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Gemma Whelan

Highest Rated: 92% Prevenge (2016)

Lowest Rated: 0% Christmas Survival (2018)

Birthday: Apr 23, 1981

Birthplace: Leeds, England, UK

Gemma Whelan began her career as a stand-up comedian but found fame with dramatic roles in "The Moorside" (BBC One, 2017), "Gentleman Jack" (BBC One, 2019-) and, most notably, "Game of Thrones" (HBO, 2011-19), in which she played the fierce ironborn warrior Yara Greyjoy. Born in Leeds, England in 1981, Gemma Whelan trained as a dancer, opera singer and musical theatre performer but first caught attention on the stand-up comedy circuit in which she performed in the character of aristocrat Chastity Butterworth. She made her screen debut in short film "Frites" (2008) before playing Emily Blunt's maid in supernatural horror "The Wolfman" (2010), Lilliputian Rose in Jack Black vehicle "Gulliver's Travels" (2010) and ad executive Veronica in short-lived sitcom "The Persuasionists" (BBC Two, 2010). Whelan's big break came in 2012 when she was cast as the self-assured seafaring warrior Yara Greyjoy in the adaptation of George R. R. Martin's novels, "Game of Thrones" (HBO, 2011-19). During her 16-episode stint on the fantasy phenomenon, Whelan also played free spirit Irene Coles in period comedy "Mapp and Lucia" (BBC One, 2014), narrated the mockumentary "Almost Royal" (BBC America, 2014-16) and was cast as Veronica in family sitcom "Uncle" (BBC Three, 2014-17). After showing up as ill-fated housewife Len in broody comedy slasher "Prevenge" (2016), Whelan landed the recurring roles of aspiring actress Kate in Shakespearean spoof "Upstart Crow" (BBC Two, 2016), Natalie Cassidy's fictional sister Kat in the satirical "Morgana Robinson's The Agency" (BBC Two, 2016) and kitchen maid Ida Battersea in the adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's children's novels, "Hetty Feather" (CBBC, 2015-). Whelan then portrayed real life figures Karen Matthews, the real-life mother who faked the disappearance of her own nine-year-old daughter, in gritty drama "The Moorside" (BBC One, 2017), and Patricia Campbell, a magazine assistant, in British monarchy drama "The Crown" (Netflix, 2016-). After playing DC Eunice Noon in the comic book miniseries "The End of the F***ing World" (Channel 4, 2017-), Whelan returned to more familiar comedic territory when she joined the cast of children's sketch show "Horrible Histories" (CBBC, 2015-), appeared as Diane in the adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's social satire "Decline and Fall" (BBC One, 2017) and took the leading role of Miranda in dysfunctional family film "Surviving Christmas with the Relatives" (2018). Whelan further showcased her dramatic skills when she was cast as diarist Anne Lister's sister Marian in period piece "Gentleman Jack" (BBC One, 2019-) and governess Mrs. Weston in Autumn de Wilde's take on Jane Austen classic "Emma" (2019).

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Highest rated movies

92% 54% Prevenge Watchlist 86% 72% EMMA. Watchlist
33% 52% Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas
Watchlist
0% 38% Christmas Survival
Watchlist
Wise Girl
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
86% 72% EMMA. Mrs. Weston (Character) $9.9M 2020
0% 38% Christmas Survival Miranda (Character) - 2018
33% 52% Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas Tiffany (Voice) - 2017
No Score Yet No Score Yet Wise Girl Unknown (Character) - 2016
92% 54% Prevenge Len (Character) - 2016

TV

Credit
100% No Score Yet The Tower DS Sarah Collins (Character) 2021 2023-2024
No Score Yet No Score Yet Horrible Histories Unknown (Character) 2017-2024
83% 61% DI Ray D.C.I. Kerry Henderson (Character) 2022 2024
86% 75% Cristóbal Balenciaga Prudence Glynn (Character) 2024
92% 94% Gentleman Jack Marian Lister (Character) 2019 2022
100% 91% Inside No. 9 Columbina (Character) 2021
80% 73% Killing Eve Geraldine (Character) 2020
83% 86% The Murders at White House Farm Ann Eaton (Character) 2020
94% 92% The End of the F...ing World Eunice (Character) 2017 2019
73% 88% Upstart Crow Kate (Character) 2016-2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet Queers Bobby (Character) 2017
89% 85% Game of Thrones Yara Greyjoy (Guest Star) 2012-2014 2016-2017
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Graham Norton Show Guest 2017
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Moorside Karen Matthews (Character) 2017
75% 89% Almost Royal Narrator 2014 2016
No Score Yet No Score Yet Murder in Successville Nurse Adele (Character) 2015