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Michelle Fairley

Michelle Fairley

Actor · Born July 11, 1963 (63) · Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK

Screen Actors Guild Award nominee

Michelle Fairley (born 11 July 1963) is an actress from Northern Ireland. She is best known for playing Catelyn Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones (2011–2013). She has since appeared in the USA Network series Suits (2013), the Fox series 24: Live Another Day (2014), the RTÉ miniseries Rebellion (2016), the science fiction series The Feed (2019), and the Sky Atlantic crime drama Gangs of London (2020–). Fairley was born in Coleraine to parents Brian and Teresa Fairley, the second eldest of six children. Her father was a popular publican, owner of Fairley's Bar and several off-licences, in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, but Fairley remembers both Catholics and Protestants frequenting the pub. Fairley appeared in a number of British television shows, including The Bill, Holby City and Casualty. Some of her earlier roles were as Cathy Michaels on ITV1's Inspector Morse in the episode titled "The Way Through The Woods" and as Nancy Phelan in Lovejoy in the episode 9 of Season 3 titled "Smoke Your Nose". She took over the role of Mrs. Granger from Heather Bleasdale (who had played Mrs. Granger in Chamber of Secrets) in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows films. From 2011 to 2013, Fairley starred as Catelyn Stark (née Tully) in the first three seasons of the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, replacing Jennifer Ehle who played the character in the original, unaired, pilot episode. Fairley joined the cast of the USA Network series Suits for its third season, playing the recurring role of Dr. Ava Hessington, a chemical engineer and oil CEO accused of bribery, and after that, accused for murder. She played Margot Al-Harazi in 24: Live Another Day on Fox. Her film roles included The Invisible Woman (2013) and In the Heart of the Sea (2015). In 2014, Fairley was cast as Margaret Langston in the ABC TV Series Resurrection (2014-2015). In 2017, it was announced Fairley would appear in a revival of Jim Cartwright's play Road at the Royal Court Theatre In 2018, she played Cassius in Julius Caesar at the Bridge Theatre, alongside David Calder, David Morrissey and Ben Whishaw. In 2019, Fairley led the Virgin Media and Amazon Prime science fiction series The Feed as Meredith Hatfield. As of June 2020, Fairley stars as Marian Wallace in the Sky Atlantic crime drama Gangs of London. She starred as Millie in the 2021 film Nobody Has To Know alongside Bouli Lanners. In 2023, Fairley starred as Princess Augusta in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story on Netflix. She also contributed to The Gone a TVNZ and RTE coproduction.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 11, 1963 (63)
From
Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 77 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 11% in 30 days

What are Michelle Fairley's films like?

Across their 24 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 95th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
31%
Morality
21%
Power
16%
Survival
11%
Self
11%
Society
6%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themePower5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 5 · Dark 10

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 11 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 8 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 9 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 1 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 9

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 8 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 8
Mentor
2 of 8
Herald
1 of 8
Shapeshifter
1 of 8
Hero
1 of 8
Threshold guardian
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Melancholic
12
Dread
11
Contemplative
7
Bittersweet
6
Other
14

How their films linger

Thought-provoking14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Michelle Fairley's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 32 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Michelle Fairley's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

77 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • No Ordinary Heist(2026)

    as Mags Fulton

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • How to Get to Heaven from Belfast(2026)

    Show 7 episodes · as Margo

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Whistle(2025)

    as Ivy Raymore

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • You'll Never Believe Who's Dead(2026)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Nazis, U-boats and the Battle for the Atlantic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 2 episodes · as Narrator

  • Small Things Like These(2024)

    as Mrs. Wilson

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Trap(2023)

    as Michelle

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Gone(2023)

    Show 11 episodes · as Judge Hannah Martin

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story(2023)

    Show 6 episodes · as Princess Augusta

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Nobody Has to Know(2021)

    as Millie

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • An Irish Goodbye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Grainne (voice)

  • The Road to Partition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Narrator

  • The Road to Partition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 2 episodes · as Narrator

  • Lesson 7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Max

  • Gangs of London(2020)

    Show 25 episodes · as Marian Wallace

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Responsible Child(2019)

    as Kerry

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Feed(2019)

    Show 10 episodes · as Meredith Hatfield

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • The Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Michelle

  • To Provide All People(2018)

    as Intensive Care Nurse

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • National Theatre Live: Julius Caesar(2018)

    as Caius Cassius

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The White Princess(2017)

    Show 8 episodes · as Margaret Beaufort

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Edith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Shelia

  • Rebellion(2016)

    Show 5 episodes · as Dolly Butler

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • In the Heart of the Sea(2015)

    as Mrs. Nickerson

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Fortitude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · as Freya Lennox

  • Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Queen Igneous (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Montana(2014)

    as DCI Rachel Jones

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Common(2014)

    as Shelagh

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Resurrection(2013)

    Show 13 episodes · as Margaret Langston

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Ironclad: Battle for Blood(2014)

    as Joan De Vesci

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Invisible Woman(2013)

    as Caroline Graves

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Philomena(2013)

    as Sally Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Crossing Lines(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sophie Baines

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Suits(2011)

    Show 8 episodes · as Ava Hessington

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Game of Thrones(2011)

    Show 30 episodes · as Catelyn Stark

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1(2010)

    as Mrs. Granger

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Chatroom(2010)

    as Rosie

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Anton Chekhov's the Duel(2010)

    as Marya

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Cup Cake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Annie McNabb

  • Misfits(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · as Louise Young

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Best: His Mother's Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Ann Best

  • A Short Stay in Switzerland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Mrs. Savery

  • Lark Rise to Candleford(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Golden Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Julia Harper

  • Ahead of the Class (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Sonia Venning

  • 24(2001)

    Show 8 episodes · as Margot Al-Harazi

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Others(2001)

    as Mrs. Marlish

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • McCready and Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 6 episodes · as Bernadette

  • In Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Phoebe

  • Rebus(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Janice Mee

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Second Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Aisling

  • Births, Marriages and Deaths (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 4 episodes · as Pat

  • Vicious Circle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Frances

  • Hideous Kinky(1998)

    as Patricia

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries(1998)

    as Miss O'Shaunessy

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mrs, Fitzpatrick

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Broker's Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 6 episodes · as Gabby Rodwell

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Iris Holman

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Safe And Sound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 6 episodes · as Eleanor Delaney

  • The Precious Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Jean McBride

  • Silent Witness(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as D.I. Suzy Harte

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • A Mug's Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 4 episodes · as Kathy Cowan

  • Life After Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Roisin Donaghy

  • Cardiac Arrest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 3 episodes · as Casualty Sister Karen Teller

  • Comics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Nula O'Reilly

  • The Long Roads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Fiona Gibbons

  • Flea Bites (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Sharon

  • Force of Duty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Jenny

  • Hidden Agenda(1990)

    as Teresa Doyle

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • 4 Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Maureen

  • Saracen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Maeve

  • Crossfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Scanlon's Girl

  • Hidden City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Cleaner

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Kate Maguire · as Kathy Emerick

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • ScreenPlay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Jenny

  • Lovejoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Nancy Phelan

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Fiona Gibbons - Liverpool · as Jean McBride · as Roisin Donaghy

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 76 titles from 1985 to 2026; peak year 2014.

Biggest box office

The Others (2001)

$210M worldwide

Highest rated

National Theatre Live: Julius Caesar (2018)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Gangs of London (2020)

Film career

MilestoneNomination
19852026

Peak 2014 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting76 of 76: 76 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score75th

By decade

1980s8 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s12 · acting2010s24 · acting2020s14 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 20% of 15 roles
9015

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

2 major nominations and no wins, 2012–2014.

  1. 2014
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  2. 2012
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Michelle Fairley's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 74th percentile, the median of all 22; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 66th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

19 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Universally Panned1
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

To Provide All People (2018)

91st percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Game of Thrones (2011)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 76/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 57. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Michelle Fairley's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films and violence & gore lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles18–87 · median 33 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles16–68 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles11–63 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles10–60 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles34–74 · median 51 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Michelle Fairley work with?

People who share at least 2 of Michelle Fairley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Enda Walsh shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers

Producers