Two years on from enchanting audiences across the nation, BBC’s stirring drama Ten Pound Poms makes a welcome comeback this month. The six-episode saga picks back up with the bold Kate Thorne (played by Michelle Keegan) and the spirited Roberts clan (portrayed by Faye Marsay and Warren Brown), as they continue their pursuit of the ‘Australian dream’ in 1957.
Faye Marsay, delving into what lies ahead for her character Annie, shared: “Annie’s ultimately trying to carve out a place where she feels valued away from the family unit and her identity as a mother, grandmother and a wife.
“Now Annie’s left England, there’s an opportunity there for her to find out how far she can go on her own journey.”
Amidst the buzz surrounding the BBC series’ return, we’re turning the spotlight on Faye’s life away from the beloved show.
Game of Thrones fame
When it comes to Faye’s other acclaimed roles, let’s not forget her gripping stint in Game of Thrones, appearing in seasons 5 and 6 of the award-winning show.
She inhabited the role of Waif, a pivotal member of the Faceless Men, who hassles Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) through her training and eventually tries to kill her, within the walls of the House of Black and White in Braavos.
Reflecting on the intense experience, Faye recounted to The Independent: “After Thrones came out, there was quite intense backlash at one point.
“Just because of the character I played. [The fans] hated her. Because Maisie’s character was, like, the one – and there I am, hitting her with a stick.”
Sadly, the negative attention forced the actress to take a step back from social media during that period, reports the Manchester Evening News
Unexpected hobby
Faye might have been on a dramatically different career path if not for an unexpected twist of fate. Once a footballer in her youth and huge Middlesbrough FC supporter, she was passionate about the sport, calling it her ‘one true love’.
But an injury dashed her dreams when she was just 16. Chatting with InStyle, Faye reminisced: “I absolutely adore it. I played it for a long time as a kid and still follow it.”
Despite the setback (which ended up steering her towards acting), she told the Daily Mail in 2016 that becoming a footballer was her plan B if acting hadn’t panned out.
Nowadays, even amidst a hectic schedule, she still manages to have a ‘kick-about’ in London with her pals.
Family life
When it comes to family life, Faye isn’t following in anyone’s footsteps—acting wasn’t in her genes. She discovered the craft after watching a pantomime at just six years old, a moment that ultimately led her to act in notable productions like Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, and Disney’s Andora.
Middlesbrough-born Faye has fondly talked about her roots, describing her family as the quintessential ‘typical working class northern family’.
With a mother who is an NHS secretary and a father divided between steelwork and firefighting, it’s clear that grit runs in the family.
During a candid chat with The Protagonist Magazine, she opened up about the jarring transition to London, admitting: “I found it difficult for the first year I was here to be honest. The pace and the sheer volume of people took some getting used to. It is an amazing city, though, and I love how there is always something to do or see here.”
Faye’s heartstrings are still tugged by her Teesside ties; she confesses to constantly missing the place woven deep within her, where family bonds and lifelong friendships anchor her. This northern star’s heritage has vividly coloured her current role in BBC’s Ten Pound Poms.
While speaking to The Independent, she revealed familial inspiration, commenting: “My great-grandad and great-grandma were alive until I was about 20. So with Annie and Terry, I saw that dynamic within my grandparents – the strong woman and the man that has been at war.
She’s previously recounted the gripping tale of her great-grandfather’s time as a Prisoner of War in Italy following his capture in Dunkirk.