Natalie Dormer

Natalie Dormer

Dormer in 2014
Born (1982-02-11) 11 February 1982
Reading, Berkshire, England
Alma mater Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation Actress
Years active 2005–present

Natalie Dormer (born 11 February 1982) is an English actress. She became known for her roles as Anne Boleyn on the Showtime series The Tudors (2007–10), as Margaery Tyrell on the HBO series Game of Thrones (2012–16), Irene Adler/Moriarty on the CBS series Elementary (2013–15), and as Cressida in the science-fiction adventure films The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) and Part 2 (2015). She has been nominated for Best Performance at the Gemini Awards for her work in The Tudors. She has also been nominated for a Screen Actor's Guild Award for her performance in Game of Thrones.

Early life

Dormer was born in Reading, Berkshire.[1] She is of part Norwegian ancestry.[2] Dormer attended Chiltern Edge Secondary School before moving to Reading Blue Coat School, historically an independent boys' school that admits girls in the sixth form. She grew up with her stepfather (a builder), mother, sister Samantha, and brother Mark.[3] She has said that she was the victim of bullying while at school, but "still to this day [she] can't place why".[4] At school, Dormer was head girl, a first class student, vice-captain of the school netball team, and travelled the world with her school's public speaking team.[5]

During her school years, Dormer trained in dance at the Allenova School of Dancing.[6] She describes herself as the "academic hopeful" of the family and was provisionally offered a place to study history at Cambridge; but, in her A-level History exam, she did not achieve the A grade she needed to attend.[4] Dormer decided she would audition for drama schools and decided to train at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.[3][7]

Career

Six months after graduating from Webber Douglas, Dormer won the role of Victoria in Casanova.[1] This was her film debut and it was released in 2005. The director, Lasse Hallström, was so impressed with Dormer's comedic timing that he had the script writer expand her part.[1] On the strength of her audition for the role and her performance, she secured a three-film deal with Touchstone Pictures, which was never exercised.[3][7] In 2005, Dormer had a small part in Distant Shores. After the filming of Casanova, Dormer was out of work for ten months, which she ascribes to "bad representation". She was attached to an independent film which kept being delayed because of financial problems. Taken off the audition circuit, Dormer waitressed and worked in data entry to support herself.[1][8] She has said that her being out of work for so long "was the best lesson I could have had in the first 12 months of my career".[5]

In 2007 and 2008, Dormer played Anne Boleyn in the first two seasons of The Tudors, for which she received highly positive reviews. Robert Abele of LA Weekly wrote: "Natalie Dormer presents a painterly exquisiteness and complexity in her portrayal of Anne Boleyn... her enigmatic, time-halting loveliness is a boon for The Tudors, and damn near worth losing your head over."[9] After her character's death at the end of the second season, The Boston Herald noted: "Dormer gave Anne Boleyn life, making her not just a beautiful schemer but a rebellious, defiantly independent tragic hero in the tradition of Rebel Without a Cause and Cool Hand Luke... her departure from The Tudors leaves a tremendous void."[10]

I'm interested in playing women who feel real, who are fighting for something or desire something or are scared, as all real women are – or let’s not make it a gender thing, as all human beings are.

 – Dormer on her choice of roles.[1]

In 2008, Dormer played Moira Nicholson in Agatha Christie's Marple: "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" and appeared in a number of films such as Fence Walker and City of Life. Dormer's Marple appearance aired in the US in the summer of 2009 as part of the PBS Masterpiece Mystery anthology series. Also in that year, she appeared in Incendiary, but her scenes were cut from the final film.[3] In March 2010, she made her stage debut at the Young Vic theatre in London as Mizi in the play Sweet Nothings. In The Observer, theatre critic Susannah Clapp praised the performances of the cast and wrote: "Natalie Dormer is lissome as a dirty, delightful gadabout, pushing aside an entire chess game in order to put down her hat."[11]

After six months of playing Mizi, Dormer went on to film some new roles, including the Duchess of York in Madonna's film W.E., Pvt. Lorraine in Captain America: The First Avenger, and Niamh Cranitch in the BBC court drama Silk. She then went on to her next stage role of Pat in .45 at Hampstead Theatre in November 2010. She returned to The Tudors as Anne Boleyn in a dream sequence for the fourth and final season in mid-2010.[12]

Dormer in November 2015

From 2012 until 2016 Dormer played Margaery Tyrell in the HBO fantasy TV series Game of Thrones.[13][14] In March 2012, she returned to the Young Vic to play the title role in After Miss Julie by Patrick Marber.[15] Her performance received critical acclaim, with reviews describing her as "little short of sensational",[16] "outstanding",[17] and "the perfect Miss Julie".[18] The online theatre magazine Exeunt wrote that her portrayal of Miss Julie contained "all the anger, desire, wit, loneliness, merriment, melancholy and desperation of the casts of several plays together... Dormer has still more presence and eerie beauty than is apparent from her appearances on-screen, and she shape-shifts almost supernaturally between seductress, child, and tormentor."[19] In March 2013, she played the Lady Door in the radio play of Neverwhere, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman. Later that year, she appeared in the car racing drama Rush and the thriller The Counselor. She also appeared in A Long Way From Home.[20] In 2013, Dormer played Irene Adler in the final three episodes of the first season of the CBS series Elementary; she reprised the role in the second season.[21] Dormer played Cressida in the films The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and Part 2.[22] In preparation for the role, she shaved the left side of her head.[23]

In September 2014, Deadline.com announced that Dormer has been cast in Screen Gems' upcoming action thriller Patient Zero, alongside Matt Smith and Game of Thrones co-star John Bradley-West. The film is to be directed by Oscar-Winning filmmaker Stefan Ruzowitzky and based on a script by Mike Le.[24] It is set to be released in 2017. Dormer starred in the Lava Bear Films/David S. Goyer-produced horror film The Forest,[25] directed by multiple award-winning music video and short film director Jason Zada, as his feature film debut.[26] Focus Features has the North American distribution rights to the film, which was released in January 2016.[27][28]

In November 2014 it was announced that Dormer was to star as the scandalous 18th century noblewoman Lady Worsley in a BBC drama called The Scandalous Lady W, based on the book Lady Worsley's Whim by the historian Hallie Rubenhold; it aired in August 2015.[29][30][31] Dormer is set to star in In Darkness, a revenge thriller.[32]

Personal life

Since 2011, Dormer has been engaged to Anthony Byrne,[33] whom she met in Dublin while filming The Tudors in 2007.[4] Dormer has stated that Cate Blanchett has been an influence in her career as an actress.[34]

Despite rumours that Dormer is related to historical lady-in-waiting Jane Dormer, who served Queen Mary I, they have no familial connection. On this subject, Dormer stated, "There was a woman, called Jane Dormer, in the Royal Court who happened to have the same family name as me, but I think that's as far as it goes."[35]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
2005 Casanova Victoria
2007 Flawless Cassie
2009 City of Life Olga
2011 W.E. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
2011 Captain America: The First Avenger Private Lorraine
2012 Electric Cinema: How to Behave Lauren Bacall Short film
2013 Long Way from Home, AA Long Way from Home Suzanne
2013 Rush Nurse Gemma
2013 Counselor, TheThe Counselor The Blonde
2013 Ring Cycle, TheThe Ring Cycle Millie Short film
2013 Brunchers, TheThe Brunchers Her Short film
2014 Riot Club, TheThe Riot Club Charlie
2014 Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, TheThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 Cressida
2015 Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, TheThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 Cressida
2016 Forest, TheThe Forest Sara and Jess Price
2017 Patient Zero Dr. Gina Rose Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Distant Shores Mobile Woman Episode #1.1
2005 Rebus Phillippa Balfour Episode: "The Falls"
2007–2008, 2010 Tudors, TheThe Tudors Anne Boleyn 21 episodes
2009 Masterwork Mo Murphy Pilot
2009 Agatha Christie's Marple Moira Nicholson Episode: "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?"
2011 Silk Niamh Cranitch 6 episodes
2011 Fades, TheThe Fades Sarah Etches 6 episodes
2012–2016 Game of Thrones Margaery Tyrell 26 episodes
2013–2015 Elementary Jamie Moriarty/Irene Adler 6 episodes
2015 Scandalous Lady W, TheThe Scandalous Lady W Seymour Worsley Television film

Music videos

Year Title Artist
2015 "Someone New" Hozier

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2003 The Comedy of Errors Adriana The Cliveden Open Air Theatre
2010 Sweet Nothings Mizi Young Vic
2010 .45 Pat Hampstead Theatre
2012 After Miss Julie Miss Julie Young Vic

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result
2008 Monte-Carlo TV Festival Outstanding Actress - Drama Series The Tudors Nominated
Gemini Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Nominated
2009 Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role Nominated
2014 NewNowNext Awards Best New Lead Film Actress The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 Won
Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (shared with the cast) Game of Thrones Nominated
2015 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (shared with the cast) Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Emily Cronin (20 August 2016). "Natalie Dormer on Game of Thrones, MaxMara and struggling for work: 'I was properly unemployed for 10 months. You're never home and dry'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Want That 'Game of Thrones' Glow? Beauty Tips From Natalie Dormer". The New York Times. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Paton, Maureen. Boho Boleyn girl: Actress Natalie Dormer's dramatic entrance, Daily Mail, 7 November 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Gilbert, Gerard. Golden girl: How Natalie Dormer became the new queen of the screen, The Independent, 17 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  5. 1 2 Gilbert, Sophie. Natalie Dormer on playing England's naughtiest queens, London Evening Standard, 12 November 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Past Pupils". Allenova School of Dance. Retrieved 4 April 2009. and spent two years with Starmaker Theatre Company, both performing in a number of shows and being choreographer for a Starmaker review.
  7. 1 2 Bamigboye, Baz. Casanova girl won me over, Daily Mail, 10 February 2006. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  8. ↑ Marlow Stern (21 November 2014). "Natalie Dormer Talks 'Hunger Games,' Feminism, and Why 'Game of Thrones' Needs More Dick". The Daily Beast.
  9. ↑ Abele, Robert. "The Tudors: Heads Will Roll". LA Weekly.
  10. ↑ Perigard, Mark. "'Tudors' rules: Showtimes on a roll with killer season finale". Boston Herald. Retrieved 29 May 2008.
  11. ↑ Clapp, Susannah (14 March 2010). "Sweet Nothings – Young Vic, London". The Observer.
  12. ↑ "Bill Nighy and Natalie Dormer Set to Star in Peter Straub's Shadowland 3D - Dread Central". Dread Central. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  13. ↑ Hibberd, James (23 June 2011). "'Tudors' star joins 'Game of Thrones' cast". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  14. ↑ "HBO Signs Game of Thrones Cast Members for Seventh Season". Watchers On The Wall. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  15. ↑ Bosanquet, Theo. "Natalie Dormer returns to Young Vic in After Miss Julie". whatsonstage.com.
  16. ↑ Cavendish, Dominic (22 March 2012). "After Miss Julie, Young Vic, review". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  17. ↑ "After Miss Julie". Time Out London.
  18. ↑ Stanbury, Kate. "After Miss Julie". Official London Theatre.
  19. ↑ Perry, Sarah. "After Miss Julie at Young Vic". Exeunt Magazine.
  20. ↑ "Natalie Dormer". Internet Movie Database.
  21. ↑ Natalie Abrams (9 April 2013). "Elementary Exclusive: Game of Thrones' Natalie Dormer to Play Irene Adler". TV Guide. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  22. ↑ Rosen, Christopher (22 August 2013). "Natalie Dormer Cast In 'Hunger Games: Mockingjay' As Cressida". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  23. ↑ Farrar, Leah (13 May 2014). "Game of Thrones Natalie Dormer opens up about her shaved head in Hunger Games Mockinjay". Glamour Magazine. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  24. ↑ "'Game Of Thrones' Natalie Dormer To Star In 'Patient Zero' For Screen Gems". Deadline.com. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  25. ↑ McNary, Dave (21 October 2014). "'Game of Thrones' Actress Natalie Dormer Joins Supernatural Thriller 'The Forest'". Variety. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  26. ↑ Fleming Jr, Mike (5 November 2013). "Lava Bear Sets Jason Zada To Helm David Goyer-Hatched 'The Forest': Video". Deadline.com. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  27. ↑ Kit, Borys (22 May 2014). "Focus Picks Up David Goyer Supernatural Thriller 'The Forest'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  28. ↑ McNary, Dave (23 May 2014). "David Goyer's 'The Forest' Gets North American Distribution". Variety. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  29. ↑ "Natalie Dormer to star in BBC Two's The Woman in Red". Digital Spy. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  30. ↑ "Natalie Dormer to star as scandalous Woman in Red for new BBC drama". The Telegraph. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  31. ↑ "Natalie Dormer to star in BBC Two factual drama The Woman In Red". BBC. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  32. ↑ McNary, Dave. "Natalie Dormer Starring in Thriller 'In Darkness'". Variety. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  33. ↑ Sheridan, Emily (30 July 2013). "She's got some front: Game Of Thrones star Natalie Dormer takes the plunge in a low-cut dress at Hugo gallery party". The Daily Mail. London.
  34. ↑ "Tudors beauty: Nude scenes were harrowing". The Tudor News Site. 17 December 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  35. ↑ "Natalie Dormer Keen To Get Away From Royal Corset Roles". Contact Music. 27 October 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2014.

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