Geraldine Somerville
About
Biography
Biography
Internationally acclaimed Irish actress Geraldine Somerville displayed an early interest in the performing arts and began taking dance lessons at age six. She went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and made her television debut in 1990 with a one-off role on BBC's medical drama "Casualty." Her first big break came in 1993, when she was cast opposite Robbie Coltrane in his detective series "Cracker." The abrasive crime drama proved popular, running for four seasons and earning Somerville a BAFTA nod for Best Actress. To many, this is the role for which she is best known. However, 2001 proved to be a life-changing year for the actress. She costarred alongside a number of highly celebrated British actors in Robert Altman's murder-mystery ensemble piece, "Gosford Park." That year she also played Lily Potter in the wildly popular children's adventure "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." The former film earned Somerville accolades from a bevy of American film critics, and the latter made her famous amongst the under-17 set. She has reprised the role of Harry Potter's deceased mother in each of the successive films, balancing these magic-fueled movies with appearances on British television. As the series drew to a close with the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," Somerville returned to mature dramas with a role in the docudrama "My Week with Marilyn," an intimate look into the life of Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1990
Early TV credit, a guest appearance on the popular British medical series "Casualty" (BBC)
1991
Film debut in "Close My Eyes"
1993
Landed regular role as Detective Sergeant Jane Penhaligon on the popular series "Cracker" (A&E)
1994
Portrayed Juliet in a British TV production of "Romeo & Juliet"
1995
Appeared in "Haunted"
1999
Cast in a featured role in the acclaimed British miniseries "Aristocrats" (BBC)
2001
Cast as Lady Stockbridge in the period mystery comedy-drama "Gosford Park"
2001
Cast as Harry Potter's (Daniel Radcliffe) mother Lily in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
2002
Reprised Lily Potter role in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"
2004
Third outing as Lily Potter, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"
2005
Reprised Lily in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
2007
Played titular character in BBC TV-movie "Daphne"
2007
Once again played Lily Potter in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
2009
Directed by David Yates in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
2010
Played Lily Potter for the final two films in the epic franchise, the David Yates directed "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" (2010) and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" (2011)
2011
Cast in "My Week with Marilyn," starring Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe
Family
