Fiona Button (born ) is an English actress. She is best known for playing Tess Roberts in Lip Service (2010–2012) and Rose Defoe in The Split (2018–2024).
Early life and education Button was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, and grew up in Newbury, Berkshire.
She made her professional stage debut at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury aged 10 in the Wizard of Oz. She attended Park House School and the sixth form of St. Bartholomew's School. She studied drama at the University of Birmingham before enrolling at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 2007.
Career Television After graduating, Button played parts in Midsomer Murders and The Bill. In 2008, she played Lucy Bedford in The Palace. From 2010 to 2012 she played Tess Roberts in two series of Lip Service. From 2014 to 2016 she played Jennifer Chambers in series 1 and 2 of Grantchester. In 2018, she was cast as Rose Defoe in the BBC series The Split.
Button has made guest appearances in How Not to Live Your Life, Outcasts, Foyle's War, Cardinal Burns, Pramface, You, Me and the Apocalypse and as Vera in My Mother and Other Strangers.
Theatre Button made her West End debut in 2007 in Rock 'n' Roll by Tom Stoppard playing young Esme and Alice. In 2009 she appeared in Madame de Sade for the Donmar Warehouse opposite Judi Dench and Rosamund Pike, then as Sonya in Vanya at the Gate Theatre. In 2010 she played Rachel in the original cast of Posh at the Royal Court Theatre, then Mabel Chiltern in An Ideal Husband at the Vaudeville Theatre.
In 2013 Button originated the role of Wendy in Wendy and Peter Pan for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Written by Ella Hickson, it is a feminist reimagining of Barrie's original novel, putting Wendy 'the girl who would grow up' in the spotlight. The show became a sell out hit and the production was revived in 2015.
In 2014 Button went on to play Annabella in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore at the Globe Theatre. Dominic Maxwell from The Times said of her performance, "Button has the ability to transmit the knottiest thoughts from behind an easy, poised demeanour. She is an exceptional performer."
In 2016 she played Stef in They Drink It in the Congo at the Almeida Theatre. In 2018 she played Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest in the West End.
Personal life Button married screenwriter Henry Fleet in 2014 and they have a daughter.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes 2012 We'll Take Manhattan Lavinia TV film 2015 Bugsplat! Gina McCutcheon TV film 2018 The Importance of Being Earnest Cecily Cardew 2021 No One Is Talking About This Storyteller Short film 2022 Fisherman's Friends: One and All Petra
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2007 The Bill Susie Matthews Episode: "Behind Closed Doors" Midsomer Murders Willow McKinley Episode: "The Axeman Cometh" 2008 The Palace Lucy Bedford Recurring role; 5 episodes 2010 How Not to Live Your Life Jenny Episode: "Don's Angry Girlfriend" 2010–2012 Lip Service Tess Roberts Lead role; 12 episodes 2011 Outcasts Trix Episode: "Series 1, Episode 3" 2012 Cardinal Burns Various roles Series regular; 5 episodes2013 Pramface Gaby Episode: "The Edge of Hell" Foyle's War Mary Nelson Episode: "Sunflower" 2014–2016 Grantchester Jennifer Chambers Recurring role; 3 episodes 2015 You, Me and the Apocalypse Skye Recurring role; 2 episodes 2016 My Mother and Other Strangers Vera Curtis Episode: "Vera" 2018–2022 The Split Rose Lead Role; 17 episodes 2019 Flack Annie Episode: "Anthony" 2020 Out of Her Mind Lucy Series regular; 6 episodes 2021 Trying Sky Episode: "Big Heads" 2023 Death in Paradise Hannah Roberts Episode: "Murder on the High Seas"2024 Industry Denise Oldroyd series regular; 5 episodes 2024 Truelove Kate Series regular; 6 episodes2025Dope GirlsSophie Asquith-GoreSeries regular; 6 episodes2026 The ForsytesClarissa HeronSeries regular; 4 episodes
Theatre credits Year Title Role Venue Ref2007 The Lesson Claire Arcola Theatre, London World's End Kat The Pleasance, Edinburgh Rock 'n' Roll Alice/Young Esme Duke of York's Theatre, London 2008 Ring Round the Moon Isabelle Playhouse Theatre, London Hay Fever Sorel Bliss Royal Exchange, Manchester 2009 Madame de Sade Anne Wyndham's Theatre, London Vanya Sonya Gate Theatre, London 2010 Posh Rachel Royal Court Theatre, London An Ideal Husband Miss Mabel Chiltern Vaudeville Theatre, London 2012 The Girl with the Yellow Dress Celia Theatre503, London Heartbreak House Ellie Dunn Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester 2013 King Lear Cordelia Theatre Royal, Bath Wendy & Peter Pan Wendy Darling Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 2014 'Tis Pity She's a Whore Annabella Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, London 2016 They Drink It in the Congo Stef Almeida Theatre, London 2018 The Importance of Being Earnest Cecily Cardew Vaudeville Theatre, London 2026 Arcadia Lady Croom Old Vic, London
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