Childhood & Early Life
Miranda Raison was born Miranda Caroline Raison, on November 18, 1977, in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, England, to Caroline and Nick Raison. Her mother worked as an anchor for ‘Anglia Television,’ while her father, Nick Raison, was a jazz musician.
Her parents divorced when Miranda was 5 years old. Some sources say she was 6 then. Following this, she and her brother remained with their mother. However, her education was financed entirely by her grandfather, former English cricketer Max Raison.
Miranda was born into a highly affluent family, with a family history full of big names in the field of politics. Her uncle, Timothy Raison, was a politician, while her great-grandfather, Thomas William Coke, was the 4th Earl of Leicester.
Miranda spent most of her early childhood years studying at various boarding schools, such as ‘Gresham’s School’ and ‘Stowe School.’ She revealed in an interview that she had been subjected to bullying when she was a teenager. This experience had turned her into a self-conscious child.
She took acting seriously while studying at ‘Felixstowe College,’ an independent school. Soon, she began participating in plays.
In order to hone her skills as an actor, she enrolled at the ‘Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.’ Around the same time, she also began doing theater professionally.
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Career
In 1999, she appeared in one of the key roles in the play titled ‘The Man Who Came to Dinner.’ The play featured her in the role of ‘June Stanley.’ She then appeared in another major role, ‘Desdemona,’ in William Shakespeare’s classic play ‘Othello.’ Gaining valuable experience through her theatrical roles, she made her TV debut soon after.
In 1999, she played the real-life character of famous musician Marianne Faithfull in the biographical film titled ‘Suzy Q.’ The same year, she appeared in a small guest role in an episode of the series ‘Heartbeat,’ titled ‘Kindness of Strangers.’
In the next few years, she continued appearing in guest roles in series such as ‘Perfect Strangers,’ ‘Dark Realm’ and ‘Emmerdale.’ In the early 2000s, she also appeared in the short film ‘The Deal’ and the TV film titled ‘The Private Life of Samuel Pepys.’
She had her first major acting breakthrough in 2005, when she appeared in the major role of ‘Jo Portman’ in the hugely popular drama series ‘Spooks.’ The series was based on British intelligence officers and was a big commercial and critical hit. Miranda appeared in 37 episodes of the series throughout its runtime. It is perhaps her most popular role so far.
In 2005, Miranda made her film debut with the supporting role of ‘Heather’ in the psychological thriller ‘Match Point.’ The film, directed by Woody Allen, became a huge hit, both critically and commercially.
The same year, Miranda appeared in the sex comedy ‘Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo.’ The film received bad reviews from critics but turned out to be profitable at the box office.
The following year, she appeared in the supporting role of ‘Daisy’ in the satirical drama ‘Land of the Blind.’ The film was a massive critical and commercial disaster.
She also continued to appear on stage, playing main and supporting roles in theatrical productions. Some of her most notable plays were ‘Don’t Just Lie There, Say Something!,’ ‘Anne Boleyn,’ ‘Henry VIII,’ and ‘Strangers on a Train.’
Meanwhile, she continued appearing on TV in the late 2000s, with small roles in series such as ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Plus One.’ In the latter, she played the extended role of ‘Linsey,’ in six episodes. Around the same time, she also appeared in short films such as ‘Exit Strategy’ and ‘HeavenScent’ (voice).
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In 2011, she was seen playing a supporting role in the drama film titled ‘My Week with Marilyn,’ which turned out to be a moderate critical and commercial success.
The following year, she served as the narrator of the audiobook titled ‘Lockwood & Co. Book 1: The Screaming Staircase.’
Since 2013, she has been playing the voice role of ‘Millie’ in the children’s series ‘Thomas & Friends.’
In 2015, she played the supporting role of ‘Julie Greer-Bastière’ in the French dark-comedy series ‘Spotless.’
In the more recent years, she has appeared in supporting roles in films such as ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and ‘Artemis Fowl.’ The latter is in its post-production stage.
She has worked as an assistant producer for the 2019 short ‘Stand Still.’ It is in its post-production stage.
Family & Personal Life
In 2007, Miranda Raison got married to her ‘Spooks’ co-star Raza Jaffrey. However, they divorced in 2009.
Following her divorce, she dated actor Ralf Little in 2009. The couple broke up in 2013.
In 2017, she married ‘Christopher Mollard’ and gave birth to a daughter the same year. She currently lives in Fulham, London.
Facts About Miranda Raison
Miranda Raison is a talented voice actress and has provided voices for various video games, including "Mass Effect 2" and "Assassin's Creed: Revelations."
In addition to her acting career, Miranda Raison is also a skilled stage performer and has appeared in numerous theater productions, showcasing her versatility as an actress.
Miranda Raison is known for her love of animals and actively supports animal welfare causes, demonstrating her compassion and commitment to helping those in need.
Miranda Raison is a self-proclaimed foodie and enjoys exploring different cuisines and cooking techniques, showcasing her adventurous spirit and passion for culinary arts.
Miranda Raison has a great sense of humor and is known for her quick wit and infectious laughter, bringing joy and levity to those around her both on and off screen.
