Vanessa Kirby | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kirby at the2024 Toronto International Film Festival | |
| Born | 18 April 1987/1988 (age 36–37)[n 1] |
| Education | University of Exeter (BA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Partner(s) | Callum Turner (2015–2019) Paul Rabil (2022–present) |
| Father | Roger Kirby |
| Relatives | Joe Kirby (brother) |
Vanessa Nuala Kirby (born 18 April 1987 or 1988)[n 1] is an English actress. She rose to international prominence with her portrayal ofPrincess Margaret in theNetflix drama seriesThe Crown (2016–2017), for which she won theBAFTA for Best Supporting Actress. For her performance in the filmPieces of a Woman (2020), she won theVolpi Cup for Best Actress, and received a nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Actress.
Kirby made her professional acting debut on stage, with acclaimed performances in the playsAll My Sons (2010),A Midsummer Night's Dream (2010),Women Beware Women (2011),Three Sisters (2012), and asStella Kowalski inA Streetcar Named Desire (2014). She also appeared in the action filmsHobbs & Shaw (2019),The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), and twoMission: Impossible films (2018–2023), and portrayedEmpress Joséphine in the historical dramaNapoleon (2023).
Kirby was raised inWimbledon, London.[3] Her parents are Jane Cooper Kirby, a formerCountry Living magazine writer, andRoger Kirby, a retired surgeon and President of theRoyal Society of Medicine.[3] She has two siblings:Joe, a school teacher, and Juliet, a theatrical agent.[4]
After attendingLady Eleanor Holles School and being turned down by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Kirby took a gap year to travel and work in anAIDS hospice in South Africa.[5] She then studied English at theUniversity of Exeter.[4]
Kirby signed to a talent agency and met the theatre directorDavid Thacker, who gave her three starring roles in 2010 at theOctagon Theatre Bolton:All My Sons,Ghosts, andA Midsummer Night's Dream.[6] ForAll My Sons, she won the BIZA Rising Star Award at theManchester Evening News Theatre Awards, worth £5,000. She also starred as Rosalind inAs You Like It at theWest Yorkshire Playhouse inLeeds. Alfred Hickling ofThe Guardian described her as a "significant new talent", and stated: "Kirby gives a performance of statuesque distinction as Helena".[7]
In 2011, Kirby appeared at theNational Theatre inWomen Beware Women, directed byMarianne Elliott, alongsideHarriet Walter andHarry Melling.[8] She also appeared in the playThe Acid Test byAnya Reiss at theRoyal Court Theatre, directed bySimon Godwin. For her performance, Kirby earning praise from Paul Taylor ofThe Independent, who described her as "a star if ever I saw one".[9] That same year, Kirby made her television debut in two BBC series:The Hour[10] and as Estella inGreat Expectations.[11]
Kirby filmed the British crime movieThe Rise in early 2012. The film premièred at theToronto International Film Festival to favourable reviews. She played Masha in the stage production byBenedict Andrews ofThree Sisters at theYoung Vic in September 2012, earning good reviews. Matt Trueman ofTime Out wrote: "In a super cast given licence to shine, Kirby stands out as Masha".[12]
In 2013, Kirby returned to theRoyal National Theatre to play the Queen of EnglandIsabella of France inEdward II oppositeJohn Heffernan. Michael Billington forThe Guardian said that Kirby delivers a "strong performance".[13] Kirby had a supporting role inRichard Curtis's romantic comedy filmAbout Time, starringRachel McAdams.[14] She appeared in the American filmCharlie Countryman, and in one episode of the British TV seriesAgatha Christie's Poirot.[15]
In the summer of 2014, Kirby playedStella Kowalski inA Streetcar Named Desire, again collaborating withBenedict Andrews at the Young Vic, alongsideGillian Anderson as Blanche Dubois andBen Foster as Stanley.[16] She won Best Supporting Actress category at the 2014Whatsonstage Awards.[17] Also in 2014, Kirby appeared inQueen and Country, written and directed byJohn Boorman.
In 2015, Kirby appeared inEverest as American socialiteSandy Hill Pittman, and in thespace opera filmJupiter Ascending byThe Wachowskis. On television, Kirby made appearances in the British television drama filmThe Dresser, alongsideAnthony Hopkins andIan McKellen;[18] and had a main role in the seriesThe Frankenstein Chronicles.[19]
In May 2015 Kirby was cast asPrincess Margaret[20] inNetflix'sThe Crown, a historical drama series about the reign ofQueen Elizabeth II. For her performance, Kirby was nominated for theBAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in 2017, and won the award for the season two in 2018.[21] For this role, she received praise from critics and rose to international prominence.[22]
In 2016, Kirby played Elena inRobert Icke's production ofUncle Vanya at theAlmeida Theatre, for which she received highly positive reviews, with Matt Trueman ofVariety writing that her performance: "confirms her as the outstanding stage actress of her generation, capable of the most unexpected choices".[23] During this year, Kirby had three screen roles: she playedZelda Fitzgerald inGenius; she played the leading role in thesci-fi filmKill Command; and featured in theromantic drama filmMe Before You.
In 2018, Kirby returned to the stage and played the title character inPolly Stenham'sJulie, an adaptation of August Strindberg'sMiss Julie, at the Royal National Theatre. On the big screen, she starred in two action franchise films:Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) oppositeTom Cruise andFast and Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) alongsideDwayne Johnson andJason Statham. For her role inHobbs & Shaw, Kambole Campbell thought that: "Vanessa Kirby steals the show with wry wit and casual lethality".[24] Kirby also appeared in the biopicMr Jones, who loosely tells the story ofGareth Jones. The film was directed byAgnieszka Holland and competed for theGolden Bear at the69th Berlin International Film Festival.[25]
During 2019, Kirby was cast in the French thrillerSuddenly ("Soudain Seuls"), alongsideJake Gyllenhaal, but following a disagreement between the directorThomas Bidegain and Gyllenhaal, the film was rewritten and recast.[26] The same year, Kirby was one of the favourites for the role ofBlack Canary inBirds of Prey, but the role went toJurnee Smollett.[27]
In 2020, Kirby portrayed Martha, a grief-stricken woman, inKornél Mundruzcó'sPieces of a Woman, a film revolving around the trauma and grief surrounding baby loss.[28][29] The film received positive reviews, with Kirby garnering critical acclaim.[30][31] Peter Debruge wrote forVariety that "[...] this is ultimately Kirby's movie, as the stage marvel [...] delivers her most impressive screen performance to date".[32] David Fear fromRolling Stone called her performance "transcendent".[33] Kirby won theVolpi Cup for Best Actress at the2020 Venice Film Festival, where the film premiered.[34][35] She went on to receive various nominations, notably for theAcademy Award,[36] theGolden Globe, theBAFTA Award, and theScreen Actors Guild Award.
Also at the77th Venice International Film Festival, Kirby promotedThe World to Come, directed byMona Fastvold and also starringKatherine Waterston. The film won theQueer Lion award for best LGBTQ-themed film during the festival.[37] In his review forTheGuardian, Xan Brooks note that: "Kirby gives a fine, charismatic turn as the free-spirited Tallie".[38] ForThe Independent, Clarisse Loughrey said: "Kirby’s performance is thrillingly, seductively, alive".[39]
In 2021, Kirby co-founded, with her sister Juliet, the London-based production company Aluna Entertainment[40] which has a first look deal with Netflix.[41] The same year, she played the leading role in the drama filmItalian Studies.[42] David Fear fromRolling Stones wrote that Kirby delivers a: "completely raw, guileless, ego-less performance".[43]
Between 2021 and 2023, Kirby was one of the hosts of theTrue Spies podcast, alongsideHayley Atwell,Sophia Di Martino, andDaisy Ridley.[44][45] In 2022, she appeared in the drama filmThe Son withHugh Jackman,[46] which had its world premiere at the79th Venice International Film Festival. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the performances of Jackman and Kirby were praised. Clayton Davis, forVariety, said: "Kirby is reinventing the wheel of acting with a masterfully executed physical portrayal".[47]
She replacedJodie Comer as EmpressJoséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife,[48] in the historical drama filmNapoleon (2023) withJoaquin Phoenix in the title role, and directed byRidley Scott.[49] Kirby also reprised her role of Alanna Mitsopolis, alias the White Widow, inMission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023). In February 2024, Kirby was cast asSue Storm / Invisible Woman in theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmThe Fantastic Four: First Steps which was released on 25 July 2025.[50] She will reprise the role inAvengers: Doomsday (2026) andAvengers: Secret Wars (2027).[51]
In March 2024, it was announced that Kirby would be playing Lynette, the leading role in theNetflix adaptation ofThe Night Always Comes based on theWilly Vlautin novel.[52] Filming took place inPortland during spring 2024.[53]
From 2015 to 2019, Kirby was in a relationship with English actorCallum Turner.[54] Since 2022, she has been in a relationship withPaul Rabil, an American former professional lacrosse player, co-founder and President ofPremier Lacrosse League.[55] DuringCCXP Mexico in May 2025, Kirby and Rabil revealed that the couple were expecting their first child.[56][57]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | The Hour | Ruth Elms | 3 episodes |
| Great Expectations | Estella Havisham | Miniseries; 3 episodes | |
| 2012 | Labyrinth | Alice Tanner | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Celia Ravenscroft | Episode: "Elephants Can Remember" |
| 2015 | The Dresser | Irene | Television film |
| The Frankenstein Chronicles | Lady Jemima Hervey | Main role; 7 episodes | |
| 2016, 2017, 2022 | The Crown | Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon | Main role (seasons 1–2); Guest role (season 5) 18 episodes |
| Year | Title | Playwright | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | All My Sons | Arthur Miller | Ann Deever | Octagon Theatre |
| Ghosts | Henrik Ibsen | Regina Engstrand | ||
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | William Shakespeare | Helena | ||
| As You Like It | Rosalind | West Yorkshire Playhouse | ||
| 2011 | Women Beware Women | Thomas Middleton | Isabella | Royal National Theatre |
| The Acid Test | Anya Reiss | Dana | Royal Court Theatre | |
| 2012 | Three Sisters | Anton Chekhov | Maria "Masha" Kulygina | Young Vic |
| 2013 | Edward II | Christopher Marlowe | Isabella of France | Royal National Theatre |
| 2014 | A Streetcar Named Desire | Tennessee Williams | Stella Kowalski | Young Vic |
| 2016 | Uncle Vanya | Anton Chekhov | Helena Serebryakova | Almeida Theatre |
| A Streetcar Named Desire | Tennessee Williams | Stella Kowalski | St. Ann's Warehouse | |
| 2018 | Julie | Polly Stenham | Julie | Royal National Theatre |
| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "The Heart Never Lies" | McFly | Female lead |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Fortnite Battle Royale | Sue Storm / Invisible Woman | Likeness | [58] |
| Year | Title | Author | ISBN | ASIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Romeo and Juliet (BBC Radio 3 full-cast dramatization) | William Shakespeare | ASIN B00SSQ1DSG | |
| 2018 | Ladybird Tales of Adventurous Girls | Julia Bruce | ISBN 9780241367407 | ASIN B07G2JZ8BJ |
| 2019 | The Other Boleyn Girl | Philippa Gregory | ISBN 9781508292661 | ASIN B07G2JZ8BJ |
| 2021 | The Virginia Woolf Collection | Virginia Woolf | ASIN B08XQW7M17 | |
| Trouble with Lichen | John Wyndham | ISBN 9781038630445 | ASIN B09M91BHBK | |
| 2022 | Unmade Movies: Harold Pinter's Victory | Harold Pinter | ISBN 9781787533622 | ASIN B09LHP9VCZ |
| Morgan Is My Name | Sophie Keetch | ASIN B0BG8JZLVM | ||
| 2024 | Good Material | Dolly Alderton | ISBN 9780593907030 | ASIN B0CL7M7NPH |
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| Totals[a] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Wins | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nominations | 45 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note
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