Sinead Matthews (born c. 1980–1981) is an English actress whose credits include film, television, radio and stage. As well as having extensive theatre experience, her screen credits include He Knew He Was Right (2004), Vera Drake (2004), Pride & Prejudice (2005), Ideal (2005-2010), Terry Pratchett's Hogfather (2006), Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (2010), Black Mirror (2013), The Smoke (2014), Jellyfish (2018), The Crown (2019), and Hullraisers (2022).

Sinead Matthews
Born1980 or 1981 (age 43–44)
OccupationActress

Early life and education edit

Sinead Matthews was born in 1980 or 1981 in Coventry, England,[1] to her parents Mick and Maura Matthews.[1] She attended Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School, in Potters Green, Coventry.[1]

Matthews was a performing arts student studying A-level Drama at Stratford-upon-Avon College, for 2 years between 1996 and 1998.[2] She went on to study acting at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, graduating in 2003 with an BA in Acting Degree (H Level).[3]

Career edit

Whilst still at RADA, she secured her first professional acting role in the film Vera Drake in 2004.[2] Matthews made her television debut in the 2004 costume drama He Knew He Was Right.[1] In 2005, she starred as Betsey in the period drama Pride & Prejudice, alongside Keira Knightley.[4]

In 2009 she starred in Our Class, a new play by Tadeusz Slobodzianek at the NT and in Penelope Skinner's 2010 play Eigengrau at the Bush Theatre.[5]

In 2013, she played a lead role in series one of Black Mirror, as Sarah in the episode "Be Right Back", alongside Domhnall Gleeson and Hayley Atwell.[4] In August 2016, Matthews played Hermia/Fairy/Mistress Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream, composed by Felix Mendelssohn, at The Proms.[6]

In 2019 she played Marcia Williams, political secretary to Prime Minister Harold Wilson, in season three of the TV series about the royal family, The Crown.[4] In 2022, she played a main role as Paula in the Channel 4 British Sitcom Hullraisers.[4]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Key
Denotes productions that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Vera Drake Very Young Woman
2005 Pride & Prejudice Betsy
2006 Terry Pratchett's Hogfather Violet TV film
2007 Wednesday Lilya Short film
Spring 1941 Tania
Half Broken Things Steph TV film
Who Gets the Dog? Claire Evans TV film
2008 Happy-Go-Lucky Alice
In Love with Barbara Young Barbara TV film
Trimming the Fat Receptionist Short film
2009 The Boat That Rocked Miss Clitt
2010 Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang Miss Topsey
2011 Wreckers Sharon
2013 Bed Trick Rachel Short film
2014 Mr. Turner Queen Victoria
2015 The Process Leni
Across the Sea Mother Short film
2016 The Roof Brooks' Assistant Short film
Mother Shoe Shop Assistant Short film
Kaleidoscope Abby
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Mildred Deleted scenes only
2017 Daphne Billie
National Theatre Live: Hedda Gabler Mrs. Elvsted
Wraps Emma Short film
2018 Jellyfish Karen Taylor
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead Lainey
2019 The Wrong Car Ella Short film
A Serial Killer's Guide to Life Izzy
Muscle Sandra
Us Among the Stones Anna
2021 I'm Not in Love Lena
Radio Silence Cassie Short film
Iris Julia Post-production
TBC Nairn Kay Post-production

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
2004 The Afternoon Play Chantelle Hughes Episode: "Viva Las Blackpool"
He Knew He Was Right Mary Mini-series
2005-2010 Ideal Jenny Series regular
2007 Trial & Retribution Rachel Burns Episode: "Curriculum Vitae"
2013 Black Mirror Sarah Episode: "Be Right Back"
Way to Go Debbie Series regular
2014 The Smoke Julia Mini-series
2015 Inside No. 9 Sarah Nutter Episode: "The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge"
Toast of London Varrity Map Episode: "Man of Sex"
2017 Chewing Gum Emma Recurring role, 4 episodes
In the Dark Paula Days Mini-series
2018 Hang Ups Alice Ross Episode: "Series 1, Episode 6"
2019 The Crown Marcia Williams Recurring role, 3 episodes
2020 Sick of It Jules Episode: "The Biscuit"
2021 Midsomer Murders Mel Wallace Episode: "The Wolf Hunter of Little Worthy"
2022 Hullraisers Paula Main character
2023 Murder is Easy Miss Waynflete Two-part drama[7]
2024 Things You Should Have Done Michelle Recurring role, 3 episodes

Radio edit

Stage edit

Year Title Role Venue Notes
2004 The Crucible Abigail Williams Crucible Theatre, Sheffield [6]
2004-2005 The Mandate Anastasia Cottesloe Theatre, London [6]
2005 The Birthday Party Lulu Duchess Theatre, London [6]
The Wild Duck Hedvig Donmar Warehouse, London [6]
2005-2006 You Never Can Tell Dolly Clandon Theatre Royal, Bath & Garrick Theatre, London also, UK tour
2007 Women of Troy Cassandra Lyttelton Theatre, London [6]
2008 His Ghostly Heart Daisy Bush Theatre, London part of "The Broken Space Season"
Little Dolls Vicky Bush Theatre, London part of "The Broken Space Season"
2009 Our Class Dora Cottesloe Theatre, London [6]
2010 Eigengrau Rose Bush Theatre, London [6]
Lulu Lulu Gate Theatre, London with Headlong Theatre
The Glass Menagerie Laura Wingfield Young Vic, London [6]
2011 Ecstasy Dawn Hampstead Theatre, London [6]
2012 The Master and Margarita Margarita Barbican Centre, London also Tour[6]
The Way of the World Millamant Crucible Theatre, Sheffield [6]
The Changeling Beatrice-Joanna Young Vic, London [6]
2013 A Time to Reap Marysia Royal Court Theatre, London [6]
Trout Stanley Sugar Southwark Playhouse, London [6]
2014 Blurred Lines The Shed, London [6]
Pests Pink Royal Exchange, Manchester & Royal Court Theatre, London also, UK tour[6]
2015 The Wasp Heather Hampstead Theatre, London [6]
The Hudsucker Proxy Amy Archer Nuffield Theatre, Southampton & Everyman Playhouse [6]
Evening at the Talk House Jane Dorfman Theatre, London [6]
2016 Giving Laura Hampstead Theatre, London [6]
A Midsummer Night's Dream Hermia Royal Albert Hall, London with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Hedda Gabler Mrs. Elvsted Lyttelton Theatre, London [6]
2017 Loot Fay Park Theatre, London & Watermill Theatre, Bagnor [6]
2018 Absolute Hell Elizabeth Collier Lyttelton Theatre, London [6]
2019 The Starry Messenger Doris Wyndham's Theatre, London [6]
The Antipodes Eleanor Dorfman Theatre, London [6]
2022 Mad House Pam Ambassadors Theatre [6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "TV role for city actress". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 19 January 2005. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Star Actor Shares SUAC Memories". stratford.ac.uk. 20 April 2021.
  3. ^ "RADA Student & graduate profiles: Sinead Matthews". rada.ac.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Fans Of 'The Crown' Will Recognise 'Hullraisers' Lead Actor". Bustle. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Eigengrau". Bush Theatre. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad "Sinéad Matthews (Theatre)". Hamilton Hodell (management company). Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Casting revealed for Murder is Easy, based on the classic mystery by Agatha Christie". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.

External links edit