Miranda Richardson

Revered actress of stage and film, Miranda Richardson is a two-time Oscar nominated actress noted for her wide ranging roles in a variety of genres. Although she has been an ever-present face in entertainment for more than two decades, she is perhaps best known for her recent appearances as Rita Skeeter in the Harry Potter series.

Miranda Jane Richardson was born March 3, 1958 in Southport, Merseyside, England. Her parents were Marian Georgina and William Alan Richardson, a homemaker and marketing executive respectively. Although she originally intended to be a veterinarian, Richardson quickly learned she had a squeamish streak. She went to her second passion, acting.

Pursuing that career, Richardson attended Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where one of her classmates included Daniel Day Lewis. By 1981, she won her first stage role in Moving. Her stage career continued to flourish, culminating in an Olivier Award nomination for her role in A Lie of the Mind.

She made her film debut in 1985 with The Innocent starring Andrew Hawley and Liam Neeson. She drew her first real critical praise when she was cast opposite Rupert Everett and Ian Holm in Dance with a Stranger.

But far from the always serious thespian, she did serve a six-episode stint on Blackadder II with funny man Rowan Atkinson.

Proving her versatility, Richardson earned major attention and acclaim for her role in Steven Spielberg’s war drama, Empire of the Sun. She starred with Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Joe Pantoliano, and Ben Stiller.

Appearing in such a high profile film helped launch Richardson’s career, and she hasn’t looked back since. Since this time, she has been prolific, appearing in both lead roles as well as supporting roles.

In 1992, she received positive attention for Enchanted April opposite Josie Lawrence, Alfred Molina, and Jim Broadbent. Taking home the Golden Globe, it was 1992’s Damage with Jeremy Irons and Juliette Binoche that earned her the coveted Oscar nomination. 1992 was also of note for her rousing performance in Neil Jordan’s The Crying Game with costars Forest Whitaker, Stephen Rea, and Jaye Davidson.

Her next critical success was Tom & Viv, depicting Vivienne Haigh Wood to Willem Dafoe’s Tom Eliot, better known as TS Eliot. Playing the mentally ill Haigh Wood, Richardson’s second Oscar nomination was secured.

Never satisfied to appear in commercial endeavors alone, Richardson joined the all-star cast under Robert Altman’s direction for 1996’s Kansas City.

Her 2005 role as Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire cast her from character actor into the mainstream along with costars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint.

Richardson’s track record at the Golden Globe Awards has been particularly impressive. She earned nominations for Damage, Tom & Viv, Merlin, The Big Brass Ring, and The Lost Prince. She won for Enchanted April and Fatherland.

Richardson has never married, and she is a self-described “loner.”