Who is Anne-Marie Duff?
British actress and narrator Anne-Marie Duff, was born in Chiswick, London, England, on 8 October 1970 under the zodiac sign of Libra. She’s appeared in close to 50 movies and TV series, and is perhaps still best known for her portrayal of Julia in the 2009 biographical musical movie “Nowhere Boy”, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, and in which she starred alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Kristin Scott Thomas. It follows the early life of the late British singer-songwriter and peace activist John Winston Ono Lennon, and the movie won six of its 31 award nominations.
Early life and education
Irish immigrants Brendan and Mary Duff raised their daughter Anne-Marie in London, alongside her brother Eddy Duff; Brendan worked at Fuller’s Brewery as a painter and decorator, while Mary worked at a shoe store.
Anne-Marie studied at Mellow Lane School, and it was during her time there that she discovered her talent for singing; she hired a classical singing coach, who advised Anne-Marie to pursue a career in the film industry rather than in singing. She thus began practicing acting at Young Argosy, a youth theatre, which helped her overcome her shyness.
Anne-Marie’s first drama school application was rejected; she was 19 when she was accepted at the London’s Drama Centre, where she studied acting together with successful British actress Anastasia Hille and British actor and movie director John Simm.
Anne-Marie worked hard on her acting skills, and appeared in many theatre plays, prior to launching her career on TV aged 27.
Roles in TV series
Anne-Marie made her debut TV series appearance in two episodes of the 1997 mystery crime drama “Trial & Retribution”, and the remainder of the ’90s saw her play Sheila in all the four episodes of the drama mini-series “Amongst Women”, and Lady Louisa in four episodes of the historical mini-series “Aristocrats”.
In 2002, Anne-Marie played Holly in the popular fantasy comedy “Wild West”, created by Simon Nye, and which starred Dawn French, Catherine Tate and David Bradley. It follows the lives of Mary Trewednack and her girlfriend Angela – the series was nominated for a 2003 National Television Award for Most Popular Comedy Performance.
Anne-Marie had only three other TV series roles in the 2000s: she played Olya Demina in two episodes of the 2002 romantic mini-series “Doctor Zhivago”, Minette in a 2003 episode of the biographical historical mini-series “The Last King”, and the lead character Queen Elizabeth I in the 2006 biographical historical mini-series “The Virgin Queen”.
Anne-Marie played Claire Church in the 2015 crime mini-series “From Darkness”, starring alongside Richard Rankin and Johnny Harris. It follows the life of Claire Church, a retired police officer who worked at Greater Manchester Police Station – the mini-series was nominated for four awards.
Anne-Marie’s three most recent TV series roles have been in 13 episodes of the 2021 comedy drama “Sex Education”, the 2022 episodes “Jackie” and “Susannah” of the mystery crime drama “Suspect”, and 10 episodes of the thriller comedy drama “Bad Sisters”, also in 2022.
Roles in movies
Anne-Marie’s debut film role was in the 1998 short drama “Mild and Bitter”, and she was then cast to appear in the 2001 romantic mystery drama “Enigma”, and the 2002 dramas “Sinners” and “The Magdalene Sisters”.
The year 2006 saw her play Annabel in the critically acclaimed romantic crime drama “Notes on a Scandal”, directed by Richard Eyre, and which starred Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench and Andrew Simpson. It follows the life of an art teacher who’s sleeping with her 15-year-old student – the film won 15 of its 93 award nominations, which included four Oscar nominations.
The remainder of the 2000s saw Anne-Marie appear in several movies, such as the 2008 romantic comedy “French Film”, and in 2009 the biographical romantic drama “The Last Station” and the biographical drama “Margot”.
She portrayed the lead character, Lucy Logan the Librarian in the 2015 adventure family fantasy “Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism”, directed by Christopher N. Rowley, and which also starred Lesley Manville and Dominic Monaghan. It follows an orphan who has to protect her book on art from a bank robber – the movie won one of its two award nominations.
Three of Anne-Marie’s most recent film roles have been in the 2016 short drama “Miranda’s Letter”, the 2017 romantic musical drama “On Chesil Beach”, and the 2018 drama “National Theatre Live: Macbeth”.
Other credits
Anne-Marie sang the song “Maggie Mae” in the 2009 movie “Nowhere Boy”.
She received special thanks for the 2016 short historical video “Inside Suffragette”.
Anne-Marie could’ve been seen featured in a number of documentaries, including the 2007 movie “The 50 Greatest Television Dramas”, the 2008 mini-series “Pop Britannia”, and the 2017 series “Hospital”.
Some of the talk-shows in which she’s made a guest appearance include “One Show”, “This Morning”, and “Kermode and Mayo’s Home Entertainment Service”.
Awards and nominations
Anne-Marie’s won nine of her 26 award nominations. Some of her wins include a 2008 BAFTA Cymry Award for Best Actress (Yr Actores Orau), for her performance in “The History of Mr. Polly”, a 2009 British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for “Nowhere Boy” and a 2015 Women Film Critics Circle Award for Women’s Work/Best Ensemble, for “Suffragette”.
She was also nominated for three BAFTA TV Awards for Best Actress, in 2005, 2006 and 2007, two for “Shameless” and the third for “The Virgin Queen”.
Love life and husband
Anne-Marie describes herself as a ‘helpless romantic’, and it’s widely known that she was once married. She exchanged vows with popular Scottish actor James McAvoy on 11 November 2006, in a large ceremony attended by many of their friends and family members; the two met on the set of the 2004 crime comedy series “Shameless”. James has been credited with appearing in more than 60 movies and TV series, and is perhaps still best known for his playing of Bruce in the 2013 action crime comedy movie “Filth”.
Anne-Marie gave birth to their son Brendan Duff McAvoy on 26 February 2010, but she and James divorced in 2016.
Anne-Marie hasn’t spoken of any men whom she might have been with since her and James’ divorce, while it’s known that she was in a relationship with famous Scottish actor David Tennant prior to meeting James, from 1999 to 2003.
Anne-Marie seems to be single as of September 2022, was once married to James McAvoy, and has a son with him.
Hobbies and interesting facts
Anne-Marie prefers acting in theatre plays rather than on TV, and she returned to the stage nine months after the birth of her son Brendan, wanting to perform at The Old Vic theatre in the play “Cause Célèbre”.
She takes good care of her privacy, and although she has an Instagram account with more than 500 followers, Anne-Marie’s set it to private, so that only her followers can view her more than 150 pictures and videos.
Anne-Marie loves spending her spare time in nature with her pet dog.
She’s a philanthropist, and has donated money to several animal shelters and charity organizations.
Anne-Marie enjoys travelling, and has been to at least one country on every continent, with the exception of the Antarctic.
Her favorite actresses are Jennifer Aniston and Kate Winslet, while her favorite series is “Friends”, and favorite movie “We’re the Millers”.
Height, eyes and net worth
Anne-Marie’s age is 51. Her hair and eyes are brown, her height’s 5ft 7ins (1.7m), and her weight is about 140lbs (63kgs).
Anne-Marie’s net worth’s been estimated at over $2 million, as of September 2022.
