Anna Friel

Birthday: 12 July 1976, Rochdale, Lancashire, England, UK

Birth Name: Anna Louise Friel

Height: 165 cm

Anna Friel is an English actress, born in Rochdale. She has been acting since the age of 13, appearing in a number of British television programmes. She made her West End stage debut in London in 2001 ...Show More

I look at being an actress as being like a mummy: You're bandaged up and preserved as soon as you st Show more I look at being an actress as being like a mummy: You're bandaged up and preserved as soon as you start making other people money. Hide

I've been onstage once for one performance with four days' rehearsal. I've been onstage once for one performance with four days' rehearsal.

And the most important thing - apart from telling a good, believable story, and being a true charact Show more And the most important thing - apart from telling a good, believable story, and being a true character - is to be someone the audience will care about, even if you're playing a murderer or rapist. Hide

As long as she is talented enough and passionate about doing it herself then I will be happy and sup Show more As long as she is talented enough and passionate about doing it herself then I will be happy and support her. I think I will be sensible - my parents said I could only do it if I got my education and so I had something to fall back on. Hide

I play a character every day of my life, and I don't want to play a character as myself. They can ju Show more I play a character every day of my life, and I don't want to play a character as myself. They can judge me as an actress, not as a person. I'm not a spokeswoman for Anna. Hide

David is 13 years my senior and has much more experience. David is 13 years my senior and has much more experience.

For me personally, everything is on a kiss. For me personally, everything is on a kiss.

It's really important to draw the line on what we do as actors. It's really important to draw the line on what we do as actors.

People became more interested in my love life than in me, and that has a certain effect. You start t Show more People became more interested in my love life than in me, and that has a certain effect. You start to feel very empty and worth nothing, you start to become a piece in a board game you never wanted to play. Hide

I have the most lovely, healthy bouncing baby, she was all very compact and the right size. I have the most lovely, healthy bouncing baby, she was all very compact and the right size.

Now learning a bit more about footballers I think what they need to do well, is someone who really w Show more Now learning a bit more about footballers I think what they need to do well, is someone who really wants to stay in the background and just be a strong support. Hide

You can see when an actor gets bored: Their eyes go dead. I promised myself I'd never let that happe Show more You can see when an actor gets bored: Their eyes go dead. I promised myself I'd never let that happen. If it does, I'll go and live on a desert island for a year. Hide

We will spend more time in America, we're going to get a place in LA as hotels aren't great for the Show more We will spend more time in America, we're going to get a place in LA as hotels aren't great for the baby. Hide

Onstage, there's no hiding; you either can or can't act. There's no second take. Onstage, there's no hiding; you either can or can't act. There's no second take.

Being a mother gives you an incredible feeling of empowerment, you think if I can go through such pa Show more Being a mother gives you an incredible feeling of empowerment, you think if I can go through such pain and that level of sleep and still operate and not be grumpy you can do anything. It can be quite scary, you can't function your brain, forget your vocabulary. Hide

I've always chosen incredibly different roles and things that are quite offbeat. That way you're not Show more I've always chosen incredibly different roles and things that are quite offbeat. That way you're not limited. Hide

I want more children but for the next three years I want to act. I want more children but for the next three years I want to act.

The doctors say it dates back to a film where I had these huge prosthetic breasts because my charact Show more The doctors say it dates back to a film where I had these huge prosthetic breasts because my character was breast-feeding. The weight of them, and of the baby, did my back in. Hide

Some producer suddenly grabbed my doughnut out of my hand. Then he said, 'Anna, you really shouldn't Show more Some producer suddenly grabbed my doughnut out of my hand. Then he said, 'Anna, you really shouldn't be doing that'. He said, 'your tummy's not looking right on screen'. If it's just about that they should have hired a model. I mean, we're not talking about a big f**king tummy here! Hide

For Closer, we've had five weeks. You go into every single word because it's very, very concentrated Show more For Closer, we've had five weeks. You go into every single word because it's very, very concentrated dialogue. Hide

Well it's hard to bracket it like that because everyone always thinks you either go to America and y Show more Well it's hard to bracket it like that because everyone always thinks you either go to America and you come back, fail or succeed, but it doesn't work like that. Hide

Anna Friel's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (87)

The Jonathan Ross Show - Season 22

The Jonathan Ross Show - Season 15

The Jonathan Ross Show - Season 13

Good People

American Odyssey - Season 1

Tales From The Crypt - Season 4

A Midsummer Nights Dream

Tales From The Crypt - Season 3

The Jonathan Ross Show - Season 17

Bathory: Countess of Blood