---
name: "Ruth Wilson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ruth-wilson"
fi1m_id: "ruth-wilson"
imdb_id: "nm2235721"
tmdb_id: 47720
wikidata_id: "Q262679"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "13 January 1982"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-07T18:27:02.401331+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."
---

# Ruth Wilson

## Identity

Ruth Wilson

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ruth-wilson
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ruth-wilson
- **IMDb ID:** nm2235721
- **TMDB ID:** 47720
- **Wikidata ID:** Q262679
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Wilson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q262679, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2235721/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47720

Actor. Born 13 January 1982 in Ashford, Surrey, England.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 13 January 1982, Ashford, Surrey, England
- **Active:** 2009–present
- **Frequently works with:** [Emma Thompson](https://film.one/person/emma-thompson.md), [Paul Webster](https://film.one/person/paul-webster.md)
- **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 72 (1), 2010s 69 (6), 2020s 76 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 66 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 3 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Crime 3, Mystery 3, Comedy 2, History 2, Action 1
- **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $469m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Wilson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q262679, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2235721/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/47720

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*See How They Run*](https://film.one/film/see-how-they-run.md) (70), [*Saving Mr. Banks*](https://film.one/film/saving-mr-banks.md) (63)
- **Apple TV:** [*Down Cemetery Road*](https://film.one/tv/down-cemetery-road.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Mrs Wilson*](https://film.one/tv/mrs-wilson.md) (76)

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

## Fi1m on Ruth Wilson

> Ruth Wilson makes a character's silence worth watching, especially when someone else expects agreement. We rate her for that stubborn self-possession; in *Down Cemetery Road*, it makes her an equal comic partner to Emma Thompson.

In *Down Cemetery Road* (2025), Emma Thompson gets the blunt remarks, but Ruth Wilson makes us wait for Sarah Trafford's response. We laughed at Thompson's directness, then found ourselves watching Wilson, whose irritation keeps the exchange from becoming a solo turn. She gives Sarah enough force to resist being merely the person to whom the funny things are said. The awkwardness helps: neither woman seems especially interested in making the conversation easy. Wilson can hold our attention without being the one speaking.

The self-possession was already there in her title role in *Jane Eyre* (2006), before Alice Morgan in *Luther* (2010) gave it a more mischievous use. Opposite Idris Elba, she made Alice's dangerous intelligence playful, a useful corrective to the idea of Wilson as an actor who supplies only intensity. *The Affair* (2014), in which she played Alison Bailey, drew on her ability to suggest complicated feelings through looks, silence and small physical choices. Her move into fantasy as Mrs Coulter in *His Dark Materials* (2019) extended a career already full of women who give little away.

Sarah Trafford gives that watchfulness a comic use without requiring Wilson to soften it. In the Oxford-set mystery, Thompson plays private investigator Zoë Boehm, and the humour helps us care about the two women caught up in the conspiracy. Their friction is more useful than a succession of neatly delivered jokes: it makes the partnership substantial enough to support the thriller. Wilson is doing something generous here, making Thompson's bluntness work while refusing to disappear beneath it. We would welcome more parts that let her be this awkward and funny.

The reservation is that good company cannot make a slow plot move faster. *Down Cemetery Road* sometimes dawdles, and enjoying its leads is not quite the same as being gripped by a mystery. That is a limit of the series rather than a failing in Wilson's performance, but it matters when recommending it. Start here if the people asking the questions matter as much as the answers; allow for a little waiting.

## Biography

Ruth Wilson is an English actress. She was born on 13 January 1982 in Ashford, Surrey.

She is known for her performances as Alice Morgan in the BBC series *Luther* (2010–2019), Alison Lockhart in the Showtime series *The Affair* (2014–2018), and Marisa Coulter in *His Dark Materials* (2019–2022). Her film credits include *Anna Karenina* (2012), *The Lone Ranger* (2013), *Saving Mr. Banks* (2013), *Locke* (2014), and *See How They Run* (2022). In 2025 she played Sarah Trafford in the Apple TV+ series *Down Cemetery Road*.

Wilson has received a BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Actress and holds the MBE.

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

## On Fi1m (10)

- *Down Cemetery Road* (2025), Fi1m 82, as Sarah Trafford — [page](https://film.one/tv/down-cemetery-road.md)
- *Urchin* (2025), Fi1m 76, as Meditation Tape (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/urchin.md)
- *See How They Run* (2022), Fi1m 70, as Petula Spencer — [page](https://film.one/film/see-how-they-run.md)
- *Mrs Wilson* (2018), Fi1m 76, as Alison Wilson — [page](https://film.one/tv/mrs-wilson.md)
- *Locke* (2014), Fi1m 82, as Katrina (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/locke.md)
- *Saving Mr. Banks* (2013), Fi1m 63, as Margaret Goff — [page](https://film.one/film/saving-mr-banks.md)
- *The Lone Ranger* (2013), Fi1m 55, as Rebecca Reid — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lone-ranger.md)
- *Anna Karenina* (2012), Fi1m 64, as Princess Betsy Tverskoy — [page](https://film.one/film/anna-karenina.md)
- *Luther* (2010), Fi1m 72, as Alice Morgan — [page](https://film.one/tv/luther.md)
- *Small Island* (2009), Fi1m 72, as Queenie — [page](https://film.one/tv/small-island.md)

## Complete filmography (40)

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

- *Victorian Psycho* (2026), as Mrs. Pounds — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/victorian-psycho.md)
- *Down Cemetery Road* (2025), series, as Sarah Trafford — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/down-cemetery-road.md)
- *Urchin* (2025), as Meditation Tape (voice) — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/urchin.md)
- *A Very Royal Scandal* (2024), series, as Emily Maitlis
- *Family* (2024), as Naomi
- *The Woman in the Wall* (2023), series, as Lorna Brady · Executive Producer
- *See How They Run* (2022), as Petula Spencer — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/see-how-they-run.md)
- *True Things* (2022), as Kate · Producer
- *Oslo* (2021), as Mona Juul
- *His Dark Materials* (2019), series, as Mrs Coulter
- *Mrs Wilson* (2018), series, as Alison Wilson · Executive Producer — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/mrs-wilson.md)
- *The Little Stranger* (2018), as Caroline Ayres
- *Dark River* (2017), as Alice Bell
- *How to Talk to Girls at Parties* (2017), as PT Stella
- *National Theatre Live: Hedda Gabler* (2017), as Hedda Gabler
- *I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House* (2016), as Lily
- *Eleanor* (2015), as Eleanor
- *Suite Française* (2015), as Madeleine Labarie
- *Secrets of the Solar System* (2015), as Narrator
- *The Affair* (2014), series, as Alison Bailey
- *Locke* (2014), as Katrina (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/locke.md)
- *Saving Mr. Banks* (2013), as Margaret Goff — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/saving-mr-banks.md)
- *The Lone Ranger* (2013), as Rebecca Reid — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lone-ranger.md)
- *Anna Karenina* (2012), as Princess Betsy Tverskoy — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/anna-karenina.md)
- *Ceramics A Fragile History* (2011), series, as Narrator (Voice)
- *Luther* (2010), series, as Alice Morgan — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/luther.md)
- *Small Island* (2009), series, as Queenie — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/small-island.md)
- *The Prisoner* (2009), series, as 313
- *The Doctor Who Hears Voices* (2008), as "Ruth"
- *Freezing* (2008), series, as Alison Fennel
- *Capturing Mary* (2007), as Young Mary
- *A Real Summer* (2007), as Mary Gilbert / Geraldine
- *Get Off My Land* (2007), as Woman
- *Jane Eyre* (2006), series, as Jane Eyre
- *Suburban Shootout* (2006), series, as Jewel Diamond
- *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Georgina Barrow
- *Horizon* (1964), series, as Narrator
- *Andorra*, as Miss Quay
- *The Book of Ruth*, as Ruth Coker Burks
- *Untitled Luther Sequel*, as Alice Morgan

## Gallery

- ![Ruth Wilson](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-5e7940ac1dd9.jpg) Ruth Wilson — Mingle MediaTV, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Ruth_Wilson_May_2015_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Ruth_Wilson_May_2015_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego ](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-a71a8a688620.jpg) Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego  — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383727177%29.jpg/1280px-Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383727177%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego ](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-201c4b71c932.jpg) Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Materials", at the San Diego  — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383748252%29.jpg/1280px-Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383748252%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jane Tranter, Jack Thorne, Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Ma](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-70cac32bc358.jpg) Jane Tranter, Jack Thorne, Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Ma — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Jane_Tranter%2C_Jack_Thorne%2C_Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383604256%29.jpg/1280px-Jane_Tranter%2C_Jack_Thorne%2C_Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383604256%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruth Wilson](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-092bb127abe6.jpg) Ruth Wilson — Image via TMDB
- ![Ruth Wilson](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-363862afe499.jpg) Ruth Wilson — Image via TMDB
- ![Ruth Wilson](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-9171a287a17d.jpg) Ruth Wilson — Image via TMDB
- ![Jane Tranter, Jack Thorne, Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Ma](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-225c78344f88.jpg) Jane Tranter, Jack Thorne, Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Ma — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Jane_Tranter%2C_Jack_Thorne%2C_Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383612686%29.jpg/1280px-Jane_Tranter%2C_Jack_Thorne%2C_Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383612686%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Jane Tranter, Jack Thorne, Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Ma](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-a0181282ee8d.jpg) Jane Tranter, Jack Thorne, Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "His Dark Ma — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Jane_Tranter%2C_Jack_Thorne%2C_Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383614051%29.jpg/1280px-Jane_Tranter%2C_Jack_Thorne%2C_Dafne_Keen%2C_Ruth_Wilson%2C_Lin-Manuel_Miranda_%26_James_McAvoy_%2848383614051%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ruth Wilson](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-f8350ff2240e.jpg) Ruth Wilson — Image via TMDB
- ![Ruth Wilson](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-ff29734e0b69.jpg) Ruth Wilson — Image via TMDB
- ![Ruth Wilson](https://film.one/media/person/24423/gallery-4c40cc39a5c1.jpg) Ruth Wilson — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 2014: Best Actress – Television Series Drama (won), for *The Affair*

### Other awards — 2 won, 1 nominated

- Theatre World Award 2015: Theatre World Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 2015: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress 2012: Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress (won), for *Anna Christie*

*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/ruth-wilson