Angel Leonie Coulby (born 30 August 1980) is an English actress. She gained recognition for portraying the character Gwen (Guinevere) in the BBC fantasy series Merlin.
Early life Coulby was born and grew up in Finsbury Park, London, and is of Afro-Guyanese descent. She studied for a degree in Acting at the Queen Margaret University School of Drama in Edinburgh, achieving a first, and was awarded the Laurence Olivier Bursary in 2000.
Career Coulby was first seen in an episode of Scariest Places on Earth as a student who had an encounter with a ghost. Her breakthrough came in 2001 with her role in the Johnny Vaughan BBC sitcom 'Orrible.
She was later chosen to play Gwen, also known as Guinevere who would later become Queen, in the BBC One fantasy TV series Merlin. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Coulby stated that in playing Gwen she "liked the idea that you go on a bit of a journey as an actor, starting off as a humble maidservant, kind of a bit bumbling, and then obviously growing into this very capable queen", and it was "really nice to have that range throughout a job".April 29, 2013 - LA Times Hero Complex - Angel Coulby Discusses Being A Heroine. She starred in all five seasons, appearing in 61 of the 65 episodes.
She took the starring role of the jazz singer Jessie in the BBC Two Stephen Poliakoff six-part 2013 drama serial Dancing on the Edge, alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, Wunmi Mosaku, John Goodman, Matthew Goode, Anthony Head, and Jacqueline Bisset."Stephen Poliakoff's Dancing on the Edge for BBC Two starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Matthew Goode", BBC Media Centre.
It was announced in February 2013 that Coulby would star in The Tunnel, a British-French remake of the Scandinavian crime drama, The Bridge, alongside Stephen Dillane and Clémence Poésy. The first series aired in late 2013, and Coulby reprised her role for a second series in 2016.Morgan Jeffery, "'Merlin' star Angel Coulby, Keeley Hawes join 'The Bridge' remake", Digital Spy, 1 February 2013.
Coulby returned to the stage for the first time since 2014 in Rupert Goold's Albion at the Almeida Theatre in February 2020, which was filmed and broadcast on BBC Four in August 2020.
Coulby joined the cast of the Apple TV+ thriller Suspicion, which is a remake of the Hebrew-language series False Flag in March 2020. Coulby plays Vanessa Okoye, the investigator questioning the "five Brits, quickly pinpointed as the potential suspects" of the kidnapping in the thriller.
In June 2021, it was announced that Coulby would star in the series, The Net, as the character Diana. The Austrian football drama aired in November 2022 in conjunction with the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In November 2021 it was announced she would be in the Hampstead Theatre production of The Forest by Florian Zeller in 2022. She plays the mistress, Sophie, of the protagonist, Pierre.
In October 2025, she starred in a BBC One Drama called Riot Women as Jenny Lennox, which will return for a second season in 2026.
Personal life
Coulby has a son, who was born in 2018.
TV Shows
Year Title Role Notes2001'OrribleShiv4 episodesScariest Places on EarthAwassa Tact (scared student), name intended as wordplay on "I was attacked"Episode: "Exorcism: Greyfriars Cemetery 1" 2002CasualtySallyEpisode: "In the Heat of the Night"Having It OffKylie RileyTV seriesA Good ThiefLeah PickeringTV movie 2003PC Louise FraserTV miniseriesManchildPippa1 episode 2004Making WavesLMA Anita Cook2 episodesAs IfAmber7 episodesConvictionJemma Ryan6 episodesHolby CityMaxine FramleyEpisode: "A Good Day to Bury Bad News" 2005The JacketIntern No. 2Murder Investigation TeamLee Allanson1 episodeThe League of Gentlemen's ApocalypseReceptionistImagine Me & YouAnnaVincentGillian Lafferty7 episodes 2006HustleAliceEpisode: "A Bollywood Dream"Doctor WhoKatherineEpisode: "The Girl in the Fireplace"The BillZoe HughesEpisode: "Good for Gold"Tripping OverCharity1 episode 2007Blue MurderKate Malin'Episode: "Crisis Management"MagiciansReceptionistGina's Laughing GearNurse JonesEpisode: "Dollby City"Secret LifeYoung MumTV movieNew Street LawSharon Weir1 episodeTalk to MeFaith4 episodesRachael6 episodesLife Is WildEpisode: "Heritage Day"2008–2012MerlinGuinevere "Gwen" Main role; 61 episodes 2013Dancing on the Edge Jessie Taylor Main role 2013–2018The TunnelLaura Roebuck Main role; 21 episodes 2015–2020Thunderbirds Are GoTanusha "Kayo" KyranoMain role; voice 2016UndercoverJulia Redhead2 episodesHooten & the LadyMelinaEpisode: "Egypt" 2017Man in an Orange ShirtClaudie1 episodeBody SlamRuth Short movie 2018InnocentDetective Inspector Cathy HudsonMain role; 4 episodes 2020Moving OnLisaEpisode: "Time Out"2022SuspicionVanessa OkoyeMain role; 8 episodesThe Net: PrometheusDianaTV series2025What It Feels Like for A GirlMaggieTV seriesRiot WomenJennyTV series
Theatre
Year Title Role Director Company Notes2002Lavender BlueJessMuriel RomanesRoyal Lyceum Theatre 2007Statement of Regret Issimama Banjoko Jeremy HerrinCottesloe Theatre 2014Good People Katie Jonathan KentHampstead Theatre / Noël Coward Theatre 2020Albion Anna Rupert GooldAlmeida Theatre 2022The ForestSophieJonathan KentHampstead Theatre
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Role Result 2010 Monte Carlo TV Festival Awards Golden Nymph Outstanding Actress – Drama Series Gwen in Merlin
References
External links