---
name: "Natascha McElhone"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/natascha-mcelhone"
fi1m_id: "natascha-mcelhone"
imdb_id: "nm0001523"
tmdb_id: 11317
wikidata_id: "Q229237"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "14 December 1969"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-07T14:32:38.710631+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."
---

# Natascha McElhone

## Identity

Natascha McElhone

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/natascha-mcelhone
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** natascha-mcelhone
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001523
- **TMDB ID:** 11317
- **Wikidata ID:** Q229237
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natascha_McElhone, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229237, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001523/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11317

Actor. Born 14 December 1969 in Surrey, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 14 December 1969, Surrey, England, UK
- **Active:** 1992–present
- **Also known as:** Natascha Taylor, Natasha McElhone, Natascha Abigail Taylor, Natascha Abigail McElhone
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 83 (3), 2000s 68 (2), 2020s 52 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 64 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 3, Action 1, Action & Adventure 1, Crime 1, Mystery 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $365m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natascha_McElhone, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q229237, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001523/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11317

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Ronin*](https://film.one/film/ronin.md) (80), [*Halo*](https://film.one/tv/halo.md) (52)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Truman Show*](https://film.one/film/the-truman-show.md) (88)
- **Hulu:** [*Californication*](https://film.one/tv/californication.md) (63)

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

## Fi1m on Natascha McElhone

> Natascha McElhone is often cast as a man's ideal woman. We value her most when she makes that position uncomfortable: in *Solaris*, her frightened, hopeful watchfulness gives a chilly film much of its sadness.

In *Solaris* (2002), Natascha McElhone's Rheya watches Kelvin to learn how she is supposed to behave. She looks frightened and hopeful at once, and the hopefulness matters: without it, the fear would make for a much simpler performance. We found her uncertainty painful, because she keeps looking to the man opposite her for reassurance he seems unable to give. Steven Soderbergh gives her a difficult part. She makes its strangeness felt without losing the ordinary need to be loved.

Her film debut, as Françoise Gilot opposite Anthony Hopkins in *Surviving Picasso* (1996), began a screen career in which male-centred stories recur. *The Truman Show* and *Ronin* (both 1998) brought the breakthrough, before a later move towards long-running television. As Sylvia in Peter Weir's *The Truman Show*, she fits the pattern of the idealised woman. We rate that film highly for its humour and hurt, though Jim Carrey's vulnerability does most of the work. For a clearer sense of what McElhone herself can do, we would turn to *Solaris*.

Clooney's restraint gives her little to respond to, which can make *Solaris* a chilly evening. The lack of easy warmth between them is a limitation for anyone hoping for a consoling romance, but we think it belongs in this film about grief. McElhone does not try to supply enough feeling for both of them. She keeps Rheya watchful, and the effort of working out what Kelvin expects becomes more affecting than an assured romantic performance could have been. Soderbergh gets something valuable from her here: she lets us see Rheya thinking without making her seem any less afraid.

The move into long-running television brought Karen van der Beek in *Californication* (2007–14), another role built around a male protagonist. There is nothing inherently slight about playing a love interest, but the writing needs to give the woman something to do beyond being wanted. We would like to see McElhone given more of the difficult work that *Solaris* asks of her. Start there, if you can bear a romance that offers so little reassurance.

## Biography

Natascha McElhone is an English actress. Born Natascha Abigail Taylor on 14 December 1969, she trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and began her career in theatre and television before moving into film.

She is known for her roles as Lauren Garland in *The Truman Show* (1998), Deirdre in *Ronin* (1998) and Rheya in *Solaris* (2002). On television she has played Karen van der Beek in *Californication* (2007–2014), Alex Kirkman in *Designated Survivor* (2016–2017) and Dr Catherine Halsey in *Halo* (2022–2024). She has also appeared in *The Crown* (2022) as Penny Knatchbull.

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

## On Fi1m (6)

- *Halo* (2022), Fi1m 52, as Dr. Catherine Halsey — [page](https://film.one/tv/halo.md)
- *Californication* (2007), Fi1m 63, as Karen van der Beek — [page](https://film.one/tv/californication.md)
- *Solaris* (2002), Fi1m 74, as Rheya — [page](https://film.one/film/solaris.md)
- *Ronin* (1998), Fi1m 80, as Deirdre — [page](https://film.one/film/ronin.md)
- *The Truman Show* (1998), Fi1m 88, as Lauren Garland / Sylvia — [page](https://film.one/film/the-truman-show.md)
- *Absolutely Fabulous* (1992), Fi1m 81, as Art Gallery Attendant — [page](https://film.one/tv/absolutely-fabulous.md)

## Complete filmography (47)

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

- *Young Sherlock* (2026), series, as Cordelia Holmes
- *The Kollective* (2025), series, as Maya Blade
- *Carmen* (2022), as Carmen
- *Halo* (2022), series, as Dr. Catherine Halsey · Producer — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/tv/halo.md)
- *Hotel Portofino* (2022), series, as Bella Ainsworth
- *The First* (2018), series, as Laz Ingram
- *London Town* (2017), as Sandrine
- *The Crown* (2016), series, as Penny Knatchbull — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-crown.md)
- *Designated Survivor* (2016), series, as Alex Kirkman
- *Mr. Church* (2016), as Marie Brooks
- *Saints & Strangers* (2015), series, as Elizabeth Hopkins
- *Believe* (2013), as Erica Gallagher
- *Romeo & Juliet* (2013), as Lady Capulet
- *The Sea* (2013), as Connie Grace
- *Thorne* (2010), series, as Anne Coburn
- *The Kid* (2010), as Gloria
- *10 Minute Tales* (2009), series, as Woman
- *The Secret of Moonacre* (2009), as Loveday
- *Blessed* (2008), as Lou
- *Californication* (2007), series, as Karen van der Beek — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/californication.md)
- *The Company* (2007), series, as Elizabeth Nemeth
- *Big Nothing* (2006), as Penelope
- *Guy X* (2005), as Sgt. Irene Teal
- *Revelations* (2005), series, as Sister Josepha Montafiore
- *Ladies in Lavender* (2004), as Olga
- *The Other Boleyn Girl* (2003), as Mary Boleyn
- *Laurel Canyon* (2003), as Sara
- *Solaris* (2002), as Rheya — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/solaris.md)
- *City of Ghosts* (2002), as Sophie
- *FearDotCom* (2002), as Terry
- *Killing Me Softly* (2002), as Deborah
- *Contaminated Man* (2000), as Holly Anderson
- *Love's Labour's Lost* (2000), as Rosaline
- *Ronin* (1998), as Deirdre — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/ronin.md)
- *What Rats Won't Do* (1998), as Kate Beckenham
- *The Truman Show* (1998), as Lauren Garland / Sylvia — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-truman-show.md)
- *Mrs. Dalloway* (1997), as Young Clarissa
- *The Devil's Own* (1997), as Megan Doherty
- *Surviving Picasso* (1996), as Françoise Gilot
- *Karaoke* (1996), series, as Angie
- *A Breed of Heroes* (1994), as Janet
- *The Sanctuary Sparrow* (1994), as Cecily Corde
- *Cadfael* (1994), series, as Cecily Corde
- *Absolutely Fabulous* (1992), series, as Art Gallery Attendant — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/absolutely-fabulous.md)
- *Bergerac* (1981), series, as Louise Calder
- *Minder* (1979), series, as Vanessa — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/minder.md)
- *When Darkness Loves Us*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Natascha McElhone](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-3bbd1375dfcd.jpg) Natascha McElhone — Eleanore Studer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Natascha_McElhone_%28retouched%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Jude Kelly, Shami Chakrabarti, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Natascha McElhone and Mulberry School for Girls student Sujina Khatun, give us a snapshot of the bigges (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-cbd46c49a67b.jpg) Jude Kelly, Shami Chakrabarti, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Natascha McElhone and Mulberry School for Girls student Sujina Khatun, give us a snapshot of the bigges (2014) — Southbank Centre, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Natascha_McElhone_%2813034107645%29.jpg/1280px-Natascha_McElhone_%2813034107645%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jude Kelly, Shami Chakrabarti, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Natascha McElhone and Mulberry School for Girls student Sujina Khatun, give us a snapshot of the bigges (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-28238e5c3e8f.jpg) Jude Kelly, Shami Chakrabarti, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Natascha McElhone and Mulberry School for Girls student Sujina Khatun, give us a snapshot of the bigges (2014) — Southbank Centre, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Natascha_McElhone_%2813034107645%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Natascha_McElhone_%2813034107645%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jude Kelly, Shami Chakrabarti, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Natascha McElhone and Mulberry School for Girls student Sujina Khatun, give us a snapshot of the bigges (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-2a9545d6a012.jpg) Jude Kelly, Shami Chakrabarti, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Natascha McElhone and Mulberry School for Girls student Sujina Khatun, give us a snapshot of the bigges (2014) — Southbank Centre, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Natascha_McElhone_%282014%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Natascha McElhone](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-a6ed806ed118.jpg) Natascha McElhone — Image via TMDB
- ![Natascha McElhone](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-8955f11a4bdc.jpg) Natascha McElhone — Image via TMDB
- ![Natascha McElhone](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-a53d6712b8b5.jpg) Natascha McElhone — Image via TMDB
- ![Natascha McElhone (at the premier of Believe at the National Football Museum in Manchester) (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-fae047f90fd5.png) Natascha McElhone (at the premier of Believe at the National Football Museum in Manchester) (2014) — Three Degrees West Productions, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Natascha_McElhone_2014_1.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Natascha McElhone (at the premier of Believe at the National Football Museum in Manchester) (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-af1ffbf1c0ea.jpg) Natascha McElhone (at the premier of Believe at the National Football Museum in Manchester) (2014) — Three Degrees West Productions, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Natascha_McElhone_2014_2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Natascha McElhone](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-2cfc3374c8fe.jpg) Natascha McElhone — Image via TMDB
- ![Natascha McElhone](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-cc159bab1cb5.jpg) Natascha McElhone — Image via TMDB
- ![Natascha McElhone](https://film.one/media/person/9745/gallery-bf6c9b14f7da.jpg) Natascha McElhone — Image via TMDB

---
© 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/natascha-mcelhone