Bel Powley

Last updated on the 6 May 2025 by Evandrus

Mini Biography

Born: 7 March 1992, Hammersmith, London, England. 

Bel Powley, born Isobel Dorothy Powley, was raised in a family deeply connected to the film industry. Her father, Mark Powley, is an actor and her mother, Janis Jaffa, works as a casting director. This environment meant that the world of acting was not a distant or glamorous concept during her upbringing. She attended Holland Park School in London. While she was accepted to study history at the University of Manchester and also deferred a place at University College London, she ultimately chose to pursue her burgeoning acting career.

Bel Powley began her acting career as a teenager on television. One of her early prominent roles was as Daisy Millar in the CBBC action television series “M.I. High” (2007-2008). She also appeared in the period miniseries “Little Dorrit” (2008), the crime series “Murderland” (2009), and the ITV sitcom “Benidorm” (2014). These early experiences laid the foundation for her later success in film and television.

While her portrayal of Princess Margaret marked a turning point, it was her captivating performance as Minnie Goetze, the inquisitive adolescent at the heart of the 2015 coming-of-age film “The Diary of a Teenage Girl”, that truly catapulted her into the spotlight. This role resonated deeply with critics, earning her widespread praise and a string of accolades, most notably the Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actress.

Building on this momentum, Powley has since demonstrated her versatility by embracing a wide array of characters in films such as “Mary Shelley” (2017), “White Boy Rick” (2018), “Ashes in the Snow” (2018), and “The King of Staten Island” (2020). Her talent has also extended to the small screen, with notable appearances in series like “The Morning Show” (2019-2021), “Everything I Know About Love” (2022), and “A Small Light” (2023).

In her personal life, Bel Powley is married to actor Douglas Booth. They met on the set of the film “Mary Shelley” in 2016 and became engaged in July 2021. They married in October 2023 in London.

Suggested viewing

A Small Light (2023)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.4

In her twenties, Miep Gies immediately agreed when her employer Otto Frank approached her to shelter his family from the Nazis in World War II. Over the next two years, Miep, along with her husband Jan and other helpers, protected the eight individuals hiding in the Secret Annex. Miep played a crucial role by discovering and safeguarding Anne’s Diary, enabling Otto, the sole survivor among the eight, to eventually share it with the world as a profound testament to the Holocaust.

Top cast: Bel Powley, Joe Cole, Amira Casar, Billie Boullet, Ashley Brooke, Liev Schreiber, Nicholas Burns, Andy Nyman, Caroline Catz, Eleanor Tomlinson.

Alternative version

Mary Shelley  (2017)

Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.4

“Mary Shelley” is a biographical drama film that chronicles the life of the renowned English writer Mary Shelley. Set in the 19th century, it explores her stormy relationship with poet Percy Shelley, her creation of the iconic novel “Frankenstein” and the challenges she faced as a female writer in a male-dominated society.

Top cast: Elle Fanning, Douglas Booth, Stephen Dillane, Bel Powley, Joanne Froggatt, Tom Sturridge, Ben Hardy, Maisie Williams, Hugh O’Connor.

Benidorm (2007)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.5

“Benidorm” is a sitcom that unfolds in a sun-soaked Spanish resort town. It follows a diverse group of holidaymakers, from eccentric families to quirky hotel staff, as they navigate comical mishaps, outrageous situations, and unexpected romances. Laughter ensues as this bonkers cast brings the joy and absurdity of Benidorm to life.

Top cast: Tim Healy, Johnny Vegas, Jake Canuso, Janine Duvitski, Siobhan Finneran, Steve Pemberton, Tony Maudsley, Bel Powley (S6.E2-E7).

Full filmography (@Wikipedia)