Sophia Myles
Myles at the 2007 Berlinale Film Festival
Born (1980-03-18) 18 March 1980 (age 44)
London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1996–present
PartnerJames Bell
Children1

Sophia Myles (/səˈfaɪ.ə/;[1] born 18 March 1980) is an English actress. She is best known in film for portraying Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward in Thunderbirds (2004), Isolde in Tristan & Isolde (2006), Darcy in Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Erika in Underworld (2003) and Underworld: Evolution (2006) and Freya in Outlander (2008).

Initially hoping to study philosophy at University of Cambridge, for which she secured a place, Myles instead turned to acting after television writer Julian Fellowes saw her perform in a school play, casting her in his series The Prince and the Pauper (1996). After this, Myles continued to receive work in films such as Mansfield Park (1999), From Hell (2001) and The Abduction Club (2002), but her breakthrough role came in the form of Erika in Underworld (2003) before she won the iconic role of Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward in Thunderbirds (2004) propelling her to international stardom.

Following on from this success, Myles moved to Hollywood where she played the main role of Isolde in the epic romantic film Tristan & Isolde (2006) before starring in films including Underworld: Evolution (2006), Art School Confidential (2006), Dracula (2006), Hallam Foe (2007), Outlander (2008), The Damned (2013), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) and Blackwood (2015).

Myles has also received critical acclaim for her television work, particularly as Madame de Pompadour in the Doctor Who episode "The Girl in the Fireplace" (2006), Beth Turner in Moonlight (2007–2008), Beth Bailey in Spooks (2010) and Rebecca Bishop in A Discovery of Witches (2018–2021).

Myles won a BAFTA for Best Actress for her role as Kate in Hallam Foe (2007) and was also nominated for a BIFA at the British Independent Film Awards for the same film. She has also won several other awards at various other film festivals across the world.

Early life

Myles was born in London. Her mother, Jane (née Allan), works in educational publishing, and her father, Peter R. Myles, was a retired Church of England vicar in Isleworth, West London.[2] Her paternal grandmother was Russian,[3] and Myles refers to herself as "half-Welsh, half-Russian".[4] She grew up in Notting Hill and attended Fox Primary School. At the age of 11, she moved with her family to Isleworth and attended The Green School. Following success at her A Levels she secured a place at the University of Cambridge to study philosophy, but chose to pursue an acting career after being spotted by Julian Fellowes in a school play and shortly after had a small role in his television production of The Prince and the Pauper in 1996.[3]

Career

Myles at Berlinale, 2007

Since 1996, Myles has appeared in a number of films and television productions. Following her success in The Prince and the Pauper, Myles made her film debut in Mansfield Park (1999) and had a small role in Guest House Paradiso (1999). After roles in the television series Heartbeat and Foyle's War, Myles starred as Victoria Abberline in the thriller film From Hell (2001) alongside Johnny Depp, with Myles playing his wife. Myles played a main role in the comedy-romance film The Abduction Club (2002) before then playing the role of Erika in the 2003 vampire film Underworld with Kate Beckinsale, and reprised the character in its sequel, Underworld: Evolution (2006).

In 2003, she also starred in the thriller Out of Bounds and played Lady Penelope in Thunderbirds (2004), the film version of the classic television show of the same name. Myles initially had the choice to star in either Thunderbirds or Troy but she chose the former as she said "Lady Penelope is such an iconic character".[4] In 2005, Myles starred in the two-part war drama miniseries Colditz with Damian Lewis and Tom Hardy. In 2006, she co-starred as Isolde in the epic romantic drama Tristan & Isolde opposite James Franco and produced by Ridley Scott.

Myles appeared as Madame de Pompadour in the 2006 Doctor Who episode "The Girl in the Fireplace", which is often referred to as one of the best episodes of the series. The episode was nominated for a Nebula Award and won the 2007 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form.[5] Myles also had roles as Gwenda Halliday in the British detective drama Agatha Christie's Marple: Sleeping Murder and Sophie Amsden in American thriller Covert One: The Hades Factor on television before starring in the 2006 comedy film Art School Confidential. Also in 2006, she appeared as Lucy Westenra in a BBC adaptation of Dracula.

In 2007, Myles was cast as Beth Turner in the popular CBS supernatural television drama Moonlight, a role she would play until the show's end in 2008. Moonlight won Best New Drama in the 2007 People's Choice Awards. Myles was nominated for the Best Actress Award in 2007 for her role as Kate in Hallam Foe from the British Independent Film Award committee,[6] for which she also received a BAFTA Scotland Award. In 2008, she played Freya, the daughter of John Hurt's character, in the sci-fi action epic Outlander with Jim Caviezel and Ron Perlman.[7]

After having a cameo role in the American comedy film Etienne! in 2009, in 2010 Myles joined the cast of Spooks, a BBC television series about a counter-terrorism unit in MI5, for its ninth series, playing Beth Bailey.[8] Myles then had a starring role as Lauren in the 2013 American horror film The Damned with Peter Facinelli and Nathalia Ramos. In 2014, Myles starred as geologist Darcy Tirrel opposite Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci in the sci-fi action blockbuster Transformers: Age of Extinction which was directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg.[9]

Later in 2014, Myles starred as Rachel in the psychological horror film Blackwood before going on to have roles as Dr. Anna Clarke in the international action-thriller Crossing Lines and the aristocratic Lady Katherine Longmore in the miniseries Our Zoo. In 2018, Myles provided her voice for an episode of the sci-fi series Firestorm.

Myles currently plays Rebecca Bishop in the fantasy-romance television series A Discovery of Witches; the first season was released in 2018 and the second in 2021 with a third series already filmed and awaiting release. After roles in the films Two Words (2018) and November 1st (2019), for which she won Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively, Myles played Ann Payne, a secret agent, in the 2020 Portuguese film Listen which was selected as the Portuguese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.[10] However, in December 2020 the film was disqualified, as more than half of its dialogue was in English.[11] Also in 2020, Myles reprised her role as Madame de Pompadour for a minisode sequel specially written for her by Steven Moffat that aired on YouTube on 6 May 2020.[12]

In 2021, Myles starred as Beth Barnes in the comedy-heist film Decrypted about the kidnap of the creator of Bitcoin, alongside Amanda Abbington and Kevin McNally.[13][14] In November 2021, she starred in the film All That Glitters playing a wealthy woman hiding the fact that she is domestically abused; a role that won her Best Actress at the New Renaissance Film Festival and the Gold Movie Awards respectively. In December 2021, Myles played Louise Campbell, Duchess of Argyll in the acclaimed BBC television mini-series A Very British Scandal with Claire Foy and Paul Bettany.

Personal life

From 2004 to 2005, Myles was in a relationship with actor Charles Dance,[15] She has also dated Damian Lewis[16] and musician Paul Wilson from the band Snow Patrol.[citation needed] Myles began dating David Tennant after they filmed an episode of Doctor Who together in 2005.[17][18] By October 2007, they had separated.[19]

In September 2014, Myles gave birth to a son fathered by her partner James Bell, who works for the Bank of England.[20][21][22] Her son's godmother is Myles' friend and fellow actress Celia Imrie.[23]

Filmography

Film

List of Sophia Myles film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Mansfield Park Susan Price
Guest House Paradiso Saucy Wood Nymph
2001 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Kate Nickleby
From Hell Victoria Abberline
2002 The Abduction Club Anne Kennedy
2003 Underworld Erika
Out of Bounds Louise Thompson
2004 Thunderbirds Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward
2006 Tristan & Isolde Isolde
Underworld: Evolution Erika
Art School Confidential Audrey
Covert One: The Hades Factor Sophie Amsden
Dracula Lucy Westenra
2007 Hallam Foe Kate Breck
2008 Outlander Freya
2009 Etienne! Sophia Myles Cameo
2012 A Sunny Morning Grace Short
2013 The Damned Lauren
2014 Transformers: Age of Extinction Darcy Tirrel [24]
Blackwood Rachel Marshall
2018 Two Words Victoria Short
Firestorm Laura Voice
2019 November 1st Caroline Short
2020 Listen Ann Payne
2021 Decrypted Beth Barnes
All That Glitters Margaret Short
2022 Disarm Megan Granger Short

Television

List of Sophia Myles television credits
Year Title Role Notes
1996 The Prince and the Pauper Lady Jane Grey 4 episodes
1998 Big Women Saffron Episode: "Saffron's Search"
1999 Oliver Twist Agnes Fleming 2 episodes
2000 Close and True Marie James Episode: "Town and Gown"
2001 Heartbeat Heather Conway Episode: "No Hiding Place"
2002 Foyle's War Susan Gascoigne Episode: "A Lesson in Murder"
2003 Coming Up Nina Episode: "Money Can Buy You Love"
2005 Colditz Lizzie Carter Both 2 episodes
2006 Agatha Christie's Marple Gwenda Halliday Episode: "Sleeping Murder"
2006 Doctor Who Madame de Pompadour Episode: "The Girl in the Fireplace"
2006 Extras Defence Lawyer Episode: "Orlando Bloom"
2007–2008 Moonlight Beth Turner 16 episodes
2010 Spooks Beth Bailey 8 episodes
2014 Crossing Lines Dr. Anna Clarke 2 episodes
2014 Our Zoo Lady Katherine Longmore All 6 episodes
2018–2021 A Discovery of Witches Rebecca Bishop 8 episodes
2021 A Very British Scandal Louise Campbell 2 episodes
2023 Silent Witness Laine Cassidy 2 episodes
2024 McDonald & Dodds Geraldine Bridget DeVere Episode: "Jinxy Sings The Blues"

Music videos

List of Sophia Myles music video credits
Year Artist Song
2002 Bush "Inflatable"
2003 Ronan Keating "Love Won't Work (If We Don't Try)"
2006 Gavin DeGraw "We Belong Together"

Voice

List of Sophia Myles voice credits
Year Title Role Notes
2006 Rainbow Magic Narrator 5 audiobooks
2012 Afternoon Drama Fiona Episode: "Kicking the Air"
2014, 2018 Panorama Narrator 2 episodes
2018 Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures Rania Chuma 2 episodes

Accolades

List of awards and nominations received by Sophia Myles
Year Award Category Project Result Ref.
2007 British Academy Scotland Awards Best Actress Hallam Foe Won [citation needed]
2007 British Independent Film Awards Best Actress Nominated [6]
2019 International Online Web Fest Best Actress Two Words Won [citation needed]
2020 The Scene Festival Best Actress in Film Won [citation needed]
2020 Overcome Film Festival Best Supporting Actress November 1st Won [citation needed]
2021 CinEuphoria Awards Best Ensemble Listen Nominated [citation needed]
2021 New Renaissance Film Festival Best Actress All That Glitters Won [citation needed]
2021 Gold Movie Awards Best Actress Won [citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Sophia says her own name at the start of the video commentary for "The Girl in the Fireplace" in the DVD collection Doctor Who: The Complete Second Series.
  2. ^ Sheffield, Emily (8 August 2003). "Myles ahead; Sophia Myles beat Sophie Dahl and Rosamund Pike to the coveted role of Lady Penelope in next year's 'Thunderbirds'. Now she's about to star in Hollywood's vampire tale 'Underworld'. Not bad for a vicar's daughter from Isleworth, says Emily Sheffield". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b Husband, Stuart (5 August 2007). "Curtain call for Miss Myles". Guardian Unlimited. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2007.
  4. ^ a b Hoggard, Liz (20 September 2010). "From wronged maiden to kickass spy: Spooks star Sophia Myles". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  5. ^ "2006 Final Nebula Award Ballot". sfwa.org. Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. Archived from the original on 22 March 2007. Retrieved 12 April 2007.; "2007 Hugo Awards". thehugoawards.org. World Science Fiction Society. 1 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 July 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2007.
  6. ^ a b "Nominations 2007: BIFA". Bifa.org.uk. British Independent Film Awards. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Moviefone | Movies | Movie Times | Movie Trailers | Movie News". Movies.aol.com. 13 November 2016. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Press Office – Network TV Programme Information BBC Week 38 Spooks Feature". BBC. 29 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 January 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  9. ^ Sneider, Jeff (6 May 2013). "Sophia Myles to Join Mark Wahlberg in Michael Bay's 'Transformers 4' (Exclusive)". Thewrap.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  10. ^ "The film that will represent Portugal in the Oscar race is already chosen". re Jerusalem. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  11. ^ "North American Academy vetoes "Listen" as Portuguese candidate for Oscars – Observer". Time24. Retrieved 18 December 2020.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ Doctor Who: LOCKDOWN | Pompadour. Doctor Who: LOCKDOWN!. 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ "Substantial Films Release The First Production Stills For Tom Sands' British Comedy DECRYPTED Starring Sophia Myles". The Fan Carpet. 14 January 2021.
  14. ^ Marc Jason Ali (1 November 2021). "Tackling Cryptocurrencies: A Conversation With Sophia Myles For DECRYPTED". The Fan Carpet.
  15. ^ Hoggard, Liz (17 September 2010). "From wronged maiden to kickass spy: Spooks star Sophia Myles". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  16. ^ Hoggard, Liz (9 September 2006). "Red hot: The irresistible rise of Damian Lewis". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  17. ^ Tennant, David [@davidtennantcom] (11 February 2020). "PHOTO OF THE DAY" (Tweet). Wales. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2023 – via Twitter. David Tennant and Sophia Myles on the set of Doctor Who - 2005
  18. ^ "David Tennant & Sophia Myles". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  19. ^ "David Tennant splits from girlfriend Sophia Myles". Hello!. 8 October 2007. Archived from the original on 19 March 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  20. ^ Myles, Sophia [@SophiaMyles] (26 June 2019). "I am super proud of my partner ⁦James Bell, who features heavily in this fascinating documentary about ⁦@bankofengland⁩ where he has worked for 22yrs. Tune in next Tuesday BBC2 !!! ⁦@RawTVLtd⁩ https://t.co/QZ9ZAAfhL1" (Tweet). Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Myles, Sophia [@SophiaMyles] (25 November 2015). "He melts my heart and lights up my life. https://t.co/pOLt5uq0cm" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "About | Our People | James Bell - Executive Director, Communications". Bank of England. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023. [note: quote as of December 2023] Previously, James was our Director for Monetary Analysis (2017-2021)… James started working at the Bank of England in 1997 as an economist.
  23. ^ Myles, Sophia [@SophiaMyles] (22 July 2017). "My baby and his Fairy God Mother. My heart bursts with joy xxxx https://t.co/q4b6dtAeGa" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ "Transformers: Age of Extinction Interview with Stanley Tucci". Collider.com. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

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