| Birth Date: | 1987/1988 |
| Alma Mater: | SOAS, University of London |
| Years Active: | 2010–present |
Elena Saurel (born 1987/1988) is an actress and writer based in London. She is known for her roles in the ITV2 sitcom Buffering (2021–2023), and the BBC Two series Industry (2022–) and We Might Regret This (2024).
Saurel grew up in Geneva, Switzerland and moved to England at the age of 14,[1] where she attended Bedales School. She is of Salvadoran-American heritage,[2] and holds Spanish and American citizenship. Her parents enrolled her in afternoon acting classes to help with her anxiety and dyslexia.[3] She took a one-year course at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York before going on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Archaeology from SOAS, University of London. During her time at university, she signed up for a number of short films and fringe plays.[4]
Saurel portrayed Janis Joplin in Paul Desveaux's Pearl at the Abrons Arts Center in December 2015 and made her London stage debut in Labyrinth at the Hampstead Theatre in 2016.[5] In 2018, Saurel had a recurring role as Stacey in the ITV comedy-drama Girlfriend. She also appeared in series such as Lovesick on Netflix, Living the Dream and Breeders on Sky One, Killing Eve on BBC America, and Gold Digger on BBC One. She wrote the 2019 short film Eject.
In 2021, Saurel began starring as Olivia in the ITV2 sitcom Buffering.[6] [7] In 2022, she joined the cast of the HBO and BBC Two investment banking drama Industry for its second season as Anna Gearing.[8] Saurel has upcoming roles in the Amazon Freevee series Open Book[9] and the BBC comedy-drama We Might Regret This.[10]
Saurel is a supporter of the Cervantes Theatre in Southwark.[11]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Anaphylaxis | Morgue Woman | |
| 2015 | Charlie and Wendy | Wendy | |
| 2019 | I Want to Make You Happy | Laura | Short film |
| 2019 | Eject | Writer, short film | |
| 2020 | Stage Manager | ||
| 2022 | The Batman | Detective | |
| Tad, the Lost Explorer and the Emerald Tablet | Ramirez | Voice role, English version | |
| 2023 | Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny | Stewardess | |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Benidorm | Receptionist | 1 episode |
| 50 Ways to Kill Your Lover | Kristen Rossum | 1 episode | |
| 2015 | Catastrophe | Blaire | 1 episode |
| The Last Hours of Laura K | Sabrina Bahadir | Television film | |
| Not Safe for Work | Receptionist | 1 episode | |
| 2017 | Silent Witness | Luisa | 2 episodes |
| Kiss of Death | Gina | Episode: "Blood Never Lies" | |
| Josh | Lauren | Episode: "The Old Lady & The Swan" | |
| 2018 | Lovesick | Bianca | Episode: "Evie (Part Two)" |
| Girlfriends | Stacey | 3 episodes | |
| Midsomer Murders | Zennia Lounds | Episode: "Drawing Dead" | |
| 2019 | Living the Dream | Connie | 2 episodes |
| Killing Eve | Woman | Episode: "Do You Know How to Dispose of a Body?" | |
| Gold Digger | Bianca | 2 episodes | |
| The Man | Tonya Baxter | 1 episode | |
| 2020 | Kate & Koji | Rosa | 1 episode |
| 2021 | Breeders | Martina | 2 episodes |
| 2021–2023 | Buffering | Olivia | Main role |
| 2021 | Around the World in 80 Days | Sally | 1 episode |
| 2022–present | Industry | Anna Gearing | Main role (season 2–) |
| TBA | We Might Regret This | Jo | |
| Open Book | Kat | ||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Hisoka Kurosawa | ||
| The Crew | |||
| 2015 | Victor Vran | Irene | |
| 2016 | Anne | English version | |
| 2017 | Horizon Zero Dawn | Vala | |
| Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 | America Chavez | ||
| 2018 | Diana | English version | |
| Hitman 2 | Announcer | ||
| 2019 | Control | Additional cast | |
| Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint | Various | ||
| Tropico 6 | |||
| 2023 | Atomic Heart | ||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Pearl | Janis Joplin | Abrons Arts Center, New York |
| 2016 | Labyrinth | Grace | Hampstead Theatre, London |
| 2017 | The House of Bernarda Alba | Marti | Cervantes Theatre / Southwark Playhouse, London |