Sophie Rundle’s top TV roles and real-life romance with After the Flood co-star

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Fresh from a string of scene-stealing roles and with yet another must-watch drama currently on our screens, Sophie Rundle is having a moment. From the smoky swagger of Peaky Blinders to the emotional grit of Gentleman Jack, Happy Valley and now After The Flood, she has become one of British TV’s most magnetic actors, slipping effortlessly between period drama and modern thrillers with calm authority and quiet fire.

But who is the woman behind some of television’s most arresting performances and what TV shows and movies has she been in?

Who is Sophie Rundle?

British actress Sophie Rundle (37), born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire in 1988, has been quietly building an impressive screen career for more than a decade. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she completed her training in 2011 — though she had already made her film debut four years earlier, starring opposite Warwick Davies in the horror comedy Small Town Folk.

Following RADA, Rundle quickly became a familiar face on British television, landing standout roles in high-profile dramas including Great Expectations and The Bletchley Circle, as well as guest appearances in Shetland.

It was her breakout turn as the sharp-witted Ada Shelby in Peaky Blinders, however, that truly propelled her into the spotlight and cemented her status as one of TV’s most compelling performers.

Is Sophie Rundle married and does she have children?

Sophie met her long-term partner, actor Matt Stokoe, in 2016 on the set of Sky’s lavish period drama Jamestown. The pair later reunited on screen in Bodyguard, where Stokoe played crime boss Luke Aikens and have most recently starred as a married couple in After the Flood.

Notoriously private about her personal life, Sophie has kept much of her family world out of the spotlight. It’s widely believed that she and Stokoe have since married in secret; both were photographed wearing wedding rings in January 2021, though neither has publicly confirmed the speculation.

The couple share two sons — their first born in April 2021, followed by a second arrival in June 2024. Speaking to The Sunday Post in 2023, Sophie reflected candidly on how motherhood has changed her, admitting she had underestimated just how exhausting it could be.

“I feel I’ve changed since becoming a mum and I like what I’ve changed to; I feel much more stable and I feel much more strength in myself,” she said. “You just have to find it from somewhere to be able to juggle everything. So I like who it’s made me — but I’m still very, very tired! I can’t believe I ever used to complain about being tired after getting a train, staying in a hotel room and filming one or two scenes. I didn’t know the meaning of the word!”

Who are Sophie Rundle's parents and siblings?

Sophie's parents are Michael and Fiona Rundle. We don't know much about them, but Sophie has shared a photo of her and mum together watching Strictly Come Dancing live on her Instagram page.
She has two brothers, James Rundle and Harry Rundle. Harry also appears to be an actor and has appeared in three known TV shows, Limbo (2012), Fifteen (2015) and Doctors (2015).

Where does Sophie Rundle live?

In June 2021, Sophie and Matt sold their previous home and moved to what she has described as a “big, beautiful, slightly spooky old house in the countryside”.

A self-confessed homebody, Sophie has often said she’s far happier pottering around at home than walking red carpets or chasing the spotlight. As she once put it: “Some actors lead these rock-star-style lives. I like gardening and putting Ikea furniture together.”

Sophie Rundle on older female actresses

Though still in her mid-to-late thirties, Sophie has spoken openly about looking forward to getting older and is hopeful that it will bring richer, more complex roles her way.

“There’s a huge conversation now about the kind of female characters we see on screen,” she has said. “I think appetites are changing; we’re much more literate about how we want to represent — and see — women on screen.”

Pointing to the performers she admires most, Sophie adds that working alongside actors such as Suranne Jones in Gentleman Jack and Sarah Lancashire in Happy Valley has only heightened her excitement about what lies ahead. “These are much more interesting parts,” she explains, “so I do feel excited and pleased to be getting older.”

Sophie Rundle as lesbian Ann Walker in Gentlemen Jack

After working with writer and director Sally Wainwright on Happy Valley, Sophie leapt at the opportunity to play Ann Walker in Sally's Gentleman Jack in 2019. Ann, a seemingly shy wallflower embarks on a passionate romance with the bold Anne Lister. Speaking to Town & Country in 2019, she admitted that portraying Ann was one of the most challenging roles of her career.

“Ann Walker goes through such an extraordinary journey, confronting her religion and her own sense of morality,” Sophie explained. “Throughout the series, there are huge ups and downs. She grapples with her mental health, and it can be exhausting to play — you can be crying all day, and it’s hard to separate yourself from the character. Your body can trick your mind into thinking you really are upset. It’s one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever done.”

The story of Ann Walker and Anne Lister was so compelling and groundbreaking that Sophie felt determined to do the part justice.

“These two women married each other in the 1830s and lived as wife and wife. It was extraordinary — and none of us knew about it!” she said.

“When it came to Ann Walker, I found her fascinating from the very beginning. You first meet her and she seems like this shy, retiring wallflower, but there’s something more beneath the surface. The way people speak about her, it’s clear she’s in a world where people are trying to marry her off, yet despite her crippling shyness, there’s a strength in her.

“She’s not going to do what she’s told, and she’s going to strive to live with a semblance of truth. She isn’t just one thing — she’s a lot of things all at once, and she’s a perfect match for Anne Lister.”

What TV shows has Sophie Rundle been in?

Sophie is one of the biggest British female actresses on TV and from 2019-2020 she made more prime-time terrestrial TV appearances than anyone else!

Here's a list of all the TV shows she's been in:

What's next for Sophie Rundle?

Well, it has been confirmed that Sophie will reprise her role of Ada Shelby in the upcoming Peaky Blinders film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, which is due for release in cinemas on March 6th 2026 and will then drop on Netflix on March 20th 2026.

Claire Tapley is a digital editor for Yours.co.uk. She is a journalist with over 18 years' experience writing for women over 50. Before moving to Yours.co.uk, she was deputy editor of Yours magazine for nine years. Claire is extremely passionate about all things TV related, with her favourite shows including all period dramas, crime thrillers and Traitors!