Annabel Scholey (born 1983 or 1984) is an English actress. She has performed extensively on stage and is known for her roles in the BBC supernatural drama Being Human in 2009 and as Anne-Marie Blake in the true crime drama miniseries The Sixth Commandment in 2023. She also played the leading role of Maddie in the musical feature film Walking on Sunshine (2014).
Early life and education Annabel Scholey was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Her father is a retired fireman and her mother is a nurse. She has one younger sister, who is a teacher.
She trained at the Oxford School of Drama on a scholarship, graduating in 2005.
Career Stage Scholey first stage job was in 1996, when she was 13. She appeared as Louisa von Trapp in a production of The Sound of Music alongside Janie Dee.
Scholey performed several times in Chichester Festival productions, including The House of Special Purpose (2009), Wallenstein (2009), Hobson's Choice (2007).
In 2010, she played Hermia alongside Dame Judi Dench in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Rose Theatre Kingston, and later that year appeared as Julia in Sheridan's The Rivals, alongside Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles at the Haymarket Theatre in London. Both productions were directed by Sir Peter Hall.
In June 2011, Scholey played Lady Anne, in Sam Mendes adaptation of Richard III with Kevin Spacey in the title role, at the Old Vic theatre in London and the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. The production opened to rave reviews.
In 2013, she appeared in the revival of Passion Play by Peter Nichols at the Duke of York's Theatre as the predatory younger woman, Kate. She also worked at the Royal National Theatre in their summer production of Antigone playing the role of Ismene.
Television and film Her first role came in 2006 on the television show Agatha Christie's Poirot as 'Miss Sorrel'. The same year, Scholey played Diana Rivers in BBC television adaptation of Jane Eyre. She also appeared in Holby City and Doctors.
In 2009, she played the lead role of Michelle "Midge" Lerner in the BBC Three comedy drama Personal Affairs, alongside Laura Aikman, Ruth Negga, and Maimie McCoy. She played Lauren Drake in the BBC supernatural drama Being Human (2009) and Contessina de Medici in the television series, Medici: Masters of Florence (2016).
She made her feature film debut in 2014, when she performed the leading role of Maddie in the jukebox musical feature film Walking on Sunshine.
In 2018, she began starring in the legal drama series The Split as Nina Defoe. She co-starred in the cast with Stephen Mangan, Fiona Button, and Barry Atsma until the series finale in 2022.
In 2020, Scholey returned to the BBC screens with The Salisbury Poisoning, a series based on the real-life Novichok poisonings of Sergei Skripal and his daughter.
In 2021, she played the major recurring role of Claire Brown in Doctor Who: Flux.
In 2023, she appeared in Janis Pugh's musical film Chuck Chuck Baby. She starred alongside Louise Brealey and Sorcha Cusack. That July, she played Anne-Marie Blake in the true crime drama miniseries The Sixth Commandment. In December, Scholey starred in the miniseries adaptation of Alice Hunter's novel of the same name, The Serial Killer's Wife. She portrayed the titular wife of Tom (Jack Farthing).
Scholey portrayed journalist Beattie Johnson in the 2024 television adaptation of Jilly Cooper's Rivals. The same year, she led the Dead and Buried drama mini series, portraying a woman meeting her brother's murderer again. In November, she joined the season 2 cast of the British psychological thriller series The Couple Next Door.
Other media Her work on radio drama includes All Passion Spent, A Harlot's Progress and Under Milk Wood. Scholey was runner-up in the BBC Carleton Hobbs Radio Competition 2005.
In 2011, she provided the voice for Ginny Weasley in the video game version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
Personal life In May 2017 Scholey married Northern Irish actor and author Ciarán McMenamin. They had one daughter before divorcing in 2023.
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes2006 Agatha Christie's Poirot 'Miss Sorrel' Series 10; Episode 3: "After the Funeral" Holby City Naomi Verity Series 8; Episode 28: "Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged" Doctors Lisa Armstrong Series 8; Episode 35: "Home Truths" Jane Eyre Diana Rivers Mini-series; Episodes 3 & 4 2007 EastEnders Maddy 2 episodes2009 Being Human Lauren Drake Series 1; Episodes 1–5 Personal Affairs Michelle 'Midge' Lerner 5 episodes2012 Family Tree Lucy Pfister Episode 3: "The Austerity Games" Very Few Fish Claire Television film 2015 Inspector George Gently Gemma Nunn Series 7; Episodes 1–4 2016–2018 Medici Contessina de' Medici Series 1 & 2; 13 episodes 2017–2021 Britannia Amena Series 1–3; 23 episodes 2018–2024 The Split Nina Defoe Series 1–4; 20 episodes 2020 The Salisbury Poisonings Sarah Bailey Mini-series; Episodes 1–3 2021 Doctor Who Claire Brown Series 13; Episodes 1, 4 & 6: "Flux: Chapters One, Four & Six"2023 The Sixth Commandment Anne-Marie Blake Mini-series; Episodes 1–4 The Serial Killer's Wife Beth Episodes 1–42024 Rivals Beattie Johnson Episodes 1 & 8 Dead and Buried Cathy McDaid Episodes 1–4 2025 The Couple Next Door Charlotte Roberts Series 2Deadline Hollywood2026 Apollo Has Fallen Dr Rachel Moss, microbiologist, code name Apollo"The Split and Broadchurch stars join UK-set series filled with 'high-octane action' and 'suspense by Sam Warner, 29 March 2025, Digital SpyWinter DI Lauren Bell 6 episodes
Film Year Title Role Notes 2013 One Wrong Word Denise Short film 2014 Walking on Sunshine Maddie 2023 Chuck Chuck Baby Joanne
Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Ginny Weasley 2012 The Secret World Callista James / Catherine Stuart / Annabel Usher 2017 Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood Fordola rem Lupis 2019 Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers Fordola rem Lupis
Theatre YearTitleRoleDirectorVenueNotesRef.1996–97The Sound of MusicLouisa von TrappCrucible, Sheffield2005The Real ThingDebbieTimothy Pigott-SmithTheatre Royal, BathUK Tour2006Troilus and CressidaCressidaPeter SteinEdinburgh International FestivalPart of RSC Complete Works Festival2007The Cherry OrchardAnyaJonathan MillerSheffield CrucibleHobson's ChoiceVicky HobsonJonathan ChurchChichester Festival TheatreUK Tour2008HamletOpheliaJonathan MillerBristol Tobacco FactoryThe Taming of the ShrewBiancaAndrew HiltonReview of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew (directed by Andrew Hilton) at the Tobacco Factory, Bristol, February 2008. (2008). Shakespeare, 4(2), 198–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/174509108020836092009WallensteinPrincess TheklaAngus JacksonChichester Festival TheatreThe House of Special PurposeOlgaHoward Davies2010A Midsummer Nights DreamHermiaPeter HallRose Theatre KingstonCharley's AuntKitty VerdunBraham MurrayRoyal Exchange Theatre, Manchester2010–11The RivalsJuliaPeter HallHaymarket Theatre, LondonUK Tour2011Richard IIILady AnneSam MendesOld Vic Theatre, LondonWorld Tour2012AntigoneIsmenePolly FindlayRoyal National Theatre, London2013Passion PlayKateDavid LeavuxDuke of York, London2014Mr BurnsMariaRobert IckeAlmeida Theatre, London2015High SocietyLiz ImbrieMaria FriedmanOld Vic Theatre, London2016The IliadRupert GooldBritish Museum, LondonReadingAlmeida Theatre, London
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