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Lydia Leonard

Lydia Leonard

Actor · Born December 5, 1981 (44) · Paris, Ile-de-France, France

Lydia Leonard (born 5 December 1980) is a British actress. She was born in Paris to an Irish mother, a teacher, and Anglo-French father, a financial accountant; she lived in France until the age of five. Originally, Leonard wanted to be a barrister, which she considers to be a profession very similar to acting onstage. Her first acting role was in Nativity spectacle in school, where she played King Herod. Leonard went from Bedales School to graduate from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2003, and then won a BBC Radio Drama Carleton Hobbs bursary. Her radio credits include playing Lady Mabel in a twelve-part adaptation of Anthony Trollope's series of political novels, and Goodwill in The Pilgrim's Progress. On television she had an ongoing role in 50s-set detective series Jericho starring Robert Lindsay, and appeared in True True Lie (2006) and The Long Walk to Finchley (2008), along with a cameo in Rome (2006, The Stolen Eagle), and as a nurse in the BBC's Casualty 1909. Leonard appeared on stage as Polyxena in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hecuba starring Vanessa Redgrave and alongside Francesca Annis in the National Theatre's production of Time and the Conways. In 2005 Leonard appeared as Caroline Cushing in the original Donmar Theatre and West End productions of Frost/Nixon. In 2008 Leonard played a major role in the BBC re-make of The 39 Steps. Part of the Christmas scheduling, its first showing was the most watched program on BBC One on that day. Leonard starred as Cynthia in Joanna Hogg's 2010 feature film Archipelago. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lydia Leonard, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 5, 1981 (44)
From
Paris, Ile-de-France, France
Works as
Actor
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 41 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Up 23% in 30 days

What are Lydia Leonard's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 5th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
32%
Bonds
25%
Survival
14%
Society
11%
Power
10%
Morality
7%
Identity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Earnest: How sincerely it treats its story and characters, from ironic to earnest. Browse their earnest movies.
Tone · Sincerity
ironicearnest

A split, not a type: Ironic 0 · Wry 4 · Earnest 3

Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 1 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 4 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 4 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 5 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles
Shadow
1 of 4
Ally
1 of 4
Shapeshifter
1 of 4
Hero
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Melancholic
8
Contemplative
4
Bittersweet
4
Warm
3
Other
11

How their films linger

Bittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lydia Leonard's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lydia Leonard's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

41 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Secret Service (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 5 episodes · as Amanda Walker

  • Pretty Lethal(2026)

    as Miss Thorna

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • A Woman of Substance(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · as Olivia Wainwright

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • The Party(2026)

    Show as Serena Fitzmaurice

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • Down Cemetery Road(2025)

    Show 5 episodes · as Defence Minister Talia Ross

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all shows

  • A Very Royal Scandal(2024)

    Show 3 episodes · as Esme Wren

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Northern Comfort(2023)

    as Sarah

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Ten Percent(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Rebecca Fox

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Red Election(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · as Beatrice Ogilvy

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • All These Men That I've Done (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Unnamed

  • We Are Lady Parts(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · as Clarice

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • McDonald & Dodds(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Lucy Holgate

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Flesh and Blood(2020)

    Show 4 episodes · as Natalie

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Last Christmas(2019)

    as Marta Andrich

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Gentleman Jack(2019)

    Show 8 episodes · as Mariana Lawton

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Absentia(2017)

    Show 10 episodes · as Laurie Colson

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Quacks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Caroline Lessing

  • Apple Tree Yard(2017)

    Show 4 episodes · as Bonnard

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • The Crown(2016)

    Show 5 episodes · as Cherie Blair

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Prevailing Winds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as The Hiker

  • River(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Marianne King

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Life in Squares(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · as Young Virginia Woolf

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows

  • Wolf Hall(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · as Jane Rochford

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Lucan(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Melissa

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Born of War(2014)

    as Olivia

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Fifth Estate(2013)

    as Alex Lang

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Legendary(2013)

    as Katie

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Playdate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • Archipelago(2010)

    as Cynthia

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The 39 Steps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Victoria Sinclair

  • Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley(2008)

    as Joyce

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Ashes to Ashes(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Sara Templeton

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Line of Beauty(2006)

    Show 3 episodes · as Penny Kent

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • True True Lie(2006)

    as Dana

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Jericho(2005)

    Show 4 episodes · as Angela

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Rome(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Julia

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Foyle's War(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Marion Greenwood

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • MI-5(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha Ford

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Phoebe Frears

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Embassy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • The Portrait of a Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 6 episodes · as Countess Gemini

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 40 titles, 38 of them dated from 1997 to 2026; peak year 2023.

Biggest box office

Last Christmas (2019)

$123M worldwide

Highest rated

A Woman of Substance (2026)

Midcredits 76th

Film career

19972026

Peak 2023 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 2008Screen debut· The 39 Steps
  • 2023First top-billed film· Northern Comfort
  • 2023Career best· Northern Comfort

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting40 of 40: 40 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rd

By decade

1990s1 · acting2000s9 · acting2010s16 · acting2020s12 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 14% of 7 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Lydia Leonard's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 9; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 24th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

20thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 33 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Born of War (2014)

70th percentile spread · 50% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Crown (2016)

Midcredits 98th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Lydia Leonard's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 51 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Lydia Leonard work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lydia Leonard's MovieCove titles; Eric Styles shares the most, 2.