Harriet Walter

British actress Dame Harriet Walter, DBE, enjoyed an acclaimed four-decade career on the English and American stage, netting a Tony nomination in 2009 for "Mary Stuart," while also bringing her commanding presence to numerous film and television roles, including "Sense and Sensibility" (1995), "Babel" (2006) and "Law and Order: UK" (ITV 2009-14). The London native began her theater career in the 1970s while also making sporadic appearances on UK TV. She joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1980, which provided her with numerous stellar showcases in classical and modern drama, while her television career blossomed in the 1980s with "A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery" (BBC/WGBH, 1987), among other shows. Walter's long and storied stage career led to increased film roles in the 1990s and 2000s, as well as the Tony nod in 2009 and two honors from Buckingham Palace, including her DBE in 2011. Walter's profile continued to rise in the 2010s with appearances on "Downton Abbey" (ITV 2010-16) and "The Assets" (ABC 2014), which underscored her status as one of England's most respected acting talents.