Jessica Amy Barden (born 21 July 1992) is an English actress. She began her career as a child actress. She is best known for her role as Alyssa Foley in the Channel 4 comedy-drama The End of the F***ing World (2017–2019). She received a British Independent Film Award nomination for her performance in Scarborough (2018).

Jessica Barden
Barden in 2018
Born
Jessica Amy Barden

(1992-07-21) 21 July 1992 (age 32)
OccupationActress
Years active1999–present
Spouse
(m. 2021)
Children2
RelativesHenry Winkler (father-in-law)

Barden's other films include Hanna (2011), The Lobster (2015), The New Romantic (2018), and Pink Skies Ahead (2020). On television, she has since starred in the Foxtel drama Lambs of God (2019), the Netflix thriller Pieces of Her (2022), and the ITV romantic comedy You & Me (2023).

Early life

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Barden was born on 21 July 1992[1][2] in Northallerton, North Yorkshire. She comes from a working-class background.[3] Her father is a prison officer, and her mother is an accountant; she has two brothers. When she was three, the family moved to Wetherby, West Yorkshire.[2] Barden attended Wetherby High School.[2] She discovered acting through school and her father's love of film. She began taking classes at a local drama club and working as a television extra.[4][5] She left school at 15.[6]

Career

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Barden made her acting debut in 1999 with a small role in an episode of the CITV series My Parents Are Aliens.[7][8] She later appeared in episodes of the series No Angels[8][9] and The Chase.[8]

Barden was 14[10] when she joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, playing Kayleigh Morton from March 2007[11][12] until the Morton family's departure from the soap in September 2008.[13][14] Barden made her film debut in the 2007 comedy-drama Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution.[15] In 2009, she played Pea in the stage production Jerusalem at the Royal Court Theatre in London,[16][17] which then transferred to the Apollo Theatre in the West End.[18]

In 2010, Barden appeared in the film Tamara Drewe,[19][20] a dramatisation of the comic strip of the same name, for which Barden was nominated for Young British Performer of the Year by the London Film Critics' Circle. The following year, she played Sophie in Joe Wright's Hanna.[21][22] From 2012 to 2014, she had film roles in the horror Comedown,[23][24] the mystery-drama In the Dark Half,[25] the psychological thriller Mindscape, and the indie Lullaby.[26]

Barden was named a 2015 Screen International Star of Tomorrow.[27] That year, she played Kit Carmichael in the two-part adaptation of Sadie Jones' debut novel The Outcast on BBC One[28] and Liddy in a film adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd. In 2016, Barden played the titular role of the Channel 4 television film Ellen[29] as well as Jasmine in the comedy film Mindhorn and Justine in the third series of Penny Dreadful on Sky Atlantic. She starred in the 2017 horror film Habit.

Also in 2017, Barden began starring in the Channel 4 and Netflix dark comedy-drama The End of the F***ing World as Alyssa, a role she would play for both series. She starred in the 2018 films The New Romantic and Scarborough. For the latter, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the British Independent Film Awards and National Film Awards UK. She won the IMDb Breakout Star Award and was named a 2018 BAFTA Breakthrough Brit.[30]

Barden appeared in the 2019 music videos for Conan Gray's "Maniac"[31] and Ozzy Osbourne's "Under the Graveyard", as well as the film Jungleland and the Australian Foxtel series Lambs of God. She had lead roles in the 2020 films Holler[32] and Pink Skies Ahead.

In January 2021, it was announced Barden had been cast as Jane in the 2022 Netflix thriller Pieces of Her, an adaptation of Karin Slaughter's novel of the same name.[33] She has upcoming roles in the ITV romantic comedy-drama You & Me[34] and the football film An Unsuitable Game.[35]

In May 2024, Barden was cast as Young Valya Harkonnen in Dune: Prophecy.[36]

Personal life

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Barden married Jungleland director Max Winkler in March 2021.[37] On 19 October 2021, Barden announced she had given birth to their first child, a daughter.[38]

Barden has opened up about her experiences with anxiety and therapy.[3]

In a 2023 interview with The Daily Telegraph, Barden spoke out against "working class tourism" in acting and posh actors who approach working class roles with a condescending or ignorant attitude, specifically calling out Emma Corrin for wanting to do a "gritty" film with an "outrageous accent".[39]

While attending New York Comic Con in October 2024, Barden made an appearance in support of Dune: Prophecy where she revealed she was pregnant with her second child.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2007 Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution Mary Ratcliffe
2010 Tamara Drewe Jody Long
2011 Hanna Sophie
2012 Comedown Kelly
In the Dark Half Marie
2013 Mindscape Mousey
2014 Lullaby Meredith
2015 Far from the Madding Crowd Liddy
The Lobster Nosebleed Woman
2016 Mindhorn Jasmine
2017 Habit Lee
2018 The New Romantic Blake Conway
Scarborough Beth
2019 Jungleland Sky
2020 Holler Ruth
Pink Skies Ahead Winona
2022 Hearts of Stone Agatha

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 My Parents Are Aliens Girl in School Episode: "The Date"
2005 No Angels Lucy Episode #2.3
2006 The Chase Amy Episode #1.2
2007–2008 Coronation Street Kayleigh Morton Series regular
2011 Comedy Showcase Barmaid Episode: "Chickens"
2012 Vera Stella Macken Episode: "The Ghost Position"
2013 Coming Up Ruby Episode: "Sammy's War"
Chickens Barmaid / Penny 3 episodes
2015 The Outcast Kit Carmichael 2 episodes
2016 Murder Jess Episode: "The Big Bang"
2016 Ellen Ellen Television film
Penny Dreadful Justine 6 episodes
2017–2019 The End of the F***ing World Alyssa Main role
2019 Lambs of God Sister Carla 4 episodes
2020 Better Things Herself 2 episodes
2020 Urban Myths Barbra Streisand Episode: "When Joan Kissed Barbra"
2021 Robot Chicken Rey, Additional characters Voice role; 4 episodes
2022 Pieces of Her Jane Main role
2023 You & Me Emma Main role
2023–24 American Horror Stories Bestie Episode: "Bestie"
Uncredited role Episode: "Tapeworm"
Hailey Doherty Episode: "Leprechaun"
2024 Dune: Prophecy Young Valya Harkonnen

Radio

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Year Title Role Notes
2021 SteelHeads Joleen Main role

Music videos

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Year Artist Song
2019 Conan Gray "Maniac"
2019 Ozzy Osbourne "Under the Graveyard"

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 Night School Sally Harold Pinter Theatre, London

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2011 London Critics' Circle Film Awards Young British Performer of the Year Tamara Drewe Nominated [40][41]
2018 IMDb Awards Breakout Stars Award The End of the F***ing World, Scarborough, The New Romantic Won [40]
2019 British Independent Film Award (BIFA) Best Supporting Actress Scarborough Nominated [40][42]
2020 National Film Awards UK Nominated [40]

References

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  1. ^ "Happy birthday Jessica Barden! Here she is with Carey Mulligan as 'Liddy' in last year's #FarFromTheMaddingCrowd". Twitter. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "MRS RATCLIFFE'S REVOLUTION". Hoyts Distribution / UK Film Council. 2007. Archived from the original (DOC) on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b Truong, Kimberly (15 June 2021). "Jessica Barden Goes Big On "Every Single Emotion"". InStyle. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Interview: Jessica Barden". The Scotsman. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  5. ^ Barrett, Devin (9 December 2019). "V Girls: Jessica Barden". V Magazine. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  6. ^ Williams, Holly (6 November 2018). "Jessica Barden on Pinter and the return of 'The End of the F***ing World': 'I struggle with anxiety. Being on stage can be terrible'". INews. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Mark Quartley and Jessica Barden to Star in Finborough Theatre's ARMSTRONG'S WAR; Full Cast Announced!". broadwayworld. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b c "Jessica Barden CV". Curtis Brown. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Wetherby youngster makes acting debut in TV". Harrogate Advertiser. 15 October 2005. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Jessica Barden - Actress". BAFTA. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Jessica set to join 'Corrie' cast". Wetherby News. 2 March 2007. Archived from the original on 28 January 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2007.
  12. ^ "Brookside's Sinbad joins Street". BBC News. 15 February 2007.
  13. ^ Wright, Jade (6 April 2015). "The Scousers that shone on Coronation Street – looking back at the characters who made their mark in Weatherfield". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Coronation Street 50 Years: Who has lived where in Weatherfield". Manchester Evening News. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Wetherby's young film star". Harrogate Advertiser. 26 September 2007. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  16. ^ Dorney, Kate (2012). Modern British theatre in 100 plays. London: Methuen Drama. p. 216. ISBN 9781408164808. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Jerusalem, Starring Tony Winner Mark Rylance, Transfers to the West End". theatre.com. 3 September 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Theatre Review: Jerusalem at the Apollo Theatre London". lastminute.com. 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  19. ^ Sandhu, Sukhdev (9 September 2010). "Tamara Drewe, review". Telegraph. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  20. ^ Quinn, Anthony (10 September 2010). "Tamara Drewe (15)". The Independent. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  21. ^ O'Hehir, Andrew (8 April 2011). ""Hanna": A ruthless, arty "Sucker Punch"". Salon. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  22. ^ Travers, Peter (7 April 2011). "Hanna (review)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 20 January 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  23. ^ Baldock, Luke Ryan (8 March 2013). "Comedown DVD Review". The Hollywood News. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  24. ^ Hoare, James (1 March 2013). "COMEDOWN DVD REVIEW". SciFiNow. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  25. ^ Gamble, Patrick (August 2012). "Film Review: 'In the Dark Half'". CineVue. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  26. ^ Grozdanovic, Nikola (10 June 2014). "Review: 'Lullaby'". Indie Wire. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  27. ^ "Jessica Barden, Stars of Tomorrow 2015". Screen Daily. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  28. ^ "BBC One: The Outcast: Episode 1 credits". BBC Online. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  29. ^ Lazarus, Susanna (1 September 2016). "Ellen: a searing piece of drama with a brutal final punch". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  30. ^ White, Peter (1 November 2018). "'The End of the F**king World' Star Jessica Barden Leads BAFTA's Breakthrough Brits". Deadline. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  31. ^ Roth, Madeline. "Conan Gray's 'Maniac' Video Is A 'Night Of The Living Exes' Spookfest". MTV News. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  32. ^ Erbland, Kate (9 June 2021). "'Holler' Review: Jessica Barden Shines in Better, More Honest Version of 'Hillbilly Elegy'". IndieWire. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  33. ^ Otterson, Joe (28 January 2021). "Omari Hardwick, Jessica Barden, Joe Dempsie Among Five Cast in Netflix Series 'Pieces of Her'". Variety. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  34. ^ "Harry Lawtey, Jessica Barden and Sophia Brown to star in You & Me". British Comedy Guide. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  35. ^ Ntim, Zac (30 August 2022). "Jessica Barden To Star In Women's Football Feature From Mandie Fletcher; WestEnd Films Launches Sales". Deadline. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  36. ^ Otterson, Joe (15 May 2024). "Dune: Prophecy Casts End of the F—ing World Star Jessica Barden". Variety. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  37. ^ "Jessica Barden is married to director Max Winkler". PopBuzz. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  38. ^ "End of the F***ing World star Jessica Barden reveals she was pregnant in lockdown and recently gave birth". Metro. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  39. ^ "Jessica Barden accuses 'posh' Crown star Emma Corrin of 'working class tourism'". The Daily Telegraph. 26 February 2023.
  40. ^ a b c d "Jessica Barden Awards". IMDb (Index source only). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  41. ^ "31st London Critics' Circle nominations". awardsdaily.com. 20 December 2010.
  42. ^ "2019 British Indie Film Awards Nominations: 'David Copperfield,' Zellweger, and More". IndieWire. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
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