Rose Leslie

Rose Eleanor Arbuthnot-Leslie was born on February 9, 1987, in Aberdeen, Scotland. She was raised at Lickleyhead Castle, her family’s ancestral home, until the age of 10. After three years in France, she attended Millfield, a co-educational public school in England, where she developed her interest in acting. She further honed her craft at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), graduating with a Bachelor’s degree with honors in 2008. Her early career included narrating for BBC Radio and making her on-screen debut in the television film “New Town” (2009), for which she received a Scottish BAFTA for Best Acting Performance – New Talent Award.

Leslie gained broader recognition for her role as Gwen Dawson in the ITV drama series “Downton Abbey” (2010–2011, 2015). A significant turning point in her career was her portrayal of Ygritte, a wildling, in the HBO fantasy series “Game of Thrones” (2012–2014), a role that cemented her international presence. Following “Game of Thrones,” she took on diverse roles, including DS Emma Lane in the BBC detective drama “Luther” (2015) and starring as Maia Rindell in 30 episodes of the CBS All Access legal drama “The Good Fight” (2017–2019).

Her film credits include “Now Is Good” (2012), “Honeymoon” (2014), “The Last Witch Hunter” (2015), “Morgan” (2016), and “Death on the Nile” (2022). She has continued to work in television, starring as Clare Abshire in HBO’s “The Time Traveler’s Wife” (2022) and Kirsten Longacre in the BBC series “Vigil” (2021–2023). Leslie also appeared in the upcoming series “Miss Austen” (2024) and “The Hack” (2025).