From Ambridge to a Galaxy Far Far Away…
Despite her rapid rise to Hollywood stardom, much of the British public will forever remember Felicity Jones as Emma Grundy on Radio 4’s rural soap The Archers. But as the nights draw in and Christmas tiptoes ever closer the name Felicity Jones is bound to become synonymous with that of her galactic counterpart, Jyn Erso, with the cinematic release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story this December.
Dabbling in radio, theatre, television and film, Jones has been fortunate to enjoy a career that has only ever been on the rise. At 16 she landed the part of teenage tearaway Emma Grundy in The Archers, a role she held for ten years during which time she gained both A-levels and a degree in English from Wadham College Oxford in 2006. In 2007 she made her stage debut in the Royal Court Theatre’s production of That Face and then went on to star in The Chalk Garden at the Donmar Warehouse the following year. Her success in London theatre opened up numerous opportunities for Jones to pursue supporting roles in the BBC’s five-part adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank (2009) and Julie Taymor’s film interpretation of The Tempest (2010) as the beguiling Miranda, daughter of Helen Mirren’s female Prospero.
In 2011 Jones landed her first leading role in the frosty rom-com Chalet Girl in which she played Kim, a skateboard champion who swaps the streets for the slopes. Although many consider this to be her breakout role, critical success did not come until later that year when she was awarded the Sundance Film Festival’s Special Jury prize for best female newcomer for her role as Anna in Like Crazy- a bittersweet micro-budget indie about a transatlantic love affair co-starring Jennifer Lawrence and the late Anton Yelchin.
Following Like Crazy Jones’ star status and critical acclaim exploded in 2014 with the release of The Theory of Everything in which she stars alongside Eddie Redmayne as Professor Stephen Hawkins’ wife, Jane, earning her nominations for best lead actress at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Academy Awards. These nominations confirmed her long-deserved star status, marking her as one of the most sought after British stars.
Throughout 2015 and 2016 she has starred in numerous projects including Ron Howard’s adaptation of Dan Brown’s Inferno opposite Hollywood legend Tom Hanks. There is no denying that Felicity Jones is a star of meteoric proportions but as the year draws to a close her profile is likely to burst into the stratosphere as she takes on the evil Galactic Empire this December, becoming only the second female actor to lead a Star Wars film in its forty year history, following in the footsteps of The Force Awakens star Daisy Ridley.
Also starring alongside Liam Neeson and Sigourney Weaver in Juan Antonio Bayona’s Oscar tipped adaptation of Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls, the force is definitely strong with this one.
Did you know:
- She starred in CITVs The Worst Wicth at age 12
- She cleaned toilets as a chalet hand for 2 months to prepare for her role in Chalet Girl
- She became the face of both Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana in 2011
Films to check out:
- Like Crazy
- The Invisible Woman
- The Theory of Everything
