# Charity Wakefield
**Charity Wakefield** (born 1980; full name Charity Rose Wakefield) is an English actress and producer known for period-drama roles such as Marianne Dashwood in *Sense and Sensibility* (2008) and [Mary Boleyn](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-boleyn) in *Wolf Hall* (2015), for the comedy series *Bounty Hunters*, and for playing [William Shakespeare](https://www.edgepedia.org/william-shakespeare) in the all-female production of *Emilia*.[1](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/charity_wakefield/) • [2](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield) • [3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/charity-wakefield/credits/3000553306/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / birth | Charity Rose Wakefield, born 1980[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/charity-wakefield/credits/3000553306/) • [2](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield) |
| Training | Oxford School of Drama, graduated 2003[2](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield) |
| First screen role | 2004, in *(Past Present Future) Imperfect*[2](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield) |
| Breakout television role | Marianne Dashwood in the BBC miniseries *Sense and Sensibility* (2008)[2](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield) |
| Historical drama | Mary Boleyn in *Wolf Hall* (2015)[2](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield) |
| Comedy series | Leah Walker in *Bounty Hunters*, series 1 (2017) and series 2 (2019)[1](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/charity_wakefield/) |
| Stage landmark | First woman to play William Shakespeare at Shakespeare's Globe, in *Emilia* (2018)[4](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/charity-wakefield-i-dont-feel-like-playing-shakespeare-is-hallowed-ground_47418/) |
| Producing | Producer of the film *A Serial Killer's Guide to Life* (2020)[1](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/charity_wakefield/) |
## Early life and training
Wakefield studied acting at the Oxford School of Drama and graduated in 2003.[2](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield) Her student productions there included *The Birthday Party*, *Twelfth Night*, and *The Three Sisters*, and she also appeared in *The Tempest* and *Othello* early in her career, playing [Ariel](https://www.edgepedia.org/ariel-the-tempest) at Pegasus Theatre and [Desdemona](https://www.edgepedia.org/desdemona) on a [Shakespeare's Globe](https://www.edgepedia.org/shakespeares-globe) tour.[5](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/charity-wakefield/)
Her family includes a notable acting lineage: the character actor James Hayter, known for *Are You Being Served?* and the 1968 musical *Oliver!*, is her grandfather.[6](https://www.wgbh.org/programs/2020-09-29/from-sense-sensibility-to-mockingbird-lane-charity-wakefields-best-roles)
## Television and film
**Early screen work.** Her first screen role came in 2004 in *(Past Present Future) Imperfect*, followed by a starring role in the BBC's *Rapunzel* and appearances in *Casualty 1907* and *Casualty 1909*, playing Ethel Bennet in both.[2](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield) • [5](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/charity-wakefield/) She then played Marianne Dashwood in the BBC's *Sense and Sensibility* (2008) and Miss Temple in *Jane Eyre*.[2](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield) • [5](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/charity-wakefield/)
**Historical and American television.** In 2015 she appeared as Mary Boleyn in Peter Kosminsky's *Wolf Hall*, the BBC's six-part adaptation of [Hilary Mantel](https://www.edgepedia.org/hilary-mantel)'s novels about [Thomas Cromwell](https://www.edgepedia.org/thomas-cromwell); Time's review noted that her Mary Boleyn forms a flirtatious alliance with Cromwell and is written as one of the few characters able to keep pace with him mentally.[2](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield) • [7](https://time.com/3768601/a-real-game-of-throneswolf-hall/) The same period brought *Serena*, in which she appeared alongside [Bradley Cooper](https://www.edgepedia.org/bradley-cooper) and Jennifer Lawrence; she described a scene that required horse-riding, catching a lighter thrown by Cooper, and lighting a cigarette before an improvised conversation in a 1920s New England accent.[8](https://theglassmagazine.com/making-history/) Her American television credits include Cassandra in NBC's *The Player* (2015), Marilyn in Bryan Singer's NBC pilot *Mockingbird Lane* (2012), and Lucy in the *Doctor Who* Christmas episode *The Return of Doctor Mysterio* (2016).[5](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/charity-wakefield/) • [9](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/charity-wakefield/)
**Comedy and recent work.** She played Leah Walker in both series of the Sky comedy *Bounty Hunters* (2017, 2019) and Georgina Dymov in the first two series of *The Great*.[1](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/charity_wakefield/) • [5](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/charity-wakefield/) On film she played [Princess Beatrice](https://www.edgepedia.org/princess-beatrice) in *Scoop* (2024) and Lauren in *[Preschool](https://www.edgepedia.org/preschool-film)*, directed by [Josh Duhamel](https://www.edgepedia.org/josh-duhamel), which was released on Paramount Movies on 7 April 2026.[5](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/charity-wakefield/) • [10](https://shows.acast.com/mammas/episodes/charity-wakefield-on-how-cinema-brings-families-together)
## Stage career
Wakefield's stage credits span regional theaters and major London venues: Anya in *The Cherry Orchard* at the National Theatre, Kate in *Seminar* and Abi in *The Blackest Black* at Hampstead Theatre, Candida at Theatre Royal Bath, Constance in *The Three Musketeers* at [Bristol Old Vic](https://www.edgepedia.org/bristol-old-vic), and Elaine in *The Graduate* at the New Vic.[5](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/charity-wakefield/) • [2](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield)
In 2018 she joined the original cast of Morgan Lloyd Malcolm's play *Emilia* at Shakespeare's Globe, a feminist play about the Elizabethan poet Emilia Bassano, playing William Shakespeare among other characters. She told WhatsOnStage that she was the first woman to play Shakespeare at the Globe.[4](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/charity-wakefield-i-dont-feel-like-playing-shakespeare-is-hallowed-ground_47418/) The production transferred to the Vaudeville Theatre, opening on 21 March 2019, which marked her West End debut.[11](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/195106/charity-wakefield-on-making-her-west-end-debut-in-emilia-and-realizing-she-resembles-shakespeare/)
## Producing and advocacy
Beyond acting, [Wakefield](https://www.edgepedia.org/wakefield) works as a producer; her comedy-credits listing records her as producer of the 2020 film *A Serial Killer's Guide to Life*, and she has also produced short films, including *Wraps*, credited under her own name as the company.[1](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/charity_wakefield/) • [5](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/charity-wakefield/)
She is an ambassador for the Woodland Trust, championing the preservation of ancient woodlands, and supports initiatives such as Equity's Green New Deal.[12](https://deployworkshop.com/blogs/news/chats-with-changemakers-charity-wakefield)
## References
1. [Charity Wakefield, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/charity_wakefield/)
2. [Charity Wakefield Movies on Netflix, NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/charity-wakefield)
3. [Charity Wakefield List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/charity-wakefield/credits/3000553306/)
4. [Charity Wakefield: I don't feel like playing Shakespeare is hallowed ground, WhatsOnStage](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/charity-wakefield-i-dont-feel-like-playing-shakespeare-is-hallowed-ground_47418/)
5. [Charity Wakefield, United Agents](https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/charity-wakefield/)
6. [From 'Sense & Sensibility' To 'Mockingbird Lane' — Charity Wakefield's Best Roles, GBH](https://www.wgbh.org/programs/2020-09-29/from-sense-sensibility-to-mockingbird-lane-charity-wakefields-best-roles)
7. [A Real Game of Thrones in "Wolf Hall", Time](https://time.com/3768601/a-real-game-of-throneswolf-hall/)
8. [Making history, The Glass Magazine](https://theglassmagazine.com/making-history/)
9. [Charity Wakefield, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/charity-wakefield/)
10. [Charity Wakefield On How Cinema Brings Families Together, Made by Mammas: The Podcast](https://shows.acast.com/mammas/episodes/charity-wakefield-on-how-cinema-brings-families-together)
11. [Charity Wakefield on Making Her West End Debut in Emilia, Broadway.com](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/195106/charity-wakefield-on-making-her-west-end-debut-in-emilia-and-realizing-she-resembles-shakespeare/)
12. [Chats with Changemakers: Charity Wakefield, DEPLOY](https://deployworkshop.com/blogs/news/chats-with-changemakers-charity-wakefield)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames T to We*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license