Bryony Hannah (born 1984)[citation needed] is a British actress, best known as Cynthia Miller in BBC One's Call the Midwife.

Bryony Shona Hannah
Born1984 (age 39–40)
EducationRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA)
OccupationActress
TelevisionCall the Midwife
Dead Boss
Children1

Early life

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The daughter of a teacher and a retired Royal Navy lieutenant-commander, Hannah comes from Portsmouth, and after leaving school worked in a pub in Southampton. She was then accepted to RADA, having won a Laurence Olivier Bursary.[1]

Career

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Hannah received an Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her role as Mary Tilford in The Children's Hour.[2] Several reviews of that production mentioned that Hannah was a "virtual unknown" and "stole the show."[1]

Her other stage roles include performances in Earthquakes in London, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, The Pillowman, The Merry Wives of Windsor and War Horse. In 2017, she appeared in the posthumous premiere of Olivier Award winner Kevin Elyot's final play Twilight Song, alongside Adam Garcia and Paul Higgins.[citation needed]

She also appeared in Dead Boss as Christine[3] and provided the voice of Padget, Pando's carer, in the CBeebies TV series Bing.

She is best known for her work on Call the Midwife. Her character, Nurse Cynthia Miller, was in the initial cast of characters of season one. During the course of the show, Cynthia decided she was being called to a religious life, and she became a nun. Her character lived as a nun at Nonnatus House, where she also worked as a midwife.[4] Hannah left the series after season six.[5]

Personal life

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In 2014, Hannah gave birth to her first child.[6]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Cemetery Junction Louise the Waitress
2015 Jupiter Ascending Nurse Schultz
2021 The Last Duel Alice
2023 Firebrand Ellen
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2024 Rivals Deirdre Kilpatrick Main role
2022 The Chelsea Detective Erin Murphy 1 episode
2021 Death in Paradise Rebecca Morley 1 episode
2017 Unforgotten Cath 4 episodes
2014-2019 Bing Padget Recurring role
2012 Dead Boss Christine 6 episodes
2012–2017 Call the Midwife Cynthia Miller / Sister Mary Cynthia Main cast, series 1-6
2012 Above Suspicion Felicity Turner Series 4: "Silent Scream"
2011 Life's Too Short Brenda 1 episode
2003 Reversals Female Student Minor role, TV movie
Theatre
Year Title Role Notes
2012 The Children's Hour Mary Tilford[7] Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Sherwin, Adam (11 February 2011). "A new star turn - the actress upstaging Kiera". The Independent. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Olivier Winners 2012 | Best Performance in a Supporting Role". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Dead Boss". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Call the Midwife | Sister Mary Cynthia". BBC One. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  5. ^ Frost, Caroline (22 May 2017). "'Call The Midwife' Stars Bryony Hannah, Emerald Fennell And Kate Lamb Are All Quitting Before Series 7". HuffPost. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  6. ^ Walker, Tim (4 June 2014). "Call the Midwife star Bryony Hannah gives birth". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  7. ^ Lusher, Adam (6 February 2011). "Virtual unknown set to shine alongside Keira Knightley and Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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