Joanna Scanlan wins the BAFTA for Best Actress

Congratulations to alumna Joanna Scanlan (1980) who received a BAFTA for her outstanding performance in After Love

Joanna Scanlan

Joanna Scanlan was one of the first cohort of women to study at Queens'. Since graduating, she has had a successful career as an actress, appearing in Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), Getting on (2009-12) and The Thick of It (2005-12).

Joanna received the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the BAFTAs last night, where she was up against Lady Gaga and Tessa Thompson. After Love (2020) is about a widow who discovers her late husband's secret family after his sudden death. Though she has been known previously to star in comedic roles, Joanna delivers an outstanding performance that has been praised as a 'masterclass in drama'.

Joanna has previously appeared in an article of The Bridge in 2017 and spoke about being part of the first intake of women and life after Cambridge. She most recently visited Queens' last Term to meet our current President, Dr Mohamed El-Erian.

Joanna in the President's Garden

Joanna in the President's Garden