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Laura Donnelly

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the fictional character, see Laura Donnelly (Love Is a Many Splendored Thing).

Laura Donnelly
Donnelly in 2019
Born (1982-06-24) 24 June 1982 (age 42)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Alma materRoyal Conservatoire of Scotland
OccupationActress
Years active2004–present
PartnerJez Butterworth
Children2

Laura Donnelly (born 24 June 1982) is an actress from Northern Ireland. She studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland before her early roles on stage and screen. She is known for her collaborations with playwright Jez Butterworth acting in The River (2012, 2015), The Ferryman (2017–2019) and The Hills of California (2024). She is the recipient of a Laurence Olivier Award as well as a nomination for two Tony Awards.

On television, she is known for her roles in the Starz series Outlander (2014–2017), the ITV series Beowulf (2016), and the HBO series The Nevers (2021–2023).

Early life and education

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Donnelly grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2004.[1]

Career

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She made her on-screen debut in 2005 in the Channel 4 drama Sugar Rush.[1] She is also known for her regular appearances in Outlander,[1] and Britannia,[1] and as a main character in the Irish film Insatiable (2008).[1]

In 2013, Donnelly played a main role: that of Sarah Kay in The Fall.[1]

In 2018, she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Ferryman.[2] In 2019 she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress for the same role on Broadway.[3]

She played a lead role as Amalia True in HBO's The Nevers (2021).[1]

Personal life

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She lives in London (2021) with her partner Jez Butterworth, and their two daughters.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2008 Insatiable Rachel Lead
2009 Dread Abby
Right Hand Drive Ashley
2013 Hello Carter Tara
2014 Heart of Lightness Ellida
2015 The Program Emma O'Reilly
2019 Tolkien Mabel Tolkien
2023 The Heist Before Christmas Patricia

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 Sugar Rush Beth 2 episodes
Casualty Fleur Butler 7 episodes
Hex Maya Robertson 4 episodes
2006 The Bill Jody Macmillan 1 episode
2007 Rough Diamond Aoife 1 episode
2009 Occupation Katy Hibbs 2 episodes
Merlin Freya 2 episodes
Best: His Mother's Son Barbara Best TV film
2012 Missing Violet Heath
2013 The Fall Sarah Kay 5 episodes
2014–2017 Outlander Janet "Jenny" Fraser Murray 8 episodes
2016 Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands Elvina Main role
2018–2021 Britannia Hella 6 episodes
2021–2023 The Nevers Zephyr Alexis Navine / Amalia True Main role
2022 Werewolf by Night Elsa Bloodstone Disney+ television special
2024 Say Nothing Older Helen McConville Miniseries; 3 episodes

Theatre

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Year Title Role Playwright Venue Ref.
2004 A Boston Marriage Catherine B*Spoke/Project Theatre Dublin
2007 Dancing at Lughnasa Chrissie Brian Friel Lyric Theatre Belfast
2008 A Midsummer Night's Dream Hermia William Shakespeare Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
Romeo & Juliet Juliet William Shakespeare Regent's Park Open Air Theatre [1]
2009 Judgement Day Anna Christopher Hampton Almeida Theatre, West End [5]
2012 Philadelphia, Here I Come! Katie Doogan Brian Friel Donmar Warehouse, West End [6]
The River Other Woman Jez Butterworth Royal Court Theatre, West End [7]
2013 Tutto Bene Mamma? The Women April De Angelis The Print Room, London [8]
2014–2015 The River Other Woman Jez Butterworth Circle in the Square, Broadway [9]
2015 The Wasp Heather Morgan Lloyd Malcolm Trafalgar Studios, West End [10]
2017–2018 The Ferryman Caitlin Carney Jez Butterworth Royal Court Theatre / Gielgud Theatre [11]
2018–2019 Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Broadway [12]
2024 The Hills of California Veronica / Joan Harold Pinter Theatre, West End [13]
Broadhurst Theater, Broadway [14]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2010 Fright Meter Awards Best Supporting Actress Dread Nominated [15]
2017 Evening Standard Theatre Award Best Actress The Ferryman Nominated [3]
2018 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress Won [16][2]
2019 Tony Award Best Actress in a Play Nominated [17]
2022 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series The Nevers Nominated [15]
2024 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress The Hills of California Nominated [18]
2025 Tony Award Best Actress in a Play Pending [19]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play Won [20]
Dorian Awards Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play Nominated [21]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play Won [22]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Laura Donnelly". Jag London. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b Turner, Lauren (9 April 2018). "Hip hop musical Hamilton sweeps Oliviers". BBC News.
  3. ^ a b Thompson, Jessie (4 December 2017). "These are the winners of the 2017 Evening Standard Theatre Awards". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  4. ^ Soloski, Alexis (6 April 2021). "Laura Donnelly's Week: 'Dora the Explorer' and a Poetry Prescription". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Rising to the Challenge: On teaming up with partner Jez Butterworth again, and why stage work is so artistically fulfilling". Fabric Magazine. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Philadelphia, Here I Come!". Variety. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  7. ^ "The River". Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  8. ^ "Tutto Bene, Mamma? Play that keeps audience in the dark". BBC News. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  9. ^ "The River (Broadway, 2014)". Playbill. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  10. ^ "The Wasp review – tables turned on a school bully". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Jez Butterworth's The Ferryman Will Transfer to West End". Playbill. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  12. ^ "The Ferryman (Broadway, 2018)". Playbill. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  13. ^ "The Hills of California review: Jez Butterworth has created a flawed masterpiece on a par with Jerusalem". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  14. ^ "The Hills of California (Broadway, 2024)". Playbill. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Laura Donnelly Awards". imdb (Index source only). Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Olivier Awards 2018". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  17. ^ "The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Olivier Awards 2024 with Mastercard nominations announced". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  19. ^ "2025 Tony Awards: 'Buena Vista Social Club,' 'Death Becomes Her,' 'Maybe Happy Ending' Lead Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  20. ^ "2024-2025 Drama Desk Awards nominations announce". NY1. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  21. ^ "'Death Becomes Her' leads nominations for Dorian Theater Awards". Broadwaynews. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Death Becomes Her Leads 2025 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations; Read the Full List". Playbill. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
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