Hayley Atwell Biography

Hayley Atwell is a British and American actress who gained fame for starring in Brideshead Revisited, The Duchess, and The Pillars of the Earth after appearing in multiple West End productions. Her performance in The Duchess and The Pillars of the Earth won her nominations for a British Independent Film Award and a Golden Globe Award respectively. She rose to eminence starring as Agent Peggy Carter in multiple NCU films including Captain America: The First Avenger, inspiring the creation of ABC’s Agent Carter.

Hayley Atwell Age

Atwell was born Hayley Elizabeth Atwell on April 5, 1982, in London, England. She is 42 years old as of 2024. Atwell celebrates her birthday on April 5th.

Hayley Atwell Height

Atwell stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 6½ inches.

Hayley Atwell Family

Atwell was born to Allison Cain and Grant Atwell in London. Her mother is English while her father is an American photographer from Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A. She is an only child.

Hayley Atwell Husband

Atwell started dating music producer Ned Wolfgang Kelly in 2022. They shared news of their engagement in April 2023. She moved to Los Angeles in 2015 to be close to the production of Agent Carter after living in a flat in London in 2010. However, she still held on to her home in London. While filming Captain America: The First Avenger in 2010, she took a three-month course in art history and haiku at the Open University.

Hayley Atwell Net Worth

Atwell has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 Million – $5 Million which she has earned through being an actress.

Hayley Atwell Brideshead Revisited

Atwell starred as Julia Flyte in Brideshead Revisited in 2008. Julia is the eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Marchmain, the love interest of Charles Ryder, and the wife of Rex Mottram. Raised in a strict Roman Catholic family, she is in a loveless marriage with Rex Mottram. Further, she has an affair with Charles. As a result, she has an internal struggle between her faith, desires, and moral conflict.

Hayley Atwell The Duchess

Atwell starred as Elizabeth “Bess” Foster in The Duchess in 2008. Bess is a close friend and confidante to Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. Their friendship is challenged after Georgiana finds out that she is having an affair with her husband, William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire. Her performance in The Duchess won her a nomination for a British Independent Film Award.

Hayley Atwell The Pillars of the Earth

Atwell starred as Aliena in The Pillars of the Earth in 2010. Aliena is the daughter of the Earl of Shiring, Sir Bartholomew, and sister of Richard. After rejecting William Hamleigh’s marriage proposal, she and her brother are thrown into poverty and homelessness after William plans the arrest and execution of her father for treason in retaliation for her rejection. Her performance in The Pillars of the Earth won her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award.

Hayley Atwell Captain America

Atwell starred as Peggy Carter/Agent Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011. Peggy is a British MI6 agent and member of the Strategic Scientific Reserve and Steve Rogers’s love interest during World War II. After the war, she becomes one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D. where she serves as the Director.

Atwell recurred the role of Peggy Carter/Agent Carter in Captain America: Super Soldier, Agent Carter, ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Lego Marvel’s Avengers, Avengers: Secret Wars, Ant-Man, Avengers: Endgame, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and What If…?

Hayley Atwell Harvey Weinstein

During the allegations against Harvey Weinstein in October 2017, a story reemerged that Weinstein told Atwell that she looked like a fat pig on screen and should eat less while filming Brideshead Revisited in 2007. She later commented on the issue, stating that someone unrelated to Weinstein had suggested she lose weight to look more like a flapper. Moreover, she said that she believed Weinstein was a predator who should be punished for harassing women.

Hayley Atwell Education

Atwell took ok her A-Levels at the London Oratory School after studying at Sion-Manning Roman Catholic Girls’ School in London. Next, she took two years off to travel with her father and serve as a casting director. She then joined the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. There, she trained for three years and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Acting.

Hayley Atwell Career

Atwell professionally debuted on stage in Prometheus Bound in 2005 at the Sound Theatre in London. She starred as Io, winning positive reviews and acclaim from the  British Theatre Guide. The following year, she starred as Bianca in Women Beware Women at the Royal Shakespeare Company. She starred in Man of Mode and Major Barbara from 2007 to 2008 at the Royal National Theatre. Her performance in  Major Barbara won her an Ian Charleson Commendation.

Atwell transitioned to film roles in 2007, landing her first major role in Cassandra’s Dream. The following year, she starred in The Duchess, winning her a nomination for a Best Supporting Actress Award at the British Independent Film Awards. Later that year, she appeared in Miramax’s Brideshead Revisited. In 2009, she debuted on West End starring as Catherine in Lindsay Posner’s A View From the Bridge. Her portrayal of Catherine won her a nomination for an Olivier Award. Later that year, she starred in  AMC Television’s The Prisoner.

2010 to 2016

Atwell starred in Channel 4’s Any Human Heart opposite Sam Claflin and Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth in 2010. Her performance in  Pillars of the Earth won her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. In April of that same year, she joined the cast of Captain America as Peggy Carter, starring in Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011. That same year, MTV mentioned her among the Breakout Stars to Watch for in 2011. She provided a voice-over for Carter in Captain America: Super Soldier in 2011.

Atwell took a brief break from theatre and starred in The Faith Machine at the Royal Court Theatre. In 2013, she appeared in BBC Two’s Restless. In February of that year, she starred in the Black Mirror episode, Be Right Back. Further, she worked alongside Alexi Kaye Campbell and Jamie Lloyd in a revival of The Pride at Trafalgar Studios. She won a nomination for an Olivier or Best Actress Award. That same year, she starred in Agent Carter.

IAtwell rejoined Marvel with roles in Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014 and Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man in 2015. She starred as Carter in two episodes of ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and  Agent Carter. Further, she provided a voice-over for Carter in Lego Marvel’s Avengers and Avengers: Secret Wars. She starred as Cinderella’s mother in Disney’s Cinderella directed by Kenneth Branagh. In February of the following year, she joined the cast of ABC’s Conviction.

2017 to present;

Atwell starred as Margaret Schlegel in BBC One’s Howards End from 2017 to 2018. In 2018, she starred as Evelyn Robin in Disney’s Winnie-the-Pooh opposite Ewan McGregor. That same year, she starred in Dry Powder at the Hampstead Theatre. Later, she starred in Measure for Measure at the Donmar Warehouse.

Atwell starred in BBC’s The Long Song in 2019. She also recurred the role of Peggy Carter in Avengers: Endgame. A September 2009 announcement revealed that she would star in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. In 2020, she worked as a host of True Spies. The following year, she revealed that she voiced Mittens the Cat in The Runaway. In 2022, she collaborated with The Picturehouse as part of the Picturehouse Ambassador Program as part of her program, Hayley Selects. In 2025, she will star in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Grand Prix of Europe, and Rogue Trooper.

Public Image

The Guardian described her as the queen of period drama and has received praise from the directors. Her performance in Major Barbara earned her an Ian Charleson Commendation. She won three Laurence Olivier Award nominations for her work in A View from the Bridge, The Pride, and Rosmersholm. Her work in The Pride also earned her a nomination for a WhatsOnStage Award.

Hayley Atwell Movies and TV Shows

Atwell has starred in several movies and TV shows during her career such as

• Cassandra’s Dream
• How About You
• I, Anna
• Whatever Love Means
• The Ruby in the Smoke
• The Sweeney
• Jimi: All Is by My Side
• Conviction
• Testament of Youth
• Howards End
• The Long Song
• The Complete Walk: Cymbeline
• Blinded by the Light
• 3Below: Tales of Arcadia
• Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
• The Imaginary
• Heartstopper
• Paddington in Peru
• Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft