Lucy Boynton | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Boynton in 2022 | |
| Born | (1994-01-17)17 January 1994 (age 32)[1][2] New York City, U.S. |
| Citizenship |
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Partners |
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| Father | Graham Boynton |
Lucy Boynton (born 17 January 1994[1][2]) is a British actress. Born inNew York City and raised inLondon, she made her professional debut as the youngBeatrix Potter inMiss Potter (2006).
She appeared in television productionsBallet Shoes (2007),Sense and Sensibility (2008) andMo (2010), making guest appearances onLewis,Borgia,Endeavour, andLaw & Order: UK. Boynton portrayed writerAngelica Garnett onLife in Squares, which aired onBBC. She appeared as an isolated popular girl inThe Blackcoat's Daughter (2015) and starred as a bold aspiring model inSing Street (2016). She also appeared in horror filmsI Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016) andDon't Knock Twice (2016).
Boynton playedCountess Andrenyi inMurder on the Orient Express (2017), which was a commercial success. Boynton portrayed anaddict inNetflix'sGypsy (2017) and the daughter of acult leader inApostle (2018). Boynton gained recognition for starring asMary Austin in thebiopicBohemian Rhapsody (2018). She appeared inHBO Max'sLocked Down (2021). Boynton appeared as the privileged antagonist Astrid Sloan in the Netflix seriesThe Politician, appeared in the second season ofModern Love, and starred inITV'sThe Ipcress File (2022).
Boynton was born inNew York[3] to English parents, journalistsGraham Boynton and Adrianne Pielou.[4][5][6] The younger of two daughters, Boynton was initially raised in New York until the age of four when her family returned to Britain;[3] thereafter, she was raised in southeastLondon.[7][8][9] She retains dual citizenship of the United Kingdom and the United States.[10][4] Boynton realized she wanted to act when she was ten, after a drama teacher taught her that "acting was not playing pretend; it was understanding the human mind and why people function as they do."[11] She attended the privateBlackheath High School, followed byJames Allen's Girls' School inDulwich.[11][12]
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Boynton made her professional debut at age twelve as youngBeatrix Potter in thebiographical filmMiss Potter (2006).[13] She was asked to audition after being spotted by a casting director sitting in on her drama class.[14] Additional scenes were written for her character after atest screening responded positively to her role.[14] Boynton wore corsets and padded clothing to portray a younger Potter.[8] Boynton stated that the first day of filming was "the best day of [her] life".[14] In 2007, she was nominated for theYoung Artist Award for Best Supporting Actress, forMiss Potter.[15] Boynton starred asPosy Fossil in the BBC filmBallet Shoes (2007).[16] Abody double was used in some scenes to display her character's "remarkable dancing skill".[17] The film was praised by critics.[18]
Boynton portrayedMargaret Dashwood in the2008 television adaptation ofJane Austen's novelSense and Sensibility.[19] The miniseries premiered to high viewership and positive reviews.[20][21] Boynton has described experiencing a "difficult period" from ages 16 to 17 for being "too old for young roles, but too young to play the leading lady."[11] She playedMo Mowlam's stepdaughter in television filmMo (2010).[22] In 2011, She appeared in an episode of theITV dramaLewis.[23] In 2013, she starred inSaint Raymond'smusic video for the lead single from his debutextended play, "Fall At Your Feet".[24] Boynton appeared inperiod dramaCopperhead (2013) based on the novel of the same name byHarold Frederic.[25] In 2014, she guest-starred in the television seriesBorgia,Endeavour, andLaw & Order: UK.[26][27][28] She playedAngelica Garnett, a member of theBloomsbury Group, in the BBC miniseriesLife in Squares, which aired in 2015.[29] To prepare for the part, she read Garnett's memoir,Deceived with Kindness, in which most of her scenes were detailed, which she described as "a dream for any actor".[30] The series was reviewed positively.[31][32]
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Boynton appeared as "sullenmean girl" Rose alongsideEmma Roberts andKiernan Shipka inThe Blackcoat's Daughter (2015).[33] She prepared for the film by watching films that dealt with isolation and grief, such asRosemary’s Baby on the recommendation of directorOz Perkins.[34] Chuck Bowen ofSlant Magazine wrote that Roberts, Shipka, and Boyton were "poignant in their minimalist roles".[35] Boynton starred in the coming-of-age filmSing Street (2016) as Raphina, an aspiring model with "huge hair, bright make-up and colourful clothes".[36] Boynton described her role as "the muse character, in a way, but only because she has put herself there".[36] She adopted anIrish accent for the film and was instructed by directorJohn Carney to create a backstory "in much more detail than [she] had before."[37] The film premiered to critical praise at theSundance Film Festival and garnered aGolden Globe nomination forBest Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.[38][39]
She appeared as ghostly bride Polly Parsons in the gothic-horror filmI Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016), which opened at theToronto International Film Festival to mixed reception.[40][41] Boynton starred alongsideKatee Sackhoff in indie-horrorDon't Knock Twice (2016).[42][43] Noel Murray of theLos Angeles Times praised Sackhoff and Boynton's "volatile chemistry", stating that "they bring so much life to the material that it’s almost like they’ve been tricked into thinking they’re in a better movie."[44]
She portrayedJ. D. Salinger's second wife, Claire Douglas, inRebel in the Rye (2017).[36]Rebel in the Rye premiered at theSundance Film Festival and was panned by critics.[45] Boynton played Countess Helena Andrenyi in the2017 adaptation ofMurder on the Orient Express. The film was a box office success and received mixed reviews, though the performances of the cast were praised.[46][47][48][49] In the same year, Boynton starred as Allison Adams, a college student turned drug addict, in theNetflix seriesGypsy (2017).[50] Boynton empathised with her character's desire to regress into early life while struggling with control.[11] Daniel Fienberg ofThe Hollywood Reporter cited Boynton as "splendid-but-underused" and among the "best of the supporting turns".[51] She appeared as Andrea, the daughter of a cult leader, inApostle (2018), which was praised by critics.[52][53][54]
Boynton starred oppositeRami Malek asFreddie Mercury's partner Mary Austin inBohemian Rhapsody (2018).[55] She watched Austin's interviews to "gauge what she was happy to be open about" and spoke toBrian May to research the role.[56] The film became the highest-grossing biographical film of all time and met mixed criticism.[57][58]Time praised her for playing the role with "charm and vigour" while theIrish Independent wrote that her scenes were the "quietest, most touching moments" of the film.[59][60]Bohemian Rhapsody received fourAcademy Awards and earned the cast a nomination forOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the25th Screen Actors Guild Awards.[61][62]
Boynton appears oppositeTaron Egerton inGlimpse, a shortvirtual reality animated film premiering at the Virtual Reality showcase of theVenice Film Festival in 2019.[63]
Since 2019, Boynton has starred in the Netflix seriesThe Politician, portraying Astrid Sloane, the protagonist's "ruthless" and "hyperbolically privileged" rival.[64][65] Boynton described the experience "liberating", saying that playing an antagonistic character added depth to the role.[66][67]The Hollywood Reporter praised Boynton's "razor-sharp delivery" but remarked that her written dialogue prevented her from being "spectacular".[68]
In February 2020, it was announced that Boynton would be both executive producer and lead actor in the upcomingMarianne Faithfull biopic,Faithfull.[69] Production was originally due to begin in October 2020, but was delayed indefinitely due to the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic.[70] By August 2022, Boynton had dropped out ofFaithfull owing to creative differences.[71]
Boynton had a supporting role as Charlotte, aHarrods shop assistant, inLocked Down (2021), released onHBO Max.[72] The film received mixed reviews.[73] She guest-starred oppositeKit Harington in the second season ofAmazon Video's anthology seriesModern Love in 2021.[74][75]
In 2022, Boynton appeared inITV's six-part miniseriesThe Ipcress File as Jean Courtney,Harry Palmer's colleague, and also starred in theStephen Williams-directed biographical filmChevalier asMarie Antoinette.[76][77] She starred as Lady Frances "Frankie" Derwent inBritBox'sthree-part adaptation ofAgatha Christie's crime novelWhy Didn't They Ask Evans?,[78] and as Lea Marquis in the Netflixadaptation ofLouis Bayard's Gothic thriller novelThe Pale Blue Eye.[79] In August 2022, it was announced that Boynton would star inThe Greatest Hits, written and directed byNed Benson forSearchlight Pictures;[71] the film was released in April 2024 to mixed reviews.[80]
In 2023, Boynton portrayedProust Barbie in the fantasy comedyBarbie; she was originally meant to have more scenes, but due to test audiences' unfamiliarity with Marcel Proust, and thus inability to appreciate the humour associated with the Proust Barbie character, she only appears in a brief cameo in the finished film.[81] In June 2023, Boynton was cast asRuth Ellis in an ITV adaptation based on the account given in true crime authorCarol Ann Lee's bookA Fine Day for Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story.[82][83] Originally given the simple title ofRuth, the adaptation was announced as having been retitled toA Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story on 19 February 2024, with a first-look image of Boynton in character as Ellis being released on the same day.[84][85] The series premiered in 2025 to generally positive reviews.
Having long sought to adapt a novel herself,[86] Boynton revealed in 2025 interviews that she was working on several adaptations of as-yet unknown novels.[3][87] In September 2025, Boynton starred in the music video for theWolf Alice single "Just Two Girls".[88]
Boynton divides her time between London, New York, and Los Angeles;[11][89] she considers herself to be "painfully British"[4][89] while simultaneously feeling "sort of" American.[11]
Boynton has expressed an affinity for thegothic genre.[90][91][92][87]
Boynton was in a relationship with herBohemian Rhapsody co-starRami Malek from 2017 to 2023.[89][93][94][95] Boynton is currently in a relationship with Scottish musician Murdo Mitchell.[96][97]
| † | Denotes productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Miss Potter | YoungBeatrix Potter | |
| 2013 | Copperhead | Esther Hagadorn | |
| Hymn to Pan | Holliday | Short film | |
| 2015 | The Blackcoat's Daughter | Rose | |
| 2016 | Lock In | Lucy | Short film |
| Sing Street | Raphina | ||
| I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House | Polly Parsons | ||
| Don't Knock Twice | Chloe | ||
| 2017 | Rebel in the Rye | Claire Douglas | |
| Let Me Go | Emily | ||
| Murder on the Orient Express | Countess Helena Andrenyi | ||
| 2018 | Apostle | Andrea Howe | |
| Bohemian Rhapsody | Mary Austin | ||
| 2021 | Locked Down | Charlotte | |
| Glimpse | Rice | Virtual reality animated short | |
| 2022 | Chevalier | Marie Antoinette | |
| The Pale Blue Eye | Lea Marquis | ||
| 2023 | Barbie | Proust Barbie | |
| 2024 | The Greatest Hits | Harriet Gibbons | |
| 2026 | See You When I See You | Emily Whistler | |
| 2028 | The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event†[a] | Jane Asher | Filming |
| TBA | A Colt Is My Passport† | Post-production[98] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Ballet Shoes | Posy Fossil | TV film |
| 2008 | Sense & Sensibility | Margaret Dashwood | TV miniseries |
| 2010 | Mo | Henrietta Norton | TV film |
| 2011 | Lewis | Zoe Suskin | Episode: "The Gift of Promise" |
| 2011, 2014 | Borgia | Sister Lucia | Episodes: "God's Monster", "1497" |
| 2014 | Endeavour | Petra Briers | Episode: "Nocturne" |
| Law & Order: UK | Georgia Hutton | Episode: "Bad Romance" | |
| 2015 | Life in Squares | Angelica Bell | TV miniseries |
| 2016 | The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth | Bethany Mellmoth | Main role, TV short/pilot |
| 2017 | Gypsy | Allison Adams | Main role |
| 2019–2020 | The Politician | Astrid Sloan | Main role |
| 2021 | Modern Love | Paula | Episode: "Strangers on a (Dublin) Train", main role |
| 2022 | The Ipcress File | Jean Courtney | Main role |
| Why Didn't They Ask Evans? | Lady Frankie Derwent | Main role | |
| 2025 | A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story | Ruth Ellis | Lead role; Four-part drama |
| Year | Title | Role | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "Fall at Your Feet" | Lady | Saint Raymond |
| 2025 | "Just Two Girls" | Wolf Alice |
| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress | Miss Potter | Nominated | [99] |
| 2016 | Online Film & Television Association | Best Breakthrough Performance: Female | Sing Street | Nominated | [100] |
| 2017 | Bentonville Film Festival | Jury Award for Best Ensemble | Let Me Go | Won | [101] |
| 2019 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Bohemian Rhapsody | Nominated | [102] |
| 2022 | Deauville Film Festival | Prix du Nouvel Hollywood | - | Won | [103] |
Starring: Lucy Boynton
As for her relationship with Malek (the two began dating while shooting and have been an item since), Boynton is eager to keep her personal life separate from her professional life — at least for now.
..his attire often upstaging that of his partner of two years, British actor Lucy Boynton.
