Poppy Gabriella Drayton (born 7 June 1991)Birthday from: , in response to is an English actress. On television, she is known for her roles in the Hallmark Channel pilot When Calls the Heart (2013), the MTV fantasy series The Shannara Chronicles (2016–2017), and the CW fantasy series Charmed (2019–2022). Her films include The Rising Hawk (2019).
Early life Drayton graduated from the Arts Educational School in Chiswick.
Career In 2013, Drayton was cast in her first major role in the Hallmark Channel television movie pilot for When Calls the Heart, in which she played Elizabeth Thatcher (a role that was taken over by Erin Krakow in the subsequent television series). This was followed by a role in the 2013 Downton Abbey Christmas special. Drayton has also done stage work, appearing in The Green Bay Tree at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London in 2014.
In 2014, Drayton was cast as Amberle Elessedil, one of the lead roles in the MTV fantasy drama series The Shannara Chronicles; the series premiered on 5 January 2016. In February 2016, Drayton was cast in the titular role in newly launched MVP Studios' film The Little Mermaid (originally titled A Little Mermaid), an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story.
In 2019, she joined the cast of Charmed as a series regular in the role of Abigael, a mysterious witch, starting with the second season’s third episode.
In 2026, Drayton joined the cast of the ITV crime drama Professor T for its fifth series as Leonie Vass.
Personal life In August 2025, Drayton married independent film director Rory D. Bentley in a small ceremony.
Filmography + Film roles Year Title Role Notes 2014 Down Dog Amy 2015 Unhallowed Ground Verity Wickes Writers Retreat Jo 2018 The Little Mermaid Elizabeth 2019 See You Soon Elise The Rising Hawk Myroslava 2025 Jingle Bell Heist Brianna
+ Television roles Year Title Role Notes 2013 When Calls the Heart Elizabeth Thatcher Television movie (Hallmark) Downton Abbey Madeleine Allsopp Episode: "The London Season" 2014 Father Brown Selina McKinley Episode: "The Ghost in the Machine" Midsomer Murders Summer Haleston Episode: "The Killings of Copenhagen" Plebs Cordelia Episode: "The Phallus" 2016–2017 The Shannara Chronicles Amberle Elessedil Main role (season 1); guest role (season 2) 2018 Home by Spring Loretta Johnson Television movie (Hallmark) 2019–2022 Charmed Abigael Main role (seasons 2–3) 2026 Professor T Leonie Vass 6 episodes (series 5)
+ Video game roles Year Title Role Notes 2017 Dark Souls III Shira, Knight of Filianore
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