Hayley Elizabeth Atwell (born 5 April 1982) is a British and American actress. Born and raised in London, Atwell studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and made her stage debut in a 2005 production of Prometheus Bound.[1] She subsequently appeared in multiple West End productions and on television, and was recognised for her breakthrough role as Lady Elizabeth Foster in The Duchess (2008), for which she was nominated for a British Independent Film Award. Her leading performance in the miniseries The Pillars of the Earth (2010) earned her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award.
Atwell rose to international prominence with her portrayal of Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with the superhero film Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) and later getting her self-titled series Agent Carter (2015–2016). She most recently appeared in the MCU as Captain Carter in the film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). She also acted in the war drama Testament of Youth (2014), the fantasy films Cinderella (2015) and Christopher Robin (2018), and had a leading role in the action film Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023).
On the stage, Atwell has received Laurence Olivier Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in A View from the Bridge (2010), and for Best Actress, for her leading performances in The Pride (2013) and Rosmersholm (2020). In 2020, Atwell began hosting the podcast series True Spies.[2]
