Bethany Antonia (born 25 December 1997) is a British actress. As of 2022 she plays Lady Baela Targaryen in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon.

Bethany Antonia
Born (1997-12-25) 25 December 1997 (age 26)
Birmingham, England
OccupationActress
Years active2017–present

On television, she is known for her roles in the BBC iPlayer teen series Get Even (2020), the Netflix crime drama Stay Close (2021), and the ITV biopic Nolly (2023). Her films include Pin Cushion (2017).

Personal life edit

Born in Quinton, Birmingham, Antonia is of mixed English and Jamaican descent.[1] When she was six, her family moved to a small coastal town in the southwestern Charente-Maritime region of France, before returning to Birmingham when she was eleven.[2] She attended Perryfields High School and then Birmingham Ormiston Academy for sixth form, where she studied musical theatre.

At 14, she began training at First Act Workshop.[3][4] She also spent many years training with Adage Dance studio in Selly Oak, Spotlight Stage School in Solihull, and with the British Youth Music Theatre.[5]

Antonia is gay, and came out on Instagram in response to a hateful message.[6]

Career edit

Antonia began her career when she was 14, appearing in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust short film adaptation of The Tempest following local open auditions. She secured her first agent shortly after.

At the age of 18 in 2017, Antonia made her television debut with a guest appearance in an episode of the BBC One medical soap opera Doctors and then her feature film debut in Pin Cushion starring Joanna Scanlan and Lily Newmark.

In 2019, Antonia was cast as Margot Rivers in the BBC iPlayer and Netflix teen series Get Even, an adaptation the book series Don't Get Mad by Gretchen McNeil.

In late 2021, Antonia played Kayleigh Shaw in the eight-episode Netflix crime drama Stay Close, part of a collaboration between Red Production Company and Harlan Coben. In January 2022, Antonia made her professional stage debut in LAVA at Soho Theatre.

As of 2022, Antonia portrays Lady Baela Targaryen in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones prequel and adaptation of George R. R. Martin's fictional history book Fire and Blood. In 2023, Antonia played Poppy Ngnomo in Russell T Davies' ITV miniseries Nolly, alongside Helena Bonham Carter.

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
2012 The Tempest Short film
2017 Pin Cushion Chelsea
2021 There's Always Hope Pen

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Doctors Jade Okonjo Episode: "Blitz Spirit"
2018 Stath Lets Flats Leanne Episode: "It's a Manager Day"
2020 Get Even Margot Rivers Main Role: 10 episodes
2021 Stay Close Kayleigh Shaw Main Role: 8 episodes
2022–present House of the Dragon Baela Targaryen Main Role: 2 episodes
2023 Nolly Poppy Ngomo
2024 Sense and Sensibility Marianne Dashwood TV Movie

Stage edit

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Peter Pan: The Never Ending Story Lost Child Arena Tour
2022 Lava Rach Soho Theatre, London

References edit

  1. ^ Lynch, Kenedi (13 August 2020). "Interview: Up and Coming Star Bethany Antonia Talks About Her Role on Netflix's 'Get Even' [EXCLUSIVE]". Nerds & Beyond. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Bethany Antonia". 1883 Magazine. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  3. ^ Young, Graham (24 April 2018). "A star is born - girl's brilliant way of landing film role". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  4. ^ Arsenault, Bridget (8 January 2022). ""Stay Close" Star Bethany Antonia Talks Acting and Gen Z". Air Mail. Retrieved 23 August 2022.(subscription required)
  5. ^ "Birdsong – Review by Bethany-Antonia Clarke". British Youth Music Theatre. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  6. ^ Theil, Michele (2024-04-22). "House of the Dragon star responds to online abuse: 'I'm gay too'". PinkNews. Retrieved 2024-04-23.

External links edit