“Often, the last thing I want to do is stand up in front of 50 cameras on the red carpet. I’d rather have a cup of hot milk and an early night,” says British actress Felicity Jones. Despite her outwardly demure nature, however, the past decade has seen her headline countless cinematic blockbusters, thrusting her into the limelight over and over again. This, perhaps, is because the 37-year-old seems to have a golden touch when it comes to selecting the movies she chooses to involve herself with, while her ability to play powerful female roles resonates with audiences the world over.
Felicity Rose Hadley Jones, to give the lady her full name, was born in the West Midlands city of Birmingham on 17 October 1983 to journalist Gareth Jones and Julia Jones, an advertising executive. The couple separated when she was still very young and she credits seeing her working single mother striving to keep food on the table as helping to instil into her the importance of hard work.
It was this very work ethic that saw her kick-start her career when not yet a teenager. Bitten by the acting bug at the tender age of 11 – perhaps influenced by her maternal uncle, actor Michael Hadley, who most recently appeared in 2017’s King Arthur: Legend of the Sword – she made her small-screen debut in the British-Canadian TV series, The Worst Witch, at just 14-years-old.
The following year, she took an unusual step when she accepted the voice-only role of Emma Grundy in BBC 4 Radio’s staggeringly popular long-running soap, The Archers. It was a role that she would go on to play more than 10 years, a period that took her through her schooling and all of her years at Oxford University. She also believes it set her on the path to stardom, saying: “That’s where I learnt my craft. When I was at home, I was particularly popular among friends’ parents on account of appearing in The Archers.”
In the years that followed, she went on to appear in numerous TV series, including The Worst Witch sequel, Weirdsister College, in 2001, the 2003 BBC One drama Servants, and the 2007 small-screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey (in which she played the lead role of Catherine Morland). Then, in 2008, she finally made her silver screen debut, appearing in Flashback of a Fool, starring James Bond actor Daniel Craig and Claire Forlani of Meet Joe Black fame.
It wasn’t until 2011, though, that she finally hit the big league, landing a starring role in the romantic drama, Like Crazy. The film received the much-coveted Grand Jury Prize when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, with Jones’ heartbreaking and captivating performance as the protagonist, Anna, singled out as meriting particular critical acclaim.
Over the next 10 years, she established herself as a true Tinseltown leading lady, one who’s CV is punctuated with both hugely successful box-office hits and highly-rated indie flicks. Throughout this period, one thing became clear – she has a particular affinity for bringing to life strong female characters, ones who combat sexism, stereotypes and stigmas in equal measure.
In 2016, for example, she took on the role of Jyn Erso, the female protagonist in the action-packed Star Wars spin-off Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Perfectly portraying a plucky resistance leader, she assembled a rag-tag team on a quest to capture the plans for the apocalyptic Death Star weapon.
“Jones has a a particular affinity with strong female characters, ones who combat sexism and stereotyping”
Then, two years later, she confirmed her feminist leanings in On the Basis of Sex, a biopic of the (now) late, great US Supreme Court judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with a focus on the opening years of her career. Despite her tour-de-force performance and an intriguing plot, the film opened to mixed reviews. Recalling the audience’s reaction, she later said: “I felt there was an ingrained sexism, at certain points, that came out in response to the film. Even now, it’s hard to put out a film like that into the world, something that focuses on female triumphs, female success…”
Apparently not in the least disheartened, her next silver screen outing, 2019’s The Aeronauts, saw Jones bring to life Amelia Rennes, a daredevil 19th-century hot air balloon pilot, renowned for reaching new heights against all odds. Generally well received, her performance (alongside Eddie Redmayne) even saw one critic proclaim claim: “The duo hand-in-hand elevates The Aeronauts from a flimsy action-adventure to something worth watching on the biggest possible screen.”
“Even now, it’s hard to put out a film like that into the world, something that focuses on female triumphs, female success…”
For her next outing, however, the actress seems to be taking a break from action-packed drama for more light-hearted fare in the form of The Last Letter from Your Lover, a romantic drama slated for release on 12 March this year. After that, the future seems less clear. While rumours abound that she may be reprising her role as Jyn Erso in yet another Star Wars outing, there is yet to be official confirmation of any such move. However, given the breadth of her talent and her steadily rising star, one thing is clear – we’ve not seen the last of Felicity Jones.
Five Must-Watch Felicity Jones Movies
Like Crazy (2011)
This immigrant love story starring Jones alongside then-fellow-up-and-comers Anton Yelchin and Jennifer Lawrence marked the actress’ first entree in the world of high profile cinema. The movie follows Anna (Jones), a British university student navigating the challenges of a long-distance relationship with her American beau.
The Theory of Everything (2014)
Her role as Jane Hawking, the wife of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, saw her bring to life the woman’s struggles when it came to dealing with her husband’s simultaneous rise to scientific superstardom and his crippling battle with motor neurone disease. The Theory of Everything garnered a string of accolades, including a BAFTA nod and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for Jones.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
In this prequel to Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, the first instalment of the massively popular Star Wars franchise, Jones leads an all-star cast as Jyn Erso, a young rebel instrumental in stealing the plans of the Death Star, the evil Empire’s secret weapon. Taking more than US$1 billion worldwide, it stands as the 20th-highest-grossing movie of all time.
On the Basis of Sex (2018)
Continuing to bring empowering female roles to the big screen, this time she stars as trailblazing US Supreme Court judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This true-to-life biopic tracks Bader’s brilliant legal mind as she combats sexism and institutionalism early on in her groundbreaking career, before eventually becoming only the second woman ever to serve on the Supreme Court.
The Aeronauts (2019)
This film adaptation of the 2013 novel, Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air by famed British author Richard Holmes sees Jones take on the role of a wealthy 19th-century young woman who, together with scientist James Glaisher (played by Eddie Redmayne, her The Theory of Everything co-star), mount an ambitious hot air balloon expedition. Laden with stunning visual effects and riveting, heart-stopping action, this is one movie that sure to have you on the edge of your seat.