Natascha McElhone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Natascha McElhone
McElhone in 2018
Born	Natascha Abigail Taylor (1971-12-14) 14 December 1971 (age 53) Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England
Alma mater	London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1990–present
Spouse(s)	Martin Hirigoyen Kelly ​ ​ (m. 1998; died 2008)​
Children	3
Relatives	Roy Greenslade (stepfather)

Natascha McElhone, born Natascha Abigail Taylor on December 14, 1971, is a talented English actress. She is known for her roles in many popular movies and TV shows. Some of her famous films include the action thriller Ronin (1998), the unique comedy-drama The Truman Show (1998), and the science fiction drama Solaris (2002).

On television, Natascha has starred in the comedy-drama series Californication (2007–2014). She also appeared in the political drama Designated Survivor (2016–2017). More recently, she was in the science fiction series The First (2018), the historical series The Crown (2022), and the military science fiction series Halo.

Early Life and Education

Natascha McElhone was born in Walton-on-Thames, England. Her parents, Noreen McElhone and Michael Taylor, were both journalists. She decided to use her mother's maiden name, McElhone, as her professional name.

When Natascha was two years old, her parents separated. Her mother moved the family to Brighton and later married another journalist, Roy Greenslade. Natascha has a brother and two half-brothers.

She attended several schools, including St Mark's Church of England Primary School and St Mary's Hall in Brighton. In London, she went to Fortismere School, Camden School for Girls, and William Ellis. From ages 6 to 12, she took lessons in Irish dancing. She later studied acting at the famous London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Acting Career Highlights

Natascha McElhone started her acting journey in the theatre. She performed in plays like Richard III and A Midsummer Night's Dream in London. She also appeared in The Count of Monte Cristo and The Cherry Orchard in Leicester.

Early Television Roles

Her first TV appearance was in 1990 in an episode of Inspector Wexford. The next year, she was in the series Bergerac. In these early roles, she was credited as "Natascha Taylor." She also appeared in the TV miniseries Karaoke.

Big Screen Success

Natascha's first major movie role was in Surviving Picasso (1996), where she acted alongside Anthony Hopkins. One of her most well-known films is The Truman Show (1998), starring Jim Carrey. She also had leading roles with famous actors like Brad Pitt in The Devil's Own (1997), Robert De Niro in Ronin (1998), and George Clooney in Solaris (2002).

Natascha McElhone at the Southbank Centre, London in March 2014.

Television and Stage Work

In 2005, Natascha co-starred with Bill Pullman in the TV miniseries Revelations. She returned to the West End stage in 2006 for the play Honour.

From 2007 to 2014, she played Karen in the popular TV series Californication with David Duchovny. In 2009, she became a spokesperson for Neutrogena, a skincare brand. She also voiced a character named Marie in the video game Castlevania: Lords of Shadow in 2010.

Recent Projects

In 2013, Natascha played Lady Capulet in a film version of Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet. She also appeared in the play Fatal Attraction in 2014. In 2015, she played Sarah Churchill in the play Queen Anne.

From 2016 to 2017, Natascha starred as First Lady Alex Kirkman in the political drama series Designated Survivor. She then took on the role of Laz Ingram in the science fiction series The First (2018). In 2022, she appeared as Penelope Knatchbull in The Crown on Netflix. From 2022 to 2024, she starred as Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey in the military science fiction series Halo.

Personal Life

Natascha McElhone married plastic surgeon Martin Hirigoyen Kelly on May 19, 1998. They lived in Fulham, London, and had three sons. Sadly, Martin passed away on May 20, 2008, just one day after their 10th wedding anniversary. Their third son was born five months after his father's death.

After her husband's death, Natascha wrote letters to him. These letters, along with her diary entries, became the basis for her book, After You: Letters of Love, and Loss, to a Husband and Father, published in 2010. The book shares how she and her children coped with their loss.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Natascha McElhone para niños