Laura Elphinstone, star of the ITV Drama Grace, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by the University of Sunderland.
Elphinstone was born in South Shields in 1982, but grew up on Barnes View in Sunderland with her brother Sam and her parents Judith, who was a teacher at Thornhill School and Christopher, who later on in life became a professional director at the Customs House Theatre in South Shields.
As a child, Elphinstone grew up around amateur theatre with her parents directing and performing regularly at the Royalty Theatre Sunderland.
Setting her first steps on stage, she often performed at Royalty Theatre and also in shows staged by The Sunderland Amateur Operatic Society at the Empire Theatre.
She then went on to study a BTEC National Diploma of Performing Arts at Newcastle College.
In 2001, Elphinstone moved to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, which offered her the chance to learn the skills she needed to pursue a career as an actor.
Her first role was in the play Country Music at the Royal Court Theatre in 2004, where she brought Sunderland to the West End with her portrayal of Wearside-born Emma, the daughter of the play’s protagonist Jamie.
She went on to act in multiple plays, most notably The RSC production of The White Devil, directed by Maria Aberg in 2014 and the National Theatre’s 2015 production of Jane Eyre directed by Sally Cookson.
Alongside her multiple roles in theatre, Elphinstone’s career took to the screen starting with her first TV role on the 2008 BBC adaptation of Tess of the D’Urbervilles.
Since then, she has worked on multiple blockbusting shows. From being chased by dragons in Game of Thrones, investigating allegations of corruption in Line of Duty and retelling the harrowing stories of everyday people on Chernobyl, her rich catalogue of roles has taken her across the globe.
Elphinstone has also appeared on the silver screen where she has featured in films such as the Military Wives Choir and Mike Leigh’s Manchester historical drama Peterloo.
Most recently, she stared as DS Bella Moy in the ITV drama Grace, and in October this year she finished filming their fifth series.
Though now based in London, Elphinstone remains a proud Mackem and looks forward to continuing her support for programs in the North East that ensure access to the arts is broad and is available for all.
She said: “I can’t tell you how chuffed and genuinely moved I am to have received this honorary degree from the University of Sunderland and especially to be receiving it in the Stadium of Light where I got my first job at 16 waitering.”
The actress received her honour at the Stadium of Light last night (Monday, November 25) during the university’s winter graduation ceremonies, which she attended with her husband Tim, her mum Judith, her brother Sam and her aunt Hilary.
