Polly Walker

Polly Alexandra Walker (born 19 May 1966) is an English actress. She has starred in the films Enchanted April, Patriot Games (1992), Sliver (1993), Restoration (1995), The Gambler (1997), and Savage Messiah (2002). In 2006, she received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role in the drama series Rome (2005–2007). She is also known for her roles in BBC One dramas Prisoners’ Wives (2012–2013), Line of Duty (2016, 2019) and Netflix's Bridgerton (2020-present).

Early life Walker was born in Warrington, Cheshire . She attended Padgate Church of England Primary School in Warrington, and Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts in East Grinstead until joining Twickenham's Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance at age 16. She had to abandon dancing after a leg injury at the age of 18, deciding to concentrate on acting.

She attended Drama Centre London, before working at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Walker first gained international attention in 1992 as a single-minded English member of an Irish terrorist group in Phillip Noyce's Patriot Games.

She appeared in Douglas McGrath's 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma,

In 2003 she had a starring role in the BBC drama series State of Play.

Between 2005 and 2007, Walker played Atia of the Julii in both seasons of the HBO–BBC2 television series Rome.

She next played the sinister Catherine Braithwaite in "Deus Ex Machina", a two-episode story of the BBC television "cold case" crime series Waking the Dead (2007). and then played sugar heiress Ellis Samuels in the CBS television drama Cane (2007).

In May 2008, Walker was cast as Sister Clarice Willow, headmistress of a private religious school, in Syfy's Battlestar Galactica prequel series Caprica. She appeared in Louis Leterrier's 2010 action fantasy remake, Clash of the Titans as Cassiopeia.

In 2011 she guest starred as Ranna Seneschal, leader of the underground city of Praxis, on the Canadian sci-fy fantasy show Sanctuary. She went on to appear in Andrew Staunton's 2012 science fiction action-adventure film John Carter as Sarkoja, a merciless Thark.

In 2014, she had a recurring role as the character Delphine Day in the ITV series Mr Selfridge.

In 2018, Walker starred as Bel, the leading character in Age Before Beauty.

In 2020, she appeared as Lady Lunete, the Queen Regent and mother to Uther Pendragon, a recurring character for 5 episodes in the Netflix series, Cursed.

Personal life On 23 October 2008, Walker married the former actor Laurence Penry-Jones (brother of Rupert Penry-Jones) with whom she lived in the United States for several years. In 2015, they returned to London.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1991 Journey of Honour Cecilia Original title: "Kabuto", also known as "Shogun Mayeda" Ao Fim da Noite Walking a Tightrope Hélène Lagache1992 Enchanted April Caroline Dester Patriot Games Annette 1993 Leni Sliver Vida Warren 1995 Restoration Celia Clemence 1996 Emma Jane Fairfax 1997 Roseanna's Grave Cecilia Robinson Crusoe Mary McGregor Polina Bastard Mara 1998 Curtain Call Julia Talk of Angels Mary Lavelle Dark Harbor Alexis Chandler Weinberg 1999 8½ Women Palmira 2000 After Alice Dr. Vera Swann 2002 D-Tox Jenny Munroe Savage Messiah Paula Jackson 2004 Control Barbara Copeland 2006 Scenes of a Sexual Nature Esther 2010 Clash of the Titans Cassiopeia 2012 John Carter Sarkoja

Television

Theatre

Audio dramas YearTitleRoleNotesRef.2017Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor AdventuresCommander NarniaEpisode: "The Movellan Grave"

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2010Dark Void Ava, Survivors

Awards and nominations