Harriet Walter Explained

Honorific Prefix:Dame
Harriet Walter
Birth Name:Harriet Mary Walter
Birth Date:24 September 1950
Birth Place:London, England, UK
Education:London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (BA)
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1974–present
Partner:Peter Blythe (1996–2004; his death)
Relatives:

Dame Harriet Mary Walter (born 24 September 1950) is a British actress. She has performed on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and received an Olivier Award, and nominations for a Tony Award, five Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2011, Walter was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to drama.

Walter began her career acting with the Royal Shakespeare Company in productions of Twelfth Night (1987–88) and Three Sisters (1988), for which she received the Olivier Award for Best Actress. She received Olivier nominations for Life x 3 (2001), and Mary Stuart (2006). Her other notable work for the RSC includes leading roles in Macbeth (1999) and Antony and Cleopatra (2006).

She made her Broadway debut in the 1983 revival of the William Shakespeare play All's Well That Ends Well (1983). She returned to Broadway in Mary Stuart for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She reprised her roles of Brutus in Julius Caesar (2012) and the title role in Henry IV (2014), as well as playing Prospero in The Tempest, as part of an all-female Shakespeare trilogy in 2016.

Walter has acted in the films Sense and Sensibility (1995), The Governess (1998), Atonement (2007), The Young Victoria (2009), A Royal Affair (2012), (2015), Denial (2016), The Sense of an Ending (2017), Rocketman (2019) and The Last Duel (2021). On television she starred as Harriet Vane in the 1987 BBC Wimsey dramatisations and as Natalie Chandler in the ITV drama series from 2009 to 2014. She has also acted in Downton Abbey (2013–15), London Spy (2015), The Crown (2016), Patrick Melrose (2018), Killing Eve (2020), and Silo (2023). She has earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her roles in Succession (2018–2023) and Ted Lasso (2020–2023).

Early life

Walter was born in London, England. She is the niece of British actor Sir Christopher Lee, being the daughter of his elder sister Xandra Lee. On her father's side, Walter is a great-great-great-great-granddaughter of John Walter, founder of The Times.[1] [2] She was educated at Cranborne Chase School. After turning down a university education, she was rejected by five drama schools before being admitted to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[3] Following her training, she gained early experience with the Joint Stock Theatre Company, Paines Plough touring, and the Duke's Playhouse, Lancaster.[4]

Career

Walter worked with Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) productions Nicholas Nickleby (1980), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1981), All's Well That Ends Well (1981), The Castle (1985), A Question of Geography, Twelfth Night (1988), Three Sisters (1988), The Duchess of Malfi (1989), Macbeth (1999), Much Ado about Nothing (2002) and Death of a Salesman (2015).

In 1987, Walter was made an associate artist of the RSC. Additional theatre work includes Three Birds Alighting on a Field (1991), Arcadia (1993), Hedda Gabler (1996), Ivanov (1997) and Mary Stuart (2005).

Walter made her Broadway debut in 1983, when the RSC production of All's Well That Ends Well transferred there. In 1993, she starred as Biddy in the off-Broadway production of Three Birds Alighting on a Field, for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination. She returned to the Broadway stage in 2009, when she reprised her role in Mary Stuart. In 2014, Walter starred as Brutus in an all-female off-Broadway production of Julius Caesar and received her second Drama Desk nomination.

Walter's films include Sense and Sensibility (1995), Bedrooms and Hallways (1998), The Governess (1998), Onegin (1999), Villa des Roses (2002) and Bright Young Things (2003). In 1987, she portrayed Harriet Vane in three instalments of the BBC's A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery, and played Detective Inspector Natalie Chandler from 2009 to 2012 in the ITV drama series . Other television roles include Waking the Dead (2001), Little Dorrit (2008), A Short Stay in Switzerland (2009) and Lady Shackleton in four episodes of the series Downton Abbey (2013–15).[5]

In 2016, Walter played Clementine Churchill on the Netflix series The Crown, appeared in two episodes in 2017 in Call the Midwife and had a recurring role on the HBO series Succession (2018⁠–23). In 2020, Walter joined the series Killing Eve.[6] [7]

Walter played Brutus in Julius Caesar in 2012, and the title role in Henry IV in 2014, in all-female productions at the Donmar Warehouse. Both productions transferred to Brooklyn's St. Ann's Warehouse in New York. She was set to reprise both roles, as well as playing Prospero in an all-female production of The Tempest, as part of director Phyllida Lloyd's Shakespeare trilogy at the Donmar's temporary, in-the-round, 420-seat theatre next to King's Cross station in 2016.

Personal life

Walter was in a relationship with actor Peter Blythe from 1996 until his death in 2004.[8] She married actor Guy Paul in 2011.[9]

At the age of 20, Walter became a feminist and went "into political theatre; to try and put as much feminism into the interpretation of parts I was playing".[10] She was conflicted on her damehood and nearly turned it down,[11] but eventually decided to accept because "there are many fewer women [than men] who can sustain a career to the point where they can be named a dame, and that's not through lack of talent. It was a slightly political gesture".[12] She supported the UK remaining in the European Union in the run-up to the 2016 EU referendum.[13]

Walter, who speaks Russian, performed a reading at the 2022 Poets for Ukraine event alongside the likes of Juliet Stevenson and Meera Syal.[14] In light of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Walter was one of over two thousand to sign an Artists for Palestine letter calling for a ceasefire and accusing western governments of "not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them."[15] She condemned the decision to rescind Caryl Churchill's 2022 European Drama Lifetime Achievement Award over Churchill's support of Palestine and alleged anti-semitism.[16]

Walter is a patron of the Shakespeare Schools Festival, a charity that enables school children across the UK to perform Shakespeare in professional theatres; Prisoners Abroad, a charity that supports Britons imprisoned overseas and their families; and Clean Break, a charity and theatre company dedicated to sharing the stories of imprisoned women and transforming the lives of female offenders through theatre education.[17]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984ReflectionsOttilie Garinger
1985Emmy Hooper
Turtle DiaryHarriet Simms
1990May FoolsLily
1993Jeannie Martin
1995Sense and SensibilityFanny Dashwood
1996Liz Flett
1997Keep the Aspidistra FlyingJulia Comstock
1998Bedrooms and HallwaysSybil
Mrs. Cavendish
1999OneginMadame Larina
2002Villa des RosesOlive Burrell
2003Bright Young ThingsLady Maitland
2005ChromophobiaPenelope Aylesbury
2006BabelLilly
2007AtonementEmily Tallis
2009ChériLa Loupiote
Queen Adelaide
Professor Compton Chamberlayne
From Time to TimeLady Dresham
2012Augusta of Saxe-Gotha
Alex
2014Suite FrançaiseViscountess de Montmort
2015Man UpFran
Kalonia
2016DenialVera Reich
MindhornAgent
2017Margaret
2019RocketmanHelena Piena
2020HerselfPeggy
2021Nicole de Buchard
2022Your Christmas or Mine?Iris
BurialAnna Marshall
2024And MrsAmandaCompleted

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1979RebeccaClariceEpisode #1.3
1980Cathy RaineTelevision film
1981VaryaTelevision film
1984AmyAmy JohnsonTelevision film
1985Frances Carr6 episodes
1986Girls on TopR.S.C. Actress 3Episode: "Mr. Yummy Brownie"
1987Harriet VaneMain cast, 10 episodes
1989Theatre NightSheilaEpisode: "Benefactors"
1991Screen TwoAmelia CleverlyEpisode: "They Never Slept"
Charity WaltonMiniseries, 5 episodes
AshendenGiulia LazzariEpisode: "The Dark Woman"
1993Inspector MorseDr. Esther MartinEpisode: "The Day of the Devil"
PerformanceMrs. Dorothy MaitlandEpisode: "The Maitlands"
1994Hard TimesRachel4 episodes
1997MildredEpisode: "The Thirties"
1998–1999Unfinished BusinessAmyMain cast, 12 episodes
1999Dalziel and PascoeMary WaddellEpisode: "Time to Go"
Queen MoragTelevision film
2001Waking the DeadAnnie KeelEpisode: "A Simple Sacrifice"
2003My Uncle SilasPamela FarrellEpisode: "Shandy Lil"
2004LondonVirginia Woolf2 episodes
ImagineMotherEpisode: "The Smoking Diaries"
SpooksDeep ThroatEpisode: "Who Guards the Guards?"
2005New TricksMadelineEpisode: "Trust Me"
MessiahProfessor Robb3 episodes
Midsomer MurdersMargaret WinstanleyEpisode: "Orchis Fatalis"
2006Agatha Christie's MarpleDuchess of MalfiEpisode: "Sleeping Murder"
DoctorsAnnie Fenton4 episodes
2007Trial & RetributionThe JudgeEpisode: "Paradise Lost: Part 1"
Five DaysACC Jennie Griffin3 episodes
Ballet ShoesDr. SmithTelevision film
2008Joanna WoodwardEpisode #1.1
Fairy TalesCharlotte BrooksEpisode: "Cinderella"
10 Days to WarAnne CampbellEpisode: "Failure Is Not an Option"
Agatha Christie's PoirotMiss BulstrodeEpisode: "Cat Among the Pigeons"
Little DorritMrs. GowanMiniseries, 4 episodes
2009HunterACC Jenny GriffinMiniseries, 2 episodes
ClareTelevision film
2009–2014Natalie ChandlerMain cast, 40 episodes
2013Midsomer MurdersDiana DavenportEpisode: "Death and the Divas"
Heading OutAngela2 episodes
By Any MeansSally WalkerEpisode #1.4
2013–2015Downton AbbeyLady ShackletonRecurring role, 4 episodes
2014Jeanne VertefeuilleMiniseries, 8 episodes
2015London SpyClaireMiniseries, 3 episodes
2016Clementine ChurchillRecurring role, 6 episodes
2017Call the MidwifeSister Ursula3 episodes
Black SailsMarion Guthrie3 episodes
2018Patrick MelrosePrincess MargaretEpisode: "Some Hope"
FlowersHyldaMain cast, 5 episodes
Black Earth RisingEve Ashby2 episodes
My Dinner with HervéBaskinTelevision film
2018–2023SuccessionLady Caroline Collingwood7 episodes
2019CurfewHelen Newman4 episodes
Lady Margaret BeaufortMiniseries, 8 episodes
2020Edie10 episodes
BelgraviaCaroline, Countess of Brockenhurst6 episodes
Killing EveDasha7 episodes
Talking HeadsMurielEpisode: "Soldiering On"
2021Doctor WhoPrime Minister Jo PattersonEpisode: "Revolution of the Daleks"
2021–2023Ted LassoDeborah Welton4 episodes
2022Documentary Now!EdwinaEpisode: "Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport"
This Is Going to HurtVeroniqueRecurring character[18]
2023The CleanerLisaEpisode: "The Transaction"
ArchieElsie Leach3 episodes
2023–presentSiloMartha WalkerMain cast[19]
TBALady Margaret Pole

Theatre

Radio

Honours

She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours and promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to drama.

In 2001 she and Kenneth Branagh were both given honorary doctorates and honorary fellowships at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford.

Her performance in Mary Stuart at the Donmar Warehouse transferred to Broadway, where it was nominated for numerous Tony Awards, including Best Actress nods for her and her co-star Janet McTeer.[24]

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
1988Laurence OlivierBest Actress in a RevivalA Question of Geography / Twelfth Night / Three Sisters
1994Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Actress in a PlayThree Birds Alighting on a Field
2001Laurence Olivier AwardBest ActressLife x 3
2005Evening Standard AwardBest ActressMary Stuart
2006Laurence Olivier AwardBest Actress
2009Tony AwardBest Actress in a Play
2014Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Actress in a PlayJulius Caesar
2016Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Ensemble in a Drama SeriesThe Crown
2020Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesSuccession
2022
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy SeriesTed Lasso
2023Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama SeriesSuccession
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy SeriesTed Lasso

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: News: Stationers celebrate Times links . InPublishing . 8 April 2011 . 13 February 2013 . 11 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120311222955/http://www.inpublishing.co.uk/news/articles/stationers_celebrate_times_links.aspx . live.
  2. News: Fox. Chloe. The world of Harriet Walter, actress. The Daily Telegraph. 3 February 2007. London. 8 February 2021. 24 April 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080424045024/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=%2Farts%2F2007%2F02%2F03%2Fsmworld03.xml. dead.
  3. News: Life's looking up, Dame Harriet . 15 January 2011 . The Guardian . Aida Edemariam . Aida. Edemariam. London.
  4. Book: Who's Who. Who's Who. 1995. A & C Black. Oxford, England. Walter, Harriet Mary.
  5. Web site: "A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery" Strong Poison: Episode One (TV Episode 1987) – IMDb . . 1 July 2018 . 6 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170706220720/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092396/ . live.
  6. Web site: Petski . Denise . 19 August 2019 . 'Killing Eve': Harriet Walter & Danny Sapani Join Cast As Production Begins on Season 3 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190819180505/https://deadline.com/2019/08/killing-eve-harriet-walter-danny-sapani-cast-production-begins-season-3-1202671178/ . 19 August 2019 . 19 August 2019 . Deadline . en.
  7. News: Weiss . Josh . 19 April 2020 . Who Is Dasha? Dame Harriet Walter Breaks Down Her New 'Killing Eve' Character And That Wedding Crash . Forbes . live . 1 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201108192913/https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshweiss/2020/04/19/killing-eve-season-3-dame-harriet-walter-dasha-interview/?sh=4c5afa2b4c19 . 8 November 2020.
  8. News: Obituary: Peter Blythe. Shorter. Eric. 6 August 2004. The Guardian. 26 November 2010. London. 17 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151217224555/http://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/aug/06/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries. live.
  9. News: Culture . Harriet Walter: 'Why I am getting married at 60' . The Daily Telegraph. 11 May 2011 . 13 February 2013 . London . 30 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130730115627/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/8508200/Harriet-Walter-Why-I-am-getting-married-at-60.html . live.
  10. Harriet Walter: "Your whole casting relationship is built around a man". Digital Spy. Abby. Robinson. 8 March 2021. 18 October 2023.
  11. Web site: Dame Harriet Walter's 'nightmare' title. Inside Nova. 17 April 2023. 18 October 2023.
  12. Dame Harriet Walter: The actress on learning what it is to age, plastic surgery, and her unease at being honoured by the establishment. The Independent. Holly. Williams. 1 February 2015. 18 October 2023.
  13. Web site: In full: Arts figures backing EU Remain campaign. BBC News. 20 May 2016. 18 October 2023.
  14. Harriet Walter: We mustn't tar Russian people with same brush as their leaders. Belfast Telegraph. Ellie. Iorizzo. 25 March 2022. 18 October 2023.
  15. Web site: Tilda Swinton among 2000+ artists calling for Gaza ceasefire. Artists for Palestine. 17 October 2023. 17 October 2023.
  16. Web site: Cancellation of award for playwright Caryl Churchill condemned. The Guardian. Harriet. Sherwood. 17 November 2022. 18 November 2022. en.
  17. Web site: Shakespeare Schools Foundation Patrons . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171211165434/https://www.shakespeareschools.org/about-us/patrons . 11 December 2017 . 12 July 2021 . Shakespeare Schools Foundation.
  18. Web site: 'This Is Going To Hurt': Harriet Walter, Alex Jennings Join BBC/AMC Series; First Look at Lead Ben Whishaw. Deadline Hollywood. Jake. Kanter. 24 June 2021. 24 June 2021. 24 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624230648/https://deadline.com/2021/06/this-is-going-to-hurt-first-look-harriet-walter-alex-jennings-bbc-amc-1234780739/. live.
  19. https://deadline.com/2021/11/wool-harriet-walter-avi-nash-chinaza-uche-join-apple-original-1234865291/ 'Wool': Harriet Walter, Avi Nash & Chinaza Uche Join Apple's Dystopian Drama As Series Regulars
  20. Web site: Olivier Winners 1988. 24 April 2008. The Official London Theatre Guide. 28 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100504081637/http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/olivier_awards/view/item98523/Olivier-Winners-1988/. 4 May 2010. dead.
  21. News: BBC News report on critical reception. 6 December 2012. 5 December 2012. 6 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121206143139/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20593316. live.
  22. News: Review: In 'The Tempest,' Liberation and Exhilaration. Brantley. Ben. 18 January 2017. 1 November 2020. The New York Times. 8 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108064534/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/theater/review-in-the-tempest-liberation-and-exhilaration.html. live.
  23. Web site: Scenes of Seduction · British Universities Film & Video Council . Bufvc.ac.uk . 7 March 2005 . 13 February 2013 . 14 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160314011247/http://bufvc.ac.uk/shakespeare/index.php/title/av68694 . live.
  24. News: Billy Elliot musical dominates Broadway's Tony award shortlist. 5 May 2009. The Guardian. 26 November 2010. London. 7 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307124214/http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2009/may/05/billy-elliot-tony-awards-broadway. live.