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Katie McGrath

Katie McGrath

Katie McGrath (/məˈɡrɑː/) is an Irish actress. In television, she is best known for portraying Morgana on the BBC One series Merlin (2008–2012), Lucy Westenra on the British-American series Dracula (2013–2014), Sarah Bennett in the first season of the Canadian horror anthology series Slasher (2016) and for her role as Lena Luthor on the American superhero series Supergirl (2016–present). Her film roles include Lady Thelma Furness in the drama film W.E. and Jules Daley in the Christmas movie delight A Princess for Christmas, (2011), Zara in the science fiction adventure film Jurassic World (2015) and Elsa in the epic fantasy film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017).

Katie McGrath
Katie McGrath 20100701 Japan Expo 3 (cropped).jpg
McGrath at Comic Con France in 2010
Born
Ashford, County Wicklow, Ireland
EducationTrinity College, Dublin[1]
OccupationActress
Years active2007–present

Early life

McGrath was raised in Ashford, County Wicklow, Ireland, by Paul, who works with computers, and Mary, who works for an Irish designer. She has two older brothers, Sean, an online media manager, and Rory, who is a post-production producer.[2] She studied the International Baccalaureate at St. Andrew's College before graduating from Trinity College, Dublin with a degree in history with a focus in Russian history.[1]

Career

McGrath originally sought to work in fashion journalism and took on a job at Image magazine[1] before becoming a wardrobe assistant on the set of The Tudors. While working on The Tudors, McGrath was advised to try acting, so she sent photographs to Irish agents.[3] She said:

Being an actress was kind of like when you're a kid, and you want to run away and join the circus, it's something you really want to do, but then you grew up and got a proper job. It was a dream, but I didn't think it would ever be reality, and yet here I am![3]

McGrath was cast in Damage, an Irish TV-movie in 2007. She also starred in the play La Marea at the Dublin Theatre Festival in the same year.[4] She appeared in the feature films Eden and Freakdog in 2008, before being cast as Morgana Pendragon in Merlin.[5]

In 2009, McGrath starred in a five-part docudrama for Channel 4 exploring the life of Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen, in which she played a young Princess Margaret.[6] Emilia Fox portrayed Elizabeth II in the same episode in which McGrath appeared; the two had previously worked together as sisters Morgause and Morgana in Merlin. In 2010, McGrath was cast in Madonna's directorial debut W.E., an Edward VIII biopic. McGrath played Lady Furness, the king's former mistress who introduces him to Wallis Simpson.[7]

2011 saw McGrath film the comedy-drama A Princess for Christmas in Romania.[8] In September 2011, McGrath voice-acted the characters in the Irish animated short film Tríd an Stoirm (Through the Storm).[9] Later that month, McGrath was cast as Oriane Congost in Labyrinth.[10]

McGrath was reunited with her The Tudors co-star and close friend Jonathan Rhys Meyers in NBC and Sky Living's horror drama TV series Dracula; she portrayed Lucy Westenra.[11] In June 2013, McGrath co-starred in episode four of the Channel 4 show Dates as a young lesbian on the dating scene alongside Gemma Chan.[12]

In November 2014, McGrath co-starred in a Hozier music video for the song "From Eden".[13]

In 2015, McGrath had a supporting role as Zara in the film Jurassic World[14] and starred in the Crackle original spy-thriller, The Throwaways.[15]

McGrath portrayed the lead role in the first season of Chiller’s original horror series Slasher, which premiered on 4 March 2016.[16]

In 2016, it was announced that McGrath would play the recurring role of Lena Luthor in the second season of Supergirl.[17][18] She debuted in the season two premiere episode titled "The Adventures of Supergirl" and was promoted to a series regular in March 2017 for the third season.[19][20] She appeared as Elsa in Guy Ritchie's fantasy film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, which was released in May 2017.[21]

In 2019, it was announced that McGrath would star alongside Abbie Cornish and Georgia Haig in Seven Network series Secret Bridesmaids' Business. The series will be about how a bride's wedding turns deadly after one of the brisdesmaids invites a stranger into their lives. McGrath will star as Saskia, a bisexual lawyer who is described as an intelligent, loyal woman who is holding a secret.[22]

Filmography

Film roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2007PebbleTaraShort film
2011W.E.Lady Thelma Furness
2012Tríd an StoirmAlice/BansheeShort film; voice role
2014Leading LadyJodi Rutherford
2015Jurassic WorldZara
The ThrowawaysGloria Miller
2017King Arthur: Legend of the SwordElsa[21]
Television roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2007DamageRachelTelevision movie
2008EdenTrishaTelevision movie
The Tudors
BessEpisode: "His Majesty's Pleasure"
FreakdogHarriet ChambersTelevision movie
The Roaring Twenties
VixenTelevision miniseries
2008–2012MerlinMorgana PendragonMain role, 57 episodes
2009
The Queen
Princess MargaretEpisode: "Margaret"
2011
A Princess for Christmas
Jules DalyTelevision movie
2012LabyrinthOriane CongostTelevision miniseries
2013DatesKate FosterEpisode: "Erica and Kate"
2013–2014DraculaLucy WestenraMain role, 10 episodes
2016SlasherSarah BennettMain role (season 1), 8 episodes
2016–presentSupergirlLena LuthorRecurring role (season 2); main role (season 3-5); 87 episodes
2016–2017FrontierElizabeth CarruthersRecurring role; 7 episodes
2019Secret Bridesmaids' BusinessSaskia de MerindollMain role
Music videos
YearTitleArtist
2014"From Eden"Hozier

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRefs
2009Monte-Carlo TV FestivalOutstanding Actress - Drama SeriesMerlinNominated[23]
2011Monte-Carlo TV FestivalOutstanding Actress - Drama SeriesMerlinNominated[24]
2018Teen Choice AwardsChoice Scene StealerSupergirlNominated[25]

References

[1]
Citation Linkthegloss.ieCarey, Anna (October 2008). "The Sorcerer's Apprentice". The Gloss Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[2]
Citation Linkwww.belfasttelegraph.co.uk"Katie McGrath superstar in waiting". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[3]
Citation Linksundayheraldsalon.com"She's magic". Sunday Herald Salon. 4 October 2008. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[4]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgbedrockproductions Archived 5 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[5]
Citation Linkwww.digitalspy.com"'Merlin' Katie McGrath final series Q&A". Digital Spy. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.theguardian.com"Five actresses to play the Queen for C4". The Guardian. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[7]
Citation Linkwww.digitalspy.co.uk"Katie McGrath praises 'fantastic' Madonna". Digital Spy. London. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[8]
Citation Linkwww.filmneweurope.comBlaga, Lulia (25 February 2011). "PRODUCTION: Christmas at Castlebury Hall Will Shoot in Romania". Film New Europe. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[9]
Citation Linkfilmireland.net"Short Film of the Week: Watch Tríd an Stoirm by Fred Burdy | Film Ireland". filmireland.net. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[10]
Citation Linkwww.digitalspy.com"Katie McGrath: 'Labyrinth is gritty'". Digital Spy. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[11]
Citation Linkwww.iftn.ie"Victoria Smurfit To Sink Teeth into Jonathan Rhys Meyers' 'Dracula'". IFTN. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.afterellen.com"New Channel 4 series "Dates" features gorgeous, complex lesbian couple - AfterEllen". AfterEllen. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[13]
Citation Linkwww.independent.ie"Hozier releases new video for 'From Eden' featuring Katie McGrath". Irish Independent. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[14]
Citation Linkhollywoodreporter.comKit, Borys (3 April 2014). "Judy Greer Joins Jurassic World". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[15]
Citation Linkwww.thevideoink.com"Crackle Premieres Jeremy Renner-Produced Movie 'The Throwaways'". Videoink. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[16]
Citation Linkwww.torontosun.com"'Slasher' star Katie McGrath's character gets a bloody good welcome". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[17]
Citation Linktvline.comAusiello, Michael (4 August 2016). "Supergirl Lands Merlin's Katie McGrath as Lex's Sister Lena Luthor". TVLine. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[18]
Citation Linkwww.nerdmuch.comBernstein, Elizabeth (4 August 2016). "Supergirl Finds Its Lena Luthor in Jurassic World's Katie McGrath". Nerd Much?. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[19]
Citation Linkwww.ibtimes.comSaclao, Christian (12 September 2016). "'Supergirl' Season 2 Spoilers: CW Releases First Official Photos Of Katie McGrath As Lena Luthor". ibtimes.com. IBT Media Inc. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM
[20]
Citation Linkdeadline.comAndreeva, Nellie (22 March 2017). "'Supergirl': Katie McGrath Promoted To Series Regular For Season 3". Deadline. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
Sep 29, 2019, 7:30 AM