# Michelle Duncan

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**Michelle Duncan** (born 14 April 1978) is a Scottish-Canadian actress, known for films such as *[Driving Lessons](/source/Driving_Lessons)* (2006), *[Atonement](/source/Atonement_(2007_film))* (2007), *[The Broken](/source/The_Broken_(film))* (2008) and *[Bohemian Rhapsody](/source/Bohemian_Rhapsody_(film))* (2018).

## Early life

Born and raised in [Perth](/source/Perth,_Scotland), Duncan studied and trained in acting at [Queen Margaret University](/source/Queen_Margaret_University) School of Drama before studying English and classics at [St Andrews University](/source/University_of_St_Andrews). Duncan trained under [Philippe Gaulier](/source/Philippe_Gaulier) at [École Philippe Gaulier](/source/%C3%89cole_Philippe_Gaulier).[1]

## Career

Duncan's television roles include *[Sugar Rush](/source/Sugar_Rush_(UK_TV_series))*, *[Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who)*,[2] *[Low Winter Sun](/source/Low_Winter_Sun_(UK_TV_series))*, and *[Lost in Austen](/source/Lost_in_Austen)*. She played [Princess Diana](/source/Princess_Diana) in a TV film, *[Whatever Love Means](/source/Whatever_Love_Means)*, opposite [Olivia Poulet](/source/Olivia_Poulet) as [Camilla Parker Bowles](/source/Camilla,_Duchess_of_Cornwall) and [Laurence Fox](/source/Laurence_Fox) as [Prince Charles](/source/Prince_Charles).[3][4]

Her film work includes *[Atonement](/source/Atonement_(2007_film))*, *[The Broken](/source/The_Broken_(film))*, and as [Rupert Grint](/source/Rupert_Grint)'s love interest[5] in *[Driving Lessons](/source/Driving_Lessons)* with [Julie Walters](/source/Julie_Walters). Duncan's role in *Atonement* was particularly praised by *[The New Yorker](/source/The_New_Yorker)* theatre critic [Anthony Lane](/source/Anthony_Lane):[6] Duncan's stage work includes *[Time and the Conways](/source/Time_and_the_Conways)* (Bath Theatre Royal/ touring), *[A Midsummer Night's Dream](/source/A_Midsummer_Night's_Dream)* [7] and *[The Burning](/source/The_Burning_(play))* at the [Edinburgh Festival Fringe](/source/Edinburgh_Festival_Fringe).

Further television work includes *[New Tricks](/source/New_Tricks)*[8][9] and *[Call the Midwife](/source/Call_the_Midwife)*.[10] Duncan lent her voice to an adaptation of *[The Little Mermaid](/source/The_Little_Mermaid)*[11] by Hans Christian Andersen at [Little Angel Puppet Theatre](/source/Little_Angel_Theatre) in 2006 alongside [Dame Judi Dench](/source/Judi_Dench), [Sir Michael Gambon](/source/Michael_Gambon), [Rory Kinnear](/source/Rory_Kinnear), [Claudie Blakley](/source/Claudie_Blakley), [Rosamund Pike](/source/Rosamund_Pike), [Claire Rushbrook](/source/Claire_Rushbrook) and [Peter Wight](/source/Peter_Wight_(actor)).

In 2003, Duncan spent a season with [Theatre Alba](/source/Theatre_Alba), appearing in the company's productions of *The Burning* and *The Enchauntit Gairden*.[12]

In 2007 she was cast as Portia [13] in *[The Merchant of Venice](/source/The_Merchant_of_Venice)* at [Shakespeare's Globe](/source/Shakespeare's_Globe_Theatre), but was unable to continue after the previews and was replaced by [Kirsty Besterman](/source/Kirsty_Besterman). In 2012 Duncan appeared alongside [Amanda Hale](/source/Amanda_Hale) in *Scrubber*,[14] a film written and directed by [Romola Garai](/source/Romola_Garai). In 2013, Duncan appeared in the third series of the BBC TV drama *[Luther](/source/Luther_(TV_series))*[15] and *[Case Histories](/source/Case_Histories_(TV_series))*.[16] In 2014, she appeared in the ITV drama *[Grantchester](/source/Grantchester_(TV_series))*.

In 2015, she starred alongside [Ruth Negga](/source/Ruth_Negga), [Douglas Henshall](/source/Douglas_Henshall) and [Tom Brooke](/source/Tom_Brooke) in Scott Graham's[17] film *Iona*.[18] The closing gala film of the [Edinburgh Film Festival](/source/Edinburgh_International_Festival).[19] She took the role of Bea[20] (originally performed by [Helen Baxendale](/source/Helen_Baxendale)) in Deborah Bruce's play *The Distance*, directed by Charlotte Gwinner, for [Sheffield](/source/Crucible_Theatre) and the [Orange Tree Theatres](/source/Orange_Tree_Theatre).[21][22]

In 2017, she starred opposite Jamie Robson in Oscar-nominated director [Charlotte Wells](/source/Charlotte_Wells)' short film *Blue Christmas*. Then the following year, she played Shelley Stern in the [Queen](/source/Queen_(band)) biopic *[Bohemian Rhapsody](/source/Bohemian_Rhapsody_(film))*.

In 2022, Duncan was cast in *[Star Wars: Andor](/source/Andor_(TV_series))* where she plays the role of Roboda Beehaz.[23] In the same year, Duncan starred opposite [Dougray Scott](/source/Dougray_Scott) in the short film *Slay and Prepare the Animal for Meat*, directed by Oisin Kearney and written by [Ciara Elizabeth Smyth](/source/Ciara_Elizabeth_Smyth). She also played the role of Caroline Dupayne opposite [Bertie Carvel](/source/Bertie_Carvel) in *[Dalgliesh](/source/Dalgliesh_(TV_series))* Series 2: The Murder Room.

In 2023, [Viaplay](/source/Viaplay) announced that Duncan had been cast in the *[Rebus](/source/Rebus_(2024_TV_series))* reboot series based on the crime novels of author [Ian Rankin](/source/Ian_Rankin).[24]

In 2025, Duncan appeared as Dr Fiona Wallace in *[Dept. Q](/source/Dept._Q)* on Netflix.[25]

## Theatre

Year Title Role Company Theatre Director Notes 2003 The Burning The Girl Theatre Alba Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Charles Nowosielski play by Stewart Conn 2003 The Enchauntit Gairden Princess Honeysuckle Theatre Alba Duddingston Kirk Gardens, Edinburgh Charles Nowosielski play by Charles Mackenzie

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 1997 Waterloo Short film 2006 Driving Lessons Bryony Sucking Is a Fine Quality in Women and Vacuum Cleaners The Wife Short film Chôshû Faibu Emily 2007 Atonement Fiona Maguire 2008 The Broken Kate Coleman 2012 Scrubber Neighbour Short film 2015 Iona Elizabeth 2017 Blue Christmas Lily Short film 2018 Bohemian Rhapsody Shelley Stern

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 2000 Are You Afraid of the Dark? Andrea Episode: "The Tale of the Time Trap" 2005 Sea of Souls Claire Morrison 2 episodes Sugar Rush Miss Forbes S1 Ep2 Whatever Love Means Princess Diana TV movie 2006 Doctor Who Lady Isobel Episode: "Tooth and Claw" Low Winter Sun Det Con Louise Cullen TV movie 2008 Lost in Austen Charlotte Lucas 2 episodes 2012 New Tricks Georgia Wright Episode: "The Girl Who Lived" 2013 Case Histories Rachel Stewart Episode: "Nobody's Darling" Luther Kiera Mills 1 episode Call the Midwife Jeanette Heckford 1 episode 2014 Grantchester Annabel Morrison 2019–21 Hanna False Marissa 2 episodes 2019 Elizabeth is Missing Mrs Palmer TV movie 2021 Baptiste Sally 2022 Andor Roboda Beehaz Episode: "The Eye" 2023 Dalgliesh Caroline Dupayne Episode: "The Murder Room" 2025 Dept. Q Dr Fiona Wallace 3 episodes

## Awards and nominations

Year Nominated work Award Category Result Ref. 2005 Sea of Souls BAFTA Scotland Best First-Time Performance 2008 Atonement Gold Derby Awards Best Ensemble Cast

## References

1. ["Michelle Duncan"](https://www.scottmarshall.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/MICHELLE-DUNCAN-CV-3.pdf). *www.scottmarshall.com*. Scott Marshall. Retrieved 18 July 2025.

1. ["BBC One - Doctor Who (2005–2022), Series 2, Tooth and Claw"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074fly). *BBC*

1. ["Exclusive: Charles' Love secrets on TV"](https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/exclusive-charles-love-secrets-on-tv-554681). *[Daily Mirror](/source/Daily_Mirror)*. 23 August 2005.

1. ["Affairs to Remember"](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3648069/Affairs-to-remember.html). 19 November 2005.

1. ["Rupert Grint Press Archives — Jeremy Brock"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180116103901/http://www.rupertgrintpress.com/tag/jeremy-brock/). *www.rupertgrintpress.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.rupertgrintpress.com/tag/jeremy-brock/) on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2016.

1. ["Conflicting Stories"](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/12/10/conflicting-stories). *[The New Yorker](/source/The_New_Yorker)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160217015334/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/12/10/conflicting-stories) 17 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 January 2016.

1. ["A Midsummer Night's Dream review at Duddingston Kirk Manse"](https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/a-midsummer-nights-dream-review-at-duddingston-kirk-manse). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160125122719/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2004/a-midsummer-night-s-dream-review-at-duddingston-kirk-manse/) 25 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["BBC One - New Tricks, Series 9, The Girl Who Lived"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mxr71). *BBC*

1. BBC. ["Call the Midwife series 3 episode 8"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03yb1fx). Retrieved 11 June 2014.

1. ["BBC One - Call the Midwife, Series 3, Episode 8"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03yb1fx). *BBC*

1. ["The Little Mermaid review at Little Angel London"](https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/the-little-mermaid-review-at-little-angel-london). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160125121531/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2006/the-little-mermaid-review-at-little-angel-london/) 25 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine.

1. *The Burning* / *The Enchauntit Gairden*, Theatre Alba production programme, August 2023

1. ["Shakespeare's Globe"](http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/discovery-space/adopt-an-actor/archive/portia-played-by-michelle-duncan). *www.shakespearesglobe.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120850/http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/discovery-space/adopt-an-actor/archive/portia-played-by-michelle-duncan) 19 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 January 2016.

1. ["Scrubber"](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXDMNAZVq5w). [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/MXDMNAZVq5w) 2021-12-12 at the Wayback Machine.

1. ["BBC One - Luther, Series 3, Episode 3"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0377wtx). *BBC*

1. ["BBC One - Case Histories, Series 2, Nobody's Darling"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b020z0w5). *BBC*

1. ["Scott Graham"](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2989742/?ref_=tt_ov_dr). *[IMDb](/source/IMDb)*

1. Film, British Council. ["British Council Film: Iona"](http://film.britishcouncil.org/iona). *film.britishcouncil.org*

1. ["EIFF Announces the World Premiere of Iona as 2015 Closing Night Gala"](http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/news/2015/05/eiff-announces-the-world-premiere-of-iona-as-2015-closing-night-gala)

1. ["Cast announced for The Distance"](https://www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk/about/news/cast-announced-for-the-return-of-the-distance). 17 September 2015. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120559/https://www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk/about/news/cast-announced-for-the-return-of-the-distance) 19 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 January 2016.

1. ["The Distance review at Sheffield's Crucible Lyceum Studio – 'intelligent and wickedly comic'"](https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/the-distance-review-at-sheffields-crucible-lyceum-studio--intelligent-and-wickedly-comic). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160125111733/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2015/the-distance-review-at-sheffields-crucible-lyceum-studio-intelligent-and-wickedly-comic/) 25 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Breen, Matt (9 December 2015). ["The Distance"](http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/the-distance). *Time Out London*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160126235538/http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/the-distance) 26 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 January 2016.

1. ["Rebus reboot begins filming as additional cast revealed | Radio Times"](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/rebus-reboot-filming-cast-newsupdate/). *www.radiotimes.com*

1. ["Filming commences in Scotland for new TV drama Rebus"](https://www.screen.scot/news/2023/may/filming-commences-for-viaplays-first-uk-drama-rebus). *Screen Scotland*. 2023-05-02. Retrieved 2023-05-31.

1. ["Dept. Q cast"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27995114/fullcredits?ref_=ext_shr_lnk). *IMDB*. 2025-06-08. Retrieved 2025-06-08.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Michelle Duncan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Duncan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Duncan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.