Rose Leslie

Rose Eleanor Arbuthnot-Leslie, born on 9 February 1987, is a Scottish actress recognized for her diverse roles in both television and film. Notably, she portrayed Gwen Dawson in the ITV drama series Downton Abbey and Ygritte in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones. Her acting prowess extends to the CBS All Access legal and political drama The Good Fight, where she took on the character of Maia Rindell for three seasons. Additionally, Leslie starred as Clare Abshire in HBO's The Time Traveler's Wife, showcasing her versatility across various genres and platforms.


Rose Eleanor Arbuthnot-Leslie was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and spent her early years at Lickleyhead Castle in Aberdeenshire, the historic ancestral seat of her family. She resided there until the age of 10. Her father, Sebastian Arbuthnot-Leslie, serves as the Chieftain of the Aberdeenshire branch of the Scottish Clan Leslie, while her mother, Candida Mary Sibyl Candy Leslie , hails from Clan Fraser of Lovat, with notable ancestry connecting her to Simon Fraser, 13th Lord Lovat, and King Charles II.


Leslie's lineage extends internationally. Through her mother, she is a great-great-granddaughter of Frederick Weld, the sixth prime minister of New Zealand. On her father's side, she is a great-great-granddaughter of Don Guillermo Landa y Escandón, a former governor of Mexico City.


Noteworthy ancestors in her family tree include Ambrose Lisle March Phillipps De Lisle, politician Charles March-Phillipps, and MP James Grimston, 3rd Earl of Verulam. Currently, her family resides at the 12th-century Wardhill Castle in Old Rayne.


For her education, Leslie initially attended Rayne North School in Aberdeenshire. At the age of 10, she enrolled at Ermitage International School in Maisons-Laffitte, France, where her family lived for three years. Upon returning to the UK, she attended Millfield, a boarding school in Street, Somerset, from 2000 to 2005. Subsequently, she spent three years at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, graduating in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours. During her time at drama school, Leslie earned a BASSC certificate in stage combat.


Rose Eleanor Arbuthnot-Leslie began her career with diverse experiences, including narrating The British Slave Trade: Abolition, Parliament and People for BBC Radio. Her on-screen debut took place at the age of 21 in the television film New Town 2009, a performance that earned her the Scottish BAFTA for Best Acting Performance – New Talent Award.


In September and October 2010, Leslie took on the lead role in Nell Leyshon's play Bedlam at the Globe Theatre. The play, centered around Bethlem Royal Hospital and representing the era's lunacy reform, featured Leslie as May, a country girl driven to madness by lost love. Charles Spencer from The Daily Telegraph praised her performance, noting Leslie's genuine poignancy.


Her breakthrough role came with Downton Abbey (2010–11), where she portrayed Gwen Dawson, a housemaid. During her time on Downton Abbey, Leslie made brief appearances in two episodes of the British drama series Case Histories in 2011. This marked a significant step in her career, setting the stage for her continued success in the entertainment industry.


In 2012, Rose Leslie secured a significant role in seasons two, three, and four of the acclaimed HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, portraying the wildling Ygritte. Critics lauded her performance, with Rowan Kaiser of The A.V. Club praising Leslie's portrayal as both dangerous and flirtatious.


David Crow of Den of Geek described her character as complicated, emphasizing Leslie's captivating on-screen presence. Vox.com's Emily VanDerWerff and The Atlantic's Christopher Orr highlighted Leslie's transformative portrayal of Ygritte, noting her ability to elevate the character beyond its book origins.


While part of Game of Thrones, Leslie also appeared in the 2012 drama film Now Is Good and featured in episodes of ITV's detective television series Vera, Channel 4's conspiracy drama Utopia, and BBC One's comedy series Blandings. Post-Game of Thrones, she participated in the four-part mini-series The Great Fire 2014 and starred in the horror film Honeymoon.


Her career continued with notable roles, including portraying DS Emma Lane in the BBC detective drama Luther and starring in the 2015 action adventure/fantasy film The Last Witch Hunter. Leslie, alongside David Tennant, recorded an audiobook version of Carmilla in 2015. In 2016, she played the character Athena in Sticky Notes.


Leslie joined the cast of The Good Fight, a CBS All Access legal drama and spin-off of The Good Wife, in 2016. She played Maia Rindell, a young lawyer facing the fallout of her family's financial scandal. In 2017, Leslie provided the voice for the female protagonist "En" in the video game Echo.


In October 2019, Leslie was cast as Louise Bourget in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Agatha Christie's novel Death on The Nile, released in February 2022. In January 2020, she joined the cast of BBC's drama series Vigil, which premiered in 2021. In February 2021, Leslie was cast in HBO's The Time Traveler's Wife TV series, playing the role of Clare Abshire alongside Theo James as Henry DeTamble.


Rose Leslie developed fluency in French during her pre-adolescent years while living with her family in France. As an actress, she resided in Battersea, London, initially, later relocating to north London. Despite her cosmopolitan experiences, Leslie often expresses a deep connection to her roots, frequently mentioning her fondness for Aberdeen and stating that she feels a profound sense of peace in Scotland.


In the realm of her personal life, Leslie began a relationship with Kit Harington in 2011, who portrayed Jon Snow, her love interest in Game of Thrones. The couple tied the knot on 23 June 2018. In September 2020, Leslie appeared in a magazine photo shoot visibly pregnant. Their first child was born in January 2021. In February 2023, Harington announced the exciting news of their second child's impending arrival. Subsequently, in July 2023, the couple joyfully confirmed the birth of their daughter, expanding their family.

Filmography

1. Game of Thrones (2012-2014): Ygritte
2. Downton Abbey (2010): Gwen Dawson
3. Honeymoon (2014): Bea
4. The Last Witch Hunter (2015): Chloe
5. Morgan (2016): Dr. Amy Menser
6. The Good Fight (2017-2019): Maia Rindell
7. The Great Fire (2014): Sarah Farriner

Rose Leslie expressed her support for Scotland remaining part of the United Kingdom during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum campaign. Additionally, during the 2015 UK general election, she actively campaigned with the Conservatives in her local constituency of Gordon.


Beyond her professional life, Leslie engages in various hobbies and activities. She considers herself a runner and takes pleasure in pursuits such as rock climbing, cooking, skiing, archery, and tennis.


In a philanthropic role, Leslie serves as a patron of the charity Firefly International, contributing to humanitarian efforts and making a positive impact beyond her career in the entertainment industry.

References

1.  "Rose Leslie". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 13 September 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
2. ^ "Downton Abbey web-site". Downtonabbey.com. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
3. ^ McDonald, Toby (12 October 2011). "Downton Abbey maid Rose Leslie grew up a Scottish castle Lady". Daily Record. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
4. ^ Smith, Emma (12 May 2013). "Aberdeenshire castle where Game of Thrones star Rose Leslie was born is put on the market for £1.3 million". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
5. ^ "'Juego de Tronos': Descubrimos los orígenes aristocráticos de Rose Leslie ante su boda con Kit Harington" (in Spanish). Antena 3. 23 June 2018.
6. ^ Leslie, Sebastian. "Warthill Castle". About Scotland. Archived from the original on 24 November 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
7. ^ "Clan Leslie, Aberdeenshire Council". Aberdeenshire Council. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
8. ^ "Obituary Jillian Ada Burcher". Newsletter of Clan Leslie Society of Australia and New Zealand, CLANZ. December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2012.