Ella Bruccoleri

Ella Bruccoleri
Bruccoleri at the 2026 British Academy Television Awards
Born
Ella May Bruccoleri

Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England
EducationOxford School of Drama
Years active2018–present

Ella May Bruccoleri is a British actress. On television, she is known for her roles as Sister Frances in the BBC One drama Call the Midwife (2018–2022) and as Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister (2026).

Early life

Bruccoleri was born to an Italian family and grew up in Scarborough.[1] She graduated from the Oxford School of Drama in 2017.[2] She has previously lived in Paris, where she attended a mime school.[3]

Career

Her television roles have included Call the Midwife, in which she played Sister Frances between 2018 and 2022, and Winifred Barragan in Bridgerton. She also had roles in television series Back to Life, The Chelsea Detective, and Hotel Portofino.[4][5] She also co-runs a spoof influencer Instagram account, @etoztravel, with her comedy soulmate Zoe Dunn.

In 2023, she appeared as Rebecca in comedy super power series Extraordinary for Disney+.[6] Later that year she was cast in Channel 4 romantic drama series Alice & Jack.[7]

In 2024, she appeared in ITV drama Passenger,[8][9] and BBC One mystery crime series Ludwig.[10] Bruccoleri also appeared on the podcast Have You Got Your Sh*t Together? with host Caitlin O’Ryan.[11]

Her film roles have included Polite Society,[12] Joy,[13] and The Strangers: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3, in which she portrayed Jasmine who was also the masked stranger, Dollface, although most of her scenes were cut due to reshoots.[14] In 2024, she was cast in a lead role in the British film Go Away! alongside Hugh Bonneville and Michael Socha.[15][16] She also appeared in the Apple TV+ series Down Cemetery Road, and Mark Gatiss mystery drama Bookish, as well as the film Paddington in Peru.[17][18][19]

In 2026, Bruccoleri starred as Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister,[20] airing on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Music

Marry Me Emelie!

Alongside her acting career, Bruccoleri is the lead vocalist of the dream pop band Marry Me Emelie!, formed with musician Yoan Segot.[21][22] The pair first met on the open-mic circuit in Paris before relocating to London, where they began their musical collaboration. Their work as a duo continued despite the end of their 13-year romantic relationship, with their debut recordings drawing directly on that experience.[23] The band later expanded to a five-piece, with singer-songwriter Adam Gardner joining as second guitarist and backing vocalist, followed by singer-songwriter Chloe Foy on bass.[24]

Their sound has been described as drawing on influences including Mazzy Star, Cigarettes After Sex, Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten, Stevie Nicks, and the Norman Fucking Rockwell-era of Lana Del Rey,[24] with Plastic Mag describing their music as "songs that flicker between dream and memory" that feel "equally delicate and devastating."[24]

In late 2024, Marry Me Emelie! independently released their debut single, "I Have a Lark," accompanied by a music video depicting a romantic relationship between a woman and a Eurasian skylark.[23] Glide Magazine praised the track as a "spellbinding listen" and "a statement piece," adding that the band "sounds like veterans" and that their songwriting "quickly separates the band from their peers."[23]

The duo released their debut EP, the distance makes the mountains blue, on 18 April 2025.[25] An entirely bedroom-produced project, the EP takes its name from an Icelandic expression meaning that distance makes mountains appear more blue and men seem more mighty, and explores themes of deliberation, parting, and returning home.[26] The release was accompanied by a sold-out show at Walthamstow Trades Hall in London, and the band received their first BBC Radio 2 play on Jo Whiley's show, with Edith Bowman sitting in and describing the music as "absolutely beautiful."[21]

In June 2026, the band released "Flowers," their first single since the EP. Indie Dock Music Blog described it as "less a song than a held breath that finally, reluctantly, lets go," adding that it is "the sound of two people who once made noise together and have since learned, the hard way, exactly how little they need to say."[27] Mystic Sons called it "a mesmerising release that deepens the band's reputation for crafting music rich in atmosphere, emotion and cinematic beauty,"[28] while Unrecorded praised Bruccoleri's "commanding voice with its bruised and breathy tones."[29]

Personal life

Bruccoleri was raised in an Italian Catholic family but became agnostic at 18.[30]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2023 Polite Society Alba
2024 The Strangers: Chapter 1 Jasmine / Dollface
Joy Lesley Brown
Paddington in Peru Nun Rosita
2025 Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger Zoe
The Strangers – Chapter 2 Jasmine / Dollface
2026 The Strangers – Chapter 3
Wicker (film) Bakerwoman
TBA Go Away! Gemma Filming[31]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Genius Maid Episode: "Picasso: Chapter 8"
The Last Kingdom Younger Nun 1 episode
2018–2022 Call the Midwife Sister Frances 36 episodes
2021 All Creatures Great and Small Anabel Dinsdale Episode: "Semper Progrediens"
Back to Life Sharon 1 episode
2023 Extraordinary Rebecca Episode: "The Jen Show"
Hotel Portofino Joan Episode: "Subterfuges"
Alice & Jack Louise Episode: "1"
The Chelsea Detective Rena Friedman Episode: "A Crime of Passion"
2024 Passenger Ali Day 6 episodes
Bridgerton Miss Barragan 4 episodes
Ludwig Megan Rowlands 1 episode
2025 Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes Sarah Episode: "The Whistleblower"
Bookish Merula Harkup Episode: "Slightly Foxed"
Down Cemetery Road Nurse Steph 7 episodes
2026 Agatha Christie's Seven Dials Socks 1 episode
The Lady (TV series) Angela 1 episode
The Other Bennet Sister Mary Bennet 10 episodes[32]

Short film

Year Title Role Notes
2024 Quiet Life Sophie
2025 Settle Alex Porter Also producer
Egg Timer Megg
Jael Drives the Nail Mara

Theatre

Year Title Role Venues
2017(?) Company Amy Oxford School of Drama
2017(?) Romeo and Juliet Juliet Oxford School of Drama
2017(?) Twelfth Night Viola Oxford School of Drama
2017 Closer Alice Oxford School of Drama
2017 Separate Tables Anne Oxford School of Drama
2017 Springstorm Lila The North Wall Arts Theatre
2017 Islanders Winnie Soho Theatre
2018(?) ThisEgg Flog Camden People's Theatre
2019 The Noble Nine Winnie Theatre Tewl/ VAULT Festival
2026 The Virgins Jess Soho Theatre London

Radio

Year Title Role Producer
2017(?) Setting a Glass Ellie Oxford School of Drama
2023 The Lusus Podcast Tanya BBC Sounds / Clarence Beeks / SISTER
2023 Eerie Podcast Amber Episode 2: "Sh*t your pants".

Brock Media

2026 The Bacchae Song BBC 4 & BBC Sounds

References

  1. ↑ Yaqoob, Janine (7 February 2019). "Call the Midwife nun Ella Bruccoleri lost her Catholic faith as rebellious teenager". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  2. ↑ "Ella Bruccoleri returns to play Sister Frances in Season 9 of Call the Midwife". oxforddrama. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  3. ↑ IntoThe Austenverse (2026-05-04). Ella Bruccoleri on Into The Austenverse. Retrieved 2026-06-12 – via YouTube.
  4. ↑ Quinn, Angie (26 May 2024). "Call the Midwife star Ella Bruccoleri is completely unrecognisable in Netflix's Bridgerton". Mylondon.news. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  5. ↑ Spivey, Matt (29 December 2022). "BBC Call the Midwife Sister Frances star Ella Bruccoleri responds to fans begging her to stay after Christmas Special exit". Mylondon. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Vincent, Millie (5 February 2023). "Fans can't believe Call the Midwife nun's new 'crude' role in sitcom". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  7. ↑ Morris, Nicky (24 August 2024). "Call the Midwife actress to appear in new Channel 4 drama with A-List stars". Hello Magazine. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  8. ↑ "BAFTA TV Awards: Passenger cast tease series two secrets: 'There are a lot of answers we want to share'". Virgin Radio. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  9. ↑ Sarrubba, Stefania (23 February 2022). "Loki's Wunmi Mosaku announced for brand new ITV thriller series". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  10. ↑ Taylor, Mike (23 September 2024). "Ludwig cast: Who stars in the new Cambridge comedy drama with Peep Show icon?". Cambridge-News. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "Episode 56: Ella Bruccoleri on dancing like nobody is watching, realisations in Slovakia and expectations of women". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
  12. ↑ Abele, Robert (26 March 2023). "Review: Girl power and freaky evil collide to make 'Polite Society' a rowdy good time". LA Times. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  13. ↑ Kelly, Aiden (1 October 2024). "Bill Nighy and James Norton Make a Groundbreaking Discovery in New 'Joy' Trailer". Collider. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  14. ↑ Morris, Nicky (29 March 2023). "Former Call the Midwife actress to appear in upcoming film with Night Agent star". Hello Magazine. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  15. ↑ Bull, Megan (30 June 2024). "Bridgerton and Downton Abbey stars team up on new movie – details". Hello Magazine. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  16. ↑ Baalla, Sara (30 June 2024). "Hugh Bonneville lands next lead movie role". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  17. ↑ Hourihane, Ann Marie (29 October 2025). "Is Emma Thompson playing a sort of Nanny McPhee in Doc Martens? That would be interesting, but Down Cemetery Road is not". Independent.ie. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  18. ↑ "Call the Midwife and Poldark stars join Mark Gatiss's new drama Bookish | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
  19. ↑ Cremona, Patrick (30 April 2025). "Paddington in Peru cast and cameos: All the stars in third film". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  20. ↑ "The Other Bennet Sister first look released". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  21. 1 2 Pickard, Michael (March 12, 2026). "Who is The Other Bennet Sister? Star Ella Bruccoleri reveals all". Drama Quarterly. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  22. ↑ Sweeting, Adam (March 12, 2026). "theartsdesk Q&A: actor Ella Bruccoleri on playing The Other Bennet Sister". The Arts Desk. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  23. 1 2 3 "Listen: Marry Me Emelie! Craft An Eerie Yet Moving Ballad On "I Have A Lark"". Glide Magazine. January 13, 2025. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  24. 1 2 3 "Marry Me Emelie! Shares New Single "Flowers"". Plastic Mag. June 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  25. ↑ "A Pond by Marry Me Emelie!". Apple Music. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  26. ↑ "It's Her Factory presents… Marry Me Emelie". Data Thistle. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Marry Me Emelie! – Flowers". Indie Dock Music Blog. June 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Marry Me Emelie! Share New Single "Flowers"". Mystic Sons. June 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Flowers is the Haunting and Profound Single from Marry Me Emelie!". Unrecorded. July 1, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Call the Midwife star says she loves playing a nun but won't be returning to her teenage faith". Premierchristian.news. 3 February 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  31. ↑ Geosinger, Gabriella (27 June 2024). "Crime comedy 'Go Away!' starring Hugh Bonneville underway in Hertfordshire". ktf.com. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  32. ↑ "BBC announces Ella Bruccoleri to star as Mary Bennet in The Other Bennet Sister". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.