Ruth Wilson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ruth Wilson MBE
Wilson in 2019
Born	(1982-01-13) 13 January 1982 (age 43) Ashford, Surrey, England
Alma mater	University of Nottingham London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2003–present
Relatives	Alexander Wilson (grandfather) Dennis Wilson (half-uncle)

Ruth Wilson (born 13 January 1982) is a talented English actress. She is known for playing many different characters in popular TV shows and movies. Some of her most famous roles include the main character in Jane Eyre (2006), the clever Alice Morgan in the crime drama Luther (2010–2013, 2019), and Alison Lockhart in The Affair (2014–2018).

More recently, from 2019 to 2022, she played Marisa Coulter in the fantasy series His Dark Materials. For this role, she won an award in 2020. Ruth Wilson has also been in films like The Lone Ranger (2013) and Saving Mr. Banks (2013).

She has won several important awards for her acting, including two Olivier Awards for her theatre work and a Golden Globe Award for her role in The Affair. She has also been nominated for a Tony Award twice for her performances on Broadway.

Ruth Wilson's Early Life

Ruth Wilson was born in Ashford, England. Her father, Nigel Wilson, worked in banking, and her mother, Mary Metson, was a probation officer. Ruth has three older brothers: Tobias, Samuel, and Matthew. Samuel is a journalist for the BBC.

Her grandfather was Alexander Wilson, a novelist and MI6 officer. Ruth grew up in Shepperton, Surrey, and was raised as a Catholic.

School Days and Early Work

Ruth went to Notre Dame School, a private Catholic school for girls. Later, she attended Esher College. When she was a teenager, she also worked as a model.

She studied History at the University of Nottingham. While at university, she was very involved in student plays at the Nottingham New Theatre. She finished her studies at Nottingham in 2003. Then, in 2005, she graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), which is a famous acting school. After that, she helped start a company called Hush Productions.

Ruth Wilson's Acting Career

Before becoming famous as Jane Eyre, Ruth Wilson had a small role in a comedy show called Suburban Shootout. In 2006 and 2007, she filmed more episodes of Suburban Shootout. She also appeared in an Agatha Christie's Marple mystery and a BBC drama called Capturing Mary.

Theatre and TV Roles

In 2007, Ruth performed in a play called Philistines at the Royal National Theatre. She also had a guest role in the sitcom Freezing and narrated a documentary.

From July to October 2009, she played Stella in a play called A Streetcar Named Desire. Later that year, she was in a TV miniseries called The Prisoner. She also played Queenie in the BBC adaptation of Small Island.

Famous TV Shows

Since 2010, Ruth has been a key part of the British crime drama Luther. She plays Alice Morgan, a very smart research scientist. Alice is described as a "narcissist" by the main character, Luther. The show's creator, Neil Cross, even thought about making a spin-off show just about Alice Morgan. Ruth returned for the fifth series of Luther in 2019.

In 2014, Ruth started starring in the drama series The Affair. She played Alison Bailey. For her performance in the first season, she won a Golden Globe Award in 2015. She left the show after four seasons in 2018.

Broadway and Other Projects

Ruth Wilson made her first appearance on Broadway in a play called Constellations in 2015. She acted alongside Jake Gyllenhaal. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in this play.

Her film I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House was shown at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. From 2016 to 2017, Ruth played the main role of Hedda Gabler in a new version of the play Hedda Gabler at the Royal National Theatre. Her performance received great reviews.

In 2018, Ruth starred in the BBC drama Mrs Wilson. She played her real-life grandmother, Alison Wilson. The story was about Alison discovering that her husband, Alexander Wilson (who was an MI6 officer and novelist), had a secret complex family life. Ruth Wilson was also one of the producers for this series.

Ruth Wilson speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.

In October 2020, Ruth won the BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Actress for her role as Marisa Coulter in His Dark Materials. In 2021, she was given the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contributions to drama. In 2023, it was announced she would play Emily Maitlis in the series A Very Royal Scandal.

In September 2024, Ruth Wilson became an Ambassador for Alzheimer's Research UK, a charity that helps people with dementia.

Ruth Wilson's Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Theatre Performances

Radio Work

Awards and Nominations

Ruth Wilson has won many awards and been nominated for others throughout her career. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Ruth Wilson para niños