Lia Williams

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Lia Williams
Born (1964-11-26) 26 November 1964 (age 60)
Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
EducationLondon Studio Centre
Occupations
  • Actress
  • director
Years active1984–present
Partner(s)Angus Wright
(2015-present)
ChildrenJoshua James
AwardsFull List

Lia Williams (born 26 November 1964) is an English actress and director, on stage, in film and television. She has had television roles in The Crown (playing Wallis Simpson), in May 33rd (2004) for which she was nominated for a BAFTA, and in The Missing (2016), Kiri (2016), His Dark Materials (2019–2022) and The Capture (2019–present).

She is a three-time Laurence Olivier Award nominee, for her work in The Revengers' Comedies (1992), Skylight (1997), and Oresteia (2015).

Early life

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Williams was born in Birkenhead. She studied at the London Studio Centre.[1] Her first job in 1984 was understudying in the play Daisy Pulls It Off in the West End. She then took over a main role, and was talent-spotted by Alan Ayckbourn.[2]

Theatre career

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Williams's breakthrough performance came in 1991 when she appeared in The Revengers' Comedies,[2] for which she won the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Newcomer,[3] and was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance in 1992.[4]

In 1993, she originated the role of Carol in the London production of David Mamet's Oleanna, at the Theatre Royal, Bath.[5] In 1997, Williams appeared opposite Michael Gambon in the West End and on Broadway in David Hare's Skylight,[5] (Olivier and Tony Award nominations).[6] In 2001, Williams appeared again in the West End and on Broadway, playing Ruth in Harold Pinter's The Homecoming.[5] Her long-standing collaboration with Harold Pinter included roles in The Collection, Celebration, The Room, The Lover, The Hothouse and Old Times.[5][6]

Other leading theatre performances include Rosalind in As You Like It for the RSC,[6] Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular, Henryk Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea,[6] and Pinter's Old Times, in which she alternated the roles of Anna and Kate with Kristin Scott Thomas.[5]

As Clytemnestra in Robert Icke's Oresteia Williams was nominated for both Olivier and Evening Standard Awards. Also for Robert Icke, she alternated the roles of Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots with Juliet Stevenson in Mary Stuart.[2]

In Dublin, Williams appeared at the Gate Theatre as Alma in The Eccentricities of a Nightingale (2003) and Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire (2013).[5] Both roles earned her the Irish Theatre Award for Best Actress.[2]

In 2018, Williams was nominated for the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress for her performance as Jean Brodie in David Harrower’s adaptation of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Donmar Warehouse.

In 2019, she played the role of Hannah Jelkes in the West End theatre production of Tennessee Williams' The Night of the Iguana at the Noël Coward Theatre opposite Clive Owen.[5]

Film and television

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In 1993, Williams made her film debut in Michael Winner's Dirty Weekend.[7] Winner chose her after seeing her in an Alan Ayckbourn play.[3] Subsequent film appearances have included supporting roles in Firelight (1997),[7] Shot Through the Heart (1998),[7] The King Is Alive (2000),[7] Girl from Rio (2001), and The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (2007).[7]

Williams played the title role in the miniseries The Russian Bride (2001), for ITV, opposite Sheila Hancock and Douglas Hodge. Her performance earned her the 2002 Golden FIPA Award for Best Actress at the Biarritz International Festival of Audiovisual Programming.

Williams played the lead role in May 33rd (2004) for the BBC,[6] and was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actress.[2]

In 2009, Williams had a main role in the third series of the ITV comedy drama series Doc Martin with Martin Clunes.[7]

She played Wallis, Duchess of Windsor in the Netflix series The Crown,[7] Nadia Herz in the second series of The Missing (2016),[7] and starred in Kiri,[6] a Channel 4 series, alongside Sarah Lancashire and Steven Mackintosh.[6]

Williams appears as a series regular in the BBC mystery thriller The Capture (2019-present) and the Sky Atlantic spy thriller The Day of the Jackal (2024-present) .[7]

Director

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Williams has been directing short films since 2002, her debut being Feathers (2002), which was based on a short story by Raymond Carver.[8] In 2008, her short film The Stronger (2007), which won Best Short Film at Raindance, and was nominated for the Best Short Film at the BAFTA Film Awards.[9]

In 2009, Williams directed Dog Alone,[8] a dialogue-free short film which was broadcast as part of British Sky Broadcasting's Ten Minute Tales season. In 2016 she directed Nanabozhung, a feature-length documentary about the Batchewana First Nations, Canada.[8]

On stage, she has also directed The Matchbox,[8] by Frank McGuinness for Liverpool Playhouse and the Tricycle Theatre and Ashes to Ashes as part of the Harold Pinter Season in the West End (2019).[8] In 2021, Williams directed an acclaimed production of Doubt by John Patrick Shanley at Chichester Festival Theatre, West Sussex.[8]

Personal life

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Williams has been in a relationship with the actor Angus Wright since 2015; they first met after starring together in a production of the Oresteia at the Almeida Theatre.[10] Her son, Joshua James, is also an actor.[11] In 2023 they worked together in The Vortex at Chichester Festival Theatre, in which they played mother and son.[11]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 Dirty Weekend Bella
1996 Different for Girls Defence Solicitor
1997 The Fifth Province Diana de Brie
Firelight Constance
1998 Shot Through the Heart Maida
2000 The King is Alive Amanda
2001 Girl from Rio Cathy
2007 Snow White: The Sequel Sleeping Beauty Voice
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey Joan Tyler
2017 The Foreigner Katherine Davies
2020 Archive House Voice
2021 Benediction Edith Sitwell
2022 Living Mrs. Smith
2024 Scoop Fran Unsworth

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 Annika Karen
1992 Nightingales Mary
1993 Mr Wroe's Virgins Joanna
1994 Seaforth Paula Longman
1996 Screen Two Janet Hinton Episode: "Flowers of the Forest"
1997 The Uninvited Melissa Gates
1998 Imogen's Face Amanda
2001 The Russian Bride Natasha Cherniavskaya
2003 Sparkling Cyanide Ruth Lessing
2004 May 33rd Ella Wilson
2005 A Touch Of Frost Sylvia Ford Episode: "Near Death Experience"
2006 Agatha Christie's Marple Nellie Bligh Episode: "By the Pricking of My Thumbs"
2009 Doc Martin Edith Montgomery Main Role (Season 4)
2012 Secret State Laura Duchenne
2013 Lewis Emma Barnes Episode: "The Ramblin' Boy"
2015 Midsomer Murders Maggie Markham Episode: "The Dagger Club"
2016–2017, 2022 The Crown Wallis, Duchess of Windsor Main role (Seasons 1–2);
Guest role (Season 5)
2016 The Missing Nadia Herz Main role (Season 2)
2017 Strike Liz Tassel Episodes: "The Silkworm: Parts 1 & 2"
2018 Kiri Alice Warner
2019-present The Capture DSU Gemma Garland
2019; 2022 His Dark Materials Dr Cooper
2020 Riviera Dr Emilie Mathieu Episodes: "Coup de Grace" & "Two Graves"
2021 Death in Paradise Grace Verdinikov Episodes: "Music to My Ears" & "Fake or Fortune"
2022 The Lazarus Project Ambassador Belov 2 Episodes
2024 Mr Bates vs The Post Office Paula Vennells
2024–present The Day of the Jackal Isabel Kirby
2025 MobLand Emily Gutwell Episode: "Rat Trap"

Stage

[edit]
Year Work Role Venue Ref
1984 Daisy Pulls It Off Sybil Burlington Gielgud Theatre [5]
1986-1988 When Did You Last See Your Trousers? Tove Garrick Theatre [12]
1990 Body Language Angie Dell Stephen Joseph Theatre [13]
1991-1992 The Revengers' Comedies Karen Strand Theatre [14]
1992-1993 Oleanna Carol Theatre Royal, Bath and Royal Court Theatre [15]
1993 King Lear Goneril Royal Court Theatre [16]
1995-1996 Skylight Kyra Hollis National Theatre and Royale Theatre [17]
1999-2001 Celebration / The Room Suki /
Mrs Sands 		Almeida Theatre and Lincoln Center [18]
2001 The Homecoming Ruth Gate Theatre and Comedy Theatre [19]
2002 Mappa Mundi Anna National Theatre [20]
2003 The Eccentricities of a Nightingale Alma Winemiller Gate Theatre [21]
2005 Eric Larue Janice Larue The Attic Theatre [22]
2005-2006 As You Like It Rosalind Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Novello Theatre [23]
2007 My Child Woman Royal Court Theatre [24]
The Hothouse Miss Cutts National Theatre [25]
Absurd Person Singular Eva Jackson Garrick Theatre [26]
2008 The Lady from the Sea Ellida Wangel Arcola Theatre [27]
2009 God of Carnage Véronique Vallon Theatre Royal, Bath [28]
2010 Earthquakes in London Sarah National Theatre [29]
2011 Arcadia Hannah Jarvis Ethel Barrymore Theatre [30]
2013 Old Times Kate/Anna Harold Pinter Theatre [31]
A Streetcar Named Desire Blanche DuBois Gate Theatre [32]
2014 The Father Anne Theatre Royal, Bath [33]
2015 Oresteia Clytemnestra Almeida Theatre [34]
2016 Mary Stuart Queen Elizabeth I / Mary, Queen of Scots Duke of York's Theatre [35]
2018 The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Jean Brodie Donmar Warehouse [36]
2019 The Night of the Iguana Hannah Jelkes Noel Coward Theatre [37]
2022 John Gabriel Borkman Ella Rentheim Bridge Theatre [38]
2023 The Vortex Florence Lancaster Chichester Festival Theatre [39]
2025 Macbeth Lady Macbeth The Other Place [40]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
1991 Critics' Circle Theatre Award Most Promising Newcomer The Revengers' Comedies Won
1992 Laurence Olivier Award Best Comedy Performance Nominated
1996 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Play Skylight Nominated
1997 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Nominated
Theatre World Award Best Ensemble Performance Won
2001 Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels Award Best Actress The Russian Bride Won
2004 Irish Theatre Award Best Actress The Eccentricities of a Nightingale Won
2005 British Academy Television Award Best Actress May 33rd Nominated
2007 Raindance Film Festival Best Short Film The Stronger Won
British Academy Film Award Best British Short Film Nominated
2014 Irish Theatre Award Best Actress A Streetcar Named Desire Won
2015 Evening Standard Theatre Award Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress Oresteia Nominated
2016 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Play Nominated
2018 Evening Standard Theatre Award Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "London Studio Centre Alumni". London Studio Centre. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lawrence, Ben (17 January 2018). "Lia Williams interview: 'Elizabeth I was just like Lady Gaga'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b Winner, Michael (2005). Winner Takes All: A Life of Sorts. HarperCollins. p. 269. ISBN 1861058403.
  4. ^ "Olivier Awards 1992". westendtheatre.com. 1992.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Lia Williams - Past productions". theatricalia.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Lia Williams". westendtheatre.com. 22 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Lia Williams Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Lia Williams Director". independenttalent.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  9. ^ Maitre, James (9 May 2023). "Lia Williams' Tender Prison Drama 'Samovar' Poetically Imagines the Defiant Survival of Raoul Wallenberg". directorsnotes.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  10. ^ Kellaway, Kate (9 June 2024). "Actor Lia Williams on playing Paula Vennells: 'I think she's more shallow than malicious. She created her own set of truths'". The Guardian.
  11. ^ a b Hewitt, Phil (21 April 2023). "Real-life mother and son set to take to the Chichester Festival Theatre stage". Sussex Express. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  12. ^ "When Did You Last See Your Trousers?". Theatricalia. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Body Language: World Premier Reviews". Alan Ayckbourn Official Website. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  14. ^ Shenton, Mark (4 November 2002). "20 Questions With… Lia Williams". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  15. ^ Taylor, Paul (2 July 1993). "Dramatically incorrect: Paul Taylor on the British premiere of David Mamet's controversial Oleanna, at the Royal Court, London". The Independent. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  16. ^ Taylor, Paul (23 January 1993). "The woman question: Paul Taylor reviews Max Stafford-Clark's production of King Lear at the Royal Court". The Independent. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  17. ^ Lefkowitz, David (18 November 1996). "Skylight recoups investment in less than six weeks". Playbill. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  18. ^ Isherwood, Charles (26 July 2001). "The Room/Celebration". Variety. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  19. ^ Fricker, Karen (24 June 2001). "The Homecoming". Variety. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  20. ^ Wolf, Matt (17 November 2002). "Mappa Mundi". Variety. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  21. ^ Fricker, Karen (22 April 2003). "The Eccentricities of a Nightingale". Variety. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  22. ^ Taylor, Paul (25 October 2005). "Postcards From America / Breakfast With Mugabe, Cox's Yard / Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon". The Independent. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  23. ^ Taylor, Paul (13 March 2006). "As You Like It, Novello Theatre, London". The Independent. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  24. ^ Coveney, Michael (10 May 2007). "My Child". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  25. ^ Billington, Michael (19 July 2007). "The Hothouse". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  26. ^ Spencer, Charles (12 December 2007). "First night: Alan Ayckbourn - Absurd Person Singular". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  27. ^ Taylor, Paul (8 May 2008). "The Lady from the Sea, Arcola Theatre, London". The Independent. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  28. ^ Gray, Christopher (18 February 2009). "God of Carnage, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham and touring". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  29. ^ Billington, Michael (5 August 2010). "Earthquakes in London". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  30. ^ Lemon, Brendan (22 March 2011). "Arcadia, Barrymore Theatre, New York". Financial Times. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  31. ^ Benedict, David (4 February 2013). "Old Times". Variety. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  32. ^ Meany, Helen (1 September 2013). "A Streetcar Named Desire - review". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  33. ^ Hallett, Kris (23 October 2014). "The Father". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  34. ^ Halliburton, Rachel (10 September 2015). "The Almeida's devastating 'Oresteia' transfers to the West End as powerful as ever". Time Out. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  35. ^ Taylor, Paul (19 December 2016). "Mary Stuart, Almeida, London, review: 'A remarkably satisfying achievement'". The Independent. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  36. ^ Bradbury, Sarah (11 June 2018). "'I'm not interested in being sentimental': Lia Williams on starring in 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'". The Independent. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  37. ^ Billington, Michael (16 July 2019). "The Night of the Iguana review – Clive Owen joins menagerie of lost souls". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  38. ^ Putnam, Leah (22 August 2022). "Olivier Winner Clare Higgins and Lia Williams Join Cast of John Gabriel Borkman in London". Playbill. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  39. ^ John, Emma (5 May 2023). "The Vortex review – Noël Coward's swirling jazz age psychodrama". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 August 2025.
  40. ^ Wood, Alex (3 June 2025). "Sam Heughan and Lia Williams to star in RSC's Macbeth". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
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