---
name: "Anna Friel"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/anna-friel"
fi1m_id: "anna-friel"
imdb_id: "nm0295484"
tmdb_id: 58016
wikidata_id: "Q237594"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "12 July 1976"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 80
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-07T15:20:45.665972+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Anna Friel

## Identity

Anna Friel

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/anna-friel
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** anna-friel
- **IMDb ID:** nm0295484
- **TMDB ID:** 58016
- **Wikidata ID:** Q237594
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Friel, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237594, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0295484/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/58016

Actor. Born 12 July 1976 in Rochdale, Lancashire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 12 July 1976, Rochdale, Lancashire, England, UK
- **Active:** 1991–2007
- **Also known as:** Anna Louise Friel
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 3 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 80, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 85 (1), 2000s 78 (2), 2010s 42 (1)
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Crime 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Friel, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237594, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0295484/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/58016

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*The Street*](https://film.one/tv/the-street.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Anna Friel

> Anna Friel is at her most persuasive when warmth survives a character's difficulties. We particularly recommend *Pushing Daisies*, where she makes an impossible romance matter without treating every moment as a tragedy.

In *Pushing Daisies* (2007), Anna Friel and Lee Pace make the space between two people hurt. Chuck and Ned cannot touch, and the actors understand how much feeling that simple restriction can carry. We were moved by their enforced distance because they made reaching for someone seem like a comfort we had taken for granted. It is a persuasive performance in a programme whose sweetness can be exhausting.

Her move from Beth Jordache in *Brookside* (1993–1995) to Prue in *The Land Girls* (1998) took her from soap into feature films. *Pushing Daisies* brought an American breakthrough in 2007; the later title role in *Marcella* (2016–2021) fits the emotionally demanding crime parts that recur in her work. That change of material need not make Chuck seem a lighter achievement. Getting us to believe in a romance with an impossible restriction is demanding work in itself, and Friel gives it the attention it needs.

Friel's contribution is particularly clear beside Pace's hesitancy. She brings enough warmth to stop Chuck and Ned becoming two people defined entirely by what they cannot do. There is a sense that they might enjoy being together if only they were allowed the ordinary means of expressing it. She takes the silliness seriously, but does not treat every exchange as a tragedy, which lets us care about the romance without being instructed to grieve for it.

Some early responses to her work in *Closer* (1999) noted underplaying and mechanical gestures. That is a useful caution when praising an actor for the effort she puts into demanding material. In *Marcella*, the vulnerability she brings alongside strength is the quality worth following, rather than the mere fact of taking on a tough role. We would still start with Chuck, provided an evening of persistent sweetness sounds like pleasure rather than punishment.

## Biography

Anna Friel is an English actress. She first achieved prominence as Beth Jordache in the Channel 4 soap opera *Brookside* (1993–1995).

She later gained wider recognition for her role as Charlotte 'Chuck' Charles in the American series *Pushing Daisies* (2007–2009), for which she received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Her film credits include *Timeline* (2003), *Land of the Lost* (2009) and *Limitless* (2011).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

### Performed in (3) — the average rests on these

- *Pushing Daisies* (2007), Fi1m 82, as Charlotte 'Chuck' Charles — [page](https://film.one/tv/pushing-daisies.md)
- *The Street* (2006), Fi1m 74, as Dee — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-street.md)
- *G.B.H.* (1991), Fi1m 85, as Susan Nelson — [page](https://film.one/tv/g-b-h.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Come Fly with Me* (2010), Fi1m 42, as Herself — [page](https://film.one/tv/come-fly-with-me.md)

## Complete filmography (74)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The F Ward* (2026), series, as Dr Gloria Wall
- *My Sister's Bones* (2026), as Sally Rafter
- *Unforgivable* (2025), as Anna McKinney
- *Locked In* (2023), as Nurse Nicky Mackenzie
- *Monarch* (2022), series, as Nicolette 'Nicky' Roman
- *The Box* (2021), series, as Detective Sharon Pici
- *The Age of Nature* (2021), series, as Narrator
- *Charming the Hearts of Men* (2021), as Grace Gordon
- *Books of Blood* (2020), as Mary
- *Sulphur & White* (2020), as Joanne Tait
- *Deep Water* (2019), series, as Lisa Kallisto
- *The Sea* (2019), as Jenny
- *Butterfly* (2018), series, as Vicky Duffy
- *The Cleanse* (2018), as Maggie
- *I Am Urban* (2018), as Greta
- *Broken* (2017), series, as Christina Fitzsimmons
- *Tomato Red* (2017), as Bev Merridew
- *I.T.* (2016), as Rose Regan
- *The Girlfriend Experience* (2016), series, as Erica Myles
- *Marcella* (2016), series, as Marcella Backland
- *American Odyssey* (2015), series, as Odelle Ballard
- *The Saboteurs* (2015), series, as Julie Smith
- *Good People* (2014), as Sarah
- *Margery Booth: The Spy in the Eagle's Nest* (2014), as Margery Booth
- *The Psychopath Next Door* (2013), as Eve Wright
- *Having You* (2013), as Anna
- *The Look of Love* (2013), as Jean Raymond
- *Metamorphosis: Titian 2012* (2012), as Diana
- *The Amazing Spider-Man T4 Premiere Special* (2012), Actor
- *Playhouse Presents* (2012), series, as Jenny
- *Public Enemies* (2012), series, as Paula Radnor
- *Without You* (2011), series, as Ellie Manning
- *Neverland* (2011), series, as Captain Elizabeth Bonny
- *Treasure Guards* (2011), as Victoria
- *Limitless* (2011), as Melissa
- *London Boulevard* (2010), as Briony Mitchel
- *You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger* (2010), as Iris
- *7 Days on the Breadline* (2009), series, Actor
- *Land of the Lost* (2009), as Holly
- *Bathory: Countess of Blood* (2008), as Erzsébet Báthory
- *Pushing Daisies* (2007), series, as Charlotte 'Chuck' Charles — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/pushing-daisies.md)
- *Rubbish* (2007), as Isobel
- *Goal II: Living the Dream* (2007), as Roz Harmison
- *The Street* (2006), series, as Dee — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-street.md)
- *Niagara Motel* (2006), as Denise
- *Irish Jam* (2006), as Maureen Duffy
- *Goal!* (2005), as Roz Harmison
- *Perfect Strangers* (2004), as Susie Wilding
- *The Jury* (2004), series, as Megan Delaney
- *Timeline* (2003), as Lady Claire
- *Watermelon* (2003), as Claire Ryan
- *Fields of Gold* (2002), series, Actor
- *Fields of Gold* (2002), as Lucia Merritt
- *Last Rumba in Rochdale* (2002), Actor
- *Me Without You* (2001), as Marina
- *The War Bride* (2001), as Lily
- *An Everlasting Piece* (2000), as Bronagh
- *Sunset Strip* (2000), as Tammy Franklin
- *Lum the Invader Girl* (2000), series, as Lum the Invader (voice)
- *Mad Cows* (1999), as Maddy
- *Rogue Trader* (1999), as Lisa Leeson
- *A Midsummer Night's Dream* (1999), as Hermia
- *The Tribe* (1998), as Lizzie
- *The Land Girls* (1998), as Prue (Prudence)
- *The Stringer* (1998), Actor
- *Our Mutual Friend* (1998), series, as Bella Harmon / Bella Wilfer
- *St. Ives* (1998), as Flora Gilchrist
- *TFI Friday* (1996), series, Actor
- *Cadfael* (1994), series, as Sioned
- *G.B.H.* (1991), series, as Susan Nelson — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/g-b-h.md)
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Angelica / Leah
- *Brookside* (1982), series, as Beth Jordache
- *The Dream Lands*, series, as Jas
- *Hear Me Roar*, as Ashley Bayston

## Gallery

- ![<a href="http://www.redcarpetreporttv.com" rel="nofollow">www.redcarpetreporttv.com</a> Mingle Media TV and Red Carpet Report host Kristina Rivera w (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/102014/gallery-c54dc97684df.jpg) <a href="http://www.redcarpetreporttv.com" rel="nofollow">www.redcarpetreporttv.com</a> Mingle Media TV and Red Carpet Report host Kristina Rivera w (2015) — Red Carpet Report on Mingle Media TV from Culver City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Anna_Friel_%26_Peter_Facinelli_-_DSC_0022_%2816311695162%29.jpg/1280px-Anna_Friel_%26_Peter_Facinelli_-_DSC_0022_%2816311695162%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anna Friel](https://film.one/media/person/102014/gallery-210c4f02aa33.jpg) Anna Friel — RedCarpetReport, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Anna_Friel_TCA_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Anna Friel (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/102014/gallery-1cf77beed0b8.jpg) Anna Friel (2015) — RedCarpetReport, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Anna_Friel_crop.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photograph made by artist and photographer Henry Bond for Mulberry A/W 2001 - the photograph depicts actors David Thewlis and Anna Friel, who were reported to h](https://film.one/media/person/102014/gallery-ebfac64527f4.jpg) Photograph made by artist and photographer Henry Bond for Mulberry A/W 2001 - the photograph depicts actors David Thewlis and Anna Friel, who were reported to h — Henry Bond

Uploaded by Bondstudio at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Henry_Bond_for_Mulberry.jpg/1280px-Henry_Bond_for_Mulberry.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anna Friel](https://film.one/media/person/102014/gallery-4f918804e44e.jpg) Anna Friel — Image via TMDB
- ![Anna Friel](https://film.one/media/person/102014/gallery-1caaa9f5127f.jpg) Anna Friel — Image via TMDB
- ![Anna Friel](https://film.one/media/person/102014/gallery-591598f61350.jpg) Anna Friel — Image via TMDB
- ![Peter Facinelli, Anna Friel & Jake Robinson at the 2015 Television Critics Association’s Press Tour (TCA2015) for the NBC Universal TV show announcements, i](https://film.one/media/person/102014/gallery-c0653a41f36c.jpg) Peter Facinelli, Anna Friel & Jake Robinson at the 2015 Television Critics Association’s Press Tour (TCA2015) for the NBC Universal TV show announcements, i — RedCarpetReport, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Peter_Facinelli%2C_Anna_Friel_%26_Jake_Robinson_at_2015_TCA.jpg/1280px-Peter_Facinelli%2C_Anna_Friel_%26_Jake_Robinson_at_2015_TCA.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Anna Friel](https://film.one/media/person/102014/gallery-6a7fd473eaea.jpg) Anna Friel — Image via TMDB
- ![Anna Friel](https://film.one/media/person/102014/gallery-c2d3d7df0b4e.jpg) Anna Friel — Image via TMDB
- ![Anna Friel](https://film.one/media/person/102014/gallery-64721720ac24.jpg) Anna Friel — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Theatre World Award 1999: Theatre World Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/anna-friel