Emma Lowndes
Introduction '''Emma Lowndes''' (born 1975) is an English actress, known for portraying Bella Gregson in ''Cranford'', Mary Rivers in ''Jane Eyre'' and Margie Drewe in ''Downton Abbey''.
Background Brought up in Irlam, near Manchester, Lowndes attended Irlam Primary School and Urmston Grammar School, where she was Head Girl. She studied English at the University of York before training at RADA, graduating in 2000.Her training was partly funded by the Salford Sports and Arts Trust, established by Albert Finney and Harold Riley to assist the city's young talent.Lowndes is the eldest of three siblings born to Eric and Suzanne Lowndes. She has a younger brother, footballer Nathan Lowndes, and a sister, Katie Lowndes.Lowndes lives in London with her partner, Jason Merrells and their daughter.
Career Lowndes' television credits include ''Waking the Dead'', ''Burn It'', ''Afterlife'', ''Doctors'', ''Vera'', ''Silent Witness'', ''Heartbeat, Downton Abbey'' and ''Moving On''. She also played Mary Rivers in the 2006 BBC adaptation of ''Jane Eyre'' and Bella Gregson in ''Cranford''.Lowndes has appeared in the films ''All or Nothing'' (2002), ''This Little Life'' (2003), ''Mother's Milk'' (2011) and ''Frozen'' (2005). She has lent her voice to the radio dramas ''Whitby Pier'', ''Aperture'' and ''Hanging'', and played Sarah Badger in the 2001 ''The Tomorrow People'' audio drama, ''The New Gods''.Her theatre work includes ''Whose Life Is It Anyway? '', ''The Rise and Fall of Little Voice'', ''The Seagull'', ''Port'' and ''Cold Meat Party''. She has also appeared in productions of ''Thérèse Raquin'', ''Measure for Measure'', ''Topless Mum'' and ''Three More Sleepless Nights''. She joined the cast of ''Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'' at the Palace Theatre, London from 24 May 2017, playing the role of Ginny Potter.
Awards Lowndes won Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2003 Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards for productions of ''Port'' and ''The Seagull'' at the Royal Exchange Theatre. Her role in ''The Seagull'' also earned her a nomination at the 2003 Ian Charleson Awards.
Filmography ===Television=== Year Show Episode Role Notes 2002 ''Lenny Blue'' DC Kerry Allen Television film ''Heartbeat'' ''A Girl's Best Friend'' (2002) Teresa Period crime drama 2003 ''Burn It'' Jane Drama series 2004 ''Von Trapped'' Leisl 'Lee' Moogan  Television film 2005 ''The Walk'' Gillian Television film ''Waking the Dead'' ''Straw Dog (parts one and two)'' (2005) Young Grace Foley Police procedural 2006 ''Jane Eyre'' ''Episode 1.4'' (2006) Mary Rivers Miniseries ''Afterlife'' ''A Name Written in Water '' (2006) Zoe Supernatural drama 2007 ''Cranford'' ''June 1842'' (2007)''August 1842'' (2007)''November 1842'' (2007)''April 1843 '' (2007) Bella Gregson Comedy drama 2008 ''Doctors'' ''Attack of the Centorts: Part 1'' (2008)''Attack of the Centorts: Part 2'' (2008) Mia Arnell Soap opera ''The Royal'' ''Blood's Thicker Than Water'' (2008) Penny Darnby Period medical drama ''Heartbeat'' ''Missing Persons'' (2008) Julie Period crime drama 2009 ''Moving On'' ''The Rain Has Stopped'' (2009) Alice Anthology series ''Cranford'' ''August 1844'' (2009)''October to December 1844'' (2009) Bella Gregson Comedy drama ''Paradox'' ''Episode 1.5'' (2009) Julie Hughes Sci-fi crime drama 2010 ''Survivors'' ''Episode 2.4'' (2010)''Episode 2.5'' (2010) Sally Post-apocalyptic drama 2011 ''Silent Witness'' ''First Casualty: Parts 1 & 2'' (2011) Claire Lockford Crime drama ''Vera'' ''Little Lazarus'' Renagh Salter Crime drama 2014 ''Downton Abbey'' (Series 5) Mrs Margie Drewe Period drama 2015 ''The Musketeers'' ''Emilie'' (episode 2.4) Emilie Drama series 2020 ''Call the Midwife'' ''Episode 9.1'' (2020) Brenda Donnelly Period medical drama===Film=== Year  Film Role Notes 2002 ''All or Nothing'' Party Girl 2003 ''This Little Life'' Nurse Anne 2005 ''Frozen'' Receptionist Uncredited 2019 ''Military Wives'' Annie
Selected theatre performances * Rachel in ''Port'' by Simon Stephens . World premiere directed by Marianne Elliott at the Royal Exchange, Manchester. Lowndes won a MEN Award for her performance. (2002)* Nina in ''The Seagull'' by Anton Chekov. Directed by Greg Hersov at the Royal Exchange, Manchester. Lowndes won a MEN Award for her performance. (2003)* Nancy in ''Cold Meat Party'' by Brad Fraser. World premiere directed by Braham Murray at the Royal Exchange, Manchester. (2003)* Little Voice in ''The Rise and Fall of Little Voice'' by Jim Cartwright. Directed by Sarah Frankcom at the Royal Exchange, Manchester. (2004)* May in ''The Accrington Pals'' by Peter Whelan. Directed by James Dacre at the Royal Exchange, Manchester. (2013).
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