Sarah Lee Bolger (born 28 February 1991) is an Irish actress. She starred in the films In America (2003), Stormbreaker (2006), The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008), The Moth Diaries (2011), The Lazarus Effect (2015), Emelie (2015), and A Good Woman Is Hard to Find (2019). On television, she portrayed Princess Mary Tudor in The Tudors (2008–2010), for which she won an IFTA award, and Princess Aurora in Once Upon a Time (2012–2015). Bolger also appeared on the series Into the Badlands (2015–2017) and The Westies (2026) and starred on Mayans M.C. (2018–2023).
Early life and education Bolger was born in Dublin to father Derek, a butcher and mother Monica, a housewife. She grew up in the Southside suburb of Rathfarnham. Her younger sister, Emma, also acted and has since pursued academia.
Bolger attended Loreto High School Beaufort from 2003 to 2009 and took classes at Ann Kavanagh's Young People's Theatre.
Career Bolger starred in In America with her sister, Emma. From 2008 to 2010, she portrayed Princess Mary Tudor in The Tudors in her breakout role, for which she received critical acclaim. Bolger starred in Stormbreaker alongside Alex Pettyfer. She also starred in the film adaptation of the children's novel The Spiderwick Chronicles. She filmed a pilot called Locke & Key.
Bolger guest starred as Princess Aurora in the second, third, and fourth seasons of the fairy tale drama, Once Upon a Time.
Bolger played the female lead role, Umi, in the English version of the 2011 Studio Ghibli film From Up on Poppy Hill, and starred as Lucy in As Cool as I Am in 2013. In 2014, she made an appearance on TV series, Mixology. Bolger co-starred in David Gelb's thriller film The Lazarus Effect.
In 2015, she starred in the AMC martial arts show Into the Badlands and the Freddie Steinmark biopic My All American. In 2016, she starred as the title character in the horror film Emelie.
In March 2017, it was reported by Deadline Hollywood that Bolger was to star in the crime-thriller A Good Woman Is Hard to Find directed by Abner Pastoll. Filming completed in December 2017, with the film released in 2019.
Other projects In January 2011, Bolger was selected to be in photographer Kevin Abosch's project "The Face of Ireland"Sarah Bolger Source alongside other Irish celebrities including Sinéad O'Connor, Neil Jordan, and Pierce Brosnan.Kevin Abosch – TFOI
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1999 A Love Divided Eileen Cloney 2003 In America Christy 2005 Tara Road Annie 2006 Stormbreaker Sabina Pleasure 2008 Mallory Grace 2009 Iron Cross Kashka2011 The Moth Diaries Rebecca From Up on Poppy Hill Umi Matsuzaki Voice role (English dub); Japanese title: Kokuriko-zaka kara2013 Crush Jules As Cool as I Am Lucy Diamond 2014 Kiss Me Zoe2015 My All American Linda Wheeler The Lazarus Effect Eva Emelie Emelie 2017 Halal Daddy Maeve Logan2019 End of Sentence Jewel A Good Woman Is Hard to Find Sarah 2021 We Broke Up Bea 2024 Things Will Be Different Vice Grip Right 2025 Descendent Andrea Control Filming The Lightkeeper Maire Filming Fog CityLiza OrrFilming
Television Year Title Role Notes 1999 A Secret Affair Helena Fitzgerald Television film 2002 The World of Tosh TV series 2004 Janey Quinn 2 episodes 2006 Stardust Lorraine Keegan Miniseries 2008–2010 Mary Tudor Recurring role (seasons 2–3); main role (season 4); 23 episodes 2012–2015 Once Upon a Time Princess Aurora Recurring role (seasons 2–4); 16 episodes 2014 Mixology Janey Episode: "Tom & Maya" 2015–2017 Into the Badlands Jade Main role (seasons 1–2) 2016 Agent Carter Violet Episodes: "The Lady in the Lake", "A View in the Dark", "The Atomic Job" 2018–2019 Counterpart Anna Silk Recurring role 2018–2023 Mayans M.C. Emily Thomas Main role 2024 Rematch Helen Brock Main role 2026 The Westies Bridget Walsh Main Role
Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2008 The Spiderwick Chronicles Mallory Grace 2010 BioShock 2 Eleanor Lamb
Awards and nominations Year Work Award Category Result 2003 In America Best Supporting Actress 2004In America Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Young Actor/Actress Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Most Promising Performer Independent Spirit Award Best Supporting Female Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Performance by Youth in a Lead or Supporting Role – Female Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2009 Herself Berlin International Film Festival Shooting Stars Award Irish Film & Television Awards Actress in a Supporting Role – Film Herself Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Rising Star Award 2010 The Tudors Irish Film & Television Awards Actress in a Supporting Role – Television 2011 The Tudors Irish Film & Television Awards Actress in a Supporting Role – Television 2018 Halal Daddy Irish Film & Television Awards Actress in a Leading Role – Film
References
External links