Gemma Whelan

Gemma Whelan Headshot

Actress • Comedian

Birth Date: April 23, 1981

Age: 42 years old

Birth Place: Leeds, Yorkshire, England, UK

Gemma Whelan began her career as a stand-up comedian but found fame with dramatic roles in "The Moorside" (BBC One, 2017), "Gentleman Jack" (BBC One, 2019-) and, most notably, "Game of Thrones" (HBO, 2011-19), in which she played the fierce ironborn warrior Yara Greyjoy. Born in Leeds, England in 1981, Gemma Whelan trained as a dancer, opera singer and musical theatre performer but first caught attention on the stand-up comedy circuit in which she performed in the character of aristocrat Chastity Butterworth. She made her screen debut in short film "Frites" (2008) before playing Emily Blunt's maid in supernatural horror "The Wolfman" (2010), Lilliputian Rose in Jack Black vehicle "Gulliver's Travels" (2010) and ad executive Veronica in short-lived sitcom "The Persuasionists" (BBC Two, 2010). Whelan's big break came in 2012 when she was cast as the self-assured seafaring warrior Yara Greyjoy in the adaptation of George R. R. Martin's novels, "Game of Thrones" (HBO, 2011-19). During her 16-episode stint on the fantasy phenomenon, Whelan also played free spirit Irene Coles in period comedy "Mapp and Lucia" (BBC One, 2014), narrated the mockumentary "Almost Royal" (BBC America, 2014-16) and was cast as Veronica in family sitcom "Uncle" (BBC Three, 2014-17). After showing up as ill-fated housewife Len in broody comedy slasher "Prevenge" (2016), Whelan landed the recurring roles of aspiring actress Kate in Shakespearean spoof "Upstart Crow" (BBC Two, 2016), Natalie Cassidy's fictional sister Kat in the satirical "Morgana Robinson's The Agency" (BBC Two, 2016) and kitchen maid Ida Battersea in the adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's children's novels, "Hetty Feather" (CBBC, 2015-). Whelan then portrayed real life figures Karen Matthews, the real-life mother who faked the disappearance of her own nine-year-old daughter, in gritty drama "The Moorside" (BBC One, 2017), and Patricia Campbell, a magazine assistant, in British monarchy drama "The Crown" (Netflix, 2016-). After playing DC Eunice Noon in the comic book miniseries "The End of the F***ing World" (Channel 4, 2017-), Whelan returned to more familiar comedic territory when she joined the cast of children's sketch show "Horrible Histories" (CBBC, 2015-), appeared as Diane in the adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's social satire "Decline and Fall" (BBC One, 2017) and took the leading role of Miranda in dysfunctional family film "Surviving Christmas with the Relatives" (2018). Whelan further showcased her dramatic skills when she was cast as diarist Anne Lister's sister Marian in period piece "Gentleman Jack" (BBC One, 2019-) and governess Mrs. Weston in Autumn de Wilde's take on Jane Austen classic "Emma" (2019).

Credits

Cristóbal Balenciaga

Actor
Prudence Glynn
Show
2024

The Tower II: Death Message

Actor
DS Sarah Collins
Show
2023

Turning Point

Voice
The Commentator
Show
2023

DI RayStream

Actor
D.C.I. Kerry Henderson
Series
2022
83%

The TowerStream

Actor
DS Sarah Collins
Series
2021
100%

EMMA.

Actor
Mrs. Weston
Show
2020

The Murders at White House FarmStream

Actor
Ann Eaton
Miniseries
2020
83%

White House Farm: Extras

Actor
Ann Eaton
Show
2020

Emma.Stream

Actor
Mrs. Weston
Movie
2020
86%

Gentleman JackStream

Actor
Marian Lister
Series
2019
92%

Gentleman Jack FREE

Actor
Marian Lister
Show
2019

Killing EveStream

Actor
Geraldine
Series
2018
80%

Surviving Christmas With the Relatives

Actor
Miranda
Movie
2018

The End of the F...ing WorldStream

Actor
Eunice
Series
2017
94%

Queers

Actor
Bobby
Show
2017

Decline and FallStream

Actor
Diane Fagan
Miniseries
2017
91%

The MoorsideStream

Actor
Karen Matthews
Miniseries
2017

Tad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas

Voice
Tiffany
Movie
2017

The Blue Door

Actor
Movie
2017

Sump

Actor
Movie
2017

Upstart Crow

Actor
Kate
Show
2016

Comedy Playhouse: Broken Biscuits

Actor
Chloe
Show
2016

Comedy Playhouse

Actor
Chloe
Show
2016

PrevengeStream

Actor
Len
Movie
2016
91%

Wise Girl

Actor
Movie
2016

Murder in Successville

Actor
Nurse Adele
Show
2015

Almost Royal

Narrator
Show
2014

Inside No. 9Stream

Actor
Columbina
Series
2014
100%

What Does the K Stand For?

Voice
Miss Collins
Show
2013

Sunday Brunch

Guest
Show
2011

Game of ThronesStream

Actor
Yara Greyjoy
Series
2011
88%

Game of ThronesStream

Guest Star
Yara Greyjoy
Series
2011
88%

Pointless Celebrities

Guest
Show
2010

Horrible Histories

Actor
Show
2009

The Graham Norton ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2007

Loose Ends

Guest
Show
2002

This Morning

Guest
Show
1988

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