Claire Foy

Claire Elizabeth Foy, a distinguished British actress, rose to prominence for her remarkable portrayal of the young Queen Elizabeth II in the acclaimed Netflix drama series "The Crown" (2016–2023). Her performance in the series earned her widespread acclaim, along with prestigious accolades such as a Golden Globe and two Primetime Emmy Awards.
Foy's journey in the entertainment industry began with her screen debut in the pilot episode of the supernatural comedy series "Being Human" (2008). Following her successful professional stage debut at the Royal National Theatre, she garnered attention for her portrayal of the titular character in the BBC One miniseries "Little Dorrit" (2008). She then ventured into the world of film with her debut in the American historical fantasy drama "Season of the Witch" (2011).


Continuing to impress audiences with her versatile talent, Foy took on leading roles in television series such as "The Promise" (2011) and "Crossbones" (2014). However, it was her portrayal of the ill-fated queen Anne Boleyn in the BBC miniseries "Wolf Hall" (2015) that truly showcased her exceptional acting prowess, earning her a British Academy Television Award nomination for Best Actress.


In 2018, Foy further solidified her status as a formidable actress with standout performances in Steven Soderbergh's psychological thriller "Unsane" and Damien Chazelle's biopic "First Man," where she portrayed Janet Shearon, wife of astronaut Neil Armstrong. Her portrayal in "First Man" garnered her nominations for the Golden Globe Award and the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Expanding her repertoire, Foy continued to captivate audiences with her roles in the Amazon Prime series "A Very British Scandal" (2021) and the drama films "Women Talking" (2022) and "All of Us Strangers" (2023). Her outstanding performance in the latter earned her yet another BAFTA nomination, solidifying her place as one of Britain's most talented actresses of her generation.


Claire Elizabeth Foy's journey began in Stockport on April 16, 1984, where she was born to David Foy and Caroline Stimpson. Her family, with partial Irish heritage, included her parents, an older brother named Robert, and an older sister named Gemma. Additionally, she has a younger half-sister from her father's side. Foy spent her early years growing up in Manchester and Leeds before the family relocated to Longwick, Buckinghamshire, due to her father's job as a Rank Xerox salesman. However, her parents' marriage ended in divorce when she was just eight years old.
For her education, Foy attended Aylesbury High School from the age of 12 until 2002. Following this, she pursued her passion for drama by studying at Liverpool John Moores University. To further hone her craft, she enrolled in a one-year course at the Oxford School of Drama, ultimately graduating in 2007. Subsequently, she moved to the Peckham area of south London, where she shared a house with five friends from drama school, embarking on her journey to pursue a career in acting.


During her time at the Oxford School of Drama, Claire Foy showcased her talent in various plays, including "Top Girls," "Watership Down," "Easy Virtue," and "Touched." Following her television appearances, she marked her professional stage debut in "DNA" and "The Miracle," two of a trio of single acts directed by Paul Miller at the Royal National Theatre in London.
Foy gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Amy Dorrit in the BBC series "Little Dorrit," which earned her a nomination for an RTS Award. She continued to showcase her versatility by starring in various projects such as the TV film "Going Postal," the horror adventure film "Season of the Witch," and the BBC revival of "Upstairs Downstairs" as Lady Persephone. She also appeared in the Channel 4 serial "The Promise" in 2011.
In the TV movie "The Night Watch," based on a Sarah Waters novel, Foy played the lead role of Helen. She returned to the stage in 2013, portraying Lady Macbeth alongside James McAvoy in "Macbeth" at the Trafalgar Studios.


In 2015, Foy delivered a memorable performance as English queen Anne Boleyn in the six-part drama serial "Wolf Hall," earning critical acclaim and a nomination for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress.
However, it was her portrayal of the young Queen Elizabeth II in Peter Morgan's Netflix biographical drama series "The Crown" that catapulted Foy to international fame. Her stellar performance garnered numerous accolades, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama, two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She was also nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress. Foy continued to portray the role in the second season before passing it on to Olivia Colman for the third season.


In 2017, Claire Foy took on the role of Diana Cavendish in the biographical drama film "Breathe."
The following year, in 2018, Foy had a busy year with notable roles in several films. She starred in Steven Soderbergh's psychological thriller "Unsane" and portrayed the vigilante Lisbeth Salander in the action-thriller "The Girl in the Spider's Web." Additionally, she played Janet Shearon, wife of American astronaut Neil Armstrong, in Damien Chazelle's biopic "First Man." Foy's performance in "First Man" garnered critical acclaim and earned her nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress, and the British Academy Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 2020, Foy returned to her role as the young Queen Elizabeth II in the eighth episode of the fourth season of "The Crown." Her portrayal earned her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.
The following year, in 2021, Foy starred as Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, in the BBC production "A Very British Scandal."


In October 2021, Foy was cast as Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg in the drama series "Doomsday Machine," based on the book "Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook’s Battle for Domination" by Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang. The limited series was picked up by HBO for development, following a multiple-outlet bidding war.
In November 2022, Foy reprised her role as the young Queen Elizabeth in the season five premiere of "The Crown," showcasing her continued commitment to the iconic character.

References

1.  "Claire Foy Bio, Height & Age". Creeto. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
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4. ^ Mrs H Queralt (11 January 2017). "Ex student Claire Foy wins Golden Globe". Aylesbury High School. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
5. ^ "Showcase Presentation 2007 – One and Three Year Students" (PDF). Oxford School of Drama. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
6. ^ Bearn, Emily (4 December 2008). "Little Claire Foy". Thisislondon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009.
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8. ^ "Claire Foy". Screen Daily. 10 July 2008. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008.
9. ^ Benedict, David (3 March 2008). "Baby Girl/DNA/The Miracle". Variety. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
10. ^ "Little Dorrit cast announced". BBC Press Office. 6 May 2008.
11. ^ "Interview: Claire Foy". Channel 4. 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
12. ^ Merrifield, Nicola (4 January 2013). "Claire Foy to play Lady Macbeth opposite James McAvoy". The Stage. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
13. ^ Plunkett, John (3 March 2016). "Poldark's topless scything fails to cut it with Royal Television Society judges". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
14. ^ "2016 Television Leading Actress – BAFTA Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 1 April 2018.