Katie McGrath was born on January 3, 1983, in Ashford, County Wicklow, Ireland. Her mother, Mary, worked as a designer for Irish fashion label, and her father, Paul, worked with computers. She attended St. Andrew’s College, a private school in Dublin. McGrath initially studied history at Trinity College, Dublin, but left before graduating to pursue a career in fashion journalism. However, she later shifted her focus to acting.
McGrath’s acting career began with uncredited roles in the films Damage (2007) and Eden (2008). She also worked as a wardrobe assistant on the series The Tudors.
McGrath gained recognition for her role as Morgana Pendragon in the BBC One fantasy adventure series Merlin (2008–2012). Her portrayal of the complex and evolving character earned her significant acclaim. Following Merlin, she secured prominent roles in various television series, including Dates (2013), Dracula (2013–2014) as Lucy Westenra, and Slasher (2016) as Sarah Bennett.
While primarily known for her television work, McGrath has also appeared in several films. Some of her notable film credits include:
In recent years, McGrath is known for portraying Lena Luthor in the CW superhero series Supergirl (2016–2021). Her performance has been