Natalie Dormer

Natalie Dormer, born on February 11, 1982, is an English actress known for her remarkable performances across various mediums. Her accolades include winning an Empire Award and receiving nominations for a Critics' Choice Award, two Gemini Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.


Dormer's breakthrough came with her portrayal of Anne Boleyn in the Showtime series "The Tudors" (2007–2010), a role that garnered widespread acclaim. Following this success, she made her stage debut in "Sweet Nothings" (2010) and appeared as the Duchess of York in Madonna's film "W.E." (2011) and as Private Lorraine in "Captain America: The First Avenger" (2011). Her performance in "After Miss Julie" (2012) at the Young Vic Theatre was also highly praised.


However, it was Dormer's role as Margaery Tyrell in the HBO series "Game of Thrones" (2012–2016) that catapulted her to international fame and earned her widespread acclaim. Simultaneously, she portrayed Cressida in the last two parts of "The Hunger Games" franchise (2014–2015), which became her highest-grossing films.


In addition to her television and film work, Dormer has showcased her versatility by taking on roles such as Irene Adler/Moriarty on the CBS series "Elementary" (2013–2015) and Sara Price/Jess Price in the horror film "The Forest" (2016). She has also lent her voice to the character Onica in the series "The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance" (2019).
Throughout her career, Natalie Dormer has consistently delivered captivating performances, establishing herself as one of the most talented and versatile actresses in the industry.


Natalie Dormer was born on February 11, 1982, in Reading, Berkshire, to Gary Dormer and Claire Richards. She has two siblings, Mark and Samantha. Dormer's ancestry includes English, Norwegian, Welsh, and distant Irish descent.
She attended Chiltern Edge Secondary School before continuing her education at Reading Blue Coat School for sixth form. Despite being academically inclined, Dormer faced bullying during her school years, a experience she still finds difficult to understand.


During her time at school, Dormer also trained in dance at the Allenova School of Dancing. Initially, she aimed to pursue a history degree at the University of Cambridge but, due to a misreading of a question in her A-level history examination, she did not achieve the required grade. Subsequently, Dormer decided to audition for drama schools and ultimately trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.


Six months after completing her studies at the Webber Douglas Academy, Natalie Dormer landed her breakthrough role as Victoria in the film "Casanova," which was released in 2005. Directed by Lasse Hallström, Dormer's performance impressed the director so much that he requested the scriptwriter to expand her role due to her impeccable comedic timing.


Following her debut in "Casanova," Dormer had a small part in the TV series "Distant Shores" in 2005. However, after filming "Casanova," she experienced a period of unemployment lasting 10 months, which she attributed to ineffective representation. During this time, Dormer struggled to find acting opportunities and was briefly attached to an independent film project that faced financing issues, causing delays.


Unable to secure auditions, Dormer worked odd jobs as a waitress and in data entry to make ends meet. Reflecting on this challenging phase, Dormer considers it a valuable learning experience that taught her important lessons about the industry and resilience.


Between 2007 and 2008, Natalie Dormer portrayed Anne Boleyn in the first two seasons of the historical drama series "The Tudors." Her performance received widespread acclaim, with critics praising her portrayal's complexity and beauty. Robert Abele of LA Weekly hailed Dormer's depiction, describing it as "painterly exquisiteness and complexity" and lauding her "enigmatic, time-halting loveliness." Dormer's portrayal of Anne Boleyn was seen as a significant contribution to the series, and her character's departure at the end of the second season left a notable void.


In addition to her role in "The Tudors," Dormer appeared as Moira Nicholson in "Agatha Christie's Marple: Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" in 2008. She also featured in the film "City of Life." Although Dormer's scenes in "Incendiary" were ultimately cut from the final film, she continued to pursue various acting opportunities, including roles in Madonna's film "W.E.," where she portrayed the Duchess of York, as well as in "Captain America: The First Avenger" as Pvt. Lorraine, and in the BBC court drama "Silk" as Niamh Cranitch. Dormer returned to "The Tudors" for its fourth and final season in 2010, appearing as Anne Boleyn in a dream sequence.


In March 2010, Dormer made her stage debut at the Young Vic theatre in London, starring as Mizi in the play "Sweet Nothings." Her performance received praise from critics, with Susannah Clapp of The Observer commending Dormer as "lissome" and highlighting her captivating presence on stage. Dormer's portrayal earned her a commendation at the Ian Charleson Awards 2010. Later that year, she portrayed Pat in the play ".45" at Hampstead Theatre in November 2010, showcasing her versatility as a stage actress.


From 2012 to 2016, Natalie Dormer portrayed Margaery Tyrell in the acclaimed HBO fantasy television series "Game of Thrones." Her performance in the role garnered widespread recognition and critical acclaim. Dormer, along with the ensemble cast, received nominations for four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series and won the Empire Hero Award in 2015 from British film magazine Empire. She also won the Ewwy Award for Best Supporting Actress – Drama for her portrayal in the third season.


In March 2012, Dormer showcased her talent at the Young Vic theatre, taking on the title role in Patrick Marber's "After Miss Julie." Her performance received high praise from critics, who lauded her as "sensational," "outstanding," and "the perfect Miss Julie." Dormer's portrayal was described as possessing a captivating presence and eerie beauty, demonstrating her versatility as an actress.


In March 2013, Dormer portrayed Lady Door in the radio play adaptation of Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere." She also appeared in the films "Rush," a car racing drama, and "The Counselor," a thriller. Additionally, she starred in "A Long Way From Home" during the same year. Dormer took on the role of Irene Adler in the first season of the CBS series "Elementary" in 2013 and reprised the character in the second season.


In November 2014, it was announced that Dormer would star as Lady Worsley in the BBC drama "The Scandalous Lady W," which aired in August 2015. She also portrayed Cressida in the final two films of "The Hunger Games" franchise, released in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Dormer shaved the left side of her head for the role. Both films were commercial successes, ranking as Dormer's highest-grossing releases.


In August 2016, Dormer appeared in "The Professor and the Madman" alongside Mel Gibson and Sean Penn. She also starred in the horror film "The Forest," directed by Jason Zada, which was released in January 2016 and distributed by Focus Features in North America.

References

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