Vanessa Kirby

Vanessa Nuala Kirby (born 18 April 1987 or 1988) is a British actress. She rose to international prominence with her portrayal of Princess Margaret in the Netflix drama series The Crown (2016–2017), for which she won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress. For her performance in the film Pieces of a Woman, she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Kirby made her professional acting debut on stage, with acclaimed performances in the plays All My Sons (2010), A Midsummer Night's Dream (2010), Women Beware Women (2011), Three Sisters (2012), and as Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire (2014). She also appeared in the action films Hobbs & Shaw (2019), The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), and two Mission: Impossible films (2018–2023). Kirby portrayed Empress Joséphine in the historical drama Napoleon (2023).

Early life Kirby was raised in Wimbledon, London. Her parents are Jane Cooper Kirby, a former Country Living magazine writer, and Roger Kirby, a retired surgeon and President of the Royal Society of Medicine.

After attending Lady Eleanor Holles School and being turned down by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Kirby took a gap year to travel and work in an AIDS hospice in South Africa. She then studied English at the University of Exeter. For All My Sons, she won the BIZA Rising Star Award at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards, worth £5,000. She also starred as Rosalind in As You Like It at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds. Alfred Hickling of The Guardian described her as a "significant new talent", and stated: "Kirby gives a performance of statuesque distinction as Helena".

In 2011, Kirby appeared at the National Theatre in Women Beware Women, directed by Marianne Elliott, alongside Harriet Walter and Harry Melling. She also appeared in the play The Acid Test by Anya Reiss at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Simon Godwin. For her performance, Kirby earning praise from Paul Taylor of The Independent, who described her as "a star if ever I saw one". That same year, Kirby made her television debut in two BBC series: The Hour and as Estella in Great Expectations.

Kirby filmed the British crime movie The Rise in early 2012. The film premièred at the Toronto International Film Festival to favourable reviews. She played Masha in the stage production by Benedict Andrews of Three Sisters at the Young Vic in September 2012, earning good reviews. Matt Trueman of Time Out wrote: "In a super cast given licence to shine, Kirby stands out as Masha".

In 2013, Kirby returned to the Royal National Theatre to play the Queen of England Isabella of France in Edward II opposite John Heffernan. Michael Billington for The Guardian said that Kirby delivers a "strong performance". Kirby had a supporting role in Richard Curtis's romantic comedy film About Time, starring Rachel McAdams. She appeared in the American film Charlie Countryman, and in one episode of the British TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot.

In the summer of 2014, Kirby played Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, again collaborating with Benedict Andrews at the Young Vic, alongside Gillian Anderson as Blanche Dubois and Ben Foster as Stanley. She won Best Supporting Actress category at the 2014 Whatsonstage Awards. and had a main role in the series The Frankenstein Chronicles.

In May 2015 Kirby was cast as Princess Margaret in Netflix's The Crown, a historical drama series about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. For her performance, Kirby was nominated for the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in 2017, and won the award for the season two in 2018. For this role, she received praise from critics and rose to international prominence.

In 2016, Kirby played Elena in Robert Icke's production of Uncle Vanya at the Almeida Theatre, for which she received highly positive reviews, with Matt Trueman of Variety writing that her performance: "confirms her as the outstanding stage actress of her generation, capable of the most unexpected choices". During this year, Kirby had three screen roles: she played Zelda Fitzgerald in Genius; she played the leading role in the sci-fi film Kill Command; and featured in the romantic drama film Me Before You.

In 2018, Kirby returned to the stage and played the title character in Polly Stenham's Julie, an adaptation of August Strindberg's Miss Julie, at the Royal National Theatre. On the big screen, she starred in two action franchise films: Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) opposite Tom Cruise and Fast and Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) alongside Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. For her role in Hobbs & Shaw, Kambole Campbell thought that: "Vanessa Kirby steals the show with wry wit and casual lethality". Kirby also appeared in the biopic Mr Jones, who loosely tells the story of Gareth Jones. The film was directed by Agnieszka Holland and competed for the Golden Bear at the 69th Berlin International Film Festival.

During 2019, Kirby was cast in the French thriller Suddenly ("Soudain Seuls"), alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, but following a disagreement between the director Thomas Bidegain and Gyllenhaal, the film was rewritten and recast. The same year, Kirby was one of the favourites for the role of Black Canary in Birds of Prey, but the role went to Jurnee Smollett.

In 2020, Kirby portrayed Martha, a grief-stricken woman, in Kornél Mundruzcó's Pieces of a Woman, a film revolving around the trauma and grief surrounding baby loss. The film received positive reviews, with Kirby garnering critical acclaim. Peter Debruge wrote for Variety that "[...] this is ultimately Kirby's movie, as the stage marvel [...] delivers her most impressive screen performance to date". David Fear from Rolling Stone called her performance "transcendent". Kirby won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the 2020 Venice Film Festival, where the film premiered. She went on to receive various nominations, notably for the Academy Award, the Golden Globe, the BAFTA Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Award.

Also at the 77th Venice International Film Festival, Kirby promoted The World to Come, directed by Mona Fastvold and also starring Katherine Waterston. The film won the Queer Lion award for best LGBTQ-themed film during the festival. In his review for The Guardian, Xan Brooks note that: "Kirby gives a fine, charismatic turn as the free-spirited Tallie". For The Independent, Clarisse Loughrey said: "Kirby’s performance is thrillingly, seductively, alive".

2021–present: Independent films and blockbusters In 2021, Kirby co-founded, with her sister Juliet, the London-based production company Aluna Entertainment which has a first look deal with Netflix. The same year, she played the leading role in the drama film Italian Studies. David Fear from Rolling Stones wrote that Kirby delivers a: "completely raw, guileless, ego-less performance".

Between 2021 and 2023, Kirby was one of the hosts of the True Spies podcast, alongside Hayley Atwell, Sophia Di Martino, and Daisy Ridley. In 2022, she appeared in the drama film The Son with Hugh Jackman, which had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the performances of Jackman and Kirby were praised. Clayton Davis, for Variety, said: "Kirby is reinventing the wheel of acting with a masterfully executed physical portrayal".

She replaced Jodie Comer as Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife, in the historical drama film Napoleon (2023) with Joaquin Phoenix in the title role, and directed by Ridley Scott. Kirby also reprised her role of Alanna Mitsopolis, alias the White Widow, in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023). In February 2024, Kirby was cast as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film The Fantastic Four: First Steps which was released on 25 July 2025. She will reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).

In March 2024, it was announced that Kirby would be playing Lynette, the leading role in the Netflix adaptation of The Night Always Comes based on the Willy Vlautin novel. Filming took place in Portland during spring 2024.

Personal life From 2015 to 2019, Kirby was in a relationship with English actor Callum Turner.

Since 2022, she has been in a relationship with Paul Rabil, an American former professional lacrosse player, co-founder and President of Premier Lacrosse League. During CCXP Mexico in May 2025, Kirby and Rabil revealed that the couple were expecting their first child. On 7 September 2025, Kirby announced that she had given birth to her and Rabil's first child.

Acting credits

Film Year Title Role Notes 2010 Love/Loss Jane 2012 The Rise Nicola Nora Young woman Short film 2013 Charlie Countryman Felicity About Time Joanna 2014The Exchange Woman Short film Insomniacs Jade Queen and Country Dawn Rohan National Theatre Live: A Streetcar Named Desire Stella Kowalski Off the Page: Devil in the Details Jessica Short film 2015 Jupiter Ascending Katharine Dunlevy Bone in the Throat Sophie Everest Sandy Hill 2016 Genius Zelda Fitzgerald Kill Command Katherine Mills Me Before You Alicia Dewares 2018 Mission: Impossible – Fallout Alanna Mitsopolis / White Widow 2019 Mr Jones Ada Brooks Hobbs & Shaw Hattie Shaw 2020 Pieces of a Woman Martha Weiss The World to Come Tallie 2021 Italian Studies Alina Reynolds Also executive producer 2022 The Son Beth 2023 Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Alanna Mitsopolis / White Widow Napoleon Empress Joséphine 2024 Eden Dore Strauch 2025 Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Alanna Mitsopolis / White Widow Archival footage only The Fantastic Four: First Steps Sue Storm / Invisible Woman Night Always Comes Lynette Also producer 2026 Sue Storm / Invisible Woman Post-production TBA Filming

Television Year Title Role Notes 2011 The Hour Ruth Elms 3 episodes Great Expectations Estella Havisham Miniseries; 3 episodes 2012 Labyrinth Alice Tanner Miniseries; 2 episodes 2013 Agatha Christie's Poirot Celia Ravenscroft Episode: "Elephants Can Remember" 2015The Dresser Irene Television film The Frankenstein Chronicles Lady Jemima Hervey Main role; 7 episodes 2016,2017,2022 The Crown Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Main role (seasons 1–2);Guest role (season 5)18 episodes

Theatre Year Title Playwright Role Venue 2010 All My Sons Arthur Miller Ann Deever Octagon Theatre Ghosts Henrik Ibsen Regina Engstrand A Midsummer Night's Dream William Shakespeare Helena As You Like It Rosalind West Yorkshire Playhouse 2011 Women Beware Women Thomas Middleton Isabella Royal National Theatre The Acid Test Anya Reiss Dana Royal Court Theatre 2012 Three Sisters Anton Chekhov Maria "Masha" Kulygina Young Vic 2013 Edward II Christopher Marlowe Isabella of France Royal National Theatre 2014 A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams Stella Kowalski Young Vic 2016 Uncle Vanya Anton Chekhov Helena Serebryakova Almeida Theatre A Streetcar Named Desire Tennessee Williams Stella Kowalski St. Ann's Warehouse 2018 Julie Polly Stenham Julie Royal National Theatre

Music videos Year Title Artist Role 2007 "The Heart Never Lies" McFly Female lead

Video games +Video game credits Year Title Role Notes 2025 Fortnite Battle Royale Sue Storm / Invisible Woman Likeness

Audiobooks Year Title Author ISBN ASIN 2015 Romeo and Juliet (BBC Radio 3 full-cast dramatisation) William Shakespeare 2018 Ladybird Tales of Adventurous Girls Julia Bruce 2019 The Other Boleyn Girl Philippa Gregory 2021 The Virginia Woolf Collection Virginia Woolf Trouble with Lichen John Wyndham 2022 Unmade Movies: Harold Pinter's Victory Harold Pinter Morgan Is My Name Sophie Keetch 2024 Good Material Dolly Alderton

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result Ref WhatsOnStage Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Play A Streetcar Named Desire British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actress The Crown Glamour Awards UK TV Actress Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actress Online Film and Television Association Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series National Film Awards UK Best Supporting Actress Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw AACTA International Awards Best International Actress Pieces of a Woman Academy Awards Best Actress Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Actress Most Daring Performance British Academy Film Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Actress Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Best Actress Denver Film Critics Society Best Actress Detroit Film Critics Society Best Actress Georgia Film Critics Association Best Actress Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Hollywood Film Critics Association Best Actress Houston Film Critics Society Best Actress London Film Critics Circle Awards Actress of the Year British/Irish Actress of the Year The World to Come Online Film and Television Association Best ActressPieces of a Woman San Diego Film Critics Society Best Actress Best Breakthrough Artist Santa Barbara Film Festival Virtuoso Award Satellite Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role St. Louis Film Critics Association Best Actress Venice International Film Festival Volpi Cup for Best Actress Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Actress Women Film Critics Circle Best Actress Sichuan TV Festival — International Gold Panda Best Actress in a Supporting Role for a Motion Picture The Son AACTA International Awards Best International Supporting Actress Napoleon Movieguide AwardsMovieguide Grace Award for Most Inspiring PerformanceThe Fantastic Four: First Steps Saturn AwardsBest Actress Critics' Choice Super AwardsBest Actress in a Superhero Movie