Joanne Whalley

Biography

Joanne Whalley is an English film and television actress who was born in Salford, Lancashire, and grew up around Manchester. She came to prominence on British television in the drama serials Edge of Darkness (1985), which earned her a BAFTA TV Award nomination, and The Singing Detective (1986). On stage, her performance in Saved brought a Laurence Olivier Award nomination in 1985. On screen she has appeared in Pink Floyd The Wall (1982), Dance with a Stranger (1985), Willow (1988), and Scandal (1989), the last of which screened in competition at Cannes. She went on to play historical and fictional figures such as Scarlett O'Hara in Scarlett (1994), the title role in Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (2000), Queen Mary I in The Virgin Queen, and Catherine of Aragon in Wolf Hall (2015). Her other films include The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997), Trial by Jury (1994), and 44 Inch Chest (2009).

65years old

Turns 66 on August 25in 317 days

Born August 25, 1961Salford
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22

Movie Career

Films: 25
Career span: 43 years1982 to 2025

Genres

Drama76%, 19 films
Thriller36%, 9 films
Action28%, 7 films
Crime24%, 6 films
Adventure12%, 3 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Beyond film
Whalley also fronted the pop group Cindy & The Saffrons. In 1982 the group recorded the Shangri-Las song "Past, Present and Future" at Abbey Road Studios, and the track reached number 56 on the UK singles chart.
Early training
Whalley was with the Royal Court Theatre from 1982 to 1986, where she trained and acted. Her start came at the 1982 Young Writers' Festival, creating Rita in Max Stafford-Clark's first staging of Andrea Dunbar's Rita, Sue and Bob Too.
First role
In 1979, Whalley played a young Beatles fan in Birth of the Beatles, a biographical film directed by Richard Marquand. It was her first feature film role.

Joanne Whalley movies on Netflix

Tornado2025IMDb rating 5.5as Vienna Crawford
Val2021IMDb rating 7.6as Himself
Paul, Apostle of Christ2018IMDb rating 6.7as Priscilla
Muse2017IMDb rating 5.4as Jacqueline
The Challenger2013IMDb rating 7.2as Gweneth Feynman
Twixt2011IMDb rating 4.8as Denise
44 Inch Chest2009IMDb rating 5.8as Liz Diamond
Flood2007IMDb rating 4.8as Patricia Nash
The Californians2005IMDb rating 4.7as Luna
The Guilty2000IMDb rating 6.1as Natalie Crane
The Man Who Knew Too Little1997IMDb rating 6.6as Lori
A Good Man in Africa1994IMDb rating 5.1as Celia Adekunle
Trial by Jury1994IMDb rating 5.5as Valerie Alston
Mother's Boys1993IMDb rating 5.4as Colleen 'Callie' Harland
Storyville1992IMDb rating 5.7as Natalie Tate
Shattered1991IMDb rating 6.5as Jenny Scott
Navy Seals1990IMDb rating 5.6as Claire Varrens
The Big Man1990IMDb rating 5.7as Beth Scoular
Kill Me Again1989IMDb rating 6.3as Fay Forrester
Scandal1989IMDb rating 6.5as Christine Keeler
To Kill a Priest1988IMDb rating 6.1as Anna
Willow1988IMDb rating 7.2as Sorsha
Dance with a Stranger1985IMDb rating 6.6as Christine
A Christmas Carol1984IMDb rating 7.8as Fan
Pink Floyd The Wall1982IMDb rating 8.0as Groupie

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Willow1988 Action, Adventure, Dramaas Sorsha
IMDb rating 7.2139K votes
The Man Who Knew Too Little1997 Action, Comedy, Crimeas Lori
IMDb rating 6.638K votes
Navy Seals1990as Claire Varrens
IMDb rating 5.620K votes
Shattered1991as Jenny Scott
IMDb rating 6.513K votes
Kill Me Again1989as Fay Forrester
IMDb rating 6.36.9K votes
Paul, Apostle of Christ2018as Priscilla
IMDb rating 6.712K votes
Scandal1989as Christine Keeler
IMDb rating 6.56.1K votes
Twixt2011as Denise
IMDb rating 4.814K votes

Most often with

Val Kilmer appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Val Kilmer

John Hurt

Tim Roth

William Hurt

Joss Ackland

Bob Hoskins

Films together

Val Kilmer4 films together, 1988 to 2021
Val Kilmer's page
- Val2021IMDb rating 7.6Whalley as HimselfKilmer as Himself
- Twixt2011IMDb rating 4.8Whalley as DeniseKilmer as Hall Baltimore
- Kill Me Again1989IMDb rating 6.3Whalley as Fay ForresterKilmer as Jack Andrews
- Willow1988IMDb rating 7.2Whalley as SorshaKilmer as Madmartigan
John Hurt2 films together, 1989 to 2009
John Hurt's page
- 44 Inch Chest2009IMDb rating 5.8Whalley as Liz DiamondHurt as Old Man Peanut
- Scandal1989IMDb rating 6.5Whalley as Christine KeelerHurt as Stephen Ward
Tim Roth2 films together, 1988 to 2025
Tim Roth's page
- Tornado2025IMDb rating 5.5Whalley as Vienna CrawfordRoth as Sugarman
- To Kill a Priest1988IMDb rating 6.1Whalley as AnnaRoth as Feliks
William Hurt2 films together, 1994 to 2013
William Hurt's page
- The Challenger2013IMDb rating 7.2Whalley as Gweneth FeynmanHurt as Richard Feynman
- Trial by Jury1994IMDb rating 5.5Whalley as Valerie AlstonHurt as Tommy Vesey
Joss Ackland2 films together, 1988 to 1993
Joss Ackland's page
- Mother's Boys1993IMDb rating 5.4Whalley as Colleen 'Callie' HarlandAckland as Lansing, Jude's Attorney
- To Kill a Priest1988IMDb rating 6.1Whalley as AnnaAckland as Colonel
Bob Hoskins2 films together, 1982 to 1991
Bob Hoskins's page
- Shattered1991IMDb rating 6.5Whalley as Jenny ScottHoskins as Gus Klein
- Pink Floyd The Wall1982IMDb rating 8.0Whalley as GroupieHoskins as Rock and Roll Manager
Also two films together5 more actors
- Peter GallagherThe Man Who Knew Too Little (1997) and Mother's Boys (1993)
- Ralph BrownFlood (2007) and Scandal (1989)
- David SuchetFlood (2007) and To Kill a Priest (1988)
- Rick RossovichVal (2021) and Navy Seals (1990)
- Pat RoachThe Big Man (1990) and Willow (1988)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.