1. Overview
Stella Gonet is a highly regarded Scottish theatre, film, and television actress, widely recognized for her significant contributions to the performing arts. Her career spans decades, marked by prominent roles in British television dramas such as Beatrice Eliott in The House of Eliott from 1991 to 1994 and Chief Executive Officer Jayne Grayson in Holby City from 2007 to 2009. Gonet has also distinguished herself on stage, notably as Ophelia in the 1989 National Theatre revival of Hamlet alongside Daniel Day-Lewis and Ian Charleson. In recent years, she has gained attention for her portrayals of influential historical figures, embodying Margaret Thatcher in the critically acclaimed 2014 West End production of Handbagged and later in the 2023 film El Conde. Her filmography also includes her depiction of Queen Elizabeth II in the 2021 movie Spencer.
2. Early life
Stella Gonet's early life was rooted in Scotland, providing a foundation for her extensive acting career.
2.1. Birth and family background
Stella Gonet was born on December 12, 1960, in Greenock, Scotland. Her family background reflects a rich multicultural heritage; her father was of Polish descent, and her mother was Scottish, working as an English teacher. Her parents met during the Second World War when her father was stationed in Greenock. Gonet is the seventh of twelve children, a large family where four of her sisters pursued careers as nurses.
3. Career
Stella Gonet has built an extensive career across theatre, television, and film, taking on a diverse range of roles.
3.1. Theatre
Gonet has a distinguished record in theatre, with notable performances on prominent stages. In 1989, she played the pivotal role of Ophelia in the National Theatre's production of Hamlet. In this production, the title role was shared by three actors: Daniel Day-Lewis, Ian Charleson, and later Jeremy Northam. She also took on the challenging role of Margaret Thatcher in Moira Buffini's play Handbagged. This production premiered at the Tricycle Theatre in 2013 before transferring to the West End at the Vaudeville Theatre in 2014, where Gonet reprised her role.
3.2. Television
Gonet has been a familiar face on British television, appearing in numerous dramas and series. She co-starred as Beatrice Eliott, one of the two lead characters, across three series of the drama The House of Eliott. From 2007 to 2009, she played Chief Executive Officer Jayne Grayson in the medical drama Holby City for 67 episodes, a role she briefly reprised in Casualty in 2008.
Her other television appearances include:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Gems | Noreen | |
| 1986 | To Have and to Hold | Ellie | |
| 1986 | Casualty | Dr. Clare Wainwright | Episodes: "Jump Start" and "Professionals" |
| 1987 | ScreenPlay | Mairi | Episode: "The Shutter Falls" |
| 1988 | The Play on One | Rachel | Episode: "Down Where the Buffalo Go" |
| 1989 | The Bill | Mrs. Lavery | Episode: "The Chain of Command" |
| 1991 | The Advocates | Alex Abercorn | Series 1 |
| 1991 | Heading Home | Beryl James | Part of Screen Two |
| 1991 - 1994 | The House of Eliott | Beatrice Eliott | 34 episodes |
| 1992 | Screen Two | Marigold | Episode: "The Common Pursuit" |
| 1993 | French and Saunders | Beatrice | Episode: "The House of Idiot" |
| 1996 | Screen One | Kate Armstrong | Episode: "Trip Trap" |
| 1996 | The Crow Road | Fiona Urvill | |
| 1996 | Drop the Dead Donkey | Anthea | Episode: "Sex 'n Death" |
| 1998 | Verdict | Alex Horton-Smith | Episode: "Split Second" |
| 1998 | Supply & Demand | DCI Jane Leyland | |
| 2002 | The Secret | Nadia Collins | |
| 2004 | Midsomer Murders | Grace Maplin | Episode: "Sins of Commission" |
| 2004 | Foyle's War | Barbara Hicks | Episode: "They Fought in the Fields" |
| 2005 | The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Lady Sarah Keach | Episode: "In the Guise of Death" |
| 2005 | Murder in Suburbia | Felicity Hendon | Episode: "Viva La Salsa" |
| 2005 | Where the Heart Is | Wendy | Episode: "Sisters Under the Skin" |
| 2005 | Taggart | Val | Episode: "A Taste of Money" |
| 2005 | Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder | Grace Duff | Episode: "The Case of the Croydon Poisonings" |
| 2006 | Dalziel and Pascoe | Christine Webster | Episode: "Guardian Angel" |
| 2007 | Persuasion | Mrs. Musgrove | |
| 2007 | Roman Mysteries | Queen Berenice of Judea | Episode: "The Enemies of Jupiter" |
| 2007 | Rebus | Cynthia Marber | Episode: "Resurrection Men" |
| 2007 - 2009 | Holby City | Jayne Grayson | 67 episodes |
| 2008 | Casualty | Jayne Grayson | Episodes: "Thicker Than Water" and "Diamond Dogs" |
| 2010 | Lewis | Frances Woodville | Episode: "The Dead of Winter" |
| 2011 | Outnumbered | Mrs. Henderson | Episode: "The Labrador" |
| 2013 | Father Brown | Lady Margaret Galloway | Episode: "The Face of Death" |
| 2014 | Silk | Christine Barnaby | Episode: "Big Fish, Small Pond" |
| 2014 - 2016 | Siblings | Marion | Episodes: "Laser Eye Date", "Burrito Neighbours", and "Golden Aunt" |
| 2015 | Humans | Frances Walker | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Man Down | Mrs. Lipsey | Series 4 |
| 2017 | The Crown | Margaret Lambert | Episode: "Vergangenheit" |
| 2018 | The Cry | Elizabeth | |
| 2020 | The Salisbury Poisonings | Caroline Sturgess | |
| 2021 | Breeders | Leah |
3.3. Film
Stella Gonet has appeared in a variety of films, often portraying complex characters. Her early film credits include For Queen and Country (1989) and Stalin (1992). In 2001, she appeared in Discovery of Heaven, followed by her role as Mrs. Nickleby in the 2002 film adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby. She also featured in Red Mercury and the 2010 film Mo.
Gonet's more recent film work includes collaborations with Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín. She notably portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in Larraín's 2021 film Spencer, which explores a fictionalized account of Princess Diana's life. In 2023, she reunited with Larraín to play Margaret Thatcher in the film El Conde.
4. Personal life
Stella Gonet is married to English actor Nicholas Farrell. The couple exchanged vows in 2005. They have collaborated on screen, co-starring in an episode of Roman Mysteries where Gonet played Queen Berenice of Judea and Farrell played Emperor Titus. They also appeared together as Mr. and Mrs. Musgrove in ITV's 2007 production of Jane Austen's Persuasion. Additionally, both actors participated in a 2001 audiobook recording of William Shakespeare's Richard III. Gonet and Farrell have a daughter named Natasha, who was born in 2000.