Kathryn Drysdale (born 1 December 1981)[1][2] is an English actress. She gained prominence through her roles in the BBC sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001–2009) and the films Vanity Fair (2004) and St Trinian's (2007). Her other work includes the drama Tripping Over (2006), the fourth series of Benidorm (2011) on ITV, the Channel 4 parody The Windsors (2018–2020), and the Netflix period drama Bridgerton (2020–).

Kathryn Drysdale
Born1 December 1981 (1981-12) (age 43)
EducationCentral School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActress
Years active1999–present

On stage, her roles include Grace Shelley in The Ruling Class on the West End opposite James McAvoy, Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Lady Katharine in Love's Labour's Lost opposite David Tennant.

Early life

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Born to a black father and a white mother, Drysdale was adopted when she was a week old.[3] She was bullied as a child.[4] She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.[5]

Career

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From 2001 to 2009, Drysdale starred as Louise Brooks in the BBC sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps for eight out of nine series of the show. She made her film debut in Mira Nair's 2004 feature adaptation of William Thackeray's Vanity Fair as heiress Rhoda Swartz. In 2006, she played Lizzie in the British-Australian Channel 5 and Network Ten drama Tripping Over and Bliss in the Doctor Who series 2 episode "Love & Monsters". The following year, she played Taylor the Chav in the comedy film St Trinian's.

Also in 2006, Drysdale appeared in Catch at the Royal Court Theatre and in 2008 made her Royal Shakespeare Company debut in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Love's Labour's Lost.[5] In 2009, she appeared in Suddenlossofdignity.com at the Bush Theatre and on tour.[5]

Drysdale joined the main cast of the ITV sitcom Benidorm for its fourth series as Natalie Jones. She played Brownwell in an episode of William Boyd's four-part drama Any Human Heart on Channel 4. In 2012, Drysdale appeared in The Recruiting Officer at the Donmar Warehouse.[6]

Drysdale played Meghan Markle in the second and third series of the Channel 4 parody series The Windsors. She voices the lead character of Bounce in the CBBC animation series Bottersnikes and Gumbles and plays the role of Genevieve Delacroix in Netflix show Bridgerton.

Personal life

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Drysdale lives in London.[7]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Vanity Fair Rhoda Swartz
2005 Zemanovaload Travel Agent [8]
2007 St Trinian's Taylor
2013 One Chance Stage Hand
2015 I Am Urban Madge
2022 The Bubble Minnie
2022 Christmas On Mistletoe Farm Miss Ashley
TBA The Mud Hut Shirley Pre-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 People Like Us Shoe Shop Assistant Episode: "The Photographer"
2000 Trial & Retribution Pregnant Girl 1 episode
2001–2009 Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Louise Brooks 70 episodes
2001 The Glass Receptionist 1 episode
Chambers Fran James Episode: "A Case with a View"
Swivel on the Tip Pippi Langstrumpf
2002 The Vice Elaine Episode: "Trade"
2003 Rockface Susie Travis 2 episodes
Ultimate Force Susannah Episode: "What in the Name of God"
Holby City Gaby Burton Episode: "Home"
Doctors Keeley Burton Episode: "Nature's Way"
Mersey Beat Mel Turner Episode: "Broken Dreams"
2004 From Bard to Verse[9] Brutus/Self Episode 3[10]
2006 Doctor Who Bliss Episode "Love & Monsters"
Tripping Over Lizzie Miniseries
2007 Coming Up Janine Episode: "Brussels"
2009 Comedy Showcase Various Episode: "Girl Friday"
2010 Any Human Heart Brownwell 1 episode
2011 Benidorm Natalie Jones Main role (series 4)[11]
2013 The Psychopath Next Door Imogen Tallis Television film
2014 Death in Paradise Simone Magon Episode: "Ye of Little Faith"
2015 Suspects Liz Maitlin Episode: "The Artist"
Horrible Histories Cleopatra Episode: "Crafty Cleopatra"
2015–2017 Bottersnikes and Gumbles Bounce and Merri Voice role; 18 episodes
2016 New Blood Laura Jones 3 episodes
Zapped Lorelei 2 episodes
2017 Thunderbirds Are Go Kate Voice role; episode: "Grandma Tourismo"
2017–2020 The Windsors Meghan Markle Main role (series 2–3)
Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! Jemima "JJ" Jones Voice role; 17 episodes
2018 Chris P. Duck Additional voices Episode: "Parenthood"
Plebs Cleo Episode: "The Bathhouse"
The Queen and I Trish Welling Television film
Sky Comedy Shorts Trish Episode: "Hands of Gods"
2020–present Bridgerton Genevieve Delacroix Recurring role
2021–present Circle Square Dilys Dillydally / Gwen Dillydally / Mary Ruffle 21 episodes
2022 Lloyd of the Flies Alison120 / Amy Fly / Dotty Voice role; 4 episodes
2022–present Best & Bester Bester Main role; voice role
TBA Relationships Elizabeth Soames TV movie; Post-production

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2012 The Nightvision Experiment Davina
2018 Forza Horizon 4 Taxi Passengers
2019 Anthem Captain Liatrelle, Lancer Easley, Gambling Woman
2022 Horizon Forbidden West Additional Voices

Audio dramas

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 Alien: Out of the Shadows Sneddon
2020 Torchwood: The Sins of Captain John Dr. Magpie / Maisie 2 episodes
Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Adventures Jora Episode: "Out of Time 1"
2021 Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious - Echoes of Extinction Jasmine
Getting Better Dr. Eva Callaway 10 episodes
2023 Nye Bevan's Fight to Create the NHS

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 23:59 Zoe Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2000 Billy and the Crab Lady Mel Soho Theatre, London
2001 Eliza's House Beth Royal Exchange, Manchester
2004 Far Away Joan Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Fen Various
2006 Catch Maya Royal Court Theatre, London
2008 Love's Labour's Lost Katherine / Moth Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
Novello Theatre, London
2009 A Midsummer Night's Dream Hermia Novello Theatre, London
Suddenlossofdignity.com Various Bush Theatre, London / tour
2012 The Recruiting Officer Lucy Donmar Warehouse
2013 A Mad World, My Masters Mistress Hairbrain RSC Studio
2015 The Ruling Class Grace Shelley Trafalgar Studios, London
2018 Home, I'm Darling Fran Theatr Clwyd
Royal National Theatre

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Nomination Work Result Ref.
2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Bridgerton [12]

References

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  1. ^ "Kathryn's a tarty mistress". Wigan Today. 27 December 2014. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2017. The 33-year-old
  2. ^ "Kathryn Drysdale's struggles with voice on Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps". Female First. 28 April 2016. The 35—year-old actress
  3. ^ "Landing on her feet". Archived from the original on 15 March 2009. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  4. ^ "BBC - Comedy - Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps - Cast Interviews - Kathryn Drysdale". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "Kathryn Drysdale". United Agents. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  6. ^ "Donmar Warehouse". Archived from the original on 19 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Creative inspiration: Kathryn Drysdale, star of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and St Trinians". Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  8. ^ Zemanovaload at IMDb
  9. ^ Productions, Baby Cow (5 June 2014), From Bard To Verse, retrieved 27 December 2023
  10. ^ "From Bard to Verse. Episode 3 · British Universities Film & Video Council". bufvc.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Bananarama and cheating love rats". Digital Spy. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (4 February 2021). "'Bridgerton', 'I May Destroy You' & 'Dead To Me' Land SAG Award Nominations After Golden Globes Snub". Deadline. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
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