Sophie Winkleman

Sophie Winkleman
Lady Frederick Windsor
Winkleman in 2014
Born (1980-08-05) 5 August 1980 (age 44)
Primrose Hill, London, England
EducationTrinity Hall, Cambridge
OccupationActress
Years active1997–present
Spouse
(m. 2009)
Children2
RelativesClaudia Winkleman (paternal half-sister)
Sally Soames (aunt)
House of Windsor (by marriage)

Sophie Lara Winkleman[1] (born 5 August 1980), styled as Lady Frederick Windsor, is an English actress. She is married to Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince Michael of Kent and second cousin of King Charles III.

Early life

Sophie Lara Winkleman was born on 5 August 1980 in Primrose Hill, London.[2] Her father, Barry Winkleman, published the Times Atlas of World History,[3] and her mother is the children's author Cindy Black. The television presenter Claudia Winkleman is her half-sister from her father's first marriage to Eve Pollard. Sophie Winkleman was educated at the City of London School for Girls and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where she studied English literature.[4] She joined the Cambridge Footlights and wrote and performed in the comic revue Far Too Happy, which toured Britain for three months and gained the troupe's first Perrier Award nomination in 20 years.[5] She joined the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain in 1997.[4][6] She is a soprano, reprising her singing in the First Love series for Sky Arts.[7]

Career

Television

Winkleman's credits include recurring roles in series including Big Suze in Peep Show,[8] numerous roles in Harry & Paul,[9] Joely in White Teeth,[10] Fiona in The Trial of Tony Blair,[11] Abby in Plus One,[12] Katerina in Red Dwarf: Back to Earth,[13] Donna in Lead Balloon,[14] Prudence in Keen Eddie, Elle Kensington in Chasing Alice, Regan Peverill in the pilot episode of Lewis, Angela Warren in Agatha Christie's Poirot (in the episode "Five Little Pigs"), Princess Eleanor in The Palace,[15] Ghislaine in Robin Hood,[16] Alice Shadwell in Dalziel and Pascoe, Ann Hamilton in Death in Paradise,[17] Jill in TV Land's Hot in Cleveland, Sharon Kirby in CSI Miami[18] and Dorothy Gibson in Titanic.[19]

Winkleman was nominated for Best Newcomer by the BBC for her performance as Clara Gold in Waking the Dead.[6][20] Winkleman made her debut on American television as the star of the NBC sitcom 100 Questions as main character Charlotte Payne.[21] She guest starred as Jill, Joy's younger sister and former nun on one episode of Hot in Cleveland and appeared as a recurring guest on the hit series Two and a Half Men as Zoey, the British girlfriend of Walden Schmidt (Ashton Kutcher).[22]

Stage

Winkleman's roles while at Cambridge University included the Bride in García Lorca's Blood Wedding,[23] which toured the amphitheatres of Greece, Elizabeth in Six Degrees of Separation,[23] which played at the Edinburgh Festival, Abigail in Arthur Miller's The Crucible,[18] Dockdaisy in Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui,[23] Kate in Alan Ayckbourn's Confusions,[23] Madame de Merteuil in Christopher Hampton's Les Liaisons Dangereuses[23] and Fraulein Kost in Kander and Ebb's Cabaret all at the ADC. Winkleman's stage career after Cambridge includes a season at the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she played Veronique in Laurence Boswell's adaptation of Beauty and the Beast[18] and a summer in Bath with the Peter Hall Company playing a variety of roles including Archangela in Galileo's Daughter directed by Peter Hall,[24] a new play by Timberlake Wertenbaker, Violet in George Bernard Shaw's Man and Superman directed by Peter Hall,[23] and Charlotte in Molière's Don Juan, directed by Thea Sharrock.[23] In 2012 she played Helena in Eric Idle's musical What About Dick at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, alongside Eddie Izzard, Russell Brand and Billy Connolly.[25]

Film

Winkleman's film credits include the lead roles in the films Shattered and Love Live Long, written and directed by Mike Figgis.[23] Winkleman played the comic role of Debbie Levine in Pathe's romantic comedy Suzie Gold and the older Susan Pevensie in the Disney film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.[18] Other film roles include the leads in the shorts Seared, Love Letters, and The Lost Domain, a cinematic take on Alain-Fournier's Le Grand Meaulnes, and Post, directed by Debs Gardner-Paterson.[23]

Radio

Winkleman is a regular in BBC Radio 4 comedy and drama. She is among the cast of comedy programmes such as Marcus Brigstocke's Giles Wemmbley-Hogg Goes Off, and such afternoon plays as Tea for Two.[23][26] She played Polly Pot in P.G. Wodehouse's Uncle Fred in the Springtime with Alfred Molina and Rufus Sewell, Gloria in Bernard Shaw's You Never Can Tell, and Zoe in Alan Ayckbourn's Henceforward, alongside Jared Harris, all for Radio 4.[23] She played the role of Sasha in Von Ribbentrop's Watch, a historical drama, Anna Freud in the play Dr. Freud Will See You Now, Mrs. Hitler, by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, and the Amazon warrior princess Penthesilea alongside Alistair McGowan and Stephen Mangan in the Radio 4 comic fantasy series ElvenQuest, by Anil Gupta and Richard Pinto.[23] She has starred in several Doctor Who plays for Radio 4.

Personal life

Winkleman (r) with husband Lord Frederick Windsor at British Polo Day USA 2014

Winkleman married Lord Frederick Windsor, the son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, in Hampton Court Palace on 12 September 2009. By virtue of her marriage, she became entitled to be styled as Lady Frederick Windsor, but continues to use her own name in her professional career.[27] On 15 August 2013, the couple had a daughter, who was born at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, and is the first grandchild of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.[28] Their second child was born in 2016 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.[29]

In November 2017 Winkleman was seriously injured in a head-on car crash, suffering a broken back and foot. She was a back-seat passenger in a car when another vehicle struck her car after swerving to avoid a deer. It was reported that she would not suffer long-term problems, but faced weeks of recuperation.[30]

In June 2020, she became royal patron of the Children's Surgery Foundation.[31] The following month, she became first female patron of School-Home Support,[1] and in June 2022 she presented the BBC Radio 4 Appeal on its behalf.[32]

Filmography

Audio

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor Adventures Kelly Westwood Recurring role, 2 episodes
2017 Torchwood One Rachel Allan Recurring role; 3 episodes
2018 Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures Sofia Episode: "Serpent in the Silver Mask"

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Chasing Alice Elle Kensington Television film
2004 Suzie Gold Debby Levine
AD/BC: A Rock Opera Wise Man Television film
2005 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Older Susan
2007 The Trial of Tony Blair Fiona Television film
Shattered Natalie Encore
2008 Love Live Long Rachel
Seared Stranger Short film
2011 Love Letters Short film
2012 What About Dick? Helena
2023 Wonka The Countess

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Ultimate Force Woman in Bank Episode: "The Killing House"
White Teeth Joely Miniseries; 2 episodes
Waking the Dead Joanna Gold / Clara Gold Episode: "Thin Air"
2003 Keen Eddie Prudence Episode: "Horse Heir"
Agatha Christie's Poirot Angela Warren Episode: "Five Little Pigs"
2005–2010 Peep Show Big Suze Recurring role; 10 episodes
2006 Lewis Regan Peverill Episode: "Reputation"
Dalziel and Pascoe Alice Shadwell Episode: "A Death in the Family"
2007–2012 Harry & Paul Various roles Series regular; 21 episodes
2008 The Palace Princess Eleanor Series regular; 8 episodes
2009 Plus One Abby Episode: "Black and White and Red All Over"
Kingdom Kate Episode: "Series 3, Episode 1"
Red Dwarf Katerina Episode: "Back to Earth"
Robin Hood Ghislaine Episode: "Bad Blood"
2010 100 Questions Charlotte Payne Series regular; 6 episodes
2011 CSI: Miami Sharon Kirby Episode: "Last Stand"
Lead Balloon Donna Recurring role; 2 episodes
Phineas and Ferb Additional Voices Episode: "That's the Spirit / The Curse of Candace"
Death in Paradise Ann Hamilton Episode: "Spot the Difference"
2011–2015 Two and a Half Men Zoey Recurring role; 28 episodes
2012 Titanic Dorothy Gibson Miniseries; 4 episodes
2015 Hot in Cleveland Jill Episode: "We Could Be Royals"
2016–2018 Milo Murphy's Law Additional Voices / Time Ape Recurring role; 3 episodes
2018 Trust Margot Series regular; 6 episodes
2019 Endeavour Isobel Humbolt Episode: "Apollo"
Four Weddings and a Funeral Harper Dylan Episode: "Love, Chalet"
2019–2023 Sanditon Lady Susan Series regular; 8 episodes
2020 Strike Kinvara Chiswell Recurring role; 4 episodes
2022 This Is Going to Hurt Kathleen Episode: "Episode Six"
2024 Belgravia: The Next Chapter Duchess of Rochester Series regular; 8 episodes

Theatre credits

Year Title Role Venue Notes Ref.
2001 Far Too Happy Ensemble New Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl & others with Footlights [33]
2003 Beauty and the Beast Veronique / Vanity Table Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon [34]
2004 Don Juan Charlotte Theatre Royal, Bath [35]
Man and Superman Violet Robinson Theatre Royal, Bath [36]
Galileo's Daughter Arcangela Theatre Royal, Bath [37]

Published writing

  • Winkleman, Sophie (17 December 2022). "The uncomplaining bravery of the senior royals". The Spectator.

References

  1. ^ a b "School-Home Support | Announcing our newest patron, Lady Sophie Windsor". School-Home Support.
  2. ^ Carmichael, Sri. Lord Freddie's fiancée to rule American TV before royal wedding, Evening Standard, 3 April 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  3. ^ Catherine O'Brien, "Sophie Strikes Gold", You Magazine, 24 February 2004 quoted at SophieWinkleman.com Archived 16 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b "Code Promo Betfirst 2019: CASHMAX – Profitez des meilleurs bonus". Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  5. ^ "Interview with Tim Key " The Tab –http:// www.cambridgetab.co.uk". Cambridgetab.co.uk. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Sophie Winkleman". United Agents. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Sophie Winkleman". United Agents. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  8. ^ Walker, Tim (3 September 2013). "Sophie Winkleman: I wanted to break my husband's hands off during labour". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Harry & Paul". BBC. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  10. ^ "Sophie Winkleman". Jewish United Fund. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  11. ^ "The 5-minute Interview: Sophie Winkleman, Actress". The Independent. 17 March 2008. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Plus One". Channel 4. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  13. ^ Morgan, Clive (4 October 2009). "Red Dwarf blasts off with new series". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Lead Balloon". BBC. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  15. ^ Walker, Tim (31 March 2009). "A revealing tale of two faiths for Lord Freddie Windsor and Sophie Winkleman". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Sophie Winkleman List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  17. ^ Graham, Alison. "Death in Paradise". Radio Times. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  18. ^ a b c d "An Interview with Actress and Writer Sophie Winkleman at Soho House, LA". Arteviste. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  19. ^ Bowater, Donna (16 March 2012). "Titanic series will be the next Downton Abbey, says Sophie Winkleman". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  20. ^ "Waking the Dead". BBC. 4 November 2002. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  21. ^ "True to Formula: NBC's '100 Questions'". The Washington Post. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  22. ^ Walker, Tim (7 July 2012). "Ashton Kutcher's Two and a Half Men co-star Sophie Winkleman tells of tears on set of her new comedy". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Sophie Winkleman". United Agents. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  24. ^ Walker, Lynne (22 July 2004). "Galileo's Daughter, Theatre Royal, Bath". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  25. ^ Weston, Jay (27 April 2012). "Eric Idle's What About Dick Plays Limited Engagement With All-Star Cast!". Huffington Post. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off". Radio Times. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  27. ^ Huffington, Arianna. London Diary: Gordon Brown's Obsessions, The Loyal Opposition's Cuddly Karl Rove, Bad Germs, and the Most Unusual Royal Honeymoon Ever, HuffPost, 2 July 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  28. ^ Agencies, Hayley Dixon and (16 August 2013). "Prince and Princess Michael of Kent's first grandchild is named 'Maud'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  29. ^ "Isabella Windsor christened at Kensington Palace in the same gown worn by Princess Charlotte". Hello. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  30. ^ "Claudia Winkleman's royal actress sister 'seriously injured in head-on crash'". Daily Mirror. 3 December 2017. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017 – via MSN.
  31. ^ "Lady Frederick Windsor becomes royal patron of The Children's Surgery Foundation". Royal Central. 13 June 2020.
  32. ^ BBC Radio 4 Appeal 19 June 2022
  33. ^ "Cambridge Footlights: Far Too Happy". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  34. ^ Billington, Michael (11 December 2003). "Beauty and the Beast". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  35. ^ "Theatre Royal Bath Productions". Theatre Royal Bath. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  36. ^ Billington, Michael (22 July 2004). "Don Juan/ Man and Superman". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  37. ^ Walker, Lynne (23 July 2004). "Galileo's Daughter, Theatre Royal, Bath". The Independent. Retrieved 27 May 2024.