{{Short description|English composer (born 1984)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=July 2025}} __NOTOC__ {{Infobox person | name = Isobel Waller-Bridge | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Isobel Noeline Waller-Bridge | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|04|23|df=y}} | birth_place = Hammersmith, London England | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Composer | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = | relatives = {{ubl|Phoebe Waller-Bridge (sister)|Michelle Dockery (sister-in-law)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sachdeva |first=Maanya |date=24 September 2023 |title=Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery marries Jasper Waller-Bridge in intimate ceremony |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/michelle-dockery-jasper-waller-bridge-downton-abbey-wedding-b2417490.html |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=The Independent}}</ref>}} | alma_mater = {{ubl|Royal Academy of Music (ArtDip)|King's College London (MMus) |University of Edinburgh (BMus)}} | website = {{Official URL}} }} {{external media|image1=[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3804256/mediaviewer/rm477858049 Isobel Waller-Bridge IMDb photo]}}
'''Isobel Noeline Waller-Bridge''' (born 23 April 1984){{citation needed lead|date=May 2025}} is an English composer who is known for her scores for film, television, and theatre, along with her works for electronic music and contemporary classical music.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Nepilova|first=Hannah|date=15 November 2019|title=Isobel Waller-Bridge on fame, Phoebe and going from Fleabag to Austen|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0d1aae9e-ffdc-11e9-a530-16c6c29e70ca|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=27 July 2020|website=The Financial Times}}</ref>
==Early life and education== {{third party|section|date=May 2025}} Born Isobel Noeline Waller-Bridge on 23 April 1984,{{cn|date=May 2025}} she is the daughter of Theresa Mary Waller-Bridge (née Clerke), an employee of the Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, and Michael Cyprian Waller-Bridge, founder of the electronic trading platform Tradepoint.<ref>{{cite book |title=Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage |date=2011 |publisher=Debrett's Peerage Limited |page=234}}</ref><ref name="transgressive">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/sep/08/phoebe-waller-bridge-fleabag-killing-eve-transgressive-women|title=Phoebe Waller-Bridge: 'I Have an Appetite for Transgressive Women' |last=Hattenstone |first=Simon |newspaper=The Guardian |date=8 September 2018 |access-date=28 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph-Engagement-2014">{{cite news|title=Engagements: Mr C. T. P. Woodman and Ms P. M. Waller-Bridge|url=http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/engagements/172646/mr-c.t.p.-woodman-and-ms-p.m.-waller-bridge|accessdate=25 September 2016|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=18 January 2014}}</ref> She has two younger siblings: Jasper and Phoebe.{{cn|date=May 2025}} The family from which Waller-Bridge descends were landed gentry of Cuckfield, Sussex.<ref>{{cite book|title=Burke's Family Index|editor1-first=Hugh|editor1-last=Montgomery-Massingberd|publisher=Burke's Peerage Limited|isbn=978-0850110227|year=1976|page=18}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Burke's Landed Gentry|publisher=Burke's Peerage Limited|edition=18th|editor1-first=Peter|editor1-last=Townend|year=1972|volume=3|page=532}}</ref> On her father's side, she is a descendant of the Revd Sir Egerton Leigh, 2nd Baronet, and a distant relative of politician and author Egerton Leigh; her maternal grandfather was Sir John Edward Longueville Clerke, 12th baronet, of Hitcham, Buckinghamshire.<ref>{{cite book|title=Burke's Peerage, Knightage and Baronetage|publisher=Burke's Peerage Limited|isbn=978-0971196629|edition=107th|date=1 December 2003|volume=1|page=819}}</ref>{{verification needed|date=May 2025}}
Waller-Bridge earned an bachelor's degree in music from Edinburgh University, and a master's degree from King's College London.{{cn|date=May 2025}} She was also awarded a scholarship from the Royal Academy of Music, where she received another diploma.{{cn|date=May 2025}}<ref name="bio">{{cite web | url=http://isobelwaller-bridge.com/biography/ | first=Isobel | last=Waller-Bridge | title=Biography | website=isobelwaller-bridge.com | accessdate=4 December 2019 | archive-date=30 November 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130232133/http://isobelwaller-bridge.com/biography/ | url-status=dead }}{{third party inline|date=May 2025}}</ref>{{better source|date=May 2025}}
==Career== Waller-Bridge composed the soundtrack for the BBC comedy-drama series ''Fleabag'' (2016–2019), which was written by and starred her sister, Phoebe Waller-Bridge.<ref name="radiotimes18">{{cite web|date=21 September 2018|title=Isobel Waller-Bridge on the 'dream' of composing for Vanity Fair – and its 'weird similarities' to sister Phoebe's Fleabag|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2018-09-21/isobel-waller-bridge-sister-phoebe-composer-fleabag-vanity-fair/|magazine=Radio Times}}</ref> She also wrote the score for the feature films ''Vita and Virginia'' (2018) and ''Emma'' (2020).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/08/elizabeth-debicki-vita-virginia-score-isobel-waller-bridge-1202168208/|title=Isobel Waller-Bridge Used Elizabeth Debicki's Actual Heartbeat to Score 'Vita & Virginia'|website=indiewire|date=23 August 2019 |access-date=2019-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Wilde |first=Autumn de |title=Emma. |date=2020-03-06 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9214832/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_7 |type=Comedy, Drama, Romance |publisher=Working Title Films, Blueprint Pictures, Focus Features |access-date=2022-03-14}}</ref> In 2021, she scored Netflix's ''Munich: The Edge of War'',<ref>{{Citation |last=Schwochow |first=Christian |title=Munich: The Edge of War |date=2022-01-21 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7475578/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0 |type=Biography, Drama, History |publisher=Turbine Studios, Netflix |access-date=2022-03-14}}</ref> which was released by Milan Records/Sony Music, and ''The Phantom of the Open.''<ref>{{Citation |last=Roberts |first=Craig |title=The Phantom of the Open |date=2022-03-18 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12572040/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_6 |type=Comedy, Drama, Sport |publisher=BBC Films, Baby Cow Productions, British Film Institute (BFI) |access-date=2022-03-14}}</ref>
Waller-Bridge is also a performer, playing in venues such as the St James Theatre and Union Chapel. In 2016, her music appeared on albums with the Icelandic composers Ólafur Arnalds and Jóhann Jóhannsson.<ref name="bio" /> In 2021, she was commissioned by the Philharmonia Orchestra to write music for their ''Human/Nature'' series. Her piece, ''Temperatures'', was premiered in November 2021, conducted by Pekka Kuusisto at the Royal Festival Hall.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pekka Kuusisto: Four Seasons, and Four Seascapes |url=https://philharmonia.co.uk/whats-on/28-11-21-pekka-kuusisto-four-seasons-four-seascapes/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Philharmonia |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2020, she was commissioned by Sarah Burton to score Alexander McQueen’s Spring/Summer 2020 collection at Paris Fashion Week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-04 |title=If You Need To Escape For A Moment Today, Listen To This Soothing Alexander McQueen Playlist by Isobel Waller-Bridge |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/isobel-waller-bridge-alexander-mcqueen-playlist |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2021, she collaborated with ballet dancer and actress Francesca Hayward to score her dance film, [https://www.nowness.com/picks/siren-francesca-hayward ''Siren''].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Spot of the Week: Jess Kohl Directs Royal Ballet's Francesca Hayward in "Siren" |url=https://www.shootonline.com/video/top-spot-week-jess-kohl-directs-royal-ballets-francesca-hayward-siren |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=SHOOTonline |date=21 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
For theatre, Waller-Bridge worked on Florian Zeller's ''The Son'' (West End)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Son |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/16305-the-son |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=London Theatre |language=en}}</ref> and ''The Forest'' (Hampstead Theatre),<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE FOREST |url=https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/2022/the-forest/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Hampstead Theatre}}</ref> ''Woyzeck'', adapted by Jack Thorne (Old Vic),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-23 |title=Woyzeck review – John Boyega shines as traumatised soldier in 80s Berlin |url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/may/24/woyzeck-review-john-boyega-jack-thorne-georg-buchner-old-vic-london |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> ''Blood Wedding'' (Young Vic),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blood Wedding |url=https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/blood-wedding |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Young Vic website |date=19 September 2019 |language=en}}</ref> and ''Knives in Hens'' (Donmar Warehouse).<ref>{{Cite web |title=KNIVES IN HENS |url=https://www.donmarwarehouse.com/knives-in-hens/ |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=Donmar Warehouse |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In June 2022, it was announced that Waller-Bridge would be providing an original score for an animated short film of ''The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse'', which aired on BBC One at Christmas 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/the-boy-the-mole-the-fox-and-the-horse-bbc-christmas|title=The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse coming to BBC One and iPlayer this Christmas| publisher=BBC Media Centre |date=30 June 2022 | access-date=30 June 2022}}</ref> She produced the soundtrack to Sweetpea in 2024 <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/tv/heres-every-song-on-the-sweetpea-soundtrack-3802076 | title=Here's every song on the 'Sweetpea' soundtrack | website=NME | date=12 October 2024 }}</ref>
==Personal life== {{expand section | standard elements of this section, including committed relationships, places of residence, non-professional interests and activities, etc. | small = no | date = May 2025}} Michelle Dockery is Waller-Bridge's sister-in-law. <ref>[https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a45321336/michelle-dockery-wedding-details-photos/ Michelle Dockery Marries Jasper Waller-Bridge - Fleabag has a sister-in-law!] (accessed 2023-09-26)</ref>
==Works== * ''Music for Strings'' (2013)<ref>{{cite web| url=https://soundcloud.com/isobel-waller-bridge/sets/music-for-string-orchestra | title=Isobel Waller-Bridge – Music for Strings | publisher=SoundCloud }}</ref>
===Television=== * ''Life'' (2009 documentary series, four episodes) * ''War & Peace'' (2016 TV series) * ''Fleabag'' (2016–2019)<ref name="radiotimes18" /> * ''Vanity Fair'' (2018 TV series)<ref name="radiotimes18" /> * ''The Split'' (2018 TV series)<ref name="bio"/> * ''The ABC Murders'' (2018 TV series) <ref>{{cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2018/09/03/isobel-waller-bridge-to-score-bbcs-the-abc-murders/#:~:text=Isobel%20Waller%2DBridge%20has%20been,Bronwyn%20James%20and%20Freya%20Mavor|title=Isobel Waller-Bridge to Score BBC's 'The ABC Murders'|website=Filmmusicreporter.com|accessdate=28 July 2020}}</ref> * ''Black Mirror'' (2019, episode "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too") * ''The Way Down'' (2021)<ref>{{cite web |title=Isobel Waller-Bridge doing the music for 'The Way Down,' the HBO Max doc on the Gwen Shamblin Lara and the Remnant Fellowship???? I very much love that, yes |url=https://x.com/alanimv/status/1444311385953931273 |website=x.com}}</ref> * ''Roar'' (2022) * ''Sweetpea'' (2024) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/tv/heres-every-song-on-the-sweetpea-soundtrack-3802076 | title=Here's every song on the 'Sweetpea' soundtrack | website=NME | date=12 October 2024 }}</ref> * ''Towards Zero'' (2025 TV series) * ''The Miniature Wife'' (2026 TV series)
===Film=== * ''Vita and Virginia'' (2018) * ''Emma'' (2020) * ''Munich – The Edge of War'' (2021) * ''The Phantom of the Open'' (2021) * ''I Came By'' (2022) * ''The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse'' (2022; short film) * ''The Lesson'' (2023) * ''Wicked Little Letters'' (2023) * ''Magpie'' (2024) * ''Mother Mother'' (2024)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * {{IMDb name}} * {{YouTube|id=7UFcL9RLrZM}}. "Isobel Waller-Bridge, composer". Philharmonia Orchestra, 2022. Waller-Bridge explains her music while playing a grandpiano. Duration: 7m:14s. * {{SoundCloud}} * [https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Iy8JKDTXo8e9HmyTCaTOZ?si=ST9Xze61SNaGhdMKrGKvog Isobel Waller-Bridge on Spotify]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Waller-Bridge, Isobel}} Category:1984 births <!-- 23 April --> Category:Living people Category:21st-century British composers Category:21st-century English women composers Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Category:Alumni of King's College London Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music Category:Animated film score composers Category:English film score composers Category:English television composers Category:English women in electronic music Category:Mercury KX artists Category:Composers from London Category:British women film score composers Category:British film score composers Category:Women television composers