Lia Williams (born 26 November 1964) is an English actress and director, on stage, in film and television. She has had television roles in (The Crown) (playing (Wallis Simpson)), in (May 33rd) (2004) for which she was nominated for a (BAFTA), and in (The Missing) (2016), (Kiri) (2016), (His Dark Materials) (2019–2022) and (The Capture) (2019–2021).
Lia Williams | |
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Born | (Birkenhead), Cheshire, England | 26 November 1964
Occupations |
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Years active | 1984–present |
On stage, she was twice nominated for (Laurence Olivier Awards) in (The Revengers' Comedies) (1992), and (Skylight) (1997).
Early life
Williams was born in (Birkenhead). Her first job in 1984 was understudying in the play (Daisy Pulls It Off) in the West End. She then took over a main role, and was talent-spotted by (Alan Ayckbourn).
Theatre career
Williams's breakthrough performance came in 1991 when she appeared in (The Revengers' Comedies), for which she won the , and a nomination for (Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance) in 1992.
In 1993, she created the role of Carol in the London production of (David Mamet)'s (Oleanna), at the (Theatre Royal, Bath). In 1997, Williams appeared opposite Michael Gambon in London's (West End) and on Broadway in (David Hare)'s (Skylight), (Olivier and Tony Award nominations). In 2001, Williams appeared again in the West End and on Broadway, playing Ruth in (Harold Pinter)'s (The Homecoming). Her long-standing collaboration with Harold Pinter included roles in The Collection, Celebration, The Room, The Lover, The Hothouse and Old Times.
Other leading theatre performances include (Rosalind) in (As You Like It) for the RSC,(Alan Ayckbourn)'s (Absurd Person Singular), (Henryk Ibsen)'s (The Lady from the Sea), and Pinter's (Old Times), in which she alternated the roles of Anna and Kate with (Kristin Scott Thomas).
As Clytemnestra in (Robert Icke)'s (Oresteia) Williams was nominated for both Olivier and Evening Standard Awards. Also for Robert Icke, she alternated the roles of (Elizabeth I) and (Mary, Queen of Scots) with (Juliet Stevenson) in (Mary Stuart).
In 2019, she played the role of Hannah Jelkes in the (West End theatre) production of (Tennessee Williams)' (The Night of the Iguana) at the (Noël Coward Theatre) opposite Clive Owen.
In Dublin, Williams appeared at the (Gate Theatre) as Alma in The Eccentricities of a Nightingale and (Blanche DuBois) in (Tennessee Williams)' (A Streetcar Named Desire). She won (The Irish Times) best Actress Award for both roles.
Film and television
In 1993, Williams made her film debut in (Michael Winner)'s (Dirty Weekend). Winner chose her after seeing her in an (Alan Ayckbourn) play. Subsequent film appearances have included supporting roles in (Firelight) (1997),(Shot Through the Heart) (1998),(The King Is Alive) (2000),(Girl from Rio) (2001), and (The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey) (2007).
Leading television roles include Seaforth starring Williams and (Linus Roache), The Russian Bride opposite (Sheila Hancock) and (Douglas Hodge) and the (ITV) comedy drama series (Doc Martin) with (Martin Clunes).
Williams played the lead role in (May 33rd) for the BBC, for which she won a FIPA Award for Best Actress and was nominated for a (BAFTA).
She played (Wallis, Duchess of Windsor) in the (Netflix) series (The Crown), Nadia Herz in the second series of (The Missing) (2016), and starred in (Kiri), a (Channel 4) series, alongside (Sarah Lancashire) and (Steven Mackintosh).
In 2022, she played Dr Cooper in (His Dark Materials), and (Gemma Garland) in the two series of the BBC mystery thriller (The Capture).
Director
Williams has been directing short films since 2002, her debut being Feathers (2002), which was based on a short story by (Raymond Carver). In 2008, her short film The Stronger (2007), which won Best Short Film at Raindance, and was nominated for the (Best Short Film) at the (BAFTA Film Awards).
In 2009, Williams directed Dog Alone, a dialogue-free short film which was broadcast as part of (British Sky Broadcasting)'s Ten Minute Tales season. In 2016 she directed Nanabozhung, a feature-length documentary about the Batchewana First Nations, Canada.
On stage, she has also directed The Matchbox, by (Frank McGuinness) for (Liverpool Playhouse) and the (Tricycle Theatre) and (Ashes to Ashes) as part of the Harold Pinter Season in the West End (2019). In 2021, Williams directed an acclaimed production of Doubt by John Patrick Shanley at (Chichester Festival Theatre), West Sussex.
Personal life
Williams lives in Portobello, London.[] Her son, Joshua James, is also an actor. They recently[] worked together in (The Vortex) at (Chichester Festival Theatre), in which they played mother and son.
Work
Selected stage credits
Year | Play | Role | Awards and Nominations |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | (The Revengers' Comedies) | Karen | (Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Newcomer), Nominated - (Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance) |
1993 | (Oleanna) | Carol | |
1996 | (Skylight) | Kyra Hollis | (Theatre World Special Award for Best Ensemble Performance) (shared with (Michael Gambon) and (Christian Camargo)) Nominated – (Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play) Nominated – (Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress) Nominated – (Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play) |
2001 | (The Homecoming) | Ruth | |
2005 | (As You Like It) | (Rosalind) | |
2007 | (Absurd Person Singular) | Eva | |
2008 | (The Lady from the Sea) | Ellida Wangel | |
2009 | (God of Carnage) | Véronique | |
2010 | (Earthquakes in London) | Sarah | |
2013 | (Old Times) | Kate/Anna | |
2014 | (The Father) | Anne | |
2015 | (Oresteia) | (Clytemnestra) | Nominated - Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress Nominated - Evening Standard Award for Best Actress |
2016 | Mary Stuart | (Queen Elizabeth I) / (Mary, Queen of Scots) | |
2018 | (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie) | Jean Brodie | |
2019 | (The Night of the Iguana) | Hannah Jelkes | |
2022 | (John Gabriel Borkman) | Ella Rentheim |
Selected television credits
Year | Title | Role | Awards and Nominations |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | (Annika) | Karen | |
1992 | Nightingales | Mary | |
1993 | Mr Wroe's Virgins | Joanna | |
1994 | Seaforth | Paula Longman | |
1997 | (The Uninvited) | Melissa Gates | |
2001 | The Russian Bride | Natasha Cherniavskaya | (Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels Award for Best Actress) |
2003 | (Sparkling Cyanide) | Ruth Lessing | |
2004 | (May 33rd) | Ella Wilson | Nominated – (British Academy Television Award for Best Actress) Nominated – (Royal Television Society Award for Best Actress) |
2005 | (A Touch Of Frost) | Sylvia Ford | |
2006 | (Marple: By the Pricking of My Thumbs) | Nellie Bligh | |
2009 | (Doc Martin) | Edith Montgomery | Series Regular, Season 4 |
2012 | (Secret State) | Laura Duchenne | |
2013 | (Lewis) | Emma Barnes | Guest Star, 2 episodes |
2015 | (Midsomer Murders) | Maggie Markham | Guest Star, 1 episode |
2016–2017, 2022 | (The Crown) | (Wallis, Duchess of Windsor) | Main role ((Seasons 1)–(2)); Guest role ((Season 5)) |
2016 | (The Missing) | Nadia Herz | |
2019–present | (The Capture) | DSU Gemma Garland | |
2019; 2022 | (His Dark Materials) | Dr Cooper | |
2020 | (Riviera) | Dr Emilie Mathieu | Season 3, 2 episodes |
2021 | (Death in Paradise) | Grace Verdinikov | Guest Star, 2 episodes |
2022 | (The Lazarus Project) | Ambassador Belov | 2 Episodes |
2024 | (Mr Bates vs The Post Office) | (Paula Vennells) | |
TBA | (The Day of the Jackal) | Isabel Kirby | Upcoming miniseries |
Selected filmography
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1993 | (Dirty Weekend) | Bella |
1996 | (Different for Girls) | Defence Solicitor |
1997 | The Fifth Province | Diana de Brie |
(Firelight) | Constance | |
1998 | (Shot Through the Heart) | Maida |
2000 | (The King is Alive) | Amanda |
2001 | (Chica de Rio) | Cathy |
2007 | Blanche-Neige, la suite | Sleeping Beauty |
(The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey) | Joan Tyler | |
2017 | (The Foreigner) | Katherine Davies |
2021 | (Benediction) | Edith Sitwell |
2022 | (Living) | Mrs. Smith |
2024 | (Scoop) | (Fran Unsworth) |
References
- Lawrence, Ben (17 January 2018). . (The Daily Telegraph). Archived from the original on 15 May 2023.
- (Winner, Michael) (2005). Winner Takes All: A Life of Sorts. p. 269. ISBN .
- "Olivier Awards 1992". westendtheatre.com. 1992.
- "Lia Williams - Past productions". theatricalia.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- "Lia Williams". westendtheatre.com. 22 August 2022.
- "Lia Williams Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- "Lia Williams Director". independenttalent.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- "Lia Williams' Tender Prison Drama 'Samovar' Poetically Imagines the Defiant Survival of Raoul Wallenberg". directorsnotes.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- "Skylight". (Internet Broadway Database). Retrieved 7 August 2011.
External links
- Lia Williams at (IMDb)
- Lia Williams at the (Internet Broadway Database)
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