Before She was Famous

Born Anna Louise Friel on July 12, 1976 in Rochdale, Greater Manchester U.K. She is the daughter of Julie (a special needs teacher) and Des Friel (a former teacher of French and owner of a web design company). Her father was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and grew up in Donegal. He is a Irish Catholic. She attended Crompton House Church of England High School. Then she attended Holy Cross College in Bury. She became rather interested in acting at a very young age, often recieving frequent praise for her work in local talent shows.

Her Career

At 13, she was got her first professional acting job in the Channel 4 drama G.B.H., as the daughter of Michael Palin’s character. Afterwards she had roles in various British television series including Emmerdale. In 1992, she was added to the Channel 4 soap opera Brookeside where she gained more exposure playing Beth Jordache. She stayed with the program for two years, and her lesbian kiss remains one of the most talked about moments in British soap history.

In 1996, she fueled more controversy when she was in the tv film, The Tribe which included nudity and a threesome scene with Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Jeremy Northam. After this, she started in various films and telvision shows until 2007, when she started playing Charlotte ‘Chuck’ Charles in Pushing Daisies. The show was cancelled in 2008 after two seasons. She was offered six pilots after the cancellation, but declined them all in favor of trying to focus on her acting career.

In November of 2006, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Bolton for her contributions to the performing arts. She’s been seen as the face pf Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine in the United Kingdrom and also appeared in adverts for 3 Mobile and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

In May of 2009 she confirmed she’ll star in West End, which is a adaptation of the novel Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The show has since started in September at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. She’s currently set to star in the film London Boulevard alongside Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley and Ray Winstone. Her real life partner David Thewlis is also scheduled to star. It’s expected to be released in 2010.

Personal Life

In 2001, she began her relationship with David Thewlis, who she met on a flight to Cannes. On July 9, 2005 their daughter, Gracie Ellen Mary Friel was born at Portland Hospital in London, England.

Anna supports many causes. In 2008, she began supporting the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign in support of Breakthrough Breast Cancer along side Alan Carr, Natalie Imbruglia and Twiggy (as well as several others). She also supports the Burma Campaign UK, a NGO committed to bringing about change in the troubled nation.

Awards and Nominations

- 2008 Golden Globe – Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical Nomination for Pushing Daisies (nominee)
- 2008 Satellite Awards – Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical – Nomination for Pushing Daisies (nominee)
- 1999 Drama Desk Awards – Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for “Closer”
- 1995 TV Times Awards – Best Actress
- 1994 TV Quick Magazine – Best Newcomer