Sophie McShera

Sophie McShera (born 17 May 1985) is an English actress known for her roles as Ros McCain in the fifth series of the BBC television series Waterloo Road, as Daisy Mason in the ITV television series Downton Abbey, and as Drizella Tremaine in the 2015 Disney film Cinderella.

Sophie McShera
McShera at an event for Downton Abbey cast and creators on May 2014.
Born (1985-05-17) 17 May 1985
Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
OccupationActress
Years active2007–present
Known for

Early life, education, and personal life

McShera was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England,[1] into a large Irish family.[2] Her mother is a teacher and her father is a teacher turned financial adviser.[3] At an early age, her family moved to nearby Eccleshill, West Yorkshire, also in Bradford, where she attended St Joseph's College.[4]

During high school, she attended the Footsteps Theatre School before getting her stage break at the age of twelve in the comedy The Goodbye Girl. She followed this up with a stint on tour with Annie, later going to Brunel University, London, where she earned a degree in drama.[5]

McShera told Rachel Ray In Season magazine in 2019 that she was a vegetarian.[6]

Career

McShera's acting career started after university in 2007, with roles in the soap operas Emmerdale and Doctors and the drama Survivors in 2008. In 2009, she joined the regular cast of BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road, playing A-level student Ros McCain for the entirety of the fifth series. Ros' storylines revolved around her trying to fulfil her academic potential and also questioning her sexuality.[7] Following her departure from Waterloo Road, McShera became part of the cast of Julian Fellowes' ITV costume drama Downton Abbey as Daisy, the kitchen maid.[8] The show attracted critical and popular success.[9][10] McShera, alongside Hugh Bonneville, made a personal thank you to the audience after Downton Abbey won Most Popular TV Drama at the 2012 National TV Awards.[11] Since 2013 McShera has played Job Centre regular Bryony in ITV2 sitcom The Job Lot.[12][13] McShera played stepsister Drisella Tremaine in Disney's 2015 film Cinderella.[14] She displayed her singing skills as lady's maid Gwynne in the ABC musical comedy series Galavant.

Her stage roles include playing the eponymous role in the pantomime Cinderella at the West Yorkshire Playhouse between December 2009 and January 2010,[15] In 1998 she appeared as Annie alongside Paul O'Grady for the show's London run and subsequent tour.[16] In 2011 she joined the cast of Jez Butterworth's award-winning stage play Jerusalem playing the role of Pea for the play's return to London's West End at the Apollo Theatre.[17][18]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2015 Cinderella Drisella Tremaine
2019 Downton Abbey Daisy Robinson/Daisy Mason
2019 The Personal History of David Copperfield Mrs. Crupp
2022 Downton Abbey: A New Era Daisy Robinson/Daisy Mason

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Emmerdale Danielle Hollywell 2 episodes
2008 Doctors Mandy Fairfield "One Dog Day"
Survivors Cathy "1.1"
2009–2010 Waterloo Road Ros McCain 19 episodes
2010–2015 Downton Abbey Daisy Robinson/Daisy Mason 52 episodes
2013–2015 The Job Lot Bryony 10 episodes
2013 Highway to Dhampus Ginny Topham
Bradford: A City of Dreams Narrator
2015 Galavant Gwynne 8 episodes
Inside No. 9 Tina "Séance Time"
2017 Murdered for Being Different Mandy
Timewasters Rose
2018 Murdoch Mysteries Ann Ryand "Murdoch Mystery Mansion"
Porters Pippa
2019 London Kills Karen Harrison "The Dark"
2020 The Queen's Gambit Miss Graham Miniseries, 2 episodes
2023 The Gallows Pole Grace Hartley Miniseries

References
  1. "Sophie McShera". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  2. Hoggard, Liz (16 December 2011). "Interview: Downton's Sophie McShera". London Evening Standard.
  3. "Interview: Downton's Sophie McShera". The Evening Standard. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  4. Clayton, Emma (1 November 2010). "Bradford actress Sophie McShera starring in TV drama Downton Abbey". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  5. Jim Greenhalf (4 December 2009). "Newspaper profile of McShera". Bradford Telegraph and Argus.
  6. Whitney, Alyse (25 September 2019). "The 'Downton Abbey' Cast Shares Secrets Behind the Real Food on the Show". Rachael Ray In Season. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  7. "Ros McCain". BBC. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  8. Radford, Ceri (24 September 2010). "Downton Abbey, ITV1, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  9. Guinness Book of Records: Downton Abbey is most critically acclaimed show on television The Telegraph, 15 September 2011
  10. "Downton Abbey: How Hollywood is snapping up our bright TV drama stars". The Daily Mirror. 7 November 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  11. Wightman, Catriona (26 January 2012). "National Television Awards 2012 – Live Blog". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  12. Reid-Smith, Tris (26 April 2012). "Gay actor Russell Tovey to star in new ITV sitcom". Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  13. "Vicious The Job Lot Plebs ITV". ITV Press Centre. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  14. 'Downton Abbey' Star in Talks to Join Disney's 'Cinderella' (Exclusive) Retrieved 11 June 2013
  15. Clayton, Emma (24 December 2009). "Sophie's got her eye on the ball". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  16. "Friends Reunited".
  17. Hoggard, Liz (16 December 2011). "Interview: Downton's Sophie McShera". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  18. "Sophie McShera joins Jerusalem".
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