Hayley Elizabeth Atwell was born on April 5, 1982, in London, England. Her mother, Alison Cain, is British, and her father, Grant Atwell, is American. She holds dual British and American citizenship. Atwell attended the London Oratory School and later studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2005.
Atwell began her professional acting career with stage roles, including productions at the Oxford Stage Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her early stage work helped establish her as a versatile and skilled performer.
Atwell’s screen debut came in 2006 with the BBC television film The Line of Beauty. Her film career gained momentum with roles in films such as Cassandra’s Dream (2007) directed by Woody Allen, and The Duchess (2008).
Atwell achieved widespread recognition for her portrayal of Agent Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). She first appeared as Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). The character’s popularity led to her starring in the Marvel One-Shot short film Agent Carter (2013) and the television series Agent Carter (2015-2016), which aired for two seasons. She reprised the role in various MCU films and television shows, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Ant-Man (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and the animated series What If…? (2021).
Beyond her work in the MCU, Atwell has appeared in a range of films, showcasing her versatility as an actress. Some notable film roles include: