Geraldine Agnew-Somerville, born on May 19, 1967, in County Meath, Ireland, is an Irish-British actress renowned for her versatile performances across film, television, and theater.
Raised initially in Ireland, her family relocated to the Isle of Man when she was six.
From a young age, Somerville displayed a passion for the arts, beginning dance classes at six and later attending the Arts Educational School in Tring, Hertfordshire, at eight.
At sixteen, she moved to London to further her studies, eventually graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1989.
Somerville’s career spans over three decades, with notable roles in major film franchises and critically acclaimed television and stage productions.
Siblings
Geraldine is the second of three children born to Sir Quentin Charles Agnew-Somerville, 2nd Baronet, a naval officer and insurance consultant, and Margaret April Irene Drummond, daughter of the 15th Baron Strange.
Her elder sister, Amelia Rachel Agnew-Somerville, has carved out a distinct path, living in Queensland, Australia, where she owns and operates a restaurant in the rainforest with her husband.
Her younger brother, James Lockett Charles Agnew-Somerville, resides in Hong Kong and pursues a career that includes writing poetry.
Career
Somerville’s career began immediately after her graduation from the Guildhall School in 1989, with a role as Laura in Tennessee Williams’s The Glass Menagerie at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, earning her a Best Actress nomination from the Manchester Evening News.
Her early television roles included guest appearances in Poirot, Casualty, and The Bill, but her breakthrough came in 1993 as DS Jane “Panhandle” Penhaligon in the gritty crime drama Cracker, opposite Robbie Coltrane.
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This role, which she played until 1995, cemented her reputation as a formidable actress.
Somerville’s film career gained international prominence with her portrayal of Louisa Stockbridge in Robert Altman’s Gosford Park (2001), a satirical comedy-drama that earned multiple awards.
That same year, she began her iconic role as Lily Potter, Harry Potter’s mother, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, reprising the part across all eight films in the franchise.
Her other film credits include My Week with Marilyn (2011), Grace of Monaco (2014), and Sixty Six (2006).
On television, Somerville has starred in diverse projects, from period dramas like Aristocrats (1999) and Titanic (2012) to biographical works such as Daphne (2007), where she portrayed novelist Daphne du Maurier.
Her theater credits are equally impressive, with performances in productions like Romeo and Juliet at Bristol Old Vic, A Doll’s House at Birmingham Rep, and Serenading Louis at the Donmar Warehouse in 2010.
Somerville’s ability to navigate stage, screen, and television with ease has made her a respected figure in the entertainment industry.
Accolades
Somerville’s talent has been recognized with numerous nominations and awards throughout her career.
In 1995, she received a BAFTA TV Award nomination for Best Actress for her role as Jane Penhaligon in Cracker, a testament to her compelling performance in the influential series.
Her work in Gosford Park contributed to the film’s ensemble receiving five awards, including a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, a Critics Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble, and a Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Ensemble Cast in 2002.
Additionally, her debut theater performance in The Glass Menagerie earned her a Best Actress nomination from the Manchester Evening News in 1989.
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