Kathryn Drysdale (born 1 December 1981) is an English actress. She gained prominence through her roles in the BBC sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001–2009) and the films Vanity Fair (2004) and St Trinian's (2007). Her other work includes the drama Tripping Over (2006), the fourth series of Benidorm (2011) on ITV, the Channel 4 parody The Windsors (2018–2020), and as Genevieve Delacroix across 3 seasons of Netflix period drama Bridgerton (2020–).

On stage, her roles include Grace Shelley in The Ruling Class on the West End opposite James McAvoy, Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Lady Katharine in Love's Labour's Lost opposite David Tennant and As Fran in The National Theatre’s production of Home I’m Darling

Early life Born to a black father and a white mother, Drysdale was adopted when she was a week old. She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Career From 2001 to 2009, Drysdale starred as Louise Brooks in the BBC sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps for eight out of nine series of the show. She made her film debut in Mira Nair's 2004 feature adaptation of William Thackeray's Vanity Fair as heiress Rhoda Swartz. In 2006, she played Lizzie in the British-Australian Channel 5 and Network Ten drama Tripping Over and Bliss in the Doctor Who series 2 episode "Love & Monsters". The following year, she played Taylor the Chav in the comedy film St Trinian's.

Also in 2006, Drysdale appeared in Catch at the Royal Court Theatre and in 2008 made her Royal Shakespeare Company debut in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Love's Labour's Lost. In 2009, she appeared in Suddenlossofdignity.com at the Bush Theatre and on tour.

Drysdale joined the main cast of the ITV sitcom Benidorm for its fourth series as Natalie Jones. She played Brownwell in an episode of William Boyd's four-part drama Any Human Heart on Channel 4. In 2012, Drysdale appeared in The Recruiting Officer at the Donmar Warehouse.

Drysdale played Meghan Markle in the second and third series of the Channel 4 parody series The Windsors. She is a prominent voice over artist having voiced many audiobooks, radio plays and lead characters in animation series series including Dennis the Menace for CBBC, thunderbirds

Personal life Drysdale lives in London.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 Vanity Fair Rhoda Swartz 2005 Zemanovaload Travel Agent 2007 St Trinian's Taylor 2013 One Chance Stage Hand 2015 I Am Urban Madge 2022 The Bubble Minnie 2022 Christmas On Mistletoe Farm Miss AshleyTBAThe Mud HutShirleyPre-production |2025 |Grow |Polly Little

Television Year Title Role Notes 1999 People Like Us Shoe Shop Assistant Episode: "The Photographer" 2000 Trial & Retribution Pregnant Girl 1 episode 2001–2009 Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Louise Brooks 70 episodes 2001 The Glass Receptionist 1 episode Chambers Fran James Episode: "A Case with a View" Swivel on the Tip Pippi Langstrumpf 2002 The Vice Elaine Episode: "Trade" 2003 Rockface Susie Travis 2 episodes Ultimate Force Susannah Episode: "What in the Name of God" Holby City Gaby Burton Episode: "Home" Doctors Keeley Burton Episode: "Nature's Way" Mersey Beat Mel Turner Episode: "Broken Dreams"2004From Bard to VerseBrutus/SelfEpisode 3 2006 Doctor Who Bliss Episode "Love & Monsters" Tripping Over Lizzie Miniseries 2007 Coming Up Janine Episode: "Brussels" 2009 Comedy Showcase Various Episode: "Girl Friday" 2010 Any Human Heart Brownwell 1 episode 2011 Benidorm Natalie Jones Main role (series 4) 2013 The Psychopath Next Door Imogen Tallis Television film 2014 Death in Paradise Simone Magon Episode: "Ye of Little Faith" 2015 Suspects Liz Maitlin Episode: "The Artist" Horrible Histories Cleopatra Episode: "Crafty Cleopatra" 2015–2017 Bottersnikes and Gumbles Bounce and Merri Voice role; 18 episodes 2016 New Blood Laura Jones 3 episodes Zapped Lorelei 2 episodes 2017 Thunderbirds Are Go Kate Voice role; episode: "Grandma Tourismo" 2017–2020 The Windsors Meghan Markle Main role (series 2–3)2017-2021 Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! Jemima "JJ" Jones Voice role; 17 episodes 2018 Chris P. Duck Additional voices Episode: "Parenthood" Plebs Cleo Episode: "The Bathhouse" The Queen and I Trish Welling Television film Sky Comedy Shorts Trish Episode: "Hands of Gods" 2020–present Bridgerton Genevieve Delacroix Recurring role 2021–present Circle Square Dilys Dillydally / Gwen Dillydally / Mary Ruffle 21 episodes 2022 Lloyd of the Flies Alison120 / Amy Fly / Dotty Voice role; 4 episodes 2022–2023 Best & Bester Bester Main role; voice role 2025 Here We Go Katie Series 3, episode 7 2026 Small Prophets Bea TV series Ride or Die Amanda 5 episodesTBARelationshipsElizabeth SoamesTV movie; Post-production

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2012 The Nightvision Experiment Davina 2018 Forza Horizon 4 Taxi Passengers 2019 Anthem Captain Liatrelle, Lancer Easley, Gambling Woman 2022 Horizon Forbidden West Additional Voices

Audio dramas YearTitleRoleNotes2018Alien: Out of the ShadowsSneddon2020Torchwood: The Sins of Captain JohnDr. Magpie / Maisie2 episodesDoctor Who: The Tenth Doctor AdventuresJoraEpisode: "Out of Time 1"2021Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious - Echoes of ExtinctionJasmineGetting BetterDr. Eva Callaway10 episodes2023Nye Bevan's Fight to Create the NHS2025The Wind in the Willows: A Weasel's TaleRadar the batRadio 4 drama

Stage Year Title Role Notes 1999 23:59 Zoe Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2000 Billy and the Crab Lady Mel Soho Theatre, London 2001 Eliza's House Beth Royal Exchange, Manchester 2004 Far Away Joan Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Fen Various 2006 Catch Maya Royal Court Theatre, London 2008 Love's Labour's Lost Katherine / Moth Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonNovello Theatre, London 2009 A Midsummer Night's Dream Hermia Novello Theatre, London Suddenlossofdignity.com Various Bush Theatre, London / tour 2012 The Recruiting Officer Lucy Donmar Warehouse 2013 A Mad World, My Masters Mistress Hairbrain RSC Studio 2015 The Ruling Class Grace Shelley Trafalgar Studios, London 2018 Home, I'm Darling Fran Theatr ClwydRoyal National Theatre

Awards and nominations YearAwardNominationWorkResultRef.2021Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesBridgerton

References

External links

Kathryn Drysdale at the Artists Partnership BBC interview