Gemma Whelan


Gemma Elizabeth Whelan is an English actress and comedian, best known for playing Yara Greyjoy in the HBO fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones. She plays a detective, Eunice Noon, in The End of the F***ing World on Netflix.

Early life

Whelan was born in Leeds and grew up in the Midlands. She attended The King's High School for Girls in Warwick and the London Studio Centre.

Career

As a stand-up comedian, Whelan won the 2010 Funny Women Variety Award.
She performed at the 2013 Edinburgh Fringe with her show Chastity Butterworth & The Spanish Hamster.
In 2014 she recorded a pilot chat show as her character Chastity Butterworth for BBC Radio 4.
On screen, she has played supporting roles in several films and TV shows, including in the 2010 films Gulliver's Travels and The Wolfman. She was a series regular on Ben Elton's BBC Two comedy Upstart Crow and on The End of the F***ing World, and has had roles in other comedies, including Uncle and The Agency.
In August 2011, she was cast as Yara Greyjoy in the HBO fantasy-drama television series Game of Thrones, and appeared as a recurring cast member from the second season onward. In 2017, she portrayed Karen Matthews in the two-part TV drama The Moorside, based on the 2008 disappearance of 9-year-old Shannon Matthews. In 2019, she appeared as Marian Lister in the BBC drama Gentleman Jack.
In September 2019, a stage play adaptation of Upstart Crow was announced for the Gielgud Theatre, which is due to run from 7 February to 25 April 2020. Whelan will reprise the role of Kate, whom she played in the original TV version.

Personal life

Whelan gave birth to her first child in 2017. She lives in London with her husband, comedian and actor Gerry Howell, and their daughter.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

Video games

Awards and nominations