Hannah Traylen (born 28 March 1995) is an English actress, writer and singer. She gained recognition as Holly in Boiling Point (2021 film) and Boiling Point (2023 TV series), and for her role as Chrissy in Ridley Road (2021).
Hannah Traylen | |
|---|---|
 Hannah Traylen in 2023 | |
| Born | Crawley, West Sussex, England |
| Education | Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Occupation | Actress • Writer • Singer |
| Years active | 2017–present |
Early life and education
editHannah Traylen is of Northwestern European heritage and is from Crawley in West Sussex. Her family run a coach company. She has one sibling, Hollie.
Traylen studied at Oriel High School in Crawley. Whilst studying, her drama teacher, Nathan Gardner, who has links with Central Junior Television Workshop in Nottingham, noticed her talent and encouraged her to pursue acting professionally. Traylen credits Nathan and Abbie for supporting her to learn about drama schools, apply for courses and grants, and attend auditions.[1]
Traylen was accepted into drama school at the age of 17, and trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts (2013-16), graduating with a BA (Hons) in Acting.[2] In an interview with Wonderland (magazine) in 2023, Traylen said "I felt like Billy Elliot arriving at the Royal Ballet School."[1]
Whilst training, Traylen won the Sir Alec Guinness Memorial Award (2016).[3]
Career
editFilm and television
editTraylen's first television appearance was in a 2017 episode of Unforgotten. The same year, she appeared as Beryl, a young mother in active labour, in Call the Midwife, Nancy, in British period drama Harlots set in 1760s London, and Kenneth Lonergan's drama miniseries Howards End, based on E. M. Forster's 1910 novel of the same name, for BBC/Starz.
In 2021, Traylen played drug-dealer Holly, in the BAFTA-nominated one-take film Boiling Point. She played hairdresser Chrissy, in all episodes of Ridley Road, a BBC four-part drama thriller set in 1960s London, following a young Jewish hairdresser who goes undercover to infiltrate a rising neo-Nazi movement, alongside Agnes O'Casey, Tamzin Outhwaite, and Tracy-Ann Oberman.[4] She also appeared as Mandy in the Netflix psychological thriller miniseries Behind Her Eyes, based on Sarah Pinborough’s novel of the same name, alongside Eve Hewson.
In 2022, she played protagonist Vix, in Signature Entertainment's crime horror film Hounded (released as Hunted in the United States and other international markets), alongside Samantha Bond, Nick Moran, and James Lance.[5]
In 2023, Traylen reprised her role as Holly, in Boiling Point [6][7], as one of the principal cast members featured in the kitchen, and Vinette Robinson's character, Carly's, love interest.[8][9] She also played guest lead, Hayley Collins, in an episode of Beyond Paradise, and featured in the award-winning Cadbury Dairy Milk commercial Garage alongside Mark Womack.[10] In 2024, she played Hayley, in the Paramount+ series Sexy Beast, and alongside Martin Freeman in BBC series The Responder, as Emma.[11]
In 2026, she'll be seen playing Tia in Chris Green's thriller/drama film Synthesized, alongside Thomas Turgoose.[12]
Traylen's debut feature film as a writer is currently in pre-production with It's All Made Up Productions (Adolescence, Boiling Point).[13]
Theatre
editSince graduating from Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in 2016, Traylen has appeared in a number of productions. Her performances have consistently attracted positive reviews from theatre critics.
The Stage reviewer Daisy Page, noted "Traylen gives the strongest performance, lending Frances some enlivening bite", for her role in Blessings at Riverside Studios (2025).[14] And Aliya Al-Hassan for BroadwayWorld described Traylen as "standout" for bringing "believable nuance and heart to the role".[15]
Samantha Collett for North West End UK described Traylen as "an absolute firecracker of a performer"[16], for her performance as Rita in Educating Rita (2025), and said "Traylen is flawless", of her performance as Marianne in Constellations (2024).
In 2026, Traylen starred as Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the UK, in Ruth The Musical at Wilton's Music Hall. Her performance led West End Best Friend reviewer Heidi Downing to write “Traylen is a powerful, standout performer who makes for a gripping lead throughout the show, highlighting the emotional intricacies and inner battles of Ruth Ellis, particularly in sensitive scenes regarding alcoholism, miscarriage and being a victim of violence."[17] Simon Finn for Everything Theatre described Traylen as "a compelling stage presence, shining brightly and full of considered nuance".[18]
Personal life
editIn 2026, Traylen was announced as an ambassador for ADHD UK.[19]
Credits
editFilm
edit| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Boiling Point | Holly | |
| 2022 | Hounded | Vix | Known in some territories as Hunted |
| 2024 | Hard Times | Cathy | |
| 2026 | Synthesized | Tia | |
| 2026 | Vote Gavin Lyle | Helen | |
| 2026 | Intertidal † | Claire | |
| 2026 | The Wanting † | Penny |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Unforgotten | Jasmine | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Call the Midwife | Beryl | 1 episode |
| 2017 | Doctors | Sarah Edwards | Episode: "Love and Duty" |
| 2017 | Harlots | Lennox Maid | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Howards End | Nancy | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Casualty | Hailey Dougan | 1 episode |
| 2021 | Behind Her Eyes | Mandy | Episode: "The First Door" |
| 2021 | Ridley Road | Chrissy | 4 episodes |
| 2023 | Cadbury Dairy Milk "Garage" | Girl | Won: Campaign Big Awards: 30-Second TV Ad (2023), British Arrows Silver Award: Best Commercial 30-60 seconds (2023), ADCE Bronze Award: TV/Cinema Commercials (2023), and was recognised as the top-scoring ad of January 2023 by System1. |
| 2023 | Beyond Paradise | Hayley Collins | 1 episode |
| 2023 | Boiling Point | Holly | 4 episodes |
| 2024 | Sexy Beast | Hayley | 1 episode |
| 2024 | The Responder | Emma | 1 episode |
| 2026 | Casualty | PC Ashley Sullivan | 7 episodes |
| 2026 | Cash In Hand † | Shaunie | 1 episode |
| 2027 | TBA † | Claire | 1 episode |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Heroine | Shelley | Theatr Clwyd, Sherman Theatre, | |
| 2018 | A New And Better You | You | The Yard Theatre | Lead |
| 2018 | The Kneebone Cadillac | Maddy Kneebone | Theatre Royal, Plymouth | Lead |
| 2022 | Hoxton Street | Ella Maynard | Hoxton Hall | |
| 2023 | Folk | Louie Hooper | Frinton Summer Theatre | Lead |
| 2024 | Constellations | Marianne | Frinton Summer Theatre | Lead |
| 2025 | Educating Rita | Rita | Frinton Summer Theatre | Lead |
| 2025 | Blessings | Frances | Riverside Studios | |
| 2026 | Ruth The Musical | Ruth Ellis | Wilton's Music Hall | Lead |
Voiceovers
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Scope | Narrator | Online commercial |
| 2023 | Tombola Arcade | Narrator | Radio commercial |
| 2023 | Carl Frampton: Men In Crisis | Narrator | TV commercial voiceover |
| 2023 | First Folio | Rosalind | Radio play on BBC Radio 4 |
| 2023 | Warner Bros. Studio Tour London | Narrator | Radio commercial |
| 2023 | Louis Theroux Interviews | Narrator | TV commercial voiceover |
| 2024 | National Grid Priority Services | Narrator | Dynamic radio commercial |
| 2024 | FA Cup | Narrator | TV commercial voiceover |
| 2024 | Too Good To Go | Narrator | Radio and online commercial |
| 2024 | Google Pixel 8 Pro "Magic Editor" | Narrator | TV commercial voiceover |
| 2024 | Google Pixel 8 Pro "Best Take" | Narrator | TV commercial voiceover |
| 2024 | Google Pixel 8 Pro "AI Mojo" | Narrator | TV commercial voiceover |
| 2024 | Sky VIP | Narrator | Radio commercial |
| 2024 | EE | Narrator | Radio commercial |
| 2025 | North Woods | Narrator + 5 character voices | Radio play on BBC Radio 4 |
| 2025 | Mars Inc. "Petcare: Love Letters" | Narrator | Radio commercial |
| 2025 | National Grid Priority Services | Narrator | Dynamic radio commercial |
| 2025 | EA Sports FC 26 | Football Player, Football Supporter | Video game |
| 2026 | Watch Your Back | Narrator + 32 character voices | Audiobook |
Awards
edit| Year | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Sir Alec Guinness Memorial Award | Won | [20] |
References
edit- 1 2 "Wonderland Magazine - Boiling Point & More With Hannah Traylen".
- ↑ "HighTide - Hannah Traylen".
- ↑ "Sir Alec Guinness Award".
- ↑ "BBC - Ridley Road".
- ↑ "Tribute - Hounded".
- ↑ "Revamp Magazine - Hannah Traylen".
- ↑ "Grazia Daily UK - Boiling Point's Hannah Traylen: 'Just Because You're Working Class, Doesn't Mean You're A Stereotype'".
- ↑ "BBC - Boiling Point's cast and creatives reveal all about the new drama".
- ↑ "Empire - Boiling Point TV Series Confirms Cast As Shooting Begins".
- ↑ "VCCP London - Cadbury Garage".
- ↑ "TV Guide - Hannah Traylen credits".
- ↑ "Shout To The Top - Development".
- ↑ "Revamp Magazine - Hannah Traylen".
- ↑ "The Stage review Blessings".
- ↑ "Broadway World review Blessings".
- ↑ "North West End UK review Educating Rita".
- ↑ "West End Best Friend review Ruth The Musical".
- ↑ "Everything Theatre review Ruth The Musical".
- ↑ "ADHD UK Ambassador - Hannah Traylen".
- ↑ "Sir Alec Guinness Award".