Loading AI tools
English actress (born 1981) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gemma Elizabeth Whelan (born 23 April 1981) is an English actress and comedian known for portraying Yara Greyjoy in the HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones. She also plays Kate in all seasons of the comedy Upstart Crow, Detective Eunice Noon on the first season of The End of the F***ing World on Channel 4, and Geraldine on the third season of Killing Eve.
Gemma Whelan | |
---|---|
![]() Whelan at Antwerp Convention 2014 | |
Born | Gemma Elizabeth Whelan 23 April 1981 Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
Occupation(s) | Actress, comedian |
Years active | 2005–present |
Spouse | Gerry Howell |
Children | 2 |
Whelan was born in Leeds and grew up in the Midlands.[1] She attended The King's High School for Girls in Warwick[2] and the London Studio Centre.[3]
As a stand-up comedian, Whelan won the 2010 Funny Women Variety Award.[4] She performed at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe with her show Chastity Butterworth & The Spanish Hamster.[5] In 2014 she recorded a pilot chat show as her character Chastity Butterworth for BBC Radio 4.[6]
On screen, she has played supporting roles in several films and TV shows, including in the 2010 films Gulliver's Travels[7] and The Wolfman.[7] She played Kate (appearing in all 18 main episodes, as well as three Christmas specials) in Ben Elton's BBC Two comedy Upstart Crow,[7] and was a series regular on The End of the F***ing World.[7] She also played roles in other comedies, including Uncle and The Agency.[7]
In August 2011, she was cast as Yara Greyjoy,[8] elder sister of Theon, of House Greyjoy of the Iron Islands, in the HBO fantasy-drama television series Game of Thrones,[8] and appeared as a recurring cast member from the second season onward.[9]
In 2017, she portrayed Karen Matthews in the two-part TV drama The Moorside,[7] based on the 2008 disappearance of nine-year-old Shannon Matthews. In 2019, she appeared as Marian Lister in the BBC drama Gentleman Jack.[7]
In February 2020, a stage adaptation of Upstart Crow opened at the Gielgud Theatre, London, Whelan reprising the role of Kate.[10] Whelan returned to the West End stage as Kate when the play was revived at the Apollo Theatre in 2022.[11]
Whelan lives in London with her husband, the comedian and actor Gerry Howell and their two children.[12]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Madness of the Dance | Sister Grace | Short film |
2007 | Frites | Marie-Anne | Short film |
2008 | Shortbread and Tea | Mildred | |
2009 | Ding Dong | Dr. Pretty | Short film |
2010 | The Wolfman | Gwen's Maid | |
Gulliver's Travels | Lilliputian Rose | ||
2016 | Prevenge | Len | |
2018 | Surviving Christmas with the Relatives | Miranda | |
2020 | Emma | Mrs. Weston | |
TBA | The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde | Filming |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | The Enforcers | Holly | |
2009 | 10 Minute Tales | Pretty Nurse | 1 episode |
2010 | The Persuasionists | Josephine | 2 episodes |
2011 | Threesome | Wendy | 1 episode |
Living Doll | Moaning Mona | ||
For the Win | Various | Pilot | |
2012 | Ruddy Hell! It's Harry & Paul | Daughter | 1 episode |
Cardinal Burns | Claire | ||
2012–14, 2016–19 | Game of Thrones | Yara Greyjoy | Recurring, 16 episodes |
2013 | The Day They Came to Suck Out Our Brains! | Unknown | Miniseries, 1 episode |
Nick Helm's Heavy Entertainment | Various | ||
Claudia O'Doherty Comedy Blaps | Sarah | Miniseries, 3 episodes | |
2014 | Live at the Electric | Chastity Butterworth | 3 episodes |
Siblings | Ruth | ||
Badults | Juliet | Series 2, 1 episode: "Neighbours" | |
Mapp & Lucia | Quaint Irene Coles | ||
2014–16 | Almost Royal | Narrator | |
2015 | Uncle | Veronica | 2 episodes |
Not Safe for Work | Davina | 1 episode | |
Murder in Successville | Nurse Adele | Series 1, 1 episode | |
2016–2020 | Upstart Crow | Kate | Recurring, 18 episodes and 3 specials |
2016–2017 | Hetty Feather | Ida Battersea | |
2016–present | Horrible Histories | Various | |
2016 | Morgana Robinson's The Agency | Kat Cassidy | 4 episodes |
2017 | Decline and Fall | Diane Fagan | 2 episodes |
The Moorside | Karen Matthews | Two-part drama | |
The Crown | Patricia Campbell | 1 episode | |
Queers: The Perfect Gentleman | Bobby | monologue | |
The End of the F***ing World | Eunice | ||
Eat Your Heart with Nick Helm | Herself | 1 episode | |
2019 | Gentleman Jack | Marian Lister | |
Star vs. the Forces of Evil | Solaria Butterfly (voice) | 1 episode[13] | |
2020 | White House Farm | Ann Eaton | |
Untitled Pajama Men Project | Glenda | Post-production | |
Killing Eve | Geraldine Martens[14] | ||
2021 | Inside No. 9 | Columbina | "Wuthering Heist" |
2021-2023 | The Tower | Detective Sergeant Sarah Collins | Main role, 2 series, 7 episodes |
2022 | DI Ray | DCI Kerry Henderson | Miniseries, 4 episodes[15] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Newsrevue | Various | Edinburgh Festival |
2006 | Shakespeare for Breakfast | Petruchio | C Venues |
Celebrity Love Panto Island | Various | Canal Cafe Theatre | |
2008 | Red Death Lates | Unknown | Gideon Reeling |
Improvathon | Bunny Valentine | The Sticking Place | |
2009 | Infinite Variety | Various | Whoopee Productions New Players Theatre |
2010 | Stephen & the Sexy Partridge | Chanel | Trafalgar Studios |
2013 | One Man, Two Guvnors | Rachel Crabbe | Royal National Theatre |
Dark Vanilla Jungle | Andrea | Supporting Wall & Pleasance Theatre | |
Chastity Butterworth & the Spanish Hamster | Chastity Butterworth | Pajama Men Productions | |
2014 | Dark Vanilla Jungle | Andrea | Supporting Wall |
2015 | Radiant Vermin[16] | Jill and others | Soho Theatre |
2019 | Pinter Seven: A Slight Ache[17] | Flora | Harold Pinter Theatre |
2020 | The Upstart Crow[18] | Kate | Gielgud Theatre |
2024 | Underdog: The Other Other Brontë | Charlotte Brontë | National Theatre |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Dragon Age: Inquisition | /Maryden/Winterwatch Tower Cultist/Redcliffe Soldier/Redcliffe Villager/Emerald Graves Civilian | Voice |
2015 | Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward | Igeyorhm | Voice |
2017 | Mass Effect: Andromeda | Zevin Raeka | Voice |
2021 | Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker | Ameliance | Voice |
2022 | Elden Ring | Lady Tanith | Voice |
TBA | Squadron 42 | Becca Farneway | Voice and motion capture |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | The Blue Door | Caretaker | Short film by Megan Joyce Pugh and Ben Clark of 13th Door Films with ALTER, available to watch on YouTube |
c. 2011 | Like Buses | Girl 1 on bench | Short film dir. by Gary Keller, written by James Acaster, available to watch on YouTube |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Funny Women Awards | Best Variety | Herself | Won | [4] |
2016 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Game of Thrones | Nominated | [19][20] |
2017 | WFTV Awards | The MAC Best Performance | Herself | Won | [21] |