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Morfydd Clark

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Morfydd Clark
Clark in 2022
Born(1989-03-17)17 March 1989(age 35)
Sweden[1]
NationalityWelsh
CitizenshipBritish
OccupationActress
Years active2014–present

Morfydd Clark(Welsh pronunciation:[ˈmɔrvɪð];[2]born 17 March 1989) is a Welsh actress.[3][4]Her appearances includeLove & Friendship(2016),Interlude in Prague(2017), andThe Personal History of David Copperfield(2019). Also on television, she playedMina HarkerinDracula(2020) and Sister Clara inHis Dark Materials(2019).

She is most notable for playing Maud in the filmSaint Maud(2019), where she received a number of accolades for her performance, including aBAFTA Cymruas well asBIFAandBAFTA Rising Star Awardnominations. She is also known for playingGaladrielin theAmazon PrimeseriesThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power(2022–).[5][6][7][8]

Early life

[edit]

Clark was born in Sweden and moved with her family toPenarth,Wales, when she was two years old.[9]She described her father as a "Northern IrishGlaswegian".Her maternal lineage comes fromNorth Wales.[10]Her parents spoke English together, but her maternal grandparents were Welsh speakers, which led to her attending a Welsh language school. She is bilingual in English and Welsh.[11]Her first taste of acting was playing Mrs Dai Bread in a school production ofUnder Milk Wood.[12]After struggling withdyslexiaandADHD,she left school at sixteen.[13]She later completed her A Levels in English and mathematics atKings Monkton SchoolinCardiff.In 2009, she was accepted toBritish Youth Music Theatre's production ofAccording to Brian Haw[14]and to the National Youth Theatre of Wales, before training at theDrama Centre London.[13]

Career

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Clark in 2020

Clark left Drama Centre in her final term to star inSaunders Lewis's playBlodeuweddwithTheatr Genedlaethol Cymru.She has appeared inViolence and Sonat the Royal Court, as Juliet inRomeo and Julietat theCrucible Theatre,Sheffield, and inLes Liaisons Dangereusesat theDonmar Warehouse.[15]She played Frederica Vernon in Whit Stillman's filmLove & Friendship.[16]In 2016, Clark was named as one of theScreen InternationalStars of Tomorrowfor her early work in television and theatre.[12]She appeared in the filmThe Call Up[17]and asCordeliainKing LearatThe Old Vic.[18]In 2017, she starred inInterlude In Prague,[19][20]and portrayedCatherine DickensinThe Man Who Invented Christmas.[21]

In 2019, she appeared in the filmsCrawl,The Personal History of David Copperfield,andEternal Beauty.Also that year, Clark starred as Maud in the psychological horror filmSaint Maud,for which, she was nominated for Best Actress of the 2020British Independent Film Awards.[22][23]For her performance as Maud, she won theBAFTA Cymrubest actress award,[24]and was nominated for the 2021BAFTA Rising Star Award.[25]

The Rings of Power

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Morfydd Clark at theThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerpremiere in 2022

Clark portrays the characterGaladrielinThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PoweronAmazon Prime[5][6][7][8](a younger version of the character found inThe Lord of Rings). She was so shocked when she was cast in the role that she fainted.[26]

Morfydd has cited that she is "proud" that being aWelshspeaker influenced her portrayal of her bilingual character, Galadriel. The actor stated, "I feel I can be much more romantic and deep in Welsh. So that was really useful for me, because I was thinking, '[What's the] language of her heart? What language does she think in?'" In another interview, the actor discussed her education in Welsh: "Well, I went to a Welsh language school and everything is taught in Welsh. Welsh is phonetic, so it's great for people with dyslexia. I started learning English in the third year. What my Tolkien-obsessed mother was really proud of and passed on to us was that Tolkien was inspired by the Welsh. Oddly enough, his work was a badge of honour for me, because the Welsh are Welsh and obsessed with anything Welsh."[27]She also mentioned enjoying speaking in Welsh on-set with co-starsOwain ArthurandTrystan Gravelle.[28]

Filmography

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Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2014 Madame Bovary Camille
The Falling Pamela Charron
2016 Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Georgiana Darcy
Love & Friendship Frederica Vernon [29][30]
The Call Up Shelly
2017 Interlude in Prague Zuzanna Luptak
The Man Who Invented Christmas Kate Dickens
2019 Crawl Beth Keller
The Personal History of David Copperfield Dora Spenlow& Clara Copperfield [31]
Eternal Beauty Young Jane
Saint Maud Maud [32][33]
2023 Starve Acre Juliette
TBA Hamlet Ophelia Filming[34]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2014 New Worlds Amelia Television miniseries
A Poet in New York Nancy Wickwire Television film
2015 Arthur & George Mary Episode: "1.1"
2016 National Theatre Live:Les Liaisons Dangereuses Cécile Volanges
2018 The Alienist Caroline Bell Episode: "Silver Smile"
The City and the City Yolanda Stark Episodes: "Breach," "Ordinary"
Patrick Melrose Debbie Hickman Episodes: "Bad News," "Some Hope"
Outsiders Mari Television film
2019 His Dark Materials Sister Clara 4 episodes
2020 Dracula Mina Harker Television miniseries
2022–2024 The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Galadriel Lead role[5][6][7][8][35][36]
2023 Murder is Easy Bridget Two-part drama[37]

Theatre

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Year Play Role Theatre company Director

(Writer)

Notes
2013 Blodeuwedd[38] Blodeuwedd Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru Arwel Griffiths

(Saunders Lewis)

2015 Violence and Son Jen The Royal Court Hamish Pirie

(Gary Owen)

[39]
2015 Romeo and Juliet Juliet The Crucible Theatre Jonathan Humphreys

(William Shakespeare)

[40]
2015 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Cecile The Donmar Warehouse Josie Rourke

(Christopher Hampton)

[41][42]
2016 King Lear Cordelia The Old Vic Deborah Warner

(William Shakespeare)

2017 The Cherry Orchard Anya The Sherman Rachel O'Riordan

(Anton Chekhov/Gary Owen)

[43][44]
2019 The Colours Joe Soho Theatre Max Barton

(Harriet Madeley)

[45]
2024 Look Back In Anger Helena Charles Almeida Atri Banerjee

(John Osborne)

2024 Roots Beatie Bryant Almeida Diyan Zora

(Arnold Wesker)

[46]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2020 Dublin Film Critics' Circle Breakthrough Award Saint MaudandThe Personal History of David Copperfield Won [47]
Sunset Film Circle Awards Best Actress Saint Maud Nominated [48]
2021 London Critics' Circle Film Awards British/Irish Actress of the Year Saint MaudandEternal Beauty Won [49]
Actress of the Year Saint Maud Nominated
British Independent Film Awards Best Actress Nominated [50][51]
BAFTA Cymru Best Actress Won [24]
British Academy Film Awards Rising Star Award Nominated [52][25]
2022 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Lead Performance Nominated [53]
2023 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Nominated [54]
Canneseries Madame Figaro Rising Star Award Won [55]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Morfydd Clark British Youth Music Theatre".British Youth Music Theatre.Retrieved18 December2019.
  2. ^"Morfydd Clark on Anya".Sherman Theatre. 9 October 2017.Retrieved30 September2019.
  3. ^Thorpe, Vanessa (12 October 2019)."Three films, four roles, one breakout star: Morfydd Clark".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved1 August2023.
  4. ^"Rising stars of 2017: actor Morfydd Clark".The Guardian.1 January 2017.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 August2023.
  5. ^abcLivingstone, Jo (16 September 2022).""The Rings of Power" Is True to Tolkien's Mythmaking Spirit ".The New Yorker.ISSN0028-792X.Retrieved1 August2023.
  6. ^abc"Morfydd Clark: Siarad Cymraeg yn help i chwarae Galadriel".BBC Cymru Fyw(in Welsh). 6 October 2022.Retrieved1 August2023.
  7. ^abc"Morfydd Clark: Elbisch für Fortgeschrittene".Der Spiegel(in German). 9 September 2022.ISSN2195-1349.Retrieved1 August2023.
  8. ^abcMurray, Noel (2 September 2022)."'The Rings of Power' Premiere Recap: All Is Not Calm in Middle-Earth ".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved1 August2023.
  9. ^"Morfydd Clark interview: Her sexual awakening performances have critics in raptures".The Independent.November 2016.Retrieved13 January2020.
  10. ^Marsh, Carl (9 October 2020)."Morfydd Clark Interview".Buzz.Retrieved13 March2021.
  11. ^Armistead, Claire (20 September 2020)."Morfydd Clark: 'In the acting world, my ADHD tendencies are seen as charming'".The Guardian.Retrieved13 March2021.
  12. ^ab"Morfydd Clark, Stars of Tomorrow 2016".screendaily.com.3 October 2016.
  13. ^abWilliams, Holly (1 January 2017)."Rising stars of 2017: actor Morfydd Clark".The Guardian.Retrieved2 November2017.
  14. ^"According to Brian Haw (2009) | British Youth Music Theatre".
  15. ^Khan, Jessica (2 September 2015)."Morfydd Clark Joins LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES at Donmar This Winter".Broadway World.Retrieved5 June2016.
  16. ^Robey, Tim (26 May 2016)."Love & Friendship shows just how funny Jane Austen can be - review".The Telegraph.Retrieved5 June2016.
  17. ^McNamara, Fred."The Call Up".Starburst.Retrieved23 September2016.
  18. ^BWW news desk (26 May 2016)."Jane Horrocks, Celia Imrie & Morfydd Clark to Join Glenda Jackson in The Old Vic's KING LEAR".Broadway World.Retrieved5 June2016.
  19. ^Khan, Jessica (24 March 2016)."Stage Stars Samantha Barks and Morfydd Clark Join INTERLUDE IN PRAGUE Film".Broadway World.Retrieved5 June2016.
  20. ^Grater, Tom (4 April 2016)."'Interlude In Prague' starts shoot, adds cast ".Screen Daily.Retrieved5 June2016.
  21. ^"' Lord of the Rings' Series Taps Morfydd Clark as Young Galadriel (EXCLUSIVE) ".Variety.18 December 2019.Retrieved10 March2020.
  22. ^Wade, Joseph (18 February 2021)."2020 British Independent Film Awards – Winners List".Retrieved23 February2021.
  23. ^"Saint Maud: Will Gompertz reviews Rose Glass's debut film ★★★★☆".BBC News.9 October 2020.Retrieved15 October2020.
  24. ^ab"Bafta Cymru: Gangs of London wins four awards".bbc.co.uk.25 October 2021.
  25. ^ab"Kingsley Ben-Adir among Bafta Rising Star nominees".bbc.co.uk.4 March 2021.Retrieved5 March2021.
  26. ^"'Rings of Power' Star Morfydd Clark Fainted When She Was Cast in Amazon's 'Lord of the Rings' Series ".ca.news.yahoo.com.16 August 2022.Retrieved21 June2024.
  27. ^"Lord of the Ringsstar Morfydd Clark 'proud' Welsh influenced her portrayal of bilingual Mighty Morfydd Power Elf ".Nation.Cymru.3 September 2022.Retrieved6 September2022.
  28. ^"Lord of the Ringsstar Morfydd Clark says she 'spoke more Welsh in New Zealand than in London'".Nation.Cymru.8 October 2022.Retrieved10 October2022.
  29. ^Bradshaw, Peter (26 May 2016)."Love & Friendship review – Whit Stillman's Austen drama is a racy delight".the Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 August2023.
  30. ^Smith, Nigel M. (24 January 2016)."Love & Friendship review: Kate Beckinsale is a devious delight".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 August2023.
  31. ^Kermode, Mark; critic, Observer film (26 January 2020)."The Personal History of David Copperfield review – Iannucci makes Dickens his own".the Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 August2023.
  32. ^Shoard, Catherine (10 December 2020)."The 50 best films of 2020 in the UK, No 7: Saint Maud".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 August2023.
  33. ^Kermode, Mark; critic, Mark Kermode Observer film (11 October 2020)."Saint Maud review – a chilling nurse on a mission from God".the Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 August2023.
  34. ^Wiseman, Andreas (11 May 2022)."Oscar Winners Riz Ahmed & Aneil Karia Team For ModernHamletWith Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn & WME Independent; Duo Give Exclusive Interview About Their Timely Adaptation — Cannes Market Hot Package ".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved10 November2023.
  35. ^Kroll, Justin (17 December 2019)."'Lord of the Rings Series Taps Morfydd Clark as Young Galadriel ".Variety.Retrieved17 December2019.
  36. ^"How Galadriel Became One of the Most Fascinating Characters in 'Lord of the Rings'".Time.2 September 2022.Retrieved1 August2023.
  37. ^"Casting revealed for Murder is Easy, based on the classic mystery by Agatha Christie".bbc.co.uk/mediacentre.10 July 2023.Retrieved28 July2023.
  38. ^Gower, Jon (25 July 2013)."Blodeuwedd".Wales Arts Review.Retrieved23 March2023.
  39. ^Clapp, Susannah(21 June 2015)."Violence and Son review – you are what you do in the Welsh valleys".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved1 August2023.
  40. ^Hickling, Alfred (1 October 2015)."Romeo and Juliet review – grungy tragedy smells of teen spirit".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 August2023.
  41. ^Clapp, Susannah (20 December 2015)."Les Liaisons Dangereuses review – Janet McTeer is a marvel".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved1 August2023.
  42. ^Billington, Michael (18 December 2015)."Les Liaisons Dangereuses review – Dominic West on love's battlefield".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 August2023.
  43. ^Brennan, Clare (22 October 2017)."The Cherry Orchard review – all change for Chekhov".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved1 August2023.
  44. ^Gardner, Lyn (19 October 2017)."The Cherry Orchard review – uprooted Chekhov chimes with Thatcher's Britain".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 August2023.
  45. ^"Crowded Room Theatre Company Announces World Premiere of The Colours at Soho Theatre".Theatre Weekly.24 June 2019.Retrieved8 February2024.
  46. ^"Breaking Baz: Morfydd Clark & Billy Howle Lead Hot Theater Productions In London Dubbed The Angry & Young Season".Deadline. 20 May 2024.
  47. ^Clarke, Donald (18 December 2020)."Dublin film critics reveal their best film of 2020".The Irish Times.Retrieved15 March2021.
  48. ^"Inaugural Sunset Circle award nominees announced".screenonscreen.co.uk.24 November 2020.
  49. ^Cline, Rich (7 February 2021)."London Critics name Nomadland their best film of 2020".Critics' Circle.Retrieved13 March2021.
  50. ^"Winners & Nominations".BIFA.4 December 2020.Retrieved13 March2021.
  51. ^Pulver, Andrew (9 December 2020)."Saint Maud leads British independent film award nominations".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 August2023.
  52. ^Pewsey, Guy (3 March 2021)."Bukky Bakray And Morfydd Clark Among Nominees For BAFTA's EE Rising Star Award".Grazia.Retrieved13 March2021.
  53. ^"The 2022 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards".knotfest.com.16 May 2022.
  54. ^"Nominations Announced for the 3rd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards honoring Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, and Action Movies and Series".Critics Choice Association.22 February 2023.Retrieved9 March2023.
  55. ^"Madame Figaro Rising Star Award".canneseries.com(in French).Retrieved17 April2023.
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