Bethany Antonia
Bethany Antonia
Born (1997-12-25) 25 December 1997
Birmingham, England
Alma materBirmingham Ormiston Academy (Musical Theatre)
OccupationActress
Years active2017–present

Bethany Antonia (born 25 December 1997) is a British actress, and singer from Birmingham.[1]

Antonia began her career aged 14, appearing in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust short film adaptation of The Tempest.

Antonia made her television debut aged 18, in 2016 as a guest star in BBC One soap opera, Doctors.[2]

As of 2022 Antonia plays Lady Baela Targaryen in Seasons 1-4 of HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones prequel and adaptation of George R. R. Martin fictional history book Fire and Blood.[3]

On television, she is known for her roles in House of the Dragon, the BBC iPlayer teen series Get Even (2020), the Netflix crime drama Stay Close (2021), and the ITV biopic Nolly (2023).

Personal life

Bethany Antonia (Born 25th December 1997) was born in Quinton, Birmingham, Antonia is of mixed English and Jamaican heritage.[4] When she was six, her family moved to a small coastal town in the southwestern Charente-Maritime region of France, before returning to Birmingham when she was eleven.[5]

She attended Perryfields High School and then went on to study musical theatre at Birmingham Ormiston Academy.

At 14, she began training at First Act Workshop, formerly Central Junior Television Workshop, [6]and with the British Youth Music Theatre.[7]

Antonia is a lesbian, and came out on Instagram in response to a racist comment.[8]

Career

Antonia’s first professional role was in a short film adaptation of The Tempest in 2012 made by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust following open auditions, aged 14. [9]

She later joined the British Youth Music Theatre.[10] appearing on stage in London in their 2013 stage production of Burnt Out Souls.[11]

She performed in musical productions of Hairspray (musical) and Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure.[12]

In 2016 at the age of 18, Antonia made her television debut with a guest appearance in an episode of the BBC One medical soap opera Doctors.

In 2017 Antonia played Chelsea in British Film Institute feature film Pin Cushion starring Joanna Scanlan and Lily Newmark.[13]

In 2019, Antonia was cast as Margot Rivers in the BBC iPlayer and Netflix teen series Get Even, an adaptation of the Don't Get Mad book series by Gretchen McNeil.[14]

In 2021, Antonia played Kayleigh Shaw alongside Cush Jumbo in the eight-episode Netflix crime drama Stay Close, part of a collaboration between Red Production Company and Harlan Coben. [15]

In 2022, Antonia played Rach in LAVA at Soho Theatre by British playwright James Fritz.[16]

As of 2022, Antonia portrays Lady Baela Targaryen in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones prequel and adaptation of George R. R. Martin's fictional history book Fire and Blood. [17]

In 2023, Antonia played Poppy Ngnomo in Russell T Davies' ITV miniseries Nolly, alongside Helena Bonham Carter.

As of 2023, Antonia has been a voiceover performer for Big Finish Productions an audio drama company producing audiobooks primarily based on science fiction, and heavily featuring the Doctor Who universe. Antonia has voiced characters in Dark Season: Legacy Rising, Doctor Who: The Seventh Doctor Adventures, The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield, The War Master (audio drama series). [18]

In 2024, Antonia played Marianne Dashwod in the Hallmark Channel TV Movie adaptation Sense and Sensibility.[19]

In 2024, Antonia played Mo Gilliban in Russell T DaviesDoctor Who episode “The Well”.[20]

In 2026, Antonia was cast in the role of Eurydice in the West End production of Hadestown.[21]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2012 The TempestShort film
2017 Pin CushionChelsea
2021 There's Always HopePen

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2017 DoctorsJade Okonjo Episode: "Blitz Spirit"
2018 Stath Lets FlatsLeanne Episode: "It's a Manager Day"
2020 Get EvenMargot Rivers Main Role: 10 episodes
2021 Stay CloseKayleigh Shaw Main Role: 8 episodes
2022–present House of the DragonBaela TargaryenMain Role: 9 episodes
2023 NollyPoppy Ngomo
2024 Sense and SensibilityMarianne DashwoodTV Movie
2025 Doctor WhoMo Gilliben Episode: "The Well"

Audio

Year Title Role Production Notes
2023 Dark Season: Legacy RisingNina Lewis Big Finish ProductionsMain role
Doctor Who: The Seventh Doctor AdventuresCaptain Rocky Episode: "Naomi's Ark"
2025 Call Me MasterElta the Acolyte Episode: "The Good Life"
The War MasterSuki Episode: "Last Girl Standing"
The New Adventures of Bernice SummerfieldHamesha Episode: "The Winner's Tale"

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Peter Pan: The Never Ending StoryLost Child Arena Tour
2022 LavaRach Soho Theatre, London
2026 HadestownEurydiceLyric Theatre, London

References

  1. ^Young, Graham (2023-02-02). "City actress told to 'ditch' Brummie accent by Helena Bonham Carter". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  2. ^"Curtis Brown". curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  3. ^GameofThrones (2024-06-30). Crafting a Dragon Chase | Behind the Scenes Season 2, Episode 3 | House of The Dragon | HBO. Retrieved 2026-01-16 – via YouTube.
  4. ^Lynch, Kenedi (13 August 2020). "Interview: Up and Coming Star Bethany Antonia Talks About Her Role on Netflix's 'Get Even' [EXCLUSIVE]". Nerds & Beyond. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  5. ^"Bethany Antonia". 1883 Magazine. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  6. ^Vinter, Robyn (2025-02-23). "'It shouldn't be such a fight': the drama school supporting working-class actors". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  7. ^""Stay Close" Star Bethany Antonia Talks Acting and Gen Z". airmail.news. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  8. ^Theil, Michele (2024-04-22). "House of the Dragon star responds to online abuse: 'I'm gay too'". PinkNews. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  9. ^""Stay Close" Star Bethany Antonia Talks Acting and Gen Z". airmail.news. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  10. ^""Stay Close" Star Bethany Antonia Talks Acting and Gen Z". airmail.news. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  11. ^British Youth Music Theatre (BYMT) (2013-08-28), Burnt Out Souls 2013 (38), retrieved 2026-01-21
  12. ^""Stay Close" Star Bethany Antonia Talks Acting and Gen Z". airmail.news. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  13. ^TBB (2018-07-18). "TBB Talks … to Bethany Antonia currently starring in brilliant British indie 'Pin Cushion' | The British Blacklist". Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  14. ^"Watch Get Even | Netflix Official Site". www.netflix.com. Archived from the original on 2026-01-08. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  15. ^"Watch Stay Close | Netflix Official Site". www.netflix.com. Archived from the original on 2026-01-08. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  16. ^"Bethany Antonia: Lava – ThisWeek Culture". thisweekculture.com. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  17. ^GameofThrones (2024-06-30). HOTD: Official Podcast: S2 Ep. 3: Bethany Antonia’s Rising Impact on Team Black. Retrieved 2026-01-16 – via YouTube.
  18. ^"Bethany Antonia - Contributions - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  19. ^Bobb, Roger M. (2024-02-24), Sense & Sensibility, Deborah Ayorinde, Bethany Antonia, Dan Jeannotte, Hallmark Media, UFO International Productions, retrieved 2026-01-16
  20. ^Brotchie, Amanda (2025-04-26), "The Well", Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa, Varada Sethu, Annabel Brook, retrieved 2026-01-16
  21. ^Wood, Alex (26 January 2026). "Hadestown announces new West End cast and extension". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
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