Gemma Whelan
| Gemma Whelan | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Gemma Elizabeth Whelan 23 April 1981 Leeds, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Actress, comedian |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (167 cm)[1] |
Gemma Elizabeth Whelan (born 23 April 1981) is an English actress and comedian best known for playing Yara Greyjoy in the HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones.[2]
Biography
In addition to being an actress and comedian, Whelan is also a professional dancer and is highly skilled in the tap and jazz dance styles. She is a member of the dance troupe The Beaux Belles, who are based in London.[3] She is also trained in musical theatre and has a mezzo-soprano singing voice. Whelan can speak conversational Spanish.[4] She currently lives in London.
Career
As a comedian, Whelan won the Funny Women Variety Award for stand-up comedy in 2010.[5]
On screen, she played supporting roles in several films and TV shows, including in the 2010 films Gulliver's Travels and The Wolfman.[6][1]
In August 2011, she was cast as Yara Greyjoy (based on the character of Asha Greyjoy from the George R R Martin novels A Song of Ice and Fire) in the second, third and fourth seasons of the HBO fantasy-drama television series Game of Thrones.[7] In 2015, it was announced that Whelan would be returning for the sixth season.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Madness of the Dance | Sister Grace | Short film |
| 2007 | Frites | Marie-Anne | Short film |
| 2008 | Shortbread and Tea | Mildred | |
| 2009 | Ding Dong | Dr. Pretty | Short film |
| 2010 | The Wolfman | Gwen's Maid | |
| Gulliver's Travels | Lilliputian Rose |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Enforcers | Holly | |
| 2009 | 10 Minute Tales | Pretty Nurse | 1 episode |
| 2010 | The Persuasionists | Josephine | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Threesome | Wendy | 1 episode |
| Living Doll | Moaning Mona | ||
| For the Win | Various | Pilot | |
| 2012 | Ruddy Hell! It's Harry & Paul | Daughter | 1 episode |
| Cardinal Burns | Claire | ||
| 2012–present | Game of Thrones | Yara Greyjoy | Recurring, 6 episodes |
| 2013 | The Day They Came to Suck Out Our Brains! | Unknown | Mini-series, 1 episode |
| Nick Helm's Heavy Entertainment | Various | ||
| Claudia O'Doherty Comedy Blaps | Sarah | Mini-series, 3 episodes | |
| 2014 | Live at the Electric | Chastity Butterworth | Series 3, 3 episodes |
| Siblings | Ruth | ||
| Badults | Juliet | Series 2, 1 episode "Neighbours". | |
| Mapp and Lucia | Quaint Irene Coles | ||
| 2014–present | Almost Royal | Narrator | |
| 2015 | Uncle | Veronica | Series 2, 1 episode |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Newsrevue | Various | Edinburgh Festival |
| 2006 | Shakespeare for Breakfast | Petruchio | C Venues |
| Celebrity Love Panto Island | Various | Canal Cafe Theatre | |
| 2008 | Red Death Lates | Unknown | Gideon Reeling |
| Improvathon | Bunny Valentine | The Sticking Place | |
| 2009 | Infinite Variety | Various | Whoopee Productions New Players Theatre |
| 2010 | Stephen & the Sexy Partridgesaab 90 | Chanel | Trafalgar Studios |
| 2013 | One Man, Two Guvnors | Rachel Crabbe | Royal National Theatre |
| Dark Vanilla Jungle | Andrea | Supporting Wall & Pleasance Theatre | |
| Chastity Butterworth & the Spanish Hamster | Chastity Butterworth | Pajama Men Productions | |
| 2014 | Dark Vanilla Jungle | Andrea | Supporting Wall |
| 2015 | Radiant Vermin | Jill and others |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Squadron 42 | TBA | Voice / Motion Capture |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Funny Women Awards | Best Variety | Herself | Won |
References
- 1 2 "Spotlight: Gemma Whelan". Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ↑ "The Spotlight on ... Gemma Whelan". londonisfunny.com. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ↑ "The Beaux Belles". Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ↑ "Gemma Whelan female voiceover artist". Retrieved 18 April 2014.
- ↑ "Funny Women Award Winners". Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ↑ "Gemma Whelan". PBJ and JBJ Management. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ↑ Hibberd, James. "'Game of Thrones' casts Theon's fierce sister". EW.com. Retrieved 2 August 2011.