Kate Phillips

Kate Phillips (born 21 May 1989) is a British actress whose formative years were split between south‑west London, Nottinghamshire, and Bristol. She spent her childhood moving across England, an experience she later credited with giving her a flexible sense of character and place. After completing three years of study at Leeds University, she earned a place at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where she honed her craft in both classical and contemporary performance. Upon graduating, Phillips returned to Leeds to portray Abigail Williams in The Crucible at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, marking her professional stage debut. While still a student, she was cast as Jane Seymour in the BBC adaptation of Wolf Hall, a role that would become her breakout performance. The casting sparked a minor media controversy when some historians claimed she was “too pretty” for Henry VIII’s third wife, but critics quickly defended her nuanced portrayal, with Screen Daily naming her a “Star of Tomorrow.” This early acclaim cemented her reputation as a talented newcomer capable of navigating complex historical figures.

In the years that followed, Phillips built an impressive résumé of television work, appearing in the ambitious miniseries War & Peace (2016) and joining the first season of The Crown the same year. She became a recurring presence in Peaky Blinders, appearing across its final three seasons (2016–2022), and in 2019 she stepped onto the big screen as Princess Mary in the feature film Downton Abbey. Since 2020, she has carried the title role of Eliza Scarlet in the period crime drama Miss Scarlet and The Duke, showcasing her ability to lead a series with charisma and wit. Beyond acting, Phillips co‑founded the production company Just John Films in 2024 alongside Rosie Day and Amber Anderson, signaling an expansion into behind‑the‑scenes work. On a personal note, she shares a partnership with actor Oliver Chris, and together they raise a daughter, balancing family life with a steadily growing career in film, television, and theatre.