Anna Maxwell Martin

Anna Maxwell Martin's is the classic story of a young actress rising to fame. Though always interested in the arts, it wasn't until after graduating from college with a degree in history that Martin took to the stage in earnest to follow her true dreams. From there, she won prominence in the theater with plays like Nicholas Wright's "His Dark Materials," then on television with roles on "Doctor Who" and a number of British miniseries, and finally in the cinema, featuring in star-studded dramas like "Becoming Jane," quirky comedies like "I Really Hate My Job" and "Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa," and even high-profile Oscar nominees like "Philomena."

Anna Charlotte Martin was born on May 10, 1977 in the town of Beverly in East Yorkshire, England, to a family of studious types. Her father maintained his job as the managing director of a pharmaceutical company, while her stay-at-home mother had been a research scientist. Her older brother, Adam, would grow up to work with computers. Martin's interest in acting was evident in her days at Beverly High School, where she performed in school plays. Nevertheless, it wasn't until after graduating from Liverpool University with a degree in history that she went on to pursue the arts in truth, enrolling at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art-there, she adopted her grandfather Maxwell's name to create her stage name.

Martin enjoyed occasional small television roles in the early 2000s, appearing on programs like "Midsomer Murders" (ITV 1997- ), but the era was largely devoted to her stage career. The most prominent of her theatrical turns at this time was "His Dark Materials,' Nicholas Wright's adaptation of the Philip Pullman novel, which she headlined at the National Theatre in 2003. Also at the National Theatre that year, Martin starred in "Honour," a play helmed by film and stage director Roger Mitchell-best known for "Notting Hill" (1999) and "Changing Lanes" (2002).

It wouldn't be long, however, before Martin would build up her screen résumé. She made her film debut in the romantic drama "Enduring Love" (2004), also directed by Mitchell. Following production, Martin and Mitchell struck up a romantic relationship and would eventually marry. But Martin was hardly limited to the credits of her beau; the years to follow afforded Martin prevalence on British television, giving her roles in miniseries and like "North & South" (BBC One 2004) and "Bleak House" (BBC One 2005), and on the high-profile sci-fi staple "Doctor Who" (BBC One 2005- ).

Her first film role of note came in the romantic period piece "Becoming Jane" (2007), in which she starred as Jane Austen's older sister Cassandra, opposite Anne Hathaway as the titular novelist. Following this venture, Martin found high-billing roles in the comedy "I Really Hate My Job" (2007) and the TV movie "Poppy Shakespeare" (Channel 4 2008), playing the lead alongside Naomie Harris in the latter project.

After giving birth to her first child, Maggie, in 2009, Martin went on to pursue some of her biggest roles to date. Along with a steady role on the critically acclaimed mystery miniseries "The Bletchley Circle" (ITV 2012-14), she found cinematic success in the Steve Coogan comedy "Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa" (2013) and the Best Picture-nominated drama "Philomena" (2013), also starring Coogan. She also maintained a presence on television with a recurring role in the miniseries "Death Comes to Pemberley" (BBC One 2013), and her continued performance on "The Bletchley Circle."