{{Short description|British Scottish-born actress }} {{Use British English|date=August 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Lauren Lyle | image = File:Lauren Lyle at the Sasnak City Outlander Convention 17 November 2018.jpg | caption = Lyle in 2018 | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = | birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland | alma_mater = National Youth Theatre | occupation = Actress | years_active = 2013–present }} '''Lauren Lyle''' is a Scottish actress best known for her main role as Marsali MacKimmie Fraser in the Starz television drama ''Outlander'', and peace protester Jade Antoniak in the BBC drama ''Vigil''. Since 2022, Lyle has played the award-winning leading role in the ITV crime thriller ''Karen Pirie''. She is 5'3 or 160cm tall.
== Early life and education == After performing at the Edinburgh Fringe for Fourth Monkey and on stage in London in ''The Crucible'' at the Old Vic,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amin |first=Meghna |date=2025-07-20 |title=Inside Outlander star Lauren Lyle's life off screen as Karen Pirie returns |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/inside-outlander-star-lauren-lyles-32090300 |access-date=2025-07-27 |website=Edinburgh Live |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-20 |title=Karen Pirie's Lauren Lyle: 'We're always having to keep a lid on female rage' |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/features/lauren-lyle-karen-pirie-itv-b2791419.html |access-date=2025-07-27 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> Lyle was accepted into the National Youth Theatre's REP Company in 2015. This programme offers free training for selected students based on the repertory theatre model.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nyt.org.uk/about-us/news/five-years-nyt-rep-west-end|title=Five Years of NYT REP in the West End |website= National Youth Theatre|access-date=1 April 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221108050953/https://www.nyt.org.uk/about-us/news/five-years-nyt-rep-west-end |archive-date =8 November 2022 }}</ref>
== Career == Lyle's first professional role was in 2014 when she appeared in the critically acclaimed production of Arthur Miller's ''The Crucible'', directed by Yael Farber at the Old Vic Theatre in London's West End.<ref name=":4" />
In 2015, Lyle was accepted to the National Youth Theatre's repertory programme, performing in three plays during the season.<ref name=":0" /> She appeared as Catherine in ''Wuthering Heights'', Diane in ''Consensual'', and the Prince of Arragon in Shakespeare's ''The Merchant of Venice''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://playstosee.com/wuthering-heights/|title=Wuthering Heights|last=Watkinson|first=Nicola|date=8 October 2015|website=Plays To See|language=en-GB|access-date=1 April 2019|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607030200/https://playstosee.com/wuthering-heights/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/reviews/consensual-ambassadors-theatre_38894.html|title=Consensual (Ambassadors Theatre) {{!}} WhatsOnStage|website=www.whatsonstage.com|date=7 October 2015 |language=en-GB|access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://britishtheatre.com/review-the-merchant-of-venice-ambassadors-theatre-3stars/|title=REVIEW: The Merchant Of Venice, Ambassadors Theatre ✭✭✭|date=13 October 2015|website=British Theatre|language=en-GB|access-date=1 April 2019|archive-date=21 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721210610/https://britishtheatre.com/review-the-merchant-of-venice-ambassadors-theatre-3stars/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Her first television appearance, on BBC Three's ''BBC Comedy Feeds'', saw Lyle appearing in a series four episode entitled "Radges".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/radges/|title=Radges - BBC3 Sitcom|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Cesar-Domboy-Lauren-Lyle-Join-Cast-of-Starz-Hit-Drama-OUTLANDER-20161003|title=Cesar Domboy, Lauren Lyle Join Cast of Starz Hit Drama Outlander |website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> Long-running medical drama ''Holby City'' featured Lyle as Katherine Rice in the Series 18 episode "Who You Are" (2016).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/outlander-casts-cesar-domboy-and-lauren-lyle-for-season-3-1201876364/|title='Outlander' Casts César Domboy and Lauren Lyle for Season 3|last=Thorne|first=Will|date=3 October 2016|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b074xlnc|title=BBC One - Holby City, Series 18, Who You Are|publisher=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> From there she featured in a three-episode stint, opposite Sean Bean, in the BBC drama ''Broken''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/last-nights-tv-broken-bbc1-stretching-credibility-too-far-a7821141.html|title=Last night's TV review: Broken (BBC1): stretching credibility to breaking point|date=29 March 2019|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/television/awards/leading-actor-0|title=Leading Actor - SEAN BEAN|date=29 March 2018|website=bafta.org|language=en|access-date=2 April 2019|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402012239/http://www.bafta.org/television/awards/leading-actor-0|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2017, Lyle debuted in the recurring role of Marsali MacKimmie Fraser in Starz's hit time travel drama ''Outlander'', based on Diana Gabaldon's best-selling book series of the same name.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/10/outlander-cast-two-key-roles-for-season-3-starz-series-cesar-domboy-lauren-lyle-1201830040/|title='Outlander' Casts César Domboy As Older Fergus & Lauren Lyle As Marsali In Season 3|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=3 October 2016|work=Deadline Hollywood|language=en|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/outlander-postmortem-lauren-lyle-analyzes-marsalis-relationships-fergus-jamie-claire-020008673.html|title='Outlander' Postmortem: Lauren Lyle analyzes Marsali's relationships with Fergus, Jamie, and Claire|date=20 November 2017 |publisher=Yahoo!|language=en-US|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> Returning to her roots at the National Youth Theatre, Lyle appeared in the television documentary ''Stage Direction'' to discuss her experiences with the program.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://rabbitandsnail.com/2016/10/30/two-of-the-national-youth-theatres-amazing-graduates-share-their-experiences/|title=National Youth Theatre graduates share experiences for our new film, Stage Direction |last=Edwards|first=Richard|date=30 October 2016|website=Rabbit & Snail Films |language=en-GB|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref>
In 2018 Lyle starred in the film adaptation of Fiona Shaw's novel ''Tell It to the Bees'', opposite Anna Paquin and Holliday Grainger, and Lily Rose Thomas' debut short film ''Girls Who Drink''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/tell-it-bees-review-1144878|title='Tell It to the Bees': Film Review {{!}} TIFF 2018|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=18 September 2018 |language=en|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://yourcinemafilms.com/2018/11/girls-who-drink-short-film/|title=Girls Who Drink: A Short Film By Lily Rose Thomas – Your Cinema|date=20 November 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref>
In early 2020, Lyle began hosting the podcast ''She's a Rec'''. In each episode, she interviews a female guest about the "albums, films, books and female heroes" that have had the most influence in their lives.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ballhaus|first=Louisa|date=2020-06-26|title=How Caitríona Balfe & Lauren Lyle Bonded Over Girl Power on the 'Outlander' Set |url=https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/2279561/outlander-caitriona-balfe-lauren-lyle-activist/|access-date=2021-07-06|website=SheKnows|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=cartermatt|date=2020-03-31|title=Outlander star Lauren Lyle debuting podcast; Caitriona Balfe to appear |url=https://cartermatt.com/399015/outlander-star-lauren-lyle-debuting-podcast-caitriona-balfe-to-appear/|access-date=2021-07-06|website=CarterMatt|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2021 Lyle appeared in the BBC crime drama ''Vigil''. She portrayed Jade Antoniak, a peace protester and the girlfriend of Martin Compston’s character Craig Burke.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lauren Lyle on her "dangerous" character in BBC One's Vigil — and the controversial Outlander season 5 finale|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/lauren-lyle-vigil-outlander-big-rt-interview/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Radio Times|language=en}}</ref> The show, which is set on a ballistic missile submarine, gained over 10.2 million views in the first seven days, making it the BBC's most-watched show of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-05|title=Martin Compston and Suranne Jones' Vigil breaks record for BBC |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a37869094/vigil-suranne-jones-martin-compston-bbc-record/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 2022 and 2025, Lyle starred as investigator Detective Sergeant Karen Pirie in both of the ITV murder drama series ''Karen Pirie''. Set in a fictional Scottish coastal city in the Kingdom of Fife, the series is based on author Val McDermid’s novel ''The Distant Echo''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lauren Lyle to star in ITV's Karen Pirie |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ae/entertainment/tv/lauren-lyle-to-star-in-itv-s-karen-pirie/ar-BB1gBLmf|access-date=2021-07-06|website=www.msn.com}}</ref>
== Filmography == === Film === {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2013 | ''WhosApp'' | Grace Timms | Short film |- | rowspan="2" | 2014 | ''The Crucible'' | Ensemble | Film of The Old Vic play |- | ''Office Ugetsu'' | Annie | Short film |- | rowspan="2" | 2015 | ''...and You're Back in the Room'' | Sister | Short film; also writer |- | ''The New Hope'' | Damsel | |- | rowspan="3" | 2018 | ''Tell It to the Bees'' | Annie Cranmer | |- | ''Girls Who Drink'' | Georgia | Short film |- | ''Lara'' | Sal | Short film |- | 2023 | ''Mercy Falls'' | Rhona | Also executive producer |- | rowspan="2" | 2024 | ''The Outrun'' | Julie | |- | ''Something in the Water'' | Lizzie | |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2015 | ''Comedy Feeds'' | Lauren | Series 4; episode 3: "Radges" |- | 2016 | ''Holby City'' | Katherine Rice | Series 18; episode 24: "Who You Are" |- | 2017 | ''Broken'' | Chloe Demichelis | Episodes 4–6: "Roz", "Carl" & "Father Michael" |- | 2017–2026 | ''Outlander'' | Marsali MacKimmie Fraser | Series 3–8; 25 episodes |- | 2021 | ''Vigil'' | Jade Antoniak | Series 1; episodes 1–4 |- | 2022 | ''Celebrity Page'' | Herself | Season 9; episodes 53 & 87 |- | 2022, 2025 | ''Karen Pirie'' | DS Karen Pirie | Series 1; episodes 1–3, & series 2; episodes 1–3 |- | rowspan="3" | 2025 | ''Toxic Town'' | Dani Holliday | Episodes 3 & 4 |- | ''The Bombing of Pan Am 103'' | June McCusker | Mini-series; episodes 1–6<ref>{{cite web|website=Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/patrick-j-adams-merritt-wever-lockerbie-series-netflix-bbc-1235842953/|first=Georg|last=Szalai|date=5 March 2024|accessdate=5 March 2024|title= 'Suits' Star Patrick J. Adams, Connor Swindells, Merritt Wever Cast in Netflix, BBC Series 'Lockerbie'}}</ref> |- | ''The Ridge'' | Mia | Main Role <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/the-ridge-trailer-date-scotland-new-zealand-drama|website=bbc.co.uk|accessdate=13 October 2025|title= Premiere date and trailer for new psychological thriller The Ridge revealed by BBC Scotland and Sky New Zealand Originals|date=30 September 2025}}</ref> |}
=== Theatre === {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Director ! Theatre |- | 2014 | ''The Crucible'' | Ensemble | Yaël Farber | The Old Vic Theatre |- | rowspan="3" | 2015 | ''Wuthering Heights'' | Catherine Earnshaw | Emily Lin | Ambassadors Theatre<ref name=":1" /> |- | ''Consensual'' | Diane | Pia Furtado | Ambassadors Theatre<ref name=":2" /> |- | ''Merchant of Venice'' | Prince of Arragon | Anna Niland | Ambassadors Theatre<ref name=":3" /> |}
===Podcast=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Production ! Notes |- | 2020 | ''She's a Rec''' | Lauren Lyle | 11 Episodes |}
== Accolades == At the BAFTA Scotland Awards in November 2023, Lyle was awarded Best Actress Television for ''Karen Pirie'' and the Audience Award for Favourite Scot on Screen.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 November 2023 |title=Winners announced: 2023 BAFTA Scotland Awards |url=https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/winners-of-the-bafta-scotland-awards-2023-announced#:~:text=Lucy%20Halliday%20received%20the%20award,his%20performance%20in%20Somewhere%20Boy. |access-date=13 January 2024 |website=BAFTA}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|nm6892004}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyle, Lauren}} Category:Living people Category:Actresses from Glasgow Category:National Youth Theatre members Category:Scottish Conservatives Category:Scottish film actresses Category:Scottish television actresses Category:21st-century Scottish actresses Category:1993 births