Morfydd Clark

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Morfydd Clark
Clark in 2022
Born17 March 1989 (age 34)
Sweden[1]
NationalityWelsh
CitizenshipBritish
OccupationActress
Years active2014–present

Morfydd Clark (Welsh pronunciation: [ˈmɔrvɪð];[2] born 17 March 1989) is a Swedish-born Welsh[3][4] actress. She is best known for playing Galadriel in the Amazon Prime series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022–).[5][6][7][8] She received a number of accolades for her performance in the film Saint Maud (2019), including a BAFTA Cymru as well as BIFA and BAFTA Rising Star Award nominations.

Clark's other films include Love & Friendship (2016), Interlude in Prague (2017), and The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019). Also on television, she played Mina Harker in Dracula (2020) and Sister Clara in His Dark Materials (2019).

Early life[edit]

Clark was born in Sweden and moved with her family to Penarth, Wales, when she was two years old.[9] She described her father as a "Northern Irish Glaswegian", and her maternal side is from North Wales.[10] Her parents spoke English together, but her maternal grandparents were Welsh speakers, which led to her attending a Welsh language school. She is bilingual in English and Welsh.[11] Her first taste of acting was playing Mrs Dai Bread in a school production of Under Milk Wood.[12] After struggling with dyslexia and ADHD, she left school at sixteen.[13] She later completed her A Levels in English and mathematics at Kings Monkton School in Cardiff. In 2009, she was accepted to British Youth Music Theatre's production of According to Brian Haw[14] and to the National Youth Theatre of Wales, before training at the Drama Centre London.[13]

Career[edit]

Clark left Drama Centre in her final term to star in Saunders Lewis's play Blodeuwedd with Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru. She has appeared in Violence and Son at the Royal Court, as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, and in Les Liaisons Dangereuses at the Donmar Warehouse.[15] She played Frederica Vernon in Whit Stillman's film Love & Friendship.[16] In 2016, Clark was named as one of the Screen International Stars of Tomorrow for her early work in television and theatre.[12] She appeared in the film The Call Up[17] and as Cordelia in King Lear at The Old Vic.[18] In 2017, she starred in Interlude In Prague,[19][20] and portrayed Catherine Dickens in The Man Who Invented Christmas.[21]

In 2019, she appeared in the films Crawl, The Personal History of David Copperfield, and Eternal Beauty. Also that year, Clark starred as Maud in the psychological horror film Saint Maud, for which, she was nominated for Best Actress of the 2020 British Independent Film Awards.[22][23] For her performance as Maud, she won the BAFTA Cymru best actress award,[24] and was nominated for the 2021 BAFTA Rising Star Award.[25]

The Rings of Power[edit]

Clark portrayed a younger version of the character Galadriel in Season 1 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime.[5][6][7][8]

Morfydd has cited that she is "proud" that being a Welsh speaker influenced her portrayal of her bilingual character, Galadriel. The actor stated, “I feel I can be much more romantic and deep in Welsh. So that was really useful for me, because I was thinking, ‘[What's the] language of her heart? What language does she think in?'" In another interview, the actor discussed her education in Welsh: “Well, I went to a Welsh language school and everything is taught in Welsh. Welsh is phonetic, so it's great for people with dyslexia. I started learning English in the third year. What my Tolkien-obsessed mother was really proud of and passed on to us was that Tolkien was inspired by the Welsh. Oddly enough, his work was a badge of honour for me, because the Welsh are Welsh and obsessed with anything Welsh."[26] She also mentioned enjoying speaking in Welsh on-set with co-stars Owain Arthur and Trystan Gravelle.[27]

Filmography[edit]

Clark in 2020

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Madame Bovary Camille
The Falling Pamela Charron
2016 Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Georgiana Darcy
Love & Friendship Frederica Vernon [28][29]
The Call Up Shelly
2017 Interlude in Prague Zuzanna Luptak
The Man Who Invented Christmas Kate Dickens
2019 Crawl Beth Keller
The Personal History of David Copperfield Dora Spenlow [30]
Eternal Beauty Young Jane
Saint Maud Maud [31][32]
2023 Starve Acre Juliette
TBA Hamlet Ophelia Filming[33]

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2014 New Worlds Amelia Television miniseries
A Poet in New York Nancy Wickwire Television film
2015 Arthur & George Mary Episode: "1.1"
2016 National Theatre Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses Cécile Volanges
2018 The Alienist Caroline Bell Episode: "Silver Smile"
The City and the City Yolanda Stark Episodes: "Breach," "Ordinary"
Patrick Melrose Debbie Hickman Episodes: "Bad News," "Some Hope"
Outsiders Mari Television film
2019 His Dark Materials Sister Clara 4 episodes
2020 Dracula Mina Harker Television miniseries
2022 The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Galadriel [5][6][7][8][34][35]
2023 Murder is Easy Bridget Two-part drama[36]

Theatre[edit]

Year Play Role Theatre company Director

(Writer)

Notes
2013 Blodeuwedd [37] Blodeuwedd Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru Arwel Griffiths

(Saunders Lewis)

2015 Violence and Son Jen The Royal Court Hamish Pirie

(Gary Owen)

[38]
2015 Romeo and Juliet Juliet The Crucible Theatre Jonathan Humphreys

(William Shakespeare)

[39]
2015 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Cecile The Donmar Warehouse Josie Rourke

(Christopher Hampton)

[40][41]
2016 King Lear Cordelia The Old Vic Deborah Warner

(William Shakespeare)

2017 The Cherry Orchard Anya The Sherman Rachel O’Riorden

(Anton Chekhov/Gary Owen)

[42][43]
2019 The Colours Joe Soho Theatre Max Barton

(Harriet Madeley)

[44]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2020 Dublin Film Critics' Circle Breakthrough Award Saint Maud and The Personal History of David Copperfield Won [45]
Sunset Film Circle Awards Best Actress style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated [46]
2021 London Critics' Circle Film Awards British/Irish Actress of the Year Saint Maud and Eternal Beauty Won [47]
Actress of the Year Saint Maud Nominated
British Independent Film Awards Best Actress Saint Maud Nominated [48][49]
BAFTA Cymru Best Actress Won [24]
British Academy Film Awards Rising Star Award Nominated [50][25]
2022 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Lead Performance Nominated [51]
2023 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Nominated [52]
Canneseries Madame Figaro Rising Star Award The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Won [53]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Morfydd Clark British Youth Music Theatre". British Youth Music Theatre. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Morfydd Clark on Anya". Sherman Theatre. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  3. ^ Thorpe, Vanessa (12 October 2019). "Three films, four roles, one breakout star: Morfydd Clark". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Rising stars of 2017: actor Morfydd Clark". The Guardian. 1 January 2017. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Livingstone, Jo (16 September 2022). ""The Rings of Power" Is True to Tolkien's Mythmaking Spirit". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Morfydd Clark: Siarad Cymraeg yn help i chwarae Galadriel". BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 6 October 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Morfydd Clark: Elbisch für Fortgeschrittene". Der Spiegel (in German). 9 September 2022. ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Murray, Noel (2 September 2022). "'The Rings of Power' Premiere Recap: All Is Not Calm in Middle-Earth". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Morfydd Clark interview: Her sexual awakening performances have critics in raptures". The Independent. November 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  10. ^ Marsh, Carl (9 October 2020). "Morfydd Clark Interview". Buzz. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  11. ^ Armistead, Claire (20 September 2020). "Morfydd Clark: 'In the acting world, my ADHD tendencies are seen as charming'". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Morfydd Clark, Stars of Tomorrow 2016". screendaily.com. 3 October 2016.
  13. ^ a b Williams, Holly (1 January 2017). "Rising stars of 2017: actor Morfydd Clark". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  14. ^ "According to Brian Haw (2009) | British Youth Music Theatre".
  15. ^ Khan, Jessica (2 September 2015). "Morfydd Clark Joins LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES at Donmar This Winter". Broadway World. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  16. ^ Robey, Tim (26 May 2016). "Love & Friendship shows just how funny Jane Austen can be - review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  17. ^ McNamara, Fred. "The Call Up". Starburst. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  18. ^ BWW news desk (26 May 2016). "Jane Horrocks, Celia Imrie & Morfydd Clark to Join Glenda Jackson in The Old Vic's KING LEAR". Broadway World. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  19. ^ Khan, Jessica (24 March 2016). "Stage Stars Samantha Barks and Morfydd Clark Join INTERLUDE IN PRAGUE Film". Broadway World. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  20. ^ Grater, Tom (4 April 2016). "'Interlude In Prague' starts shoot, adds cast". Screen Daily. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  21. ^ "' Lord of the Rings' Series Taps Morfydd Clark as Young Galadriel (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  22. ^ Wade, Joseph (18 February 2021). "2020 British Independent Film Awards – Winners List". Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Saint Maud: Will Gompertz reviews Rose Glass's debut film ★★★★☆". BBC News. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  24. ^ a b "Bafta Cymru: Gangs of London wins four awards". bbc.co.uk. 25 October 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Kingsley Ben-Adir among Bafta Rising Star nominees". bbc.co.uk. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Lord of the Rings star Morfydd Clark 'proud' Welsh influenced her portrayal of bilingual Mighty Morfydd Power Elf". Nation.Cymru. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Lord of the Rings star Morfydd Clark says she 'spoke more Welsh in New Zealand than in London'". Nation.Cymru. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  28. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (26 May 2016). "Love & Friendship review – Whit Stillman's Austen drama is a racy delight". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  29. ^ Smith, Nigel M. (24 January 2016). "Love & Friendship review: Kate Beckinsale is a devious delight". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  30. ^ Kermode, Mark; critic, Observer film (26 January 2020). "The Personal History of David Copperfield review – Iannucci makes Dickens his own". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  31. ^ Shoard, Catherine (10 December 2020). "The 50 best films of 2020 in the UK, No 7: Saint Maud". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  32. ^ Kermode, Mark; critic, Mark Kermode Observer film (11 October 2020). "Saint Maud review – a chilling nurse on a mission from God". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  33. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (11 May 2022). "Oscar Winners Riz Ahmed & Aneil Karia Team For Modern Hamlet With Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn & WME Independent; Duo Give Exclusive Interview About Their Timely Adaptation — Cannes Market Hot Package". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  34. ^ Kroll, Justin (17 December 2019). "'Lord of the Rings Series Taps Morfydd Clark as Young Galadriel". Variety. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  35. ^ "How Galadriel Became One of the Most Fascinating Characters in 'Lord of the Rings'". Time. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Casting revealed for Murder is Easy, based on the classic mystery by Agatha Christie". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  37. ^ Gower, Jon (25 July 2013). "Blodeuwedd". Wales Arts Review. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  38. ^ Clapp, Susannah (21 June 2015). "Violence and Son review – you are what you do in the Welsh valleys". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  39. ^ Hickling, Alfred (1 October 2015). "Romeo and Juliet review – grungy tragedy smells of teen spirit". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  40. ^ Clapp, Susannah (20 December 2015). "Les Liaisons Dangereuses review – Janet McTeer is a marvel". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  41. ^ Billington, Michael (18 December 2015). "Les Liaisons Dangereuses review – Dominic West on love's battlefield". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  42. ^ Brennan, Clare (22 October 2017). "The Cherry Orchard review – all change for Chekhov". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  43. ^ Gardner, Lyn (19 October 2017). "The Cherry Orchard review – uprooted Chekhov chimes with Thatcher's Britain". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  44. ^ "Crowded Room Theatre Company Announces World Premiere of The Colours at Soho Theatre". Theatre Weekly. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  45. ^ Clarke, Donald (18 December 2020). "Dublin film critics reveal their best film of 2020". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  46. ^ "Inaugural Sunset Circle award nominees announced". screenonscreen.co.uk. 24 November 2020.
  47. ^ Cline, Rich (7 February 2021). "London Critics name Nomadland their best film of 2020". Critics' Circle. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  48. ^ "Winners & Nominations". BIFA. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  49. ^ Pulver, Andrew (9 December 2020). "Saint Maud leads British independent film award nominations". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  50. ^ Pewsey, Guy (3 March 2021). "Bukky Bakray And Morfydd Clark Among Nominees For BAFTA's EE Rising Star Award". Grazia. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  51. ^ "The 2022 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards". knotfest.com. 16 May 2022.
  52. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 3rd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards honoring Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, and Action Movies and Series". Critics Choice Association. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  53. ^ "Madame Figaro Rising Star Award". canneseries.com (in French). Retrieved 17 April 2023.

External links[edit]

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