Sinead Matthews (born 1980) is an English actress whose credits include film, television, radio and stage. As well as having extensive theatre experience, her screen credits include He Knew He Was Right (2004), Vera Drake (2004), Pride & Prejudice (2005), Ideal (2005–2010), Terry Pratchett's Hogfather (2006), Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010), Black Mirror (2013), The Smoke (2014), Jellyfish (2018), The Crown (2019), and Hullraisers (2022).
Early life and education Sinead Matthews was born in 1980 in Coventry, England.
She attended Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School in Coventry, then studied A-level drama at Stratford-upon-Avon College for two years between 1996 and 1998. She went on to study acting at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London alongside acclaimed method actor Pieter Lawman, graduating in 2003 with a BA in Acting (H Level).
Career Whilst still at RADA, she secured her first professional acting role in the film Vera Drake in 2004. Matthews made her television debut in the 2004 costume drama He Knew He Was Right. In 2005, she starred as Betsey in the period drama Pride & Prejudice, alongside Keira Knightley. In 2009, she starred in Our Class, a new play by Tadeusz Slobodzianek at the NT and in Penelope Skinner's 2010 play Eigengrau at the Bush Theatre.
In 2013, she played a lead role in series one of Black Mirror, as Sarah in the episode "Be Right Back", with Domhnall Gleeson and Hayley Atwell. In August 2016, Matthews played Hermia/Fairy/Mistress Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream, composed by Felix Mendelssohn, at The Proms. In 2019 she played Marcia Williams, political secretary to Prime Minister Harold Wilson, in season three of the TV series about the royal family, The Crown. From 2022 to 2023, she played a main role as Paula in the Channel 4 british sitcom Hullraisers.
Filmography Film +Key Denotes productions that have not yet been released Year Title Role Notes 2004 Vera Drake Very Young Woman 2005 Pride & Prejudice Betsy 2006 Terry Pratchett's Hogfather Violet TV film2007 Wednesday Lilya Short film Spring 1941 Tania Half Broken Things Steph TV film Who Gets the Dog? Claire Evans TV film2008 Happy-Go-Lucky Alice In Love with Barbara Young Barbara TV film Trimming the Fat Receptionist Short film 2009 The Boat That Rocked Miss Clitt 2010 Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang Miss Topsey 2011 Wreckers Sharon 2013 Bed Trick Rachel Short film 2014 Mr. Turner Queen Victoria2015 The Process Leni Across the Sea Mother Short film2016 The Roof Brooks' Assistant Short film Mother Shoe Shop Assistant Short film Kaleidoscope Abby Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Mildred Deleted scenes only2017 Daphne Billie National Theatre Live: Hedda Gabler Mrs. Elvsted Wraps Emma Short film2018 Jellyfish Karen Taylor Happy New Year, Colin Burstead Lainey2019 The Wrong Car Ella Short film A Serial Killer's Guide to Life Izzy Muscle Sandra Us Among the Stones Anna2021 I'm Not in Love Lena Radio Silence Cassie Short filmIrisJuliaShort film TBCNairn Kay Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes2004 The Afternoon Play Chantelle Hughes Episode: "Viva Las Blackpool" He Knew He Was Right Mary Mini-series 2005-2010 Ideal Jenny Series regular 2007 Trial & Retribution Rachel Burns Episode: "Curriculum Vitae"2013 Black Mirror Sarah Episode: "Be Right Back" Way to Go Debbie Series regular 2014 The Smoke Julia Mini-series2015 Inside No. 9 Sarah Nutter Episode: "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge" Toast of London Varrity Map Episode: "Man of Sex"2017 Chewing Gum Emma Recurring role, 4 episodes In the Dark Paula Days Mini-series 2018 Hang Ups Alice Ross Episode: "Series 1, Episode 6" 2019 The Crown Marcia Williams Recurring role, 3 episodes 2020 Sick of It Jules Episode: "The Biscuit" 2021 Midsomer Murders Mel Wallace Episode: "The Wolf Hunter of Little Worthy" 2022 Hullraisers Paula Main character 2023 Murder is Easy Miss Waynflete Two-part drama2024Things You Should Have DoneMichelleRecurring role, 3 episodes
Radio I Love Stephen Fry (2010) – Chloe Diary of a Nobody (2012) – Sarah All Those Women (2015) – Jen
Stage Year Title Role Venue Notes 2004 The Crucible Abigail Williams Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2004–2005 The Mandate Anastasia Cottesloe Theatre, London2005 The Birthday Party Lulu Duchess Theatre, London The Wild Duck Hedvig Donmar Warehouse, London 2005–2006 You Never Can Tell Dolly Clandon Theatre Royal, Bath & Garrick Theatre, London also, UK tour 2007 Women of Troy Cassandra Lyttelton Theatre, London2008 His Ghostly Heart Daisy Bush Theatre, London part of "The Broken Space Season" Little Dolls Vicky Bush Theatre, London part of "The Broken Space Season" 2009 Our Class Dora Cottesloe Theatre, London2010 Eigengrau Rose Bush Theatre, London Lulu Lulu Gate Theatre, London with Headlong Theatre The Glass Menagerie Laura Wingfield Young Vic, London 2011 Ecstasy Dawn Hampstead Theatre, London2012 The Master and Margarita Margarita Barbican Centre, London also Tour The Way of the World Millamant Crucible Theatre, Sheffield The Changeling Beatrice-Joanna Young Vic, London2013 A Time to Reap Marysia Royal Court Theatre, London Trout Stanley Sugar Southwark Playhouse, London2014 Blurred Lines The Shed, London Pests Pink Royal Exchange, Manchester & Royal Court Theatre, London also, UK tour2015 The Wasp Heather Hampstead Theatre, London The Hudsucker Proxy Amy Archer Nuffield Theatre, Southampton & Everyman Playhouse Evening at the Talk House Jane Dorfman Theatre, London2016 Giving Laura Hampstead Theatre, London A Midsummer Night's Dream Hermia Royal Albert Hall, London with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Hedda Gabler Mrs. Elvsted Lyttelton Theatre, London 2017 Loot Fay Park Theatre, London & Watermill Theatre, Bagnor 2018 Absolute Hell Elizabeth Collier Lyttelton Theatre, London2019 The Starry Messenger Doris Wyndham's Theatre, London The Antipodes Eleanor Dorfman Theatre, London2022Mad HousePamAmbassadors Theatre2024Till the Stars Come DownSylviaDorfman Theatre, London
References
External links
Sinead Matthews credits at Hamilton Hodell (management company): separate buttons for Theatre, Television, Film, Short Film, Radio, Skills, Characteristics