Katie McGrath

Katie McGrath
Born Katherine Elizabeth McGrath
24 October 1983 (1983-10-24) (age 28)
Ashford, County Wicklow, Ireland
Occupation Actress/model
Years active 2007–present
Height 5'6 / 168 cm

Katherine Elizabeth McGrath [1] (born 24 October 1983[2]) is an Irish actress from Ashford, County Wicklow, Ireland,[3] best known for playing Morgana in the BBC One TV series Merlin.

Contents

Background

McGrath graduated in History at the Trinity College, Dublin.[4] She wanted to work in fashion journalism and took a job at Image magazine,[4] before becoming a wardrobe assistant on the set of The Tudors.[5]

Career

While working on The Tudors, McGrath was advised to try acting, so she sent photographs around Irish agents.[6] She then won a small role in the series (Season 2 episode 5).

She said:

“A couple of the producers said I should give acting a try. I just thought, ‘Why not?’ It’s like running away to join the circus, everyone wants to do it when they’re young but then you grow up and get a proper job. But somebody’s got to do it or you wouldn’t have the circus.”[7]

McGrath was cast in Damage, an Irish TV-movie in 2007. She also starred in Bedrock Productions's play La Marea at the Dublin Theatre Festival 2007.[8]

She also appeared in the feature films Eden and Freakdog, before being cast in Merlin.

McGrath also starred in a five-part docudrama for Channel 4 exploring the life of Queen Elizabeth II, in which she played a young Princess Margaret.[9]

In 2010, McGrath was cast in Madonna's directorial debut W.E., a King Edward VIII biopic. It was later revealed that McGrath is to play Lady Thelma Furness, the king's former mistress who introduces him to Wallis Simpson.[10]

In February 2011, McGrath began filming the comedy-drama film A Princess for Christmas in Romania.[11]

In September 2011, Katie started voice recording for a character in an upcoming animated short film Trìd an Stoirm. Later that month, McGrath was cast as Oriane[12] in Labyrinth.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
2007 Damage Rachel TV movie
2008 Eden Dessie's Girlfriend
The Tudors Bess TV series (1 episode: "His Majesty's Pleasure")
Freakdog Harriet
The Roaring Twenties Vixen TV mini-series
Merlin Morgana Pendragon TV series (39 episodes: 2008-2011)
2009 The Queen Princess Margaret TV series (1 episode: "Margaret")
2010 The Quest for Morgana Morgana Pendragon YouTube Merlin Spin-off game
2011 A Princess for Christmas Jules Daly TV movie
W.E. Lady Thelma Furness
2012 Tríd an Stoirm Unknown post-production
Labyrinth Oriane TV mini-series

References

  1. ^ http://mcmorgans.tumblr.com/post/8282303306/
  2. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2692146/
  3. ^ http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/Kayvee/LiveJournal/Posts%202011/06%20June/2011-06KMGTranscriptIrishTatlerinterview.jpg
  4. ^ a b The Gloss Magazine - The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
  5. ^ Arena Magazine - Girls - Katie McGrath
  6. ^ Sunday Herald Salon - She's magic
  7. ^ Arena - Under Her Spell
  8. ^ http://www.bedrockproductions.com/productions/la-marea/
  9. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (28 January 2009). "Five actresses to play the Queen for C4". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/28/channel-4-queen-actresses. Retrieved 2009-03-04. 
  10. ^ Love, Ryan (8 October 2010). "Katie McGrath praises "fantastic" Madonna". London: Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a281030/katie-mcgrath-praises-fantastic-madonna.html. Retrieved 2010-10-08. 
  11. ^ Blaga, Lulia (25 February 2011). "PRODUCTION: Christmas at Castlebury Hall Will Shoot in Romania". Film New Europe. http://www.filmneweurope.com/news/romania/production-christmas-at-castlebury-hall-will-shoot-in-romania. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  12. ^ http://katiemcunf.tumblr.com/post/11654528423/a-while-back-we-found-out-that-katie-was-cast-in

External links

  • Biography portal
  • BBC portal
  • Television portal
  • Ireland portal