Katherine Matilda Swinton (born 5 November 1960) is a British actress. Known for her roles in
independent films and
blockbusters, she has received
various accolades, including an
Academy Award and a
British Academy Film Award, in addition to nominations for three
Golden Globe Awards. In 2020,
The New York Times ranked her as one of the greatest actors of the 21st century.
Swinton began her career by appearing in
Derek Jarman’s
experimental films Caravaggio (1986),
The Last of England (1988),
War Requiem (1989), and
The Garden (1990). Swinton won the
Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the
Venice Film Festival for her portrayal of
Isabella of France in
Edward II (1991). She next starred in
Sally Potter's
Orlando (1992), for which she was nominated for the
European Film Award for Best Actress. She was nominated for a
Golden Globe Award for her performance in
The Deep End (2001), followed with appearances in
Vanilla Sky (2001) and
Adaptation (2002). For the film
Young Adam (2003), Swinton won the
British Academy Scotland Award for Best Actress.
Swinton's performance in
Michael Clayton (2007) won her the
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Prior to this, she appeared in the film
Constantine (2005), and subsequently had roles in
Julia (2008) and
I Am Love (2009). She gained acclaim for her performance in
Lynne Ramsay's
psychological thriller We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) for which she received a nomination for the
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Swinton gained wider recognition for her portrayals as the
White Witch in
The Chronicles of Narnia series (2005–2010) and the
Ancient One in the
Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. She is also known for her performances in the
Wes Anderson films
Moonrise Kingdom (2012),
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), and
The French Dispatch (2021).
Swinton was awarded the
Richard Harris Award by the British Independent Film Awards in recognition of her contributions to the British film industry. In 2013, she was given a special tribute by the
Museum of Modern Art. In 2020, Swinton was awarded the
British Film Institute Fellowship for her "daringly eclectic and striking talents as a performer and filmmaker and recognises her great contribution to film culture, independent film exhibition and philanthropy."
