Lara Pulver Bio
Lara Pulver (born 1 September 1980) is an English actress known for her stage work and screen appearances across British and American productions. She rose to prominence in theatre, earning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Gypsy in its West End revival in 2016. Pulver has built a diverse screen career with roles in True Blood, Sherlock, Da Vinci’s Demons, Spooks and film appearances including Underworld: Blood Wars.
Early Life and Background
Lara Pulver was born in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, England, and grew up in a village near Sevenoaks, Kent. Her father is from a Jewish family and her mother converted to Judaism when they married. Pulver has a sister, Erika, who is four years older and works as a teacher. From a young age, Pulver showed interest in performing arts, attending the National Youth Music Theatre between 1994 and 1998 and The Liz Burville Dance Centre in Bexley.
Path to Acting
Pulver began her formal training at the Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in 1997, graduating in 2000 with a solid foundation in performance arts. This training provided her with the technical skills necessary to pursue a career in theatre and screen acting. During her college years, she honed her craft and developed versatility that would serve her well in her future diverse roles across different genres.
Lara Pulver Career
Early Career (2000–2009)
Pulver began her professional career in theatre, making her mark in the West End. Her early notable work included being nominated for the 2008 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Lucille Frank in the first West End production of Parade at the Donmar Warehouse. She later reprised this role in the Los Angeles production at the Mark Taper Forum opposite T.R. Knight, demonstrating her ability to excel in different theatrical settings. During this period, Pulver also recorded a song for the CD Act One – Songs from the Musicals of Alexander S. Bermange in 2008, showcasing her musical talents. In 2009, she joined the BBC’s Robin Hood as Isabella, the sister of Guy of Gisbourne, marking her transition into television work.
Breakthrough (2010–2015)
Pulver’s screen career gained momentum in 2010 when she joined the cast of HBO’s True Blood as Sookie Stackhouse’s fairy godmother, Claudine Crane. This role introduced her to a wider international audience. In 2012, she played the iconic role of Irene Adler in “A Scandal in Belgravia,” the first episode of the second series of Sherlock. Her performance caused significant attention, with the Evening Standard calling the scene where she greets Sherlock Holmes nude “infamous.” This role established her as a versatile actress capable of handling complex characters.
Notable Works and Milestones
Pulver’s career continued to flourish with her portrayal of Clarice Orsini in Da Vinci’s Demons (2012-2015), where she played a seductive and politically-minded character. In 2015, she joined the final series of BBC spy drama Spooks as Erin Watts, the new chief of Section D, a role she also reprised in the feature film Spooks: The Greater Good the same year. That same year, she portrayed Louise in a revival of Gypsy at the Chichester Festival Theatre, which later transferred to the West End in April 2015.
Lara Pulver Award Nominations
Throughout her career, Lara Pulver has received recognition for her exceptional talent. She was nominated for the 2008 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Parade. This early nomination marked her as a promising talent in British theatre before her later award wins.
Lara Pulver Awards Won
Lara Pulver has been honored for her outstanding contributions to theatre. She won the 2016 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Louise in the West End production of Gypsy at the Savoy Theatre. This award cemented her status as one of Britain’s most accomplished stage actresses, particularly in musical theatre.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | 2016 |
Lara Pulver Family
Lara Pulver has been married twice. She first married American actor Josh Dallas in December 2007 in Devon, though they divorced in 2011. In 2014, Pulver married fellow actor Raza Jaffrey, whom she met while filming Spooks in 2012. The couple has two children together, balancing their acting careers with family life.
Personal Life
Currently residing in the United Kingdom with her husband Raza Jaffrey and their two children, Pulver maintains a relatively private personal life while continuing her professional acting career. She has demonstrated a commitment to balancing family responsibilities with her demanding acting work in both theatre and screen productions.