From Game of Thrones to Gentleman Jack, Gemma Whelan is an actress with a versatile career. She's had big on-screen roles in TV and film, as well as theatre and is also trained in dance. Plus, she's a comedian too, previously performing as her character Chastity Butterworth and having won the 2010 Funny Women Variety Award.
Now, she's about to lead series 3 of major ITV drama The Tower.
TV shows and movies with Gemma Whelan
Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
Gemma Whelan had a recurring role in Game of Thrones as Yara Greyjoy, the elder sister of Theon of House Greyjoy of the Iron Islands. Despite only appearing in 16 episodes, it's one of her most popular roles to date, due to the fantasy series becoming one of the most-watched shows on the planet.
Upstart Crow (2016-)
Comedian Gemma Whelan has starred in Upstart Crow, a BBC sitcom written by Ben Elton and based on William Shakespeare, since 2016. She plays Kate, the daughter of Shakespeare's landlady, who has a yearning to become an actress in a time when only men were allowed to be on stage.
The cast also includes David Mitchell as the famous playwright and Liza Tarbuck as Anne Hathaway, his wife. Helen Monks plays their daughter Susannah and Paula Wilcox is Mary Arden, Shakespeare's mother, whilst Harry Enfield is his father, John Shakespeare.
Horrible Histories (2016-present)
Throughout the years, Gemma Whelan has played numerous parts and historical figures in Horrible Histories, the kids educational series from the BBC. The show involved sketches based on events and notable people from the past.
The Moorside (2017)
The Moorside is based on the real disappearance of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews. Gemma Whelan played Karen Matthews, Shannon's mum, alongside Sheridan Smith (Benidorm, The Teacher) as her friend Julie Bushby who led the search and Siân Brooke (Blue Lights) as their neighbour Natalie Brown.
Gentleman Jack (2019-2022)
In the biographical costume drama Gentleman Jack, Gemma Whelan played Marian Lister, the younger and more introverted sister of Suranne Jones' Anne Lister, a lesbian Yorkshire industrialist in the 1830s.
The Yorkshire-based show, written by Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright, is based on Anne's diaries and has had two series. It also stars Sophie Rundle (In The Flood, Happy Valley, Peaky Blinders), Timothy West (Great Canal Journeys, Brass), Gemma Jones (Wicked Little Letters, Bridget Jones films) and Lydia Leonard (Last Christmas, Apple Tree Yard).
Killing Eve (2020)
Geraldine Martens was played by Gemma Whelan in Killing Eve series 3. She was Caroyln's (Fiona Shaw) daughter and the pair didn't have the best relationship.
Emma (2020)
Several Jane Austen books have recently been made into films and Gemma Whelan starred in Emma, which was released back in 2020. She took on the role of Mrs. Weston, who sees Emma (played by Anya-Taylor Joy) as a best friend and a daughter.
The Tower (2021-2024)
From the 2nd September, Gemma Whelan will return as DS Sarah Collins in The Tower 3: Gallowstree Lane, one of ITV's most popular police procedural dramas.
This series centres around the police investigation of a fatal stabbing of a teenage boy. Speaking about how this affects her character Sarah, Gemma told us and other press (at a Q&A): "She’s very affected by this; it’s a young man of a similar age to her sister who passed away (of different circumstances). She sees the vulnerability and the lack of solutions she can offer. She’s really helpless, I think that what really drives her mad is that she’s trying so hard but she just hits brick wall after brick wall of silence or denial or tension or violence or risk.
Of course, as we know, her moral compass is very north/south - although it’s quite possibly shaken this season - and she’s unwavering in her policing by the book. Still, I think that is pulled into question this season, and it hits her personally, this kid, and how normally she can make a difference because she follows the policing book, and things usually work out if you follow the rules. This time, it’s so messy, and not everyone is going to play.
Gemma, who speaks fondly of her time on the show, was pregnant during the filming of series one of The Tower and took her baby on set with her for series 2. Speaking to OK! Magazine about this experience, she said: "I was a bit moved by how kind they were to me as a working mother – it is an extra thing to deal with having a breastfeeding mother on set.
"Obviously you should be as welcome as you are in every other workplace but it requires more thought. Also the travelling band is big now because my husband and daughter are also up here for filming. So we've made it into a summer holiday experience. It's actually nice to be at work knowing that everyone's safe and I'm not far from them. It's been a really positive experience."
D.I Ray (2022-2024)
Gemma Whelan will be reprising her role of DCI Kerry Henderson in series 2 of D.I Ray, which is coming soon to ITV. The show (written by Line of Duty star Maya Sondhi and produced by L.O.D creator Jed Mercurio) is based in Birmingham and is led by Parminder Nagra, who plays policewoman Rachita Ray.
Funny Woman (2024)
If 2024 wasn't busy enough for Gemma Whelan, she's also joining Funny Woman season 2, which will be airing on Sky Max and streaming on NOW from the 6th September.
The series focuses on journey of a Blackpool beauty queen (Gemma Arterton), who adopts the stage name Sophie Straw, as she navigates the world of sitcoms in 1960s London.
How old is Gemma Whelan?
Gemma Elizabeth Whelan was born in Leeds on the 23rd April 1981, making her 43 years old, currently.
Who is Gemma Whelan's husband?
She married fellow comedian and actor Gerry Howell in May 2017, whilst she was 5 months pregnant with their first child.
How many children does Gemma Whelan have?
The pair have two children, a daughter called Frances who arrived in 2017 and a son called Freddie, who was born in October 2021.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and spending time with her pet dogs, tortoise and chickens.