Carey Mulligan Biography

Carey Mulligan is an English actress who has earned many awards including a British Academy Film Award, three Academy Awards nominations, four Golden Globe Awards nominations, and a Tony Award nomination. When she was 24, she had a breakthrough when she starred as Jenny in An Education.

Carey Mulligan Education

Mulligan studied at Woldingham School in Surrey where she heavily participated in theatre. While there, she served as the head of the department of the drama unit. In this capacity, she performed in plays and musicals, helped out with production, and conducted workshops with junior students.

At the age of 17, she applied to three London drama schools but she didn’t receive an invite to join either of the schools. She briefly studied at the International School of Düsseldorf in Germany when her family moved to Germany when she was 3 till she was 8 years old.

Carey Mulligan Career

Mulligan developed an interest in acting after she saw her brother in a school production of The King and I when she was 6 years old. While they were rehearsing, she begged his teachers to let her join the play and they added her to the chorus. While in school, she heavily participated in theatre.

When she was 16, she saw Kenneth Branagh’s production which cemented her belief to pursue an acting career. Thus, she wrote Barangh a letter and asked him for advice. In the letter, she explained that she felt a pull towards acting even though her parents didn’t want her to pursue an acting career. His sister replied to her and told her that Branagh had said that if she felt a strong pull towards acting she should pursue that pull and act.

Despite her parent’s disapproval, she applied to join three London drama schools. However, none of the schools accepted her. As a senior school, she attended a lecture by Julian Fellowes, an actor and screenwriter, who talked about the production of Gosford Park. After the lecture, she briefly talked to him and asked for his advice. He tried to deter her from the profession and suggested that she should marry a lawyer. Resolute, she sent him a letter where she told him that she was serious about acting and that it was her life’s ambition.

A few weeks later, Fellowes’ wife, Emma, invited her to a dinner that they were hosting for young aspiring actors. As a result, Mulligan met a casting assistant and thus got the opportunity to audition for a role in Pride & Prejudice. Thrice, Mulligan auditioned for a part in the film before she landed the role of Kitty Bennet. Between acting jobs, she worked at a pub as a barmaid and at Ealing Studios as an errand runner.

2004 to Present;

In 2004, she professionally debuted as an actor when she appeared on stage at the Royal Court Theatre in the play, Forty Winks. The following year, she debuted on film with a role in Pride & Prejudice. Next, she played various roles on TV with appearances in Bleak House, Northanger Abbey, and Doctor Who‘s “Blink.”In 2008, she debuted on Broadway when she appeared in the revival of The Seagull.

In 2009, she had her breakthrough when she appeared in An Education. For her performance in the film, she received the BAFTA Best Actress in a Leading Role Award and earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Next, she gained praise for her performances in Never Let Me Go, Drive, Shame,  Inside Llewyn Davis, Far from the Madding Crowd, Suffragette, Mudbound, Wildlife, and She Said. In 2013, she starred in her highest-grossing film when she starred in The Great Gatsby. She then starred in Skylight, for which she received a nomination for a Tony Best Actress in a Play Award.

Mulligan received nominations for Academy Awards for her roles in Promising Young Woman and Maestro. Additionally, she won a Critics’ Choice Movie Best Actress Award for her performance in Promising Young Woman. When she won the Best Female Lead Award at the 36th Independent Spirit Awards, she devoted the award to the late Helen McCrory.

In 2021, Mulligan replaced Nicole Kidman in The Dig. The following year, she starred in the role of Megan Twohey She Said. For her performance, she attained a nomination for a Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress Award. Since 2012, she has worked as an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society. Also, she has served as an ambassador for War Child since 2014. Mulligan is scheduled to star alongside Adam Sandler in Netflix’s Spaceman of Bohemia and do a voiceover in Wildwood.

Philanthropy

Aside from her acting career, Mulligan served among the actresses who partook in the Safe Project to raise awareness of sex trafficking. For the project, each actress was photographed in the place she felt safest. She gave the  Vionnet gown that she wore during the BAFTAs in 2010 to the Curiosity Shop. The  Curiosity Shop then sells the donations and gives the money to charity.

Since 2012, Mulligan has worked as an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society. In this capacity, she raises awareness and helps fund research for Alzheimer’s and dementia. During her grandmother’s final 17 years, she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and couldn’t even recognize Mulligan.

In 2012, she worked as a host and was involved in the Alzheimer’s Society Memory Walk. The following year, she served as a sponsor of Alzheimer’s Society runners during the Nike Run to the Beat half-marathon in London. Mulligan has served as an ambassador for War Child since 2014. In this capacity, she went to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Carey Mulligan Age

Mulligan was born Carey Hannah Mulligan on May 28, 1985, in London, England. She is 38 years old as of 2023. Mulligan celebrates her birthday every May 28th.

Carey Mulligan Height

Mulligan stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 7 inches

Carey Mulligan Family

Mulligan was born to Nano Booth and Stephen Mulligan. Aside from Muligan, they had a son named Owain Patrick. Her father worked as a hotel manager while her mother worked as a university lecturer. Stephen came from Liverpool and is of Irish descent. On the other hand, Nano hails from Llandeilo, Wales. Stephen and Nano met in their 20s when they worked at a hotel.

The family relocated to West Germany when Mulligan was 3 years old due to Stephen’s job as a hotel manager. While in Germany, she and her brother studied at the International School of Düsseldorf. At the age of 8, her family relocated to the U.S. Her parents didn’t want her to pursue an acting career rather they preferred that she join the university like her brother.

Mulligan appeared in My Grandparents’ War in 2019 where she probed the role played by Denzil Booth, her maternal grandfather, at the Battle of Okinawa. Denzil worked as a naval radar artillery officer on HMS Indefatigable and sailed into Tokyo Bay at the end of World War II. During her grandmother’s final 17 years, she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

Carey Mulligan Husband

Mulligan exchanged vows with Marcus Mumford on April 12, 2012. They have three kids. As kids, Mulligan and Marcus were pen pals. They reconnected as adults and worked together in the film, Inside Llewyn Davis. Marcus works as the lead singer of Mumford & Sons. He was born on January 31, 1987, in Yorba Linda, California, and is 37 years old as of 2024.

Before Marcus, she was in a relationship with Shia LaBeouf. They co-starred in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps from 2009 to 2010.

Carey Mulligan Net Worth

Mulligan has an estimated net worth ranging between $10 Million – $20 Million which she has earned through being an actress.

Carey Mulligan Pride and Prejudice

In 2005, Mulligan starred in the role of Catherine “Kitty” Bennet in the romantic drama film, Pride and Prejudice. Catherine is the fourth daughter of the Bennets. Julian Fellowes’ wife, Emma, invited her to a dinner they hosted for aspiring young actors. As a result, Mulligan met a casting assistant and thus got the opportunity to audition for a role in Pride & Prejudice. Thrice, Mulligan auditioned for a part in the film before she landed the role of Kitty Bennet.

Carey Mulligan Doctor Who

In 2007, Mulligan starred in the role of Sally Sparrow in Doctor Who‘s “Blink.” Sally and her best friend’s brother, Larry Nightingale, must solve a chain of ambiguous clues sent by the marooned Doctor to prevent the Weeping Angels from taking command of the TARDIS.

Carey Mulligan Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

In 2010, Mulligan starred in the role of Winnie Gekko in the drama film, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. Winnie is the estranged daughter of Gordon Gekko, and the fiancee of Jacob “Jake” Moore, a leading prop trader at Keller Zabel Investments (KZI). She resents her father and blames him for the death of her brother, Rudy, from an overdose. Jake makes a deal with her father where he would reunite the pair while he helps him destroy Bretton James, Jacob’s hedge fund manager.

Carey Mulligan Drive

In 2011, Mulligan starred in the role of Irene Gabriel in the action drama film, Drive. Irene is the wife of Standard and has a son named Benicio with him. She and her son form a bond with “The Driver” but their link gets severed when Standard leaves prison. However, things change after her husband dies during a heist putting Irene and her son’s life in danger.

Carey Mulligan Shame

In 2011, Mulligan starred in the role of Sissy Sullivan in the erotic psychological drama film, Shame. Sullivan is the sister of Brandon and a lounge singer.

Carey Mulligan The Great Gatsby

In 2013, Mulligan starred in the role of Daisy Buchanan in the historical romantic drama film, The Great Gatsby. She auditioned for the role in late 2010. During Vogue’s fashion dinner event, Catherine Martin, the wife of the film’s director and writer, told her that she had gotten the role. Daisy is a wealthy socialite from Louisville who’s married to Tom Buchanan.

Before Tom, she was in a relationship with James Gatz / Jay Gatsby but their relationship was met with disapproval because of their difference in wealth and status. Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire, starts hosting wild parties hoping that Diasy will return to him.

Carey Mulligan Promising Young Woman

In 2020, Mulligan starred in the role of Cassandra “Cassie” Thomas in Promising Young Woman. Also, she served as the film’s executive producer. Cassandra, a 30-year-old medical school dropout, tries to exact vengeance on the people who sexually assaulted her friend, Nina Fisher. After the assault, Nina commits suicide.

Mulligan won a Critics’ Choice Movie Best Actress Award for her performance in the film. Further, she received a nomination for the Academy Best Actress Award, a Golden Globe Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Award. When she won the Best Female Lead Award at the 36th Independent Spirit Awards, she devoted the award to the late Helen McCrory.

Carey Mulligan She Said

In 2022, Mulligan starred in the role of journalist Megan Twohey in the drama film, She Said. The film follows Megan alongside Jodi Kantor as they investigate and reveal Harvey Weinstein’s record of abuse and sexual misdeeds against women. For her performance in the film, Mulligan a nominations for a Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress Award and BAFTA Best Actress in a Supporting Role Award.

Carey Mulligan Bradley Cooper

In 2023, Mulligan and Copper co-starred in the biographical romantic drama film, Maestro as a couple, Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre. Copper worked as the film’s co-producer, co-writer, and director. Maestro follows the relationship between Leonard and Felicia.

Carey Mulligan Michelle Williams

Mulligan and Michelle are not related despite their resemblance to each other. Michelle is an actress who has starred in films like Dawson’s Creek, Brokeback Mountain, Wendy and Lucy, Blue Valentine, Manchester by the Sea, My Week with Marilyn, Fosse/Verdon, Shutter Island, Oz The Great and Powerful, The Greatest Showman, Venom, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

Carey Mulligan Movies and TV Shows

Mulligan has starred in a number of films and TV shows such as

• Blood on Benefits
• And When Did You Last See Your Father?
• The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard
• The Greatest
• Public Enemies
• Waking the Dead
• Inside Llewyn Davis
• Far from the Madding Crowd
• The Spoils of Babylon
• Collateral
• Mudbound
• A Christmas Carol
• The Dig