Michelle Duncan

Michelle Duncan (born 14 April 1978) is a Scottish-Canadian actress, known for films such as Driving Lessons, Atonement (2007), The Broken (2008) and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).

Early life Born and raised in Perth, Duncan studied and trained in acting at Queen Margaret University School of Drama before studying English and classics at St Andrews University. Duncan trained under Philippe Gaulier at École Philippe Gaulier.

Career Duncan's television roles include Sugar Rush, Doctor Who, Low Winter Sun, and Lost in Austen. She played Princess Diana in a TV film, Whatever Love Means, opposite Olivia Poulet as Camilla Parker Bowles and Laurence Fox as Prince Charles.

Her film work includes Atonement, The Broken, and as Rupert Grint's love interest in Driving Lessons with Julie Walters. Duncan's role in Atonement was particularly praised by The New Yorker theatre critic Anthony Lane: Duncan's stage work includes Time and the Conways (Bath Theatre Royal/ touring), A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Burning at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Further television work includes New Tricks and Call the Midwife. Duncan lent her voice to an adaptation of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen at Little Angel Puppet Theatre in 2006 alongside Dame Judi Dench, Sir Michael Gambon, Rory Kinnear, Claudie Blakley, Rosamund Pike, Claire Rushbrook and Peter Wight.

In 2003, Duncan spent a season with Theatre Alba, appearing in the company's productions of The Burning and The Enchauntit Gairden.

In 2007 she was cast as Portia in The Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare's Globe, but was unable to continue after the previews and was replaced by Kirsty Besterman. In 2012 Duncan appeared alongside Amanda Hale in Scrubber, a film written and directed by Romola Garai. In 2013, Duncan appeared in the third series of the BBC TV drama Luther and Case Histories. In 2014, she appeared in the ITV drama Grantchester.

In 2015, she starred alongside Ruth Negga, Douglas Henshall and Tom Brooke in Scott Graham's film Iona. The closing gala film of the Edinburgh Film Festival. She took the role of Bea (originally performed by Helen Baxendale) in Deborah Bruce's play The Distance, directed by Charlotte Gwinner, for Sheffield and the Orange Tree Theatres.

In 2017, she starred opposite Jamie Robson in Oscar-nominated director Charlotte Wells' short film Blue Christmas. Then the following year, she played Shelley Stern in the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.

In 2022, Duncan was cast in Star Wars: Andor where she plays the role of Roboda Beehaz. In the same year, Duncan starred opposite Dougray Scott in the short film Slay and Prepare the Animal for Meat, directed by Oisin Kearney and written by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth. She also played the role of Caroline Dupayne opposite Bertie Carvel in Dalgliesh Series 2: The Murder Room.

In 2023, Viaplay announced that Duncan had been cast in the Rebus reboot series based on the crime novels of author Ian Rankin.

In 2025, Duncan appeared as Dr Fiona Wallace in Dept. Q on Netflix.

Theatre +Year Title RoleCompany Theatre DirectorNotes 2003 The Burning The Girl Theatre Alba Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Charles Nowosielski play by Stewart Conn2003 The Enchauntit Gairden Princess Honeysuckle Theatre Alba Duddingston Kirk Gardens, Edinburgh Charles Nowosielski play by Charles Mackenzie

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1997 Waterloo Short film 2006 Driving Lessons Bryony Sucking Is a Fine Quality in Women and Vacuum Cleaners The Wife Short film Chôshû Faibu Emily 2007 Atonement Fiona Maguire 2008 The Broken Kate Coleman 2012 Scrubber Neighbour Short film 2015 Iona Elizabeth 2017 Blue Christmas Lily Short film 2018 Bohemian Rhapsody Shelley Stern

Television

Awards and nominations Year Nominated work Award Category Result 2005 Sea of Souls BAFTA Scotland Best First-Time Performance 2008 Atonement Gold Derby Awards Best Ensemble Cast