Angel Coulby


Angel Leonie Coulby is an English actress in film, television, and theatre. She is best known for portraying the character Gwen in the BBC fantasy series Merlin.

Early life

Coulby was born in Islington, London, and studied for a degree in acting at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and achieved a first and was awarded the Laurence Olivier Bursary in 2000. She is Afro-Guyanese.

Career

She is first seen in an episode of Scariest Places on Earth as a student who had an encounter with a ghost. Her breakthrough came in 2001 with her role in the Johnny Vaughan BBC sitcom 'Orrible. She was later chosen to play Gwen, a young woman also known as Guinevere who would later become Queen, in the BBC One fantasy TV series Merlin.
In an interview with LA Times, Coulby stated that with playing Gwen she "liked the idea that you go on a bit of a journey as an actor, starting off as a humble maidservant, kind of a bit bumbling, and then obviously growing into this very capable queen." and it was "really nice to have that range throughout a job." In that capacity, she starred in all the five seasons, and most of the episodes, right up to the final one.
She took the star role of the jazz singer Jessie in the BBC Two Stephen Poliakoff five-part 2013 drama serial Dancing on the Edge, alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Goodman, Matthew Goode, Anthony Head and Jacqueline Bisset.
It was announced in February 2013 that Coulby would star in The Tunnel, a British-French remake of Scandinavian crime drama, The Bridge. She starred alongside Stephen Dillane and Clémence Poésy. The first, series aired in late 2013, and Coulby reprised her role for a second series in 2016.
Coulby returned to stage for the first time since 2014 in Rupert Goold's Albion at the Almeida Theatre in February 2020. It was revealed Coulby joined the cast of the Apple TV+ thriller Suspicious, which is a remake of the Hebrew language series False Flag , in March 2020. The filming of the series, in London, has been stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal life

In 2019, Coulby announced she had recently become a mother.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001Scariest Places on EarthAwassa Tact, name intended as wordplay on "I was attacked"Episode: "Exorcism: Greyfriars Cemetery 1"
2001OrribleShiv4 episodes
2002CasualtySallyEpisode: "In the Heat of the Night"
2002Having It OffKylie RileyTV series
2002A Good ThiefLeah PickeringTV movie
2003'PC Louise FraserTV miniseries
2003ManchildPippa1 episode
2004Making WavesLMA Anita Cook2 episodes
2004As IfAmber7 episodes
2004ConvictionJemma Ryan6 episodes
2004Holby CityMaxine FramleyEpisode: "A Good Day to Bury Bad News"
2005The JacketIntern No. 2
2005'Lee Allanson1 episode
2005The League of Gentlemen's ApocalypseReceptionist
2005Imagine Me & YouAnna
2005VincentGillian Lafferty7 episodes
2006HustleAliceEpisode: "A Bollywood Dream"
2006Doctor WhoKatherineEpisode: "The Girl in the Fireplace"
2006The BillZoe HughesEpisode: "Good for Gold"
2006Tripping OverCharity1 episode
2007Blue Murder Kate Malin'Episode: "Crisis Management"
2007MagiciansReceptionist
2007Gina's Laughing GearNurse JonesEpisode: "Dollby City"
2007Secret LifeYoung MumTV movie
2007New Street LawSharon Weir1 episode
2007Talk to MeFaith4 episodes
2007'Rachael6 episodes
2007Life Is WildEpisode: "Heritage Day"
2008–2012MerlinGuinevere "Gwen"Main role
2013Dancing on the EdgeJessie TaylorMain role
2013–2018The TunnelLaura RoebuckMain role
2015–2020Thunderbirds Are GoTanusha "Kayo" KyranoMain role; voice
2016UndercoverJulia Redhead2 episodes
2016Hooten & the LadyMelinaEpisode: "Egypt"
2017Man in an Orange ShirtClaudie1 episode
2017Body SlamRuthShort movie
2018InnocentDetective Inspector Cathy HudsonMain role
2020Moving OnLisaEpisode: "Time Out"
TBASuspicion''VanessaTV series

Theatre

YearTitleRoleDirectorCompanyNotes
2002Lavender BlueJessMuriel RomanesRoyal Lyceum Theatre
2007Statement of RegretIssimama BanjokoJeremy HerrinCottesloe Theatre
2014Good PeopleKatieJonathan KentHampstead Theatre / Noël Coward Theatre
2020AlbionAnnaRupert GooldAlmeida Theatre

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRoleResult
2010Monte Carlo TV Festival AwardsGolden Nymph Outstanding Actress – Drama SeriesGwen in Merlin