 The Cabin Sydney Television film 2013 Side by Side Lauren Buckle 2015 The Diary of a Teenage Girl Minnie Goetze A Royal Night Out Princess Margaret Equals Rachel 2016 Detour Cherry Carrie Pilby Carrie Pilby 2017 Mary Shelley Claire Clairmont 2018 Wildling Anna White Boy Rick Dawn Wershe Ashes in the Snow Lina Vilkas 2020 The King of Staten Island Kelsey 2023 Cold Copy Mia Scott 2024 Turn Me On Joy 2026 Savage House Dorothy Neville

Television Year Title Role Notes 2007 The Whistleblowers Emma Clayson Episode: "Starters" 2007–2008 M.I. High Daisy Millar Series regular; 23 episodes 2008 The Bill Becky Cooper Episode: "Loved and Lost" Little Dorrit Flower Girl Episode: "Episode 3" 2009 Murderland Carrie Walsh Miniseries; 3 episodes 2014 Benidorm Bianca Dyke Series regular; 6 episodes 2016 Revolting Rhymes Cindy Episode: "Part Two" 2018 Informer Holly Morten Series regular; 6 episodes 2019–2024 Moominvalley Little My Series regular; 51 episodes 2019–2025 The Morning Show Claire Conway Series regular; 13 episodes 2022 Everything I Know About Love Birdy Series regular; 7 episodes 2023 A Small Light Miep Gies Miniseries; 8 episodes 2024 Masters of the Air Alessandra "Sandra" Wesgate Miniseries; 3 episodes 2026 Possession Charlotte 4 episodes Petunia Dursley Post-production

Audio YearTitleRoleNotes 2026 My Husbands Wife Olivia Bird Audiobook 2021Soft Voice Soft Voice Podcast 2023 Told You So Lucie Audible Original

Theatre

Awards and nominations Year Work Association Award Result 2015 A Royal Night Out Hamptons International Film Festival Breakthrough Performer British Independent Film Awards Most Promising Newcomer The Diary of a Teenage Girl Gotham Independent Film Awards Best Actress Niagara Integrated Film Festival NIFF Rising Star Detroit Film Critics Society Best Actress Breakthrough Artist Chicago Film Critics Association Most Promising Performer Florida Film Critics Circle Pauline Kael Breakout Award Women's Image Network Awards Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film Women Film Critics Circle Best Young Actress Village Voice Film Poll Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Breakthrough Performance Indiewire Critics' Poll Best Lead Actress Kansas City Film Critics Circle Best Actress 2016 Cannes Film Festival Trophée Chopard - Female Revelation British Academy of Film and Television Arts BAFTA Rising Star Award Film Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Lead Empire Best Female Newcomer Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Breakthrough Performance Chlotrudis Awards Best Actress FEST International Film Festival Best Actress 2024A Small Light Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie