Fenella Woolgar is an English film, theatre, television and radio actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the films Bright Young Things and Judy.
Early life
Woolgar was born in London, the daughter of Michael Woolgar and Maureen Woolgar. Her mother is of Irish descent. Woolgar's early years were spent in New Canaan, Connecticut. She was educated at Mayfield School, Durham University, and then Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. At university, along with acting she directed Murder in the Cathedral in Durham Cathedral and wrote and performed comedy in The Durham Revue.
Career
Following Woolgar's graduation from RADA in 1999 she worked in rep at The Royal Exchange, Manchester, York Theatre Royal, Sheffield Crucible and for the BBC in both television and radio. In 2002 she was cast as Agatha in Stephen Fry's film Bright Young Things for which she was nominated for several awards. She subsequently went on to work with Mike Leigh in Vera Drake and Mr. Turner, Conor McPherson in The Veil at the National Theatre and Woody Allen in Scoop and You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. She played Agatha Christie in Doctor Who in 2008. In 2010 she voiced the character of Dr. Sofia Lamb, the main antagonist in the video game BioShock 2. Woolgar has most recently worked in theatre at the Donmar, Royal Court, National Theatre; the Old Vic and in the West End. She won the Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting Actress in the West End in 2013 and the Sunday Times Culture Award for Stage Performance of the Year 2014 for playing Margaret Thatcher in Handbagged. She is regularly heard on the radio and was nominated for Best Actress on the radio in 2013 for An American Rose in which she played Rosemary Kennedy. She played the title role in Mrs Dalloway for BBC Radio 4 and Edith Wharton in both The Jinx Element and Ethan Frome. She stars in the BBC Radio 4 comedy Dot. She has narrated several audiobooks and was nominated for Audio Book of the Year 2013. Woolgar's recent work includes two television roles. She appeared in 2014 and 2015 as Alison Scotlock in Home Fires. She joined the cast of Call The Midwife in series 8 as Sister Hilda.
Blood Sex and Money – Zola, BBC Radio 4 Polly Thomas written by Dan Rebellato
Mrs Dalloway in Mrs Dalloway, BBC Radio 4 Marc Beeby
Rosemary Kennedy in An American Rose, BBC Radio 4 Sally Avens
Edith Wharton in Ethan Frome and in The Jinx Element, BBC Radio 4 Sally Avens
Before They Were Famous, Hat Trick
Flaw in the Motor, Dust in the Blood, BBC Radio 4, Toby Swift written by Trevor Preston
Audio
Includes:
Life After Life and Transcription by Kate Atkinson and The Other Family and Daughters in Law by Joanna Trollope. Dr. Sofia Lamb – BioShock 2 By 2K Games Writer and Concept – Ken Levine Director – Jordan Thomas
