Wikipedia

Bel Powley

Isobel Dorothy Powley Booth (born 7 March 1992) is an English actress. Born and raised in London, Powley was educated at Holland Park School. She began acting as a teenager on television, starring on the CBBC action television series M.I. High (2007–2008).

Bel Powley
Powley in 2020
Born
Isobel Dorothy Powley

(1992-03-07) 7 March 1992 (age 34)
Hammersmith, London, England
OccupationActress
Years active2007–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2023)​
FatherMark Powley

Powley gained critical praise for her portrayal of Princess Margaret in A Royal Night Out (2015), for which she was nominated for the British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer, and a sexually confused teenager in the coming-of-age film The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015), for which she was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead and won the Trophée Chopard at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.

On television, Powley starred in the National Geographic miniseries A Small Light (2023). For her performance as Miep Gies, Powley received critical acclaim and was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award and Screen Actors Guild Award.

Early life

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Powley was born in the Hammersmith borough of London, England,[1] to British actor Mark Powley and casting director Janis Jaffa.[2] Her mother is the descendant of Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire to Little Jerusalem in Dublin, Ireland.[3][4] Powley attended Holland Park School.[5]

Career

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Screen

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From 2007 until 2008, Powley was one of the lead characters in M.I. High, starring in 23 episodes. Powley has also appeared in several other productions such as Murderland (three episodes, 2009), Little Dorrit (2008), The Bill (2008) and The Whistleblowers (2007). In 2013, Powley was joining the cast of the ITV series Benidorm for series six.[6]

Powley in 2015

In 2015, Powley portrayed Princess Margaret in the biographical comedy-drama A Royal Night Out, alongside Sarah Gadon as Princess Elizabeth. Powley played the lead role of Minnie Goetze in the comedy-drama film The Diary of a Teenage Girl, which premiered in New York City and Los Angeles in August 2015. Shortly afterward, Powley starred as the titular character in the 2016 indie film Carrie Pilby, taking over the role from Hailee Steinfeld.[7]

Her films since include Carrie Pilby (2016), Mary Shelley (2017) and Ashes in the Snow (2018). In 2018, Powley starred opposite Liv Tyler in the horror film Wildling,[8] and appeared in the crime-drama film White Boy Rick.[9] That same year, Powley played a lead role as Holly Morten in the BBC One drama Informer.[10] In June 2020, Powley appeared in The King of Staten Island as the love interest of Pete Davidson's character. On television, Powley has appeared in the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show (2019–2021) and in 2022, Powley played Birdy, one of the main characters in the TV series Everything I Know About Love of the BBC.[11][12]

Powley was most recently seen in Masters of the Air (2024). On June 9, 2025, it was announced that Powley would be playing Petunia Dursley in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.[13]

Stage

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Powley appeared as Maggie in Tusk Tusk at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in March 2009.[14] On Broadway, she was Thomasina in the 2011 revival of Arcadia at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.[15] In October 2011, she once again appeared at the Royal Court as Tilly in Jumpy,[16] a role to which she returned in the West End transfer of Jumpy to the Duke of York's Theatre in August 2012.[17] She appeared as Dawn in the March 2018 revival of Lobby Hero at the Hayes Theatre, alongside Chris Evans, Michael Cera and Brian Tyree Henry.[18]

Personal life

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In an interview in 2013, Powley said she had been accepted to study history at the University of Manchester,[5] but she never attended. She also deferred a place at University College London several times to pursue her acting career.[19]

It was announced in July 2021 via actor Douglas Booth's Instagram page that he and Powley were engaged to be married, having met on the set of the film Mary Shelley in 2016.[20] The wedding took place on 28 October 2023 at Petersham Nurseries in Richmond, followed by an afterparty at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. The couple were married under a chuppah made by Booth's sister, an artist, to honour Powley's Jewish heritage.[21]

Filmography

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Key
† Denotes projects that have not yet been released

Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 The Cabin Sydney Television film [22]
2013 Side by Side Lauren Buckle [23]
2015 The Diary of a Teenage Girl Minnie Goetze [24]
A Royal Night Out Princess Margaret [25]
Equals Rachel [26]
2016 Detour Cherry [27]
Carrie Pilby Carrie Pilby [28]
2017 Mary Shelley Claire Clairmont [29]
2018 Wildling Anna [30]
White Boy Rick Dawn Wershe [31]
Ashes in the Snow Lina Vilkas [32]
2020 The King of Staten Island Kelsey [33]
2023 Cold Copy Mia Scott [34]
2024 Turn Me On Joy [35]
2026 Savage House Dorothy Neville [36]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2007 The Whistleblowers Emma Clayson Episode: "Starters" [37]
2007–2008 M.I. High Daisy Millar Series regular; 23 episodes [38]
2008 The Bill Becky Cooper Episode: "Loved and Lost" [39]
Little Dorrit Flower Girl Episode: "Episode 3" [40]
2009 Murderland Carrie Walsh Miniseries; 3 episodes [41]
2014 Benidorm Bianca Dyke Series regular; 6 episodes [42]
2016 Revolting Rhymes Cindy Episode: "Part Two" [43]
2018 Informer Holly Morten Series regular; 6 episodes [44]
2019–2024 Moominvalley Little My Series regular; 51 episodes [45]
2019–2025 The Morning Show Claire Conway Series regular; 13 episodes [46]
2022 Everything I Know About Love Birdy Series regular; 7 episodes [47]
2023 A Small Light Miep Gies Miniseries; 8 episodes [48]
2024 Masters of the Air Alessandra "Sandra" Wesgate Miniseries; 3 episodes [49]
2026 Harry Potter † Petunia Dursley Post-production [50]
TBA Possession † Charlotte Post-production [51]

Audio

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Year Title Role Notes
2026 My Husbands Wife Olivia Bird Audiobook
2021 Soft Voice Soft Voice Podcast[52]
2023 Told You So Lucie Audible Original[53]

Theatre

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Year Title Role[54] Company Director
2009 Tusk Tusk Maggie The Royal Court Theatre Jeremy Herrin
2011 Arcadia Thomasina Ethel Barrymore Theatre (Broadway) David Leveaux
Jumpy Tilly Royal Court Theatre & Ambassador Theatre Group Nina Raine
2013 Raving Tabby Hampstead Theatre Edward Hall
2014 Elephants Daisy Hampstead Theatre Tamara Harvey
2018 Lobby Hero Dawn Helen Hayes Theatre (Broadway) Trip Cullman
2024 The Real Thing Annie The Old Vic Max Webster

Awards and nominations

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Year Work Association Award Result
2015 A Royal Night Out Hamptons International Film Festival Breakthrough Performer Won
British Independent Film Awards Most Promising Newcomer Nominated
The Diary of a Teenage Girl Gotham Independent Film Awards Best Actress Won[55]
Niagara Integrated Film Festival NIFF Rising Star Won
Detroit Film Critics Society Best Actress Nominated
Breakthrough Artist Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Most Promising Performer Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle Pauline Kael Breakout Award Nominated
Women's Image Network Awards Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film Nominated
Women Film Critics Circle Best Young Actress Nominated
Village Voice Film Poll Best Actress Nominated
New York Film Critics Circle Breakthrough Performance Nominated
Indiewire Critics' Poll Best Lead Actress Nominated
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Best Actress Nominated
2016 Cannes Film Festival Trophée Chopard - Female Revelation Won
British Academy of Film and Television Arts BAFTA Rising Star Award Nominated
Film Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Lead Nominated
Empire Best Female Newcomer Nominated
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated
Chlotrudis Awards Best Actress Nominated
FEST International Film Festival Best Actress Won
2024 A Small Light Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Nominated

References

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  1. ↑ "Isobel Dorothy Powley - England and Wales Birth Registration Index". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. ↑ Synnot, Siobhan (2 August 2015). "Actress Bel Powley comes of age as 1970s adolescent". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  3. ↑ @bdpowley (4 March 2014). "missing" (Tweet) – via Twitter.[dead link]
  4. ↑ "Bel Powley Adds Staten Island to Her Accent Repertoire". The New Yorker. 29 May 2020.
  5. 1 2 Arcadia - Broadway (17 March 2011). "Arcadia's Bel Powley on Coming to Broadway as a Brainy Teen | Broadway Buzz". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  6. ↑ Lazarus, Susanna (12 April 2013). "Benidorm series 6 confirmed". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 26 April 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Ford, Rebecca (5 August 2015). "'Diary of a Teenage Girl' Actress Bel Powley to Star in 'Carrie Pilby' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  8. ↑ Jaafar, Ali (5 October 2015). "Rising Star Bel Powley To Topline 'Wildling'; Liv Tyler and Trudie Styler's Maven To Produce". Deadline. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  9. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (7 September 2018). "'White Boy Rick' Clip: Exclusive Look At Matthew McConaughey & Family – Toronto". Deadline. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "When is BBC1's Informer on TV? Who's in the cast and what's it about?". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  11. ↑ Grater, Tom (23 August 2021). "Emma Appleton & Bel Powley Starring In Dolly Alderton Adaptation 'Everything I Know About Love' For Working Title & BBC One". Deadline. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  12. ↑ "'Everything I Know About Love': Trailer Drops For Dolly Alderton's Debut BBC Drama Starring Emma Appleton And Bel Powley". deadline. 20 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "'Harry Potter' HBO Series Finds Its Molly Weasley, Malfoys, and More". variety.com. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  14. ↑ Spencer, Charles (2 April 2009). "Tusk Tusk at the Royal Court". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  15. ↑ Brantley, Ben (18 March 2011). "Arcadia:The 180-Year stitch, Metaphysically Speaking". The New York Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  16. ↑ Spencer, Charles (19 October 2011). "Jumpy, Royal Court". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 October 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  17. ↑ "Observations' One To Watch: Bel Powley, Actress, 20 - Features - Films". The Independent. 7 July 2012. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  18. ↑ Stasio, Marilyn (27 March 2018). "Broadway Review: Chris Evans in Kenneth Lonergan's 'Lobby Hero'". Variety. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  19. ↑ Wyver, Kate (16 August 2024). "'You never really know if it's the real thing': Bel Powley on love and Stoppard". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  20. ↑ Rice, Nicholas (5 July 2021). "Bel Powley and Douglas Booth Are Engaged: We're 'Very, Very Happy!'". People. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  21. ↑ Macon, Alexandra (2 November 2023). "Bel Powley Wore An Embellished Miu Miu Dress At Her Wedding To Douglas Booth In London". British Vogue. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  22. ↑ "The Cabin - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  23. ↑ "Side By Side". Time Out. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  24. ↑ Romney, Jonathan (9 August 2015). "The Diary of a Teenage Girl review – entertaining, insightful and ferociously confident". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  25. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (20 April 2015). "How I imagined the true story of the Queen's VE Day shenanigans". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  26. ↑ Derschowitz, Jessica (18 April 2016). "Equals trailer: Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult find love". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  27. ↑ Leydon, Joe (18 January 2017). "Film Review: 'Detour'". Variety. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  28. ↑ Hoffman, Jordan (11 September 2016). "Carrie Pilby review: Bel Powley impresses again as another sufferable kook". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  29. ↑ Haylock, Zoe (25 May 2018). "'Mary Shelley': 4 Characters From the Film and Their Real-Life Counterparts". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  30. ↑ Rhiannon, Alexis (5 October 2015). "Bel Powley's New Project Has A 'Twilight' Vibe". Bustle. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  31. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (13 October 2018). "How Bel Powley Prepared For Her Role As A Crack Addict In 'White Boy Rick' – The Contenders London". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  32. ↑ Clarke, Cath (16 February 2021). "Ashes in the Snow review – heartfelt but brutal YA gulag drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  33. ↑ Seth, Radhika (11 June 2020). "Bel Powley & Maude Apatow Discuss Starring In Pete Davidson's Buzzy New Personal Project". British Vogue. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  34. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (28 September 2022). "Bel Powley, Tracee Ellis Ross & Jacob Tremblay Lead Thriller Pic 'Cold Copy'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  35. ↑ Bray, Catherine (29 October 2024). "Turn Me On review – dystopia's kindly new manners". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  36. ↑ Moss, Molly (20 March 2026). "British acting legends star in first look at historical comedy drama brimming with "madness"". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  37. ↑ "The Whistleblowers - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  38. ↑ Ainsworth, Harry (7 January 2021). "Remember MI High? Here's what the secondary school spies are up to now". The Tab. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  39. ↑ Green, Kris (15 October 2008). "636: 'Loved and Lost'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  40. ↑ "Little Dorrit - Episode 3 of 14". BBC. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  41. ↑ Flett, Kathryn (1 November 2009). "Murderland, The World's Greatest Money Maker and Race and Intelligence". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  42. ↑ Watson, Keith (3 January 2014). "Benidorm hasn't changed a bit – it still leaves me feeling mucky". Metro. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  43. ↑ "Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes to be adapted for BBC One". BBC News. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  44. ↑ Powell, Emma (29 November 2018). "Bel Powley: Informer star says show portrays how real London breathes and exists". The Standard. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  45. ↑ Breen, Emily (21 April 2019). "Moominvalley Review and Q&A". HeyUGuys. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  46. ↑ Gomez, Dessi (1 October 2025). "'The Morning Show' Boss On Why Bel Powley's Claire Made "The Perfect Carrier" For Season 4's Network Cover-Up "Centerpiece"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  47. ↑ "First-look images released for Dolly Alderton's highly anticipated adaptation of Everything I Know About Love, for BBC One and BBC iPlayer". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
  48. ↑ Hogan, Michael (30 April 2023). "Actor Bel Powley: 'I'd shied away from second world war stories – it's always all about men'". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  49. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (24 January 2024). "'Masters of the Air' Review: Austin Butler in an Apple TV+ 'Band of Brothers' Follow-Up That Frequently Soars, Occasionally Stalls". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  50. ↑ Jack, Lauren (25 March 2026). "Harry Potter Trailer: First trailer for HBO's Harry Potter series promises 'a new era of Hogwarts'". The Scotsman. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  51. ↑ "First look: Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars in Sky Original supernatural thriller Possession". Sky UK. 17 March 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  52. ↑ Mudiwa, Takudzwa (24 May 2021). "Where to start with... QCODE Podcasts". POD BIBLE. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  53. ↑ "Audible acquires two books from debut romance author Slade". Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  54. ↑ "Curtis Brown". www.curtisbrown.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  55. ↑ "'Spotlight' Tops Gotham Awards; Full Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
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