While Faye Marsay might not be a household name, the English actress has appeared in more than her fair share of high-profile film and TV roles.
Although English actress Faye Marsay might not be the most well-known performer, she has commanded the screen in a variety of high-profile roles across several massive franchises. Getting her start in the early 2010s, Marsay quickly established herself as a go-to supporting actress with important roles that allowed her to hone her craft without being the center of attention. As her career has progressed, Marsay has found herself at the center of several huge franchises including Star Wars and Doctor Who, but it was her turn in Game of Thrones that might be her biggest pop culture legacy so far.
Like many of her young up-and-coming contemporaries, Marsay’s greatest asset is her versatility, and there are few roles that she hasn’t inhabited with believability. Even among the massive cast of Game of Thrones and many of her other larger projects, Marsay stands out not because she stole the show, but because she became her characters with engrossing reality. While she has always played important roles, even if they were supporting, Faye Marsay has recently begun to be tapped for starring spots in TV shows and movies. Marsay might not be a star, but her ability to disappear into roles establishes her as a bona fide talent.
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McMafia (2018)
While Faye Marsay has appeared in a slew of hit shows, she has also been in a few series that didn’t quite get off the ground such as the short-lived McMafia. The series follows Russian ex-pat and former mafia member Alex Godson (James Norton) as he tries to evade his family while forging a new life. Marsay’s turn as Katya, Alex’s vitriolic sister, was a brilliant choice, and she personified the life Alex was trying to leave behind. However, the show itself failed to drum up a lot of interest when it aired on AMC, and McMafia was pulled from the airwaves after only one woefully short season.
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Ten Pound Poms (2023-Present)
Faye Marsay as Annie Roberts
As an English actress working a lot in her home country, Faye Marsay has appeared in her fair share of BBC period dramas including the 2023 series Ten Pound Poms. The show chronicles the mass migration of English citizens to Australia in the middle of the 20th century as they looked for a better life Down Under. Annie Roberts is a different sort of role than what Marsay usually plays, but she brings the exasperated housewife to life with stunning clarity. The series received positive critical attention (via Rotten Tomatoes) and could be Marsay’s first chance at a long-term starring role.
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The Bletchley Circle (2012-2014)
Faye Marsay as Lizzie Lancaster
Joining a cast mid-way through a show’s run is a challenge, but Faye Marsay is a seasoned veteran of jumping into a story and holding her own. The Bletchley Circle is set in post-WWII England and follows a group of women who used to work as code crackers during the war, who now use their skills to solve various crimes. Marsay appeared as Lizzie Lancaster, a minor supporting role, and although she wasn’t given much to do, she still held her own among established stars. Drawing comparisons to shows like Murder She Wrote, The Bletchley Circle rewrote the cozy mystery narrative and was truly compelling across its unfortunately short run.
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Fresh Meat (2011-2016)
Faye Marsay as Candice Pelling
Fresh Meat was a college drama with a distinctly British flare, and Faye Marsay left her mark on the cult classic series during the show’s third season. Fresh Meat follows a handful of students as they experience the trials and tribulations of their early days at University. A show like Fresh Meat was a perfect platform for Faye Marsay to show both sides of her acting ability, and Candice Pelling was both humorous and dramatic in equal measure. Marsay’s turn as the gifted literature student wasn’t her first major role, but it certainly gained her the most attention early on.
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The White Queen (2013)
Faye Marsay as Lady Anne Neville
Coming as the first of a trilogy of highly regarded miniseries, The White Queen was Faye Marsay’s big break, yet she came off like a seasoned veteran. The miniseries follows three women who manipulate the events of history during England’s bloody War of the Roses. While The White Queen wasn’t entirely accurate, it delivered a compelling story due in large part to performances from the likes of Rebecca Ferguson and Marsay. The latter’s turn as Lady Anne Neville allowed her to be ruthless and coy, and she stole nearly every scene she was in. The White Queen was overshadowed by its successors, but was just as powerful.
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Doctor Who (2005-Present)
Faye Marsay as Shona
Most of Faye Marsay’s early roles came in recurring stints on TV series, but her one-episode run on Doctor Who was no less memorable. The science fiction reboot series follows the titular Time Lord as he bops around space and time getting himself and his companions into various adventures. Appearing in the Doctor Who Christmas episode “Last Christmas” in 2014, Marsay’s turn as Shona was somewhat hampered by not being given much to do. Still, she had great repartee with The Doctor (Peter Capaldi), and she helped make her one episode appearance in the Whoniverse even more memorable.
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Black Mirror (2011-Present)
Faye Marsay as Blue Coulson
The sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror has featured a host of notable stars in one-off episodes, but a young Faye Marsay was also given a chance to leave her mark on the long-running show. The episode “Hated in the Nation” follows a detective who investigates social media-related murders. Marsay appears as the tech-savvy sidekick, Blue Coulson, who uses her techno wizardry to help crack the case. A somewhat limited episode, “Hated in the Nation” drew inspiration from Nordic Noir, and Marsay gave an appropriately subdued performance. Although it is one of the less-discussed early episodes of Black Mirror, it exemplifies the shows anti-technology message.
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Pride (2014)
Faye Marsay as Steph Chambers
Most of Faye Marsay’s most memorable roles have come in TV shows, but her turn in the film Pride showed she was well suited for the large screen as well. Set in the 1980s, the film follows a group of LGBTQ+ activists who assist mine workers as they undergo a lengthy strike for better working conditions. Marsay’s role as Steph was designed to stand out, and her spot as the only lesbian among the group was accentuated by her fiery red hair and equally fiery personality. Although Pride was hardly a world-beater, it has a special spot among the host of feel-good LGBTQ+ movies released in recent years.
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Andor (2022-Present)
Faye Marsay as Vel Sartha
It’s rare when an actor gets to make a mark on even one franchise, but Faye Marsay chalked up her third when she appeared in the Star Wars series Andor. Set before the events of Rogue One, Andor follows the titular character as he rises through the ranks of the Rebel Alliance. Marsay was right in her element as the gruff Vel Sartha, and she made for a wholly believable Rebel leader. The show scored itself a host of critical praise and was even nominated for several Emmy Awards. The massively bloated Star Wars universe is crowded with stars, but Faye Marsay was a positive addition to the sci-fi staple.
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Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
Faye Marsay as The Waif
While she may have had larger roles, Faye Marsay’s turn as The Waif in Game of Thrones will probably be her lasting pop culture contribution. The series follows the politics of the kingdom of Westeros as various nations vie for the Iron Throne. Marsay joined in seasons 5 and 6 as the mysterious assassin who trains Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) in the ways of the Faceless Men. Marsay excelled as the thoroughly unlikeable tormentor, and she was uniquely suited for the neutral villain role. The series was jam-packed with George R.R. Martin’s signature brand of dynamic characters, and Faye Marsay made the best with what she was given.
