# Rosie Sheehy
**Rosie Sheehy** is a Welsh stage and screen actress from [Port Talbot](https://www.edgepedia.org/port-talbot), south Wales, best known for playing the Young Woman in Sophie Treadwell's expressionist play *Machinal* at the Old Vic in 2024 and for two consecutive Olivier Award nominations for Best Actress, for *Machinal* in 2025 and *Guess How Much I Love You?* in 2026.[1](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2026-rosie-sheehy-actress/5220581.article)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Port Talbot, south Wales; graduates of her West Glamorgan Youth Theatre include Michael Sheen, Russell T Davies, and Joanna Page[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot) |
| Training | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), BA in Acting, graduated 2015[1](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2026-rosie-sheehy-actress/5220581.article) • [3](https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/rosie-sheehy/) |
| Stage debut | Professional debut at 20, in Eugene O'Neill's *The Hairy Ape* at the Old Vic in 2015, directed by Richard Jones[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot) |
| Olivier nominations | Best Actress for *Machinal* (Old Vic, 2025) and for *Guess How Much I Love You?* (Royal Court, 2026)[4](https://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/talent/rosie-sheehy/cv/film-24/) |
| Signature roles | The Young Woman in *Machinal*; Carol in David Mamet's *Oleanna*; Julie in *Romeo and Julie* at the National Theatre; the detective Ruth Palmer in *An Interrogation*[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot) • [4](https://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/talent/rosie-sheehy/cv/film-24/) • [5](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/an-interrogation-at-hampstead-theatre-review_1661823/) |
| Screen work | *Chernobyl* (Nurse Pripyat), *Call the Midwife*, *Wild Bill*, *DCI Banks*, *Steel Town Murders*; films include *Pillion* (Megan) and *A Violent Man*[6](https://www.whatsonstage.com/stage-names/rosie-sheehy/) • [4](https://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/talent/rosie-sheehy/cv/film-24/) |
| Upcoming film | Indiana Frusk in Josie Rourke's adaptation of Edith Wharton's *The Custom of the Country*, opposite Sydney Sweeney[1](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2026-rosie-sheehy-actress/5220581.article) • [4](https://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/talent/rosie-sheehy/cv/film-24/) |
## Background and training
Sheehy grew up in a middle-class household in Port Talbot, where her father was a design engineer at the steelworks and her mother a primary school teacher; she enjoyed science at school and took ballet, contemporary dance, and tap lessons as a child.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot) She saw her first play, *Waiting for Godot* at Swansea's Volcano theater, as a teenager: the Guardian puts this at age 17,[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot) while a BBC Wales interview says that at 16 she had never seen a play and describes the same production as the moment she "found Narnia".[7](https://bbc.com.im/news/articles/c5yjmk1y78jo) She joined the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre at 17.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot)
**Accent.** At drama school she suppressed her Welsh accent, believing she had to use received pronunciation to survive in the profession; by her early 20s she had abandoned RP, saying "I did a lot of theater in Wales... I did Uncle Vanya at Theatr Clwyd and I remember thinking, 'Yeah, this makes total sense. I can sound like this.'"[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot) She has cited Gary Owen's *Iphigenia in Splott*, performed in a Welsh voice by Sophie Melville, as a watershed for Welsh actors on stage.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot)
## Theatre career
Sheehy's professional debut came immediately after RADA: in 2015, aged 20, she appeared in [Eugene O'Neill](https://www.edgepedia.org/eugene-oneill)'s *The Hairy Ape* at the Old Vic, directed by [Richard Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-jones), who also directed her later *Machinal*.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot) • [8](https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/interview-its-a-real-behemoth-of-a-role-actor-rosie-sheehy-on-capital-punishment-misogyny-and-fatigue-in-sophie-treadwells-machinal-20240502) Her stage work since includes *All's Well That Ends Well*, *King John*, and *Richard III* for the [Royal Shakespeare Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-shakespeare-company); *Anna X* at the Vaults; *The Wolves* at Theatre Royal Stratford East; *Strife* at Chichester; *Bird* at the Royal Exchange, Manchester; *Chicken* for Paines Plough; *Minetti* at the Edinburgh International Festival; and *Uncle Vanya* at Theatr Clywd and Sheffield Theatres.[6](https://www.whatsonstage.com/stage-names/rosie-sheehy/)
**Oleanna and two-handers.** In 2020 she starred opposite Jonathan Slinger in [David Mamet](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-mamet)'s *Oleanna* at the Theatre Royal Bath, playing Carol, a student who makes a sexual harassment claim against her professor.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot) • [9](https://www.thestage.co.uk/long-reviews/oleanna-2) In 2023 she played the title role in Rachel O'Riordan's *Romeo and Julie* at the National Theatre, a performance nominated for Breakthrough Artist at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2023.[4](https://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/talent/rosie-sheehy/cv/film-24/) In early 2025 she played police officer Ruth Palmer in Jamie Armitage's debut play *An Interrogation* at Hampstead Theatre, first seen at the Edinburgh Festival in 2023.[5](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/an-interrogation-at-hampstead-theatre-review_1661823/)
**Machinal.** In 2024 she played the Young Woman, Helen Jones, in Sophie Treadwell's 1928 expressionist play *Machinal* at the Old Vic, directed by Richard Jones; the character is inspired by [Ruth Snyder](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruth-snyder), an American woman executed in the electric chair for the murder of her husband.[8](https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/interview-its-a-real-behemoth-of-a-role-actor-rosie-sheehy-on-capital-punishment-misogyny-and-fatigue-in-sophie-treadwells-machinal-20240502) The role earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 2025 Olivier Awards, where the shortlist included eventual winner [Lesley Manville](https://www.edgepedia.org/lesley-manville).[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot) Sheehy has said she researched coercive control for the part, a term she did not know when she first read the play.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot)
**Guess How Much I Love You?** In early 2026 she starred opposite [Robert Aramayo](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-aramayo) in Luke Norris's play *Guess How Much I Love You?*, the opening production of the Royal Court's 70th anniversary season, directed by Jeremy Herrin.[10](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/oliviers-rosie-sheehy-guess-how-much-i-love-you-b2954564.html) The play follows a thirtysomething married couple whose baby is diagnosed at the 20-week scan with profound open spina bifida, leaving them to decide whether to terminate the pregnancy.[10](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/oliviers-rosie-sheehy-guess-how-much-i-love-you-b2954564.html) The production's research involved a gynaecologist, a midwife, a grief counselor, a representative from a spina bifida charity, and couples on both sides of the decision.[10](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/oliviers-rosie-sheehy-guess-how-much-i-love-you-b2954564.html) It had ten "show stops", pauses in which an audience member was attended to, always at the same point in the play.[10](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/oliviers-rosie-sheehy-guess-how-much-i-love-you-b2954564.html) The role brought Sheehy her second consecutive Best Actress Olivier nomination.[4](https://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/talent/rosie-sheehy/cv/film-24/)
**The Oresteia and The Brightening Air.** In 2025 she played Billie, the youngest of three siblings, in Conor McPherson's *The Brightening Air*, set in 1980s [County Sligo](https://www.edgepedia.org/county-sligo), at the Old Vic.[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot) • [11](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/interviews/rosie-sheehy-on-starring-in-conor-mcphersons-the-brightening-air) In 2026 she played Elektra (understudied as Alice, the Middleton family's daughter) in Simon Stone's *The Oresteia* at the Bridge Theatre, alongside [Mary-Louise Parker](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-louise-parker) and [David Morrissey](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-morrissey); reviewers singled out her comic portrait of a helpless, entitled daughter in the modern-dress adaptation, which runs 215 minutes including two intervals.[4](https://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/talent/rosie-sheehy/cv/film-24/) • [12](https://monstagigz.com/2026/07/21/theatre-review-the-oresteia-starring-rosie-sheehy-mary-louise-parker-tom-glynn-carney-david-morrissey-at-the-bridge-theatre/)
## Screen work
Her television credits include *Steel Town Murders*, *Wild Bill*, *Call the Midwife*, *Chernobyl*, and *DCI Banks*; film work includes *A Violent Man* and the short films *Everybody Dies Sometimes* and *Leash*, with radio credits including *Nuremberg* and *Base Lines*.[6](https://www.whatsonstage.com/stage-names/rosie-sheehy/) Casting director Nina Gold had earlier championed her for a role in the television miniseries *Chernobyl*.[1](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2026-rosie-sheehy-actress/5220581.article)
In *Pillion* (directed by [Harry Lighton](https://www.edgepedia.org/harry-lighton), for BBC Film / A24 / Cornerstone Films) she played Megan,[4](https://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/talent/rosie-sheehy/cv/film-24/) and in 2026 she shot Josie Rourke's *The Custom of the Country*, adapted from [Edith Wharton](https://www.edgepedia.org/edith-wharton)'s 1913 tragicomedy, in which she plays the best friend of [Sydney Sweeney](https://www.edgepedia.org/sydney-sweeney)'s protagonist, aging from a teenager to the wife of a senator; she spent five weeks shooting in Lisbon between stage engagements.[1](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2026-rosie-sheehy-actress/5220581.article) In mid-September 2026 she began a six-month shoot with a leading role in an unannounced UK comedy-drama streaming series.[1](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2026-rosie-sheehy-actress/5220581.article)
## Approach to roles
What has marked her career, according to the Guardian, is the complexity of the roles she chooses, from [Lady Anne](https://www.edgepedia.org/lady-anne) in *Richard III* to Carol in *Oleanna* and the bullied wife and murderer in *Machinal*. "I like playing people who aren't likable," she told the paper. "I'm not frightened of being ugly, in character or the way I look."[2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot) She has named Helen McCrory, Janet McTeer, Jessie Buckley, and Sally Hawkins as acting inspirations, and Joachim Trier, Andrea Arnold, and Mike Leigh as filmmakers she is drawn to.[1](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2026-rosie-sheehy-actress/5220581.article) • [2](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot)
## References
1. [Stars of Tomorrow 2026: Rosie Sheehy (actress), Screen Daily](https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2026-rosie-sheehy-actress/5220581.article)
2. ['To hell with RP' … how surprise Olivier nominee Rosie Sheehy is following in Richard Burton's footsteps, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/16/rp-olivier-nominee-rosie-sheehy-richard-burton-port-talbot)
3. [Rosie Sheehy, RADA graduate profiles](https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/rosie-sheehy/)
4. [Rosie Sheehy, Hamilton Hodell agency CV](https://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/talent/rosie-sheehy/cv/film-24/)
5. [An Interrogation at Hampstead Theatre – review, WhatsOnStage](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/an-interrogation-at-hampstead-theatre-review_1661823/)
6. [Who is Rosie Sheehy? Olivier Awards, on stage, and more, WhatsOnStage](https://www.whatsonstage.com/stage-names/rosie-sheehy/)
7. [Olivier Award nominee Rosie Sheehy says theatre changed her life, BBC Wales](https://bbc.com.im/news/articles/c5yjmk1y78jo)
8. [Interview: 'It's a Real Behemoth of a Role: Actor Rosie Sheehy on Capital Punishment, Misogyny and Fatigue in Sophie Treadwell's MACHINAL, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/interview-its-a-real-behemoth-of-a-role-actor-rosie-sheehy-on-capital-punishment-misogyny-and-fatigue-in-sophie-treadwells-machinal-20240502)
9. [Review: Oleanna – 'Engaging performances brighten an outdated play', The Stage](https://www.thestage.co.uk/long-reviews/oleanna-2)
10. [Meet Rosie Sheehy, the Olivier nominee in the year's most devastating play, The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/oliviers-rosie-sheehy-guess-how-much-i-love-you-b2954564.html)
11. [Rosie Sheehy on starring in Conor McPherson's 'The Brightening Air', London Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/interviews/rosie-sheehy-on-starring-in-conor-mcphersons-the-brightening-air)
12. [THEATRE REVIEW: The Oresteia starring Rosie Sheehy, Mary-Louise Parker, Tom Glynn-Carney & David Morrissey at the Bridge Theatre, monstagigz](https://monstagigz.com/2026/07/21/theatre-review-the-oresteia-starring-rosie-sheehy-mary-louise-parker-tom-glynn-carney-david-morrissey-at-the-bridge-theatre/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stage practitioners and craft › Acting: theory, technique, and teachers › Acting overview*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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