Natalie Dormer is an English actress best known for her work in film, television, and theatre, with notable roles in Game of Thrones, The Tudors, and The Hunger Games series. She was born on 11th February 1982 in Reading, Berkshire, England, where she spent her formative years before embarking on a career that would earn her international acclaim.

She was brought up by her monther Claire and stepfather, Gary, a builder.

She had quite the motivational start in her schooling as she was also a member of Allenova School of Dancing. Its head office was based in Thatcham but also runs classes in Caversham Heights and Tilehurst.

Natalie was also once a member of Reading's Starmaker Theatre School where Hollywood star Kate Winslet and singer Nathan James are also alumni. She also had a part time job as a waitress at The Mill at Sonning theatre in Sonning Eye when she was younger.

Natalie attended Chiltern Edge School just north of Reading, where she was head girl, and later went on to Reading Blue Coat School, an independent school in Sonning, Berkshire.

During her school years, she excelled academically and was a well-rounded student, involved in various extracurricular activities, including public speaking and sports. She returned to Chiltern Edge for its fiftieth anniversary and commented:

“I remember some very happy times at Chiltern Edge.

“I remember cross country, which I enjoyed, and history, which I enjoyed a lot too. I also remember sitting outside eating sandwiches in the winter and complaining about how cold it was.”

It was during her time in school that Dormer began to develop a love for drama and performance. Encouraged by her teachers, she participated in school productions and eventually realized her passion for acting. Her roots in Reading provided her with a grounding upbringing before pursuing more formal training.

Dormer’s journey in acting took a decisive turn when she trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, one of the UK’s most prestigious drama schools.

Six month after graduatingt, Natalie auditioned for and won the role of Victoria in Casanova (2005) alongside Heath Ledger and Sienna Miller. Due to her impressive performance at the auditions, the role of Victoria was expanded.

Her breakout role came in 2007 when she portrayed Anne Boleyn in Showtime’s The Tudors, a performance that earned her critical praise and launched her into the public eye.

However, it was her role as Margaery Tyrell in HBO’s Game of Thrones (2012–2016) that cemented Dormer’s status as a global star. Her portrayal of the cunning and charismatic Tyrell earned her widespread acclaim for balancing political intrigue with vulnerability.

Dormer’s other significant credits include playing Cressida in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2 and her critically acclaimed performance in Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. She has also maintained a strong connection to theatre, with roles in London productions like Venus in Fur and After Miss Julie.

She now lives in Somerset with her partner, Vikings actor David Oakes. They married in 2023 and have a five year old daughter.