Polly Walker
Updated: 12/11/2025, 9:50:45 AM Wikipedia source
Polly Alexandra Walker (born 19 May 1966) is an English actress. She has starred in the films Enchanted April (1991), 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).
Infobox
Born
Polly Alexandra Walker (1966-05-19) 19 May 1966 (age 59)Warrington, Lancashire, England
Occupation
Actress
Years active
1988–present
Spouse
mw- Laurence 2008)
Children
2
Relatives
Rupert Penry-Jones (brother-in-law)
Tables
· Filmography › Film
1991
Journey of Honour
Role(s)
Cecilia
Notes
Original title: "Kabuto", also known as "Shogun Mayeda"
Ao Fim da Noite
Role(s)
Hélène Lagache
1997
Role(s)
Cecilia
Role(s)
Mary McGregor
Role(s)
Polina
Role(s)
Mara
1998
Role(s)
Julia
Role(s)
Mary Lavelle
Role(s)
Alexis Chandler Weinberg
| 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 Lagache | ||
| 1992 | Enchanted April | Caroline Dester | |
| Patriot Games | Annette | ||
| 1993 | The Trial | Leni | |
| Sliver | Vida Warren | ||
| 1995 | Restoration | Celia Clemence | |
| 1996 | Emma | Jane Fairfax | |
| 1997 | Roseanna's Grave | Cecilia | |
| Robinson Crusoe | Mary McGregor | ||
| The Gambler | 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 |
· Filmography › Television
1989
Storyboard
Role(s)
Margaret Niner
Notes
Episode: "Hunted Down"
Rules of Engagement
Role(s)
Fiona
Notes
mini-series, 2 episodes
1990
1992
Role(s)
Mme. Dumont
The Secret World of Spying
Role(s)
Annette
1997
The Woodlanders
Role(s)
Mrs. Charmond
2003
Role(s)
Lucetta Templeman
2005–2007
Role(s)
Rome
Notes
Atia of the Julii
2007
2009
2009–2010
Role(s)
Caprica
Notes
Clarice Willow
2011
2012–2013
Role(s)
Prisoners' Wives
Notes
Francesca Miller
2016
2016; 2019
Role(s)
Line of Duty
Notes
Gill Biggeloe
2018
2019-2022
Role(s)
Pennyworth
Notes
Margaret "Peggy" Sykes
2020
2020-present
Role(s)
Bridgerton
Notes
Portia, Lady Featherington
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1989 | Storyboard | Margaret Niner | Episode: "Hunted Down" |
| Rules of Engagement | Fiona | mini-series, 2 episodes | |
| 1990 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Magdala (Nick) Buckley | Episode: "Peril at End House" |
| Screen Two | Nadja | Episode: "The Kremlin, Farewell" | |
| Lorna Doone | Lorna Doone | TV film | |
| 1992 | A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia | Mme. Dumont | |
| The Secret World of Spying | Annette | ||
| 1997 | The Woodlanders | Mrs. Charmond | |
| 2002 | Jeffrey Archer: The Truth | Mrs. Archer | |
| 2003 | The Mayor of Casterbridge | Lucetta Templeman | |
| State of Play | Anne Collins | 6 episodes | |
| 2005–2007 | Rome | Atia of the Julii | 22 episodes |
| 2007 | Waking the Dead | Catherine Braithwaite | 2 episodes: "Deus Ex Machina" |
| Agatha Christie's Marple | Bess Sedgwick | Episode: "At Bertram's Hotel" | |
| Cane | Ellis Samuels | 13 episodes | |
| 2009 | Numbers | Dr. Lorna Ludlow | Episode: "Animal Rites" |
| 2009–2010 | Caprica | Clarice Willow | 17 episodes |
| 2010 | Sanctuary | Ranna Seneschal | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Psych | Randa Tabet | Episode: "Shawn Rescues Darth Vader" |
| 2012–2013 | Prisoners' Wives | Francesca Miller | 10 episodes |
| 2012 | The Mentalist | FBI Agent Alexa Shultz | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Warehouse 13 | Charlotte Dupres | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Mr Selfridge | Delphine Day | 9 episodes |
| 2015 | The Syndicate | DI Lynn Baker | 6 episodes |
| 2016 | Paranoid | Monica Wayfield | 5 episodes |
| 2016; 2019 | Line of Duty | Gill Biggeloe | Series 3 and 5 |
| 2018 | Age Before Beauty | Bel Finch | 6 episodes |
| 2019-2022 | Pennyworth | Margaret "Peggy" Sykes | 17 episodes |
| 2020 | Cursed | Lady Lunete | 5 episodes |
| 2020-present | Bridgerton | Portia, Lady Featherington | Series regular |
| 2024 | Dune: Prophecy | Sonya Harkonnen | Guest Star; Episode 3 |
| 2025 | Bookish | Trottie Book | 6 episodes |
· Filmography › Theatre
1989
Hess is Dead
Role(s)
Charity Luber
Notes
Danny Boyle
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Venue | Notes | Ref. |
| 1988-1989 | Hamlet | Second Grave Digger | Ron Daniels | — | Royal Shakespeare Company Tour | |
| 1989 | As You Like It | Phoebe | Tim Albery | The Old Vic | ||
| Hess is Dead | Charity Luber | Danny Boyle | Almeida Theatre | Royal Shakespeare Company | ||
| 2001 | Finding the Sun | Cordelia | Anthony Page | Royal National Theatre | ||
| 2003 | Les Liaisons Dangereuses | La Marquise De Merteuil | Tim Fywell | Playhouse Theatre | Ambassador Theatre Group |
· Filmography › Audio dramas
2017
Role(s)
Commander Narnia
Notes
Episode: "The Movellan Grave"
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2017 | Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures | Commander Narnia | Episode: "The Movellan Grave" |
· Filmography › Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | Dark Void | Ava, Survivors |
· Awards and nominations
2005
Role(s)
Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture made for Television
Notes
Rome
2006
Role(s)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Notes
Nominated
2021
Role(s)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Notes
Bridgerton
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
| 2003 | Genie Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role | Savage Messiah | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Satellite Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture made for Television | Rome | Nominated | |
| Online Film & Television Association | Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Won | |||
| 2006 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama | Nominated | ||
| 2021 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Bridgerton | Nominated |
References
- bbc.co.ukhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/people/polly_walker_person_page.shtml
- www.ft.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/9e599b40-ad1b-42a5-b749-654498db3df2
- Bustlehttps://www.bustle.com/p/who-is-polly-walker-the-age-before-beauty-star-might-look-familiar-9943035
- tvguide.comhttps://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/polly-walker/credits/3030389172/
- www.miramax.comhttps://www.miramax.com/movie/enchanted-april
- Peoplemaghttps://people.com/tv/bridgerton-polly-walker-talks-season-2-behind-the-scenes-moments/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/state-of-play-paul-abbott-sequel-newsupdate/
- Romehttps://web.archive.org/web/20051217174922/http://www.hbo.com/rome/news/
- Brokeback Mountainhttp://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/13/golden.globes/
- brtmh.livejournal.comhttps://brtmh.livejournal.com/189929.html
- The Worcester Telegram & Gazettehttps://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/north/2007/09/24/new-cane-serves-up-hot/52788212007/
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/show-tracker/story/2010-10-05/caprica-looks-for-more-action-polly-walkers-sister-clarice-codes-a-digital-heaven
- TODAY.comhttps://www.today.com/slideshow/clash-titans-36020492
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/feb/16/have-you-been-watching-prisoners-wives
- Colliderhttps://collider.com/andrew-stanton-john-carter-reshoots-interview/
- The New Zealand Heraldhttps://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/mr-selfridge-along-came-polly/45RK5HKTIRDPCTPEBFZADSXVUQ/
- ScreenRanthttps://screenrant.com/pennyworth-tv-show-polly-walker-cast/
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/2022/04/polly-walker-on-bridgerton-season-2-and-lady-featherington.html
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2021/02/bridgerton-i-may-destroy-you-dead-to-me-sag-award-nominations-golden-globes-snub-1234687312/
- Katherine Hassell: Paranoid's Polly Walker: I like playing a troublemaker. Express, 25 September 2016https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/713759/Actress-Polly-Walker-ITV-Paranoid
- Chicago Tribunehttps://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/08/11/holding-her-own/
- collections.shakespeare.org.ukhttps://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/ham198809/search/rsc_person:walker-polly/page/1/view_as/grid
- bufvc.ac.ukhttp://bufvc.ac.uk/shakespeare/index.php/title/av70940
- collections.shakespeare.org.ukhttps://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/hid198909
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/stage/2003/dec/15/theatre
- The Movellan Gravehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt31410587/?ref_=nm_flmg_eps_tt_1
- www.bigfinish.comhttps://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/doctor-who-the-movellan-grave-1239
- FilmAffinityhttps://www.filmaffinity.com/en/award-edition-movie.php?edition-id=genie_2003&movie-id=690384
- IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0908116/awards/
- "9th Annual TV Awards (2005) – Online Film & Television Association"https://www.oftaawards.com/television-awards/9th-annual-tv-awards-2005/
- Golden Globeshttps://goldenglobes.com/person/polly-walker/