Quick Facts
Biography
Isobel Dorothy "Bel" Powley (born 7 March 1992) is a English actress best known for playing Daisy Miller in the CBBC television series M.I. High. Powley plays the protagonist in the 2015 film The Diary of a Teenage Girl, which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.
Early life
Powley was born in the Hammersmith district of London, England, to British actor Mark Powley and casting director Janis Jaffa. Her mother is Jewish.
She attended Holland Park School.
Career
From 2007 until 2008 Powley was one of the lead characters in M.I.High, starring in 23 episodes alongside Rachel Petladwala and Moustafa Chousein-Oglou. In addition to M.I.High, Bel Powley has also appeared in several other productions such as Murderland (3 episodes, 2009), Little Dorrit (2008), The Bill (2008) and The Whistleblowers (2007).
In 2013 it was announced that Powley was joining the cast of ITV series Benidorm for series six.
In 2015, Powley portrayed Princess Margaret in the biographical comedy-drama A Royal Night Out alongside Emily Watson and Rupert Everett and played the lead role of Minnie Goetze in the comedy-drama The Diary of a Teenage Girl, alongside Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgård, for which she received rave reviews.
On 5 August 2015, two days before the New York and L.A. premiere of the film, it was announced that she will star in the upcoming indie film Carrie Pilby, taking over the role from Hailee Steinfeld.
On 5 October 2015 it was announced that Powley would star opposite Liv Tyler in the elevated horror film Wildling directed by Fritz Böhm.
Stage
Powley appeared as Maggie in Tusk Tusk at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in March 2009. On Broadway she was Thomasina in the 2011 revival of Arcadia at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
In October 2011 she once again appeared at the Royal Court as Tilly in Jumpy, a role which she returned to in the West End transfer of Jumpy at the Duke of York's Theatre in August 2012.
Personal life
In an interview in 2011, Powley said she had a spot reserved to read history at the University of Manchester. Powley joined the protests against university fee rises in 2010. Powley has confirmed that she's dating Douglas Booth.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Side by Side | Lauren Buckle | |
| 2015 | The Diary of a Teenage Girl | Minnie Goetze | Gotham Award for Best Actress Nominated – BAFTA Rising Star Award Nominated – Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead Nominated – New York Film Critics Online Awards for Breakthrough Performance Nominated – Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer |
| 2015 | A Royal Night Out | Princess Margaret | Nominated – British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer |
| 2015 | Equals | Rachel | |
| 2016 | Detour | Cherry | |
| 2016 | Carrie Pilby | Carrie Pilby | |
| 2017 | A Storm in the Stars | Claire Clairmont | Post-production |
| 2017 | Ashes in the Snow | Lina Vilkas | Filming |
| 2017 | Wildling | Anna | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | M.I. High | Daisy Millar | Series 1 & 2 |
| 2008 | The Bill | Becky Cooper | |
| 2008 | Little Dorrit | Flower Girl | |
| 2009 | Murderland | Carrie Walsh | |
| 2009 | Victoria Wood's Mid Life Christmas | Cranchesterford teenager | Special |
| 2011 | The Cabin | Sydney | Television film |
| 2014 | Benidorm | Bianca Dyke | |
| 2016 | Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes | Cindy |