Jessica Brown Findlay might not have one of the most recognizable faces in the film acting industry as a whole, however, thanks to her roles in British productions like Misfits (2009, 2011), Downtown Abbey (2010-2012), and Albatross (2011), she is very well known in her home country of the United Kingdom. Albatross, in particular, earned her two Most Promising Newcomer award nominations at the British Independent Film Awards and the Evening Standard British Film Awards. Here is a look at her early life, career, relationship history, and other facts.
Jessica Brown Findlay Biography
Findlay was born Jessica Rose Brown Findlay on the 14th of September 1989 in Cookham, Berkshire, United Kingdom. From a very early age, Findlay aspired to become a ballerina and trained for it, attending the National Youth Ballet and the Associates of the Royal Ballet. By the time she was around the age of 15, the young dancer had begun to create a reputation for herself, earning an invitation to dance for a summer season with the Kirov Ballet at the Royal Opera House in London.
Jessica Brown Findlay went on to earn her GCSEs after attending Furze Platt Senior School in Maidenhead, Berkshire. She was subsequently accepted to a number of ballet schools but decided against going with that option as she instead chose to enroll at the Arts Educational School, a performing arts school that provided A-level courses and pastoral care. She was at the school for two years before developing a problem in her ankle that needed an operation. Findlay had three operations on the ankle, the last of which was unsuccessful and caused more damage to the leg, ultimately ending her ambition to become a dancer.
Following the heartbreak, Findlay decided to begin studying acting, a career which she had previously thought about getting into but was too preoccupied with her dancing. She, however, first managed to complete her education at the Art Educational School before going to study Fine Art at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Jessica Brown Findlay’s acting career took off from here as she soon began attending auditions and was signed by an agent.
In 2009, she appeared in the short film Man on a Motorcycle and an episode of the TV show Misfits. A year later, she caught her big break as she was cast to play the role of Emilia Conan Doyle in the coming-of-age comedy-drama film Albatross (2011). As soon as Findlay wrapped up the shooting for the movie, she landed what turned out to be her breakthrough role in the ITV drama series Downton Abbey (2010–2012) where she portrayed the character of Lady Sybil Crawley, the youngest of the Grantham daughters. She spent three years on the show before her character was killed off, as agreed upon when she signed up to join the show. During that time, she also appeared in episodes of Black Mirror (2011) and Labyrinth (2012).
After becoming the first major cast member to leave the Downtown Abbey, Findlay starred alongside Colin Farrell and Russell Crowe in Winter’s Tale (2014), The Riot Club (2014), and Victor Frankenstein (2015). In 2015, Findlay made her theatre acting debut in an adaptation of The Oresteia at the Almeida Theatre, London, and the Trafalgar Theatre in London’s West End. Her performances earned her rave reviews, prompting her to carry on in theatre.
Jessica Brown Findlay Family – Parents
Jessica Brown Findlay was born to Beverley and Christopher Findlay. Not much is known about her parents, other than their individual careers and ancestry. Her mother, Beverly, was said to have worked as a teacher’s assistant and nurse while her father, Christopher, was an investment banker turned financial advisor. Through them, Findlay is of Scottish and English ancestry.
Boyfriend
Jessica Brown Findlay reportedly first dated artist Thomas Campbell who she had met at London’s Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. The pair broke up in 2012 and Findlay moved on to actor Ziggy Heath who has appeared in films like Denial (2016) and Miniaturist (2017). The pair were said to have met each other on the set of the TV series Harlots in early 2017 after which they soon became an item. They have since that time remained a couple and are said to be going very strong in their relationship.
Height and Body Measurements
The slim Jessica Brown Findlay has a height of 5 ft 5 in or 165 cm and weighs 54 kg or 119 lbs. Her other body measurements are further said to be 34-25-35 in for bust, waist, and hips, with a bra size of 32B, dress size of 4 (US) or 34 (EU), and shoe size of 7.5 (US) or 38 (EU).
