Dorothy Perpetua Wells (born Gatacre; 5 December 1971)Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, vol. III, 2003, pg 3046 is an English actress. She co-wrote and starred in the Sky Living series Doll & Em (2014–2015) with Emily Mortimer, and wrote and directed the 2019 comedy-drama Good Posture. Her other television work includes roles in Star Stories (2006–2008), Some Girls (2012–2014), Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy (2012–2014), Blunt Talk (2015–2016), Dracula (2020), The Outlaws (2021), and Inside Man (2022).
Early life Wells was born Dorothy Gatacre, in Merton, London, on 5 December 1971, the youngest of six children. She is the daughter of comic actor John Wells and Teresa Chancellor, daughter of Sir Christopher Chancellor, general manager of Reuters from 1944 to 1959. Wells grew up thinking her father was her stepfather, and did not find out he was her biological father until she was eighteen. She later changed her name from Gatacre—her mother's first husband was Edward Gatacre—to Wells. Her first cousin is the actress Anna Chancellor.
She was educated in a Catholic convent school, after failing the entrance exam for St Paul's. While trying to build an acting career, she worked as a journalist at the Evening Standard and as a book reviewer.
Personal life Wells married photographer Mischa Richter in 2000. They have a daughter, Elsie (b. 2002) and a son, Ezra (b. 2005). Both appeared with their mother in Doll & Em. In 2020, Wells and Richter divorced.
Filmography
Films Year Title Role Notes 1998 The Sea Change Jane 2001 Far on Foot Sophie Cartwright Short film Bridget Jones's Diary Woney 2002 Morvern Callar Susan 2003 Nobody Needs to Know Dolly Associate producer I Capture the Castle Fur Department Vendeuse 2008 Franklyn Nurse 2009 Mr. Right Fizz 2012 Tumult Tour Guide Short film 2014 Benny & Jolene Rosamund 2015 Black Mountain Poets Claire 45 Years Charlotte 2016 Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Mrs. Featherstone Bridget Jones's Baby Woney 2017 Izzy Gets the F*ck Across Town The Woman in the Field Home Again Tracy I Do... Until I Don't Vivian Prudeck 2018 Boundaries Sofia Furlough SA Group Leader Can You Ever Forgive Me? Anna 2019 Good Posture Writer and director The Return of the Yuletide Kid Agent 2020 The Stand In Second AD Daisy 2021 Love Spreads Julie 2022 Susie Searches Professor Gallagher 2023 Three Birthdays Marian 2024 Down, Down, Down Sarah Short film Babygirl Therapist 2025 Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy Woney
Television Year Title Role Notes 1997 The Bill Janet James 1 episode1998 Dinnerladies Hannah Midsomer Murders Ava Rokeby 1999 In the Name of Love Helen Walters TV film Goodnight Sweetheart Celia Johnson 1 episode 2000 Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes Elspeth Scott 2002 The Gathering Storm Sarah Churchill TV film Bertie and Elizabeth Princess Mary 2003–2008 Peep Show Paula 2 episodes2004 The Final Quest Anthea TV film Sex Traffic Sarah Murphy's Law Susan Green 1 episode 2006 Doctors Claire Morris 2006–2008 Star Stories Various characters 12 episodes 2007 The Mighty Boosh Methuselah 1 episode 2007–2010 The IT Crowd Miranda / Paula 2 episodes2009 Comedy Showcase Lydia Tennant 1 episode Free Agents Sarah Stephens 3 episodes 2009–2011 Campus Lydia Tennant 7 episodes 2011–2012 Spy Judith Elliot 16 episodes2012 Starlings Annika 1 episode Casualty Josie Betts Pramface Ante-natal Instructress 2012–2014 Some Girls Anna Hitchcock 18 episodes Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy Various characters 9 episodes 2014–2015 Doll & Em Dolly 12 episodes; also creator, writer, associate producer 2015–2016 Blunt Talk Celia Havemeyer 20 episodes 2016 Younger Stephanie 1 episode 2018 Portlandia Dolly Wells Room 104 Catherine 2020 Dracula Sister Agatha Van Helsing / Dr. Zoe Van Helsing Miniseries Soulmates Jennifer1 episode 2021 The Pursuit of Love Aunt Sadie 3 episodes Around the World in 80 Days Estella 1 episode 2021–2022 The Outlaws Margaret 11 episodes 2022 Inside Man Janice Fife Miniseries 2023–2025 And Just Like That... Joy 12 episodes 2024 Here We Go Penny1 episode The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin Eliza Bean 5 episodes Hacks Laurie1 episode 2026 Two Weeks in August FlickTV Series
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