Penny Downie

Biography

Penny Downie is an Australian actress who built her career in British theater and television after training at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, where she graduated in 1974. Born in Brisbane, she began in Australian theater companies before moving into television in 1977 with roles in The Box and Bellbird, and later appeared in Prisoner. In the early 1980s she left Australia for Britain and has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where her roles included Lady Anne in Richard III and Gertrude in Hamlet (2009), a production later adapted for BBC television. Her screen work includes Mrs. Pienaar in Invictus (2009), Rose Kenter in London Has Fallen (2016), Janet Lee Bouvier in Jackie (2016), and Tid in Breathe (2017). On television she played Ellen in Back from 2017 to 2021, Princess Alice in The Crown, and since 2023 has played Frances Munning in The Diplomat.

72years old

Turns 73 on January 1in 52 days

Born January 1, 1954Brisbane
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19

Movie Career

Films: 10
Career span: 32 years1985 to 2017

Genres

Drama90%, 9 films
Romance40%, 4 films
Biography30%, 3 films
History30%, 3 films
Crime20%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Early training
Downie trained in ballet for 13 years starting at age four, then chose the theater over dance and graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1974.
A role that slipped away
In 2016, Downie took over the part of Nat in Rabbit Hole at the Hampstead Theatre, stepping in for Alison Steadman.

Penny Downie movies on Netflix

Breathe2017IMDb rating 7.2as Tid
Jackie2016IMDb rating 6.6as Janet Lee
London Has Fallen2016IMDb rating 5.9as HS Rose Kenter
W.E.2011IMDb rating 6.2as Dr. Vargas
Hamlet2009IMDb rating 8.1as Gertrude
Invictus2009IMDb rating 7.3as Mrs. Pienaar
Falling2005IMDb rating 7.1as Hazel Kent
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking2004IMDb rating 6.6as Judith Massingham
The House of Mirth2000IMDb rating 7.0as Judy Trenor
Wetherby1985IMDb rating 6.5as Chrissie

Best known for

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

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Invictus2009 Biography, Drama, Historyas Mrs. Pienaar
IMDb rating 7.3176K votes
London Has Fallen2016 Action, Crime, Thrilleras HS Rose Kenter
IMDb rating 5.9182K votes
Hamlet2009as Gertrude
IMDb rating 8.14.1K votes
Breathe2017as Tid
IMDb rating 7.227K votes
Jackie2016as Janet Lee
IMDb rating 6.688K votes
The House of Mirth2000as Judy Trenor
IMDb rating 7.08.7K votes
Wetherby1985as Chrissie
IMDb rating 6.51.9K votes
W.E.2011as Dr. Vargas
IMDb rating 6.214K votes

Worked with

Penny Downie shares two films with Morgan Freeman, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Morgan Freeman

Jonathan Hyde

John Hurt

Dan Aykroyd

Matt Damon

Vanessa RedgraveBabak NajafiDirector, 1 film

Clint EastwoodDirector, 1 film Pablo LarraínDirector, 1 film

Films together

Morgan Freeman2 films together, 2009 to 2016
Morgan Freeman's page
- London Has Fallen2016IMDb rating 5.9Downie as HS Rose KenterFreeman as Alan Trumbull
- Invictus2009IMDb rating 7.3Downie as Mrs. PienaarFreeman as Nelson Mandela
Jonathan Hyde2 films together, 2004 to 2017
Jonathan Hyde's page
- Breathe2017IMDb rating 7.2Downie as TidHyde as Dr. Entwistle
- Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking2004IMDb rating 6.6Downie as Judith MassinghamHyde as George Pentney
John Hurt1 film together, 2016
John Hurt's page
- Jackie2016IMDb rating 6.6Downie as Janet LeeHurt as The Priest
Dan Aykroyd1 film together, 2000
Dan Aykroyd's page
- The House of Mirth2000IMDb rating 7.0Downie as Judy TrenorAykroyd as Augustus 'Gus' Trenor
Matt Damon1 film together, 2009
Matt Damon's page
- Invictus2009IMDb rating 7.3Downie as Mrs. PienaarDamon as Francois Pienaar
Vanessa Redgrave1 film together, 1985
Vanessa Redgrave's page
- Wetherby1985IMDb rating 6.5Downie as ChrissieRedgrave as Jean Travers
Babak NajafiDirector, 1 film, 2016
All films by Babak Najafi
- London Has Fallen2016IMDb rating 5.9Downie as HS Rose Kenter
Clint EastwoodDirector, 1 film, 2009
All films by Clint Eastwood
- Invictus2009IMDb rating 7.3Downie as Mrs. Pienaar
Pablo LarraínDirector, 1 film, 2016
All films by Pablo Larraín
- Jackie2016IMDb rating 6.6Downie as Janet Lee

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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