Katie McGuinness

Katie McGuinness is a British actress, who has held leading roles in numerous television series, movies, stage plays and voice acting roles for video/computer games

Katie McGuinness, born Evans, was born in East Sussex, England. McGuinness attended school at Beacon Academy in Crowborough, and Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School.^[1] She said in a 2020 interview she had always acted since childhood, and that her mother, who she greatly admires, was "very musical and into drama".^[1] She studied acting at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

McGuinness is best known for appearances in the television series' Snowpiercer (2020–2024),^[2][3] Roots (2016), The Borgias (2012), and Hollywood (2020).^[4][5] Her best known film appearances include The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017),^[6] and Bombil and Beatrice (2007).^[7] McGuinness has also been a voice actor for numerous video games, and had roles in stage plays including J.B. Priestley's 1945 play An Inspector Calls (2005),^[8][9] Oscar Wilde's 1893 play Salome (2006),^[10] John Masefield's 1908 Nan (2007),^[11] Susan Glaspell's 1922 Chains of Dew (2008),^[12][13] James Graham's A History of Falling Things (2009),^[14] Allan Monkhouse's 1911 Mary Broome (2011),^[15][16][17] Githa Sowerby's 1924 The Stepmother (2013),^{[18][19][20][21]} and Death of a Comedian (2015),^{[22][23][24][25]} by Belfast playwright Owen McCafferty.^[26] She believes that storytelling is an innate part of human nature, and she likes figuring out how her characters tick.^[1]

An Inspector Calls: Steve Orme, writing for British Theatre Guide in 2005, claims McGuinness delivered a “lively interpretation” of Sheila Birling, despite the play's out-of-era bomb threats.^[27] Kevin Catchpole found McGuinness' characterisation “strong” and “sympathetic”, but was unimpressed by the taped music and sound effects.^[28]

Salome: Rachel Zedner in ReviewsGate states in 2006: "Salome ... is both innocent and yet the ultimate manipulator. Katie McGuinness combines these attributes superbly, demonstrating how power can corrupt absolutely."^[10]

Nan: Michael Billington, as reviewer for The Guardian in 2007 states: "The great wooing scene [is] here beautifully played by Katie McGuinness as a nervously ardent Nan..."^[11]

Chains of Dew: John Thaxter in the British Theatre Guide in 2008 stated that Katie McGuinness gave a "life-enhancing performance" as a young woman transformed, "embracing freedom and self-expression".^[13]

A History of Falling Things: Elisabeth Mahoney in The Guardian in 2009 found Katie McGuinness - playing an isolated panic-stricken woman in the wake of the 7/7 London bombings - and her funny co-star Sion Pritchard, "both instantly credible".^[14]

Mary Broome: Michael Spring in Fringe Report in 2011 describes Katie McGuinness in her title role as Mary Broome, playing a woman who "is awkward, untutored but also youthfully decisive and if not ‘pure’ then certainly loving, aware of a duty to remake the world in her own generation."^[15] Natasha Tripney in Exeunt Magazine states: "Katie McGuinness has an apt placidity as Mary, a woman used to accepting the various hands that life has dealt her, but who is also quite unshakeable when she sets her mind to a thing", although she found the play's momentum petered out in the second half.^[16] Paul Taylor in The Independent, believed "theatre lovers should flock to" see it, and said: "Katie McGuinness as the eponymous housemaid beautifully conveys the girl's tearful confusion and the intelligence which, lurking behind her ostensible stupidity, helps her make a brave, climactic decision."^[17]

The Stepmother: Matt Wolf, in TheArtsDesk.com, praised Katie McGuinness' 2013 performance as Lois, "a young heroine who radiates charity, decency, and all things good" opposite "a hissable anti-hero" in a play in which "virtue and generosity are seen to prevail".^[18] McGuinness' role moves between the pre-marriage Lois, "a guileless and trusting young soul", and the post-marriage "plucky" businesswoman and "advocate and ally for [her] two [step-]daughters".^[18] Michael Billington in The Guardian describes the play as "riveting stuff" and notes "the high quality of the acting", with "Katie McGuinness [having] just the right mix of guilelessness and guts as Lois".^[19] Lucien Boyce's detailed review on her website notes that the play explores "female autonomy and power within patriarchy" in the time between the two world wars, addressing "the control of property [by men] and the exclusion of women from male institutions", with Katie McGuinness and Christopher Ravenscroft both delivering "fantastic" performances.^[21]

Death of a Comedian: Stuart Black, in the Londonist in 2015, describes this play as a "Faustian journey" which he says however is "strangely cynical", and "lacks the requisite amount of drama", with the "three main characters ... flattened to archetypes", these being stand-up comic Steve (Brian Doherty), his girlfriend Maggie (Katie McGuinness) as Angel, and his agent Doug (Shaun Dingwall) as Devil.^[23] Veronica Lee in TheArtsDesk.com notes that Katie McGuinness "ma[de] the most of an underwritten part" and says that, while the performances were "committed", the characters "too often feel like ciphers making speeches rather than people talking to each other".^[24]

McGuinness says she loves nature, practices meditation and yoga, and enjoys dancing and spending time with family members and her boyfriend.^[1]

• Katie McGuinness at IMDb