Natalie Dormer, born February 11, 1982, is an English actress. Born and brought up in Berkshire, she was educated at Chiltern Edge Secondary School and Reading Blue Coat School, and trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Take a look below for 27 more fascinating and interesting facts about Natalie Dormer.

1. Her first professional acting role was in the Shakespeare comedy The Comedy of Errors in 2003.

2. She made her screen debut in Lasse Hallstrom’s romantic movie Casanova, followed by a small part in the dramedy Distant Shores.

3. She received widespread praise for her portrayal of Anne Boleyn on the Showtime series The Tudors, and was nominated for two Gemini Awards for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Drama Series.

4. She made her stage debut at the Young Vic in 2010 in the play Sweet Nothings, and portrayed Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Duchess of York in Madonna’s movie W.E. and Private Lorraine in Captain America: The First Avenger.

5. In 2012, her lead performance in After Miss Julie at the Young Vic attracted widespread critical acclaim.

6. Dormer gained international attention with her performance of Margaery Tyrell on the HBO series Game of Thrones, for which she was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

7. She’s known for playing Irene Adler on the CBS series Elementary.

8. She is of partly Norwegian, and half Welsh, descent.

9. Dormer has said that she was the victim of bullying while at school, but, “still to this day [she] can’t place why.”

10. At school, Dormer was head girl, a first class student, vice-captain of the school netball team, and traveled the world with her school’s public speaking team.

11. She describes herself as the “academic hopeful” of the family and was provisionally offered a place to study history at Cambridge; but, in her A-level History exam, she didn’t get the A grade she needed to attend.

12. On the basis of her performance in Casanova, Dormer has a 3 picture deal with Disney and Touchstone.

13. Her role in Casanova was originally written to be much smaller. However, Dormer impressed director Lasse Hallstrom so much that he expanded her part, and also injected more humor into the role once he realized how well Natalie handled comedy.

14. Despite rumors that Dormer is related to historical lady-in-waiting Jane Dormer, who served Queen Mary I, they have no familial connection.

15. She enjoys fencing as a sport, and is a member of the London Fencing Academy.

16. She has a brother, Mark, and a sister, Samantha. In 2011, she became engaged to Anthony Byrne.

17. Dormer has stated that Cate Blanchett has been an influence in her career as an actress.

18. After the filming of Casanova, Dormer was out of work for ten months, which she ascribes to “bad representation.” Taken off the audition circuit, Dormer worked as a waitress and did data entry to support herself.

19. In 2007 and 2009, Dormer played Anne Boleyn in the first two seasons of The Tudors, for which she received highly positive reviews.

20. In 2008, Dormer played Moira Nicholson in Agatha Christie’s Marple: “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?” and appeared in the movie City of Life.

21. In March 2012, Dormer returned to the Young Vic to play the title role in After Miss Julie by Patrick Marber. Her performance received critical acclaim.

22. In March 2013, she played the Lady Door in the radio play of Neverwhere, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman.

23. Later on in 2013, Dormer appeared in the car racing drama Rush and the thriller The Counselor. She also appeared in A Long Way From Home.

24. Dormer played Cressida in the movies The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and Part 2. In preparation for the role, she shaved the left side of her head.

25. Dormer starred in the Lava Bear Films and David S. Goyer produced horror movie The Forest, which was directed by multiple award winning music video and short-film director Jason Zada, as his feature film debut.

26. Dormer starred as the scandalous 18th century noblewoman Lady Worsley in a BBC drama called The Scandalous Lady W, based on the book Lady Worsley’s Whim by the historian Hallie Rubenhold.

27. In February 2017, it was announced that Dormer was cast as schoolteacher Mrs. Hester Appleyard in Picnic at Hanging Rock, an adaption of the 1967 Australian novel of the same name by Joan Lindsay.