ACTOR
Romola Garai
- Known for
- The Last Days on Mars (2013), Amazing Grace (2006), Emma (2009), The Other Man (2008)
34 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Romola Garai is an actor best known for The Last Days on Mars, Amazing Grace and Emma.
All facts (34)
- #001
Before Keira Knightley auditioned, Romola Garai was Joe Wright's first choice for the role of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice (2005). However, because Joe was a great admirer of Romola's talent and genuinely wanted to work with her, he offered her the role of Briony Tallis in Atonement (2007).
- #002
In October 2017, she was among the 80 women who accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault.
- #003
She grew up in Hong Kong and Singapore until the age of 10.
- #004
Director François Ozon affectionately calls Romola his "muse."
- #005
She completed her master's degree in English Literature at the Open University with first-class honours (2010).
- #006
She had no professional dance experience before arriving on the set of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004).
- #007
She has two children with her husband Sam Hoare: a daughter (born March 2013) and a second child whose birth date, sex and name are not known.
- #008
Romola has said that her ideal role would be to play the eighteenth-century feminist Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797).
- #009
In January 2008, Romola travelled to the Syria-Iraq border to make a short film for UNHCR titled 'No Man's Land,' about 800 Palestinian refugees living in the Al Tanaf refugee camp who had been displaced since the Iraq war.
- #010
Her two eldest siblings, Ralph and Rosie, were adopted as babies before she and her younger sister were born.
- #011
She was François Ozon's first and only choice for the role of Angel Deverell in his film Angel (2007).
- #012
Her performance in Angel (2007) earned her a standing ovation at the Berlin Film Festival.
- #013
Angel (2007) is the work she is most proud of as an actress.
- #014
Romola's paternal great-grandfather, Bernhard "Bert" Garai, was a Hungarian Jewish immigrant who founded the Keystone Press Agency in London in 1924. Romola's other ancestors are English.
- #015
While filming Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004), she became good friends with Diego Luna. They remain close and share a very strong bond.
- #016
Her favourite films are The Wizard of Oz (1939), Orlando (1992) and Fargo (1996).
- #017
She has three siblings: a brother named Ralph and two sisters named Rosie and Roxy.
- #018
Her favourite actresses are Samantha Morton and Emily Watson.
- #019
She joined the National Youth Theatre.
- #020
She completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Queen Mary, University of London (2008).
- #021
Romola Garai was hailed by The Sunday Times Magazine (2009) as one of Britain's best rising stars, alongside Matthew Goode, Hugh Dancy, Eddie Redmayne, Gemma Arterton, Hayley Atwell, Andrea Riseborough, Richard Coyle, Tom Sturridge, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Eliza Bennett, Daniel Mays and Kaya Scodelario.
- #022
Romola Garai frequently dances in scenes of her films, including Angel (2007), Daniel Deronda (2002) (TV), Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004), I Capture the Castle (2003), Rory O'Shea Was Here (2004) and Vanity Fair (2004).
- #023
When Romola Garai finished shooting The Last Days on Mars (2013), she was one month pregnant with her daughter.
- #024
Romola Garai is very good friends with Jamie Bell and Charlie Hunnam, whom she met during the filming of Nicholas Nickleby (2002).
- #025
Romola Garai returned to work six months after giving birth to her daughter to shoot the film Legacy (2013).
- #026
For her role in Atonement (2007), Romola Garai was officially placed on the BAFTA longlist (equivalent to the semi-finals) for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, chosen from 15 finalists in each category (except Animated Film). She was eliminated, however, in the next round, in which the five official nominees were selected [2008].
- #027
Romola Garai's surname "Garai" is Hungarian and is pronounced like "Garaie".
- #028
Romola Garai names Mike Leigh, Michael Winterbottom, Ken Loach, the Coen brothers, David Lynch and Todd Haynes as her favourite directors, and is very eager to work with them in the future.
- #029
"Scoop": Romola Garai appeared in two unrelated films titled Scoop (2006) and Scoop (2024).
- #030
Romola Garai's natural hair colour is blonde, but she occasionally dyes it in real life and for film roles.
- #031
For her role in Angel (2007), Romola Garai was named one of the Women of the Year by The Independent (2008).
- #032
Romola Garai's favourite horror film is The Blair Witch Project (1999).
- #033
Romola Garai has visited Hong Kong, Singapore, Malta, Venice, Australia, Italy, Belgium and Indonesia.
- #034
Romola Garai was considered for the female lead in the film Good (2008), but could not take it due to scheduling conflicts.
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