Katie McGrath

Katie McGrath
McGrath at the Japan Expo in 2010
Born	Katherine Elizabeth McGrath (1983-10-23) 23 October 1983 Ashford, County Wicklow, Ireland
Other names	Katherine
Occupation	Actress, model
Years active	2007–present
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)

Katherine Elizabeth "Katie" McGrath (born 1983) is an Irish actress and model. She is best known for playing Morgana in the BBC One television series Merlin and also for portraying Jules Daly in "A Princess for Christmas". She most recently appeared as Lucy Westenra on the British-American horror drama TV series Dracula, which aired in the fall of 2013.^[1][2]

Background

McGrath was raised in Ashford, County Wicklow, Ireland.^[3] She studied the International Baccalaureate at St. Andrews College before graduating from Trinity College, Dublin with a degree in history.^[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

Katie McGrath (right) with Merlin co-star Angel Coulby (left)

While working on The Tudors, McGrath was advised to try acting, so she sent photographs around Irish agents.^[6] 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.

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.^[7]

She appeared in the feature films Eden and Freakdog in 2008, before being cast in Merlin.

In 2009, McGrath starred in a five-part docudrama for Channel 4 exploring the life of Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen, in which she played a young Princess Margaret.^[8] Emilia Fox portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in the same episode McGrath acted in, the two had previously worked together as sisters Morgause and Morgana (Morgan Le Fay) in "Merlin"

In 2010, McGrath was cast in Madonna's directorial debut W.E., a King Edward VIII biopic. McGrath played Lady Furness, the king's former mistress who introduces him to Wallis Simpson.^[9]

In February 2011, McGrath began filming the comedy-drama film A Princess for Christmas in Romania.^[10] The film premiered in December 2011.

In September 2011, McGrath voice-acted the lead character in the Irish animated short film Tríd an Stoirm (Through the Storm). Later that month, McGrath was cast as Oriane Congost in Labyrinth.

In February 2013, McGrath was reunited with her The Tudors co-star and close friend Jonathan Rhys Meyers (McGrath was never cast in "The Tudors" because she was working on the wardrobe) in NBC and Sky Living's horror drama TV series Dracula, which started airing in autumn 2013.^[1] McGrath portrays Lucy Westenra.

In June 2013, McGrath starred in the Channel 4 show Dates alongside Gemma Chan as a young lesbian on the dating scene. In April 2014, McGrath joined the cast for Jurassic World.^[11]

In November 2014, McGrath co-starred in a Hozier music video for the song From Eden with the singer.^[12]

Filmography

Television

Film

See also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Katie McGrath.

• Katie McGrath at the Internet Movie Database
• From Eden YouTube video featuring Katie McGrath; song by Hozier.