Anna Friel

Anna Louise Friel (born 12 July 1976) is an English actress. She first achieved fame with her portrayal of Beth Jordache in the British soap opera Brookside (1993–1995), and came to international prominence when she played Charlotte "Chuck" Charles on ABC's Pushing Daisies (2007–2009), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. She won an International Emmy Award for her portrayal of the title character in the ITV/Netflix series Marcella (2016–2021). Her other accolades include a Drama Desk Award, an honorary degree, and a BAFTA nomination. In 1998, Friel made her feature film debut with a starring role in The Land Girls. Subsequent credits have included A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999), Sunset Strip (2000), Me Without You (2001), Timeline (2003), Goal! (2005), Bathory (2008), Land of the Lost (2009), You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010), Limitless (2011), and Books of Blood (2020). Her stage credits include Closer (Broadway, 1999), Breakfast at Tiffany's (West End, 2009), and Uncle Vanya (West End, 2012). Early life Anna Louise Friel was born on 12 July 1976 in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Her mother Julie Bamford Friel (born 1952) is a special needs teacher. Her father, Desmond "Des" Friel (born 1951), was born in Belfast and raised in County Donegal, Ireland. He is a former French teacher and folk guitarist, who now owns a web design company. Her brother Michael is a physician, who in his youth did television advertising work for Hovis. Friel attended Crompton House School (an Anglican school) and later Holy Cross College (a Roman Catholic college). She began her training as an actress at Oldham Theatre Workshop.