Andrea Riseborough

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28 Feb 2024

Andrea Riseborough

Andrea Louise Riseborough, born on November 20, 1981, is a distinguished English actress renowned for her captivating performances across film, television, and stage. Her journey in cinema commenced with a modest role in Venus (2006), followed by more prominent portrayals in films such as Brighton Rock (2010), W.E. (2011), Shadow Dancer (2012), Oblivion (2013), Birdman (2014), Nocturnal Animals (2016), Battle of the Sexes, The Death of Stalin (both 2017), Mandy, Nancy (both 2018), The Grudge, Possessor (both 2020), and To Leslie (2022). Notably, her portrayal in the latter earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Riseborough's talent extends beyond the silver screen. She garnered critical acclaim and a BAFTA nomination for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in the television film The Long Walk to Finchley (2008). Furthermore, she received praise for her performances in the Channel 4 miniseries The Devil's Whore (2008) and National Treasure (2016), as well as the BBC One miniseries The Witness for the Prosecution (2016).

In addition to her accomplishments in film and television, Riseborough has showcased her versatility on stage. Her notable stage credits include roles in productions such as Miss Julie, Measure for Measure (both 2006), and Anton Chekhov's Ivanov (2008), solidifying her reputation as a multifaceted performer with a remarkable range.

Andrea Louise Riseborough was born on November 20, 1981, in Newcastle upon Tyne. She was raised in Whitley Bay by her parents Isabel, who worked as a secretary and beautician, and George, who was a car dealer. Riseborough's upbringing was rooted in a working-class household with her parents identifying as "Thatcherites," a political ideology associated with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

During her formative years, Riseborough discovered her passion for acting and honed her skills at the People's Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne. She appeared in various productions, including Riding England Sidesaddle by Christopher Goulding, where she portrayed Celia Fiennes. Additionally, she was actively involved with the Young People's Theatre for five years.

Riseborough pursued her education at Newcastle upon Tyne Church High School, an independent school, before furthering her studies at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). In 2005, she graduated from RADA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Acting (H Level), laying a solid foundation for her successful career in the performing arts.

Andrea Riseborough has showcased her versatility and talent across a diverse range of roles in film and television. In 2008, she portrayed Margaret Thatcher in the BBC Four film The Long Walk to Finchley. Her filmography continued to flourish with appearances in notable projects such as Made in Dagenham and Mark Romanek's adaptation of Never Let Me Go in 2010.
Riseborough's stage presence was also evident in her starring role in the American premiere of Alexi Kaye Campbell's The Pride at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in January 2010, directed by Joe Mantello.

Further cementing her status as a versatile actress, Riseborough appeared in Rowan Joffé's film adaptation of Brighton Rock and worked on a screenplay based on the life of Angelica Fanshawe with The Devil's Mistress author Peter Flannery. She also portrayed Wallis Simpson in W.E., a film directed by Madonna, and starred in Resistance, an adaptation of Owen Sheers' novel, released in 2011.

Riseborough's creative endeavors extend beyond acting; she collaborates with her creative partner, actor Tom Burke, and with acclaimed director Mike Leigh. Her film credits include roles in Hidden (2015), Oblivion (2013), and Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), which won the Oscar for Best Picture at the 87th Academy Awards. Riseborough shared the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for her role in Birdman.

In 2016, she appeared in apartheid drama Shepherds and Butchers, Tom Ford's psychological thriller Nocturnal Animals, and joined the cast of Netflix's Bloodline for season 2 as the series regular character Evangeline. Riseborough's portrayal of Joseph Stalin's daughter, Svetlana Stalina, in the 2017 comedy-drama film The Death of Stalin earned her praise for the "shrewd, multi-layered complexity" of her performance, as noted by Variety.

Andrea Riseborough's career continued to flourish with diverse and compelling projects. In 2018, she was cast in Waco, a six-part television series chronicling the Waco siege, with the first episode airing on January 24, 2018. That same year, Riseborough showcased her versatility in three films: the horror film Mandy, the mystery drama Nancy (which she also produced), and the historical drama Burden.

Riseborough also joined the cast of Lone Scherfig's The Kindness of Strangers, portraying an ER nurse who runs an eclectic therapy group. The film began shooting in the spring of 2018. Additionally, she starred in a Sony remake of The Grudge, released on January 3, 2020.
In 2020, Riseborough captivated audiences in the international cocaine trade drama ZeroZeroZero, an eight-part series adapted from Roberto Saviano's book, which debuted on Sky in the UK and Amazon Prime in the US. She also delivered a standout performance in Possessor, directed by Brandon Cronenberg, playing the role of Tasya Vos, an agent who uses brain-implant technology to inhabit other people's bodies for assassinations.

Riseborough's talent continued to shine in 2022 with her appearance in the film To Leslie, a role that earned her critical acclaim and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Her performance garnered praise from numerous celebrities and generated widespread attention during the Academy Award voting period in January 2023.
In addition to her film work, Riseborough had supporting roles as Mrs. Wormwood in the musical Matilda the Musical and as Beatrice Vandenheuvel in David O. Russell's Amsterdam in 2022. She further showcased her versatility in 2023 by portraying Vogue editor Audrey Withers opposite Kate Winslet in the biographical war drama Lee, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.