Laura Donnelly is a Northern Irish actress, born on August 20, 1982, in Belfast. She attended Rathmore Grammar School in Belfast and trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) in Glasgow.
Donnelly is primarily known for her work in theatre, television, and film. She has established herself as a versatile actress, taking on roles in a variety of genres and mediums.
Donnelly has a significant theatre background. She won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in 2018 for her performance as Elizabeth Proctor in Jez Butterworth’s play *The Ferryman* at the Royal Court Theatre and the Gielgud Theatre in London, later transferring to Broadway. Other notable theatre credits include *The River* at the Royal Court Theatre, opposite Hugh Jackman, and *Philadelphia, Here I Come!* at the Donmar Warehouse.
Donnelly has appeared in numerous television series. She is perhaps best known for her role as Jenny Fraser Murray in the Starz historical drama *Outlander*. Other television credits include *Sugar Rush*, *Hex*, *Casualty*, *Merlin*, *The Fall*, *Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands*, *Britannia*, and *The Nevers*.
Donnelly’s film appearances include roles in *Right Here Right Now*, *Dread*, *Insatiable*, *Hello Carter*, *The Program*, *Tolkien*, and *Belfast*. She starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Halloween special *Werewolf by Night* as Elsa Bloodstone.