Eleanor May Tomlinson, born on May 19, 1992, in London, England, is a prominent English actress known for her performances in both film and television.
Raised in a creative family environment after her family relocated to Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire when she was young, Tomlinson attended Beverley High School, where her passion for acting and dancing blossomed early on.
She frequently participated in school plays, honing her skills from a tender age.
Coming from a lineage immersed in the entertainment world, her mother, Judith Hibbert, is a singer and former actress, and her father, Malcolm Tomlinson, is an actor and horse racing commentator, Tomlinson’s entry into the industry felt almost predestined.
Her debut came at just 11 years old, and over the years, she has evolved into a versatile performer celebrated for bringing depth to period dramas and contemporary roles alike.
Siblings
Eleanor shares a close bond with her younger brother, Ross Tomlinson, born in 1994, who has carved out his own path in the acting world much like his sister.
Growing up together in the Yorkshire countryside, the siblings developed a supportive dynamic that extends into their professional lives.
Ross has garnered recognition for his role as PJ in the BBC medical drama This Is Going to Hurt, as well as portraying Gerald in the 2022 comedy-drama Allelujah alongside Jennifer Saunders.
His other notable credits include appearances in BBC Three’s Starstruck, Hulu’s Four Weddings and a Funeral, and the long-running soap Doctors.
Career
Tomlinson’s career trajectory began with a small but memorable role as Young Sophie in the 2006 fantasy film The Illusionist, marking her feature film debut at the age of 14.
This early exposure paved the way for her breakthrough in the 2008 teen comedy Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, where she portrayed the quirky best friend Jas, earning her initial fanbase among younger audiences.
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She continued to build her resume with a cameo in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland in 2010, before landing her first major television role as Isabel Neville in the BBC’s historical miniseries The White Queen in 2013.
That same year, she stepped into the spotlight as Princess Isabelle in the blockbuster Jack the Giant Slayer, a high-fantasy adventure that showcased her ability to handle large-scale productions.
The turning point in Tomlinson’s career arrived in 2015 with her iconic portrayal of Demelza Poldark in the BBC One period drama Poldark, adapted from Winston Graham’s novels.
Over five seasons until 2019, her nuanced depiction of the fiery, resilient miner-turned-gentry woman not only propelled the series to international acclaim but also cemented Tomlinson as a household name.
Post-Poldark, she diversified her portfolio with the lead in the animated Loving Vincent (2017) as Armand Roulin, followed by a supporting turn in the biographical drama Colette (2018) opposite Keira Knightley.
Tomlinson ventured into science fiction with her role as Lady Mary in HBO’s The Nevers (2021) and took on the ambitious three-lead in the 2024 Netflix adaptation of One Day, embodying the evolving character of Sylvie across decades.
More recently, she starred in the thriller The Couple Next Door (2023–2025) and made her West End debut in Matthew Lopez’s Reverberation in 2024, demonstrating her commitment to stage work.
Her filmography also includes romantic comedies like Love Wedding Repeat (2020) and a modern take on The War of the Worlds (2019), reflecting her adaptability across genres.
Accolades
For her transformative work as Demelza in Poldark, Tomlinson received multiple nominations for Best Actress at the TV Choice Awards across several seasons, highlighting her command of the character’s complexity.
The series itself earned a BAFTA for Best Drama Series, with Tomlinson’s performance often cited as a driving force behind its success.
In 2018, she was ranked number 56 on the prestigious Radio Times TV 100 list, a poll curated by television executives and industry veterans that underscores her influence on British screens.
Her attendance at the BAFTA Television Awards in 2024 further affirms her standing among peers, where she was celebrated for her role in One Day.
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