Polly Alexandra Walker (born 19 May 1966) is an English actress. Her first TV role was as romantic heroine Lorna Doone alongside Clive Owen in the 1990 ITV TV film of the same name.
She has starred in the films Enchanted April (1991), Patriot Games (1992), Sliver (1993), Restoration (1995), The Gambler (1997), and Savage Messiah (2002). In 2006, she received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her role in the drama series Rome (2005–2007). She is also known for her roles in BBC One dramas Prisoners’ Wives (2012–2013), Line of Duty (2016, 2019) and Netflix's Bridgerton (2020-present).
Early life Walker was born in Warrington, Cheshire. She attended Padgate Church of England Primary School in Warrington, and Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts in East Grinstead until joining Twickenham's Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance at age 16. She had to abandon dancing after a leg injury at the age of 18, deciding to concentrate on acting.
She attended Drama Centre London, before working at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Career Film and television Walker landed the title role in the ITV television film Lorna Doone (1990), before making her feature debut in Journey of Honor (1991). In that same year she appeared in Les Equilibristes and in Mike Newell's Enchanted April, in which she played an aristocrat eager to escape the attentions of her persistent male admirers. Walker first gained international attention in 1992 as a single-minded English member of an Irish terrorist group in Phillip Noyce's Patriot Games.
She appeared in Douglas McGrath's 1996 adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, as Jane Fairfax, the titular character's rival.
In 2003 she had a starring role in the BBC drama series State of Play.
Between 2005 and 2007, Walker played Atia of the Julii in both seasons of the HBO–BBC2 television series Rome. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination in 2006 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama.
She next played the sinister Catherine Braithwaite in "Deus Ex Machina", a two-episode story of the BBC television "cold case" crime series Waking the Dead (2007). In May 2007, she appeared as Lady Bess Sedgwick in ITV's Marple: At Bertram's Hotel, and then played sugar heiress Ellis Samuels in the CBS television drama Cane (2007).
In May 2008, Walker was cast as Sister Clarice Willow, headmistress of a private religious school, in Syfy's Battlestar Galactica prequel series Caprica. She appeared in Louis Leterrier's 2010 action fantasy remake, Clash of the Titans as Cassiopeia.
In 2011 she guest starred as Ranna Seneschal, leader of the underground city of Praxis, on the Canadian sci-fy fantasy show Sanctuary.
Walker starred in BBC's crime drama Prisoners' Wives as crime wife Francesca Miller from 2012 to 2013. She went on to appear in Andrew Staunton's 2012 science fiction action-adventure film John Carter as Sarkoja, a merciless Thark.
In 2014, she had a recurring role as the character Delphine Day in the ITV series Mr Selfridge.
In 2018, Walker starred as Bel, the leading character in Age Before Beauty. From 2019 to 2022, she portrayed dominatrix Margaret "Peggy" Skyes in the action crime drama show Pennyworth.
In 2020, she appeared as Lady Lunete, the Queen Regent and mother to Uther Pendragon, a recurring character for 5 episodes in the Netflix series, Cursed. Since December 2020, Walker has starred in the Netflix series Bridgerton as Portia, Lady Featherington. She earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination in 2021 with the series cast for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
In 2025, Walker appeared as Trottie Book in the crime drama Bookish; the series was renewed for a second season ahead of its debut, with Walker confirmed to return.
Personal life On 23 October 2008, Walker married the former actor Laurence Penry-Jones (brother of Rupert Penry-Jones) with whom she lived in the United States for several years. In 2015, they returned to London.Katherine Hassell: Paranoid's Polly Walker: I like playing a troublemaker. Express, 25 September 2016
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1991 Journey of Honour Cecilia Original title: "Kabuto", also known as "Shogun Mayeda" Ao Fim da Noite Walking a Tightrope Hélène Lagache1992 Enchanted April Caroline Dester Patriot Games Annette 1993 Leni Sliver Vida Warren 1995 Restoration Celia Clemence 1996 Emma Jane Fairfax 1997 Roseanna's Grave Cecilia Robinson Crusoe Mary McGregor Polina Bastard Mara 1998 Curtain Call Julia Talk of Angels Mary Lavelle Dark Harbor Alexis Chandler Weinberg 1999 8½ Women Palmira 2000 After Alice Dr. Vera Swann 2002 D-Tox Jenny Munroe Savage Messiah Paula Jackson 2004 Control Barbara Copeland 2006 Scenes of a Sexual Nature Esther 2010 Clash of the Titans Cassiopeia 2012 John Carter Sarkoja
Television Year Title Role Notes 1989 Storyboard Margaret Niner Episode: "Hunted Down" Rules of Engagement Fiona mini-series, 2 episodes 1990 Agatha Christie's Poirot Magdala (Nick) Buckley Episode: "Peril at End House" Screen Two Nadja Episode: "The Kremlin, Farewell"Lorna DooneLorna DooneTV film1992A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After ArabiaMme. DumontThe Secret World of SpyingAnnette1997The WoodlandersMrs. Charmond2002Jeffrey Archer: The TruthMrs. Archer 2003 Lucetta Templeman State of Play Anne Collins 6 episodes 2005–2007 Rome Atia of the Julii 22 episodes 2007 Waking the Dead Catherine Braithwaite 2 episodes: "Deus Ex Machina" Agatha Christie's Marple Bess Sedgwick Episode: "At Bertram's Hotel" Cane Ellis Samuels 13 episodes 2009 Numbers Dr. Lorna Ludlow Episode: "Animal Rites" 2009–2010 Caprica Clarice Willow 17 episodes 2010 Sanctuary Ranna Seneschal 2 episodes 2011 Psych Randa Tabet Episode: "Shawn Rescues Darth Vader" 2012–2013 Prisoners' Wives Francesca Miller 10 episodes 2012 The Mentalist FBI Agent Alexa Shultz 2 episodes 2013 Warehouse 13 Charlotte Dupres 4 episodes 2014 Mr Selfridge Delphine Day 9 episodes 2015 The Syndicate DI Lynn Baker 6 episodes 2016 Paranoid Monica Wayfield 5 episodes 2016; 2019 Line of Duty Gill Biggeloe Series 3 and 5 2018 Age Before Beauty Bel Finch 6 episodes 2019-2022 Pennyworth Margaret "Peggy" Sykes 17 episodes 2020 Cursed Lady Lunete5 episodes 2020-present Bridgerton Portia, Lady Featherington Series regular2024 Dune: ProphecySonya HarkonnenGuest Star; Episode 32025 Bookish Trottie Book Series Regular
Theatre YearTitleRoleDirectorVenueNotesRef.1988-1989HamletSecond Grave DiggerRon DanielsRoyal Shakespeare Company Tour1989As You Like ItPhoebeTim AlberyThe Old VicHess is DeadCharity LuberDanny BoyleAlmeida TheatreRoyal Shakespeare Company2001Finding the SunCordeliaAnthony PageRoyal National Theatre2003Les Liaisons DangereusesLa Marquise De MerteuilTim FywellPlayhouse TheatreAmbassador Theatre Group
Audio dramas YearTitleRoleNotesRef.2017Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor AdventuresCommander NarniaEpisode: "The Movellan Grave"
Video games Year Title Role Notes 2010Dark Void Ava, Survivors
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2003Genie AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleSavage Messiah2005Satellite AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture made for TelevisionRomeOnline Film & Television AssociationBest Supporting Actress in a Drama Series2006Golden Globe AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama2021Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesBridgerton
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