Vanessa Kirby is an acclaimed English actress whose career has moved successfully between theatre, television, independent cinema, and major Hollywood productions. Born in London, she began her professional acting career on stage before making her film debut in the drama Love/Loss in 2010. Her early movie work included the crime drama The Rise, About Time, Charlie Countryman, and John Boorman’s Queen and Country, helping establish her as a versatile performer. Kirby gained international recognition as the White Widow in the Mission: Impossible franchise and as Hattie Shaw in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. Her performance as Martha in Pieces of a Woman brought some of her strongest film acclaim and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. More recently, Kirby expanded into major franchise filmmaking with Napoleon, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and other dramatic roles.
2010 — Love/Loss
Love/Loss marked Vanessa Kirby’s earliest officially released feature-film appearance. Directed by Guy Daniels, the British drama follows childhood sweethearts Mary and Joe as they reunite after six decades apart and confront memories and mistakes from their past. Kirby plays Jane in the film, appearing alongside Virginia McKenna, Keith Michell, and Diana Quick. Released in the United Kingdom in 2010, the movie gave Kirby an early opportunity to work in a feature-length dramatic production.
2012 — The Rise
Vanessa Kirby appeared as Nicola in The Rise, Rowan Athale’s British crime drama about a recently released prisoner planning revenge against the gangster responsible for his imprisonment. The film stars Luke Treadaway, Timothy Spall, Iwan Rheon, Matthew Lewis, and Neil Maskell, with Kirby playing Nicola. The story combines crime, drama, and thriller elements as Harvey and his friends attempt an elaborate robbery. The film was also released under the title Wasteland in North America, making it an important early entry in Kirby’s filmography.
2013 — Charlie Countryman
In Charlie Countryman, Kirby played Felicity in a crime-tinged romantic thriller directed by Fredrik Bond. The film follows an American traveler who becomes involved with a dangerous criminal world after falling for a mysterious woman in Bucharest. Kirby appeared alongside Shia LaBeouf, Evan Rachel Wood, Mads Mikkelsen, Rupert Grint, Melissa Leo, and Aubrey Plaza. Her role as Felicity was one of her early international film appearances before she moved into increasingly prominent productions.
2013 — About Time
Richard Curtis’s romantic comedy About Time gave Vanessa Kirby one of her most recognizable early supporting roles. She plays Joanna, a young woman connected to the central group of characters in a story about a man who discovers that the men in his family can travel through time and attempts to improve his life and relationships. The film stars Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Tom Hollander, and Margot Robbie. Its blend of romance, comedy, family drama, and time-travel fantasy helped make About Time a popular and enduring entry in Kirby’s early film career.
2014 — Queen and Country
Vanessa Kirby starred as Dawn Rohan in John Boorman’s Queen and Country, a nostalgic British drama set against the backdrop of military service during the Korean War era. The film follows Bill Rohan, played by Callum Turner, as he enters the British Army and navigates friendship, military life, romance, and the changing nature of postwar Britain. Kirby’s performance as Dawn placed her in an ensemble that included David Thewlis, Richard E. Grant, Caleb Landry Jones, Tamsin Egerton, and Sinéad Cusack. The film premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and served as a sequel to Boorman’s autobiographical Hope and Glory.
2015 — Jupiter Ascending
The science-fiction adventure Jupiter Ascending saw Kirby take on the role of Katharine Dunlevy. Written and directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski, the visually ambitious film follows Jupiter Jones, played by Mila Kunis, who discovers that her genetic identity gives her a remarkable claim to an intergalactic inheritance. Kirby appeared alongside Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne, Sean Bean, Douglas Booth, and Tuppence Middleton. Although Kirby’s part was relatively small, the film was notable as one of her early Hollywood studio productions.
2015 — Bone in the Throat
Kirby played Sophie in Bone in the Throat, a British-American crime drama directed by Graham Henman and based on the novel by Anthony Bourdain. The film centers on a young and ambitious chef who becomes caught up with London’s criminal underworld after witnessing a murder. Ed Westwick, Tom Wilkinson, Andy Nyman, Rupert Graves, John Hannah, and Vanessa Kirby lead the cast. The movie premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival in March 2015 and represents one of Kirby’s early appearances in a crime-focused feature.
2015 — Everest
In Baltasar Kormákur’s survival drama Everest, Kirby portrayed Sandy Hill, a member of the group caught up in the catastrophic 1996 Mount Everest disaster. The film dramatizes the experiences of several climbers during a devastating storm on the world’s highest mountain and features an ensemble cast including Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, John Hawkes, and Keira Knightley. Kirby’s role was part of a large ensemble based on real events. Everest was significant in demonstrating her ability to work within a large-scale international production built around historical events and survival drama.
2016 — Genius
Kirby portrayed Zelda Fitzgerald in Genius, a biographical drama directed by Michael Grandage. The film focuses on legendary American book editor Maxwell Perkins and his professional relationship with writer Thomas Wolfe, with Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Guy Pearce, and Laura Linney among the principal cast. Kirby’s Zelda is the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald and forms part of the film’s exploration of the literary world of the early 20th century. The role allowed Kirby to portray a real historical figure in a period drama alongside an acclaimed international cast.
2016 — Kill Command
In the science-fiction action thriller Kill Command, Kirby played Captain Katherine Mills, an experienced soldier sent with a military unit to a remote training facility. Directed by Steven Gomez, the film depicts a near-future conflict in which soldiers become targets during an exercise involving increasingly dangerous autonomous machines. Thure Lindhardt and David Ajala co-star alongside Kirby. The movie gave her a more action-oriented role before she became internationally associated with major franchise films such as Mission: Impossible.
2016 — Me Before You
Kirby played Alicia Dewares in the romantic drama Me Before You, an adaptation of Jojo Moyes’s bestselling novel. Directed by Thea Sharrock, the film stars Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin as Louisa Clark and Will Traynor, whose relationship develops after Louisa takes a job caring for the wealthy but paralyzed Will. Kirby appears as Alicia, part of Will’s social circle, in a supporting role. The film became a notable commercial success and remains one of Kirby’s better-known pre-Mission: Impossible movies.
2018 — Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Kirby’s breakthrough action role arrived with Mission: Impossible – Fallout, in which she played Alanna Mitsopolis, better known as the White Widow. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the sixth Mission: Impossible movie stars Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt and features Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Cavill, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Angela Bassett. The White Widow is an influential arms broker whose connections to Ethan’s mission make her a key figure in the story. The film was a major critical and commercial success and established Kirby as an important recurring presence in the franchise.
2019 — Mr. Jones
In Agnieszka Holland’s historical drama Mr. Jones, Kirby played journalist Ada Brooks. The film follows Welsh journalist Gareth Jones, portrayed by James Norton, as he investigates the Soviet Union and uncovers the devastating consequences of the Holodomor in Ukraine during the early 1930s. Peter Sarsgaard and Kirby appear alongside Norton in the politically charged historical drama. The movie is notable for tackling a difficult period of 20th-century history through the perspective of a journalist attempting to reveal the truth.
2019 — Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Kirby joined the Fast & Furious universe as Hattie Shaw in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. Directed by David Leitch, the action comedy pairs Dwayne Johnson’s Luke Hobbs with Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw as they attempt to stop the genetically enhanced terrorist Brixton Lore, played by Idris Elba. Hattie is Deckard Shaw’s highly capable sister and a former MI6 agent who becomes central to the mission. The role allowed Kirby to combine dramatic acting with extensive action material and further established her reputation in blockbuster cinema.
2020 — Pieces of a Woman
Pieces of a Woman became one of the most important films of Vanessa Kirby’s career. Directed by Kornél Mundruczó, the emotionally intense drama follows Martha Weiss, played by Kirby, as she deals with devastating grief after a home birth ends in tragedy. The cast includes Shia LaBeouf, Ellen Burstyn, Sarah Snook, Molly Parker, and Benny Safdie, while Kirby carries much of the film’s emotional weight. Her performance received widespread critical acclaim and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, making the film a major milestone in her career.
2020 — The World to Come
In Mona Fastvold’s historical romantic drama The World to Come, Kirby played Tallie, a married woman who develops a close and emotionally transformative relationship with another woman in 19th-century rural America. The film co-stars Katherine Waterston, Christopher Abbott, and Casey Affleck and explores loneliness, marriage, desire, and social restrictions in an isolated community. Kirby’s performance forms one half of the movie’s central relationship and demonstrates a quieter side of her acting range. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival before receiving its wider release.
2021 — Italian Studies
Kirby starred as Alina Reynolds in Italian Studies, an independent drama written and directed by Adam Leon. The story follows a writer who loses her memory in New York City and begins moving through the city while forming an unexpected connection with a group of young people. Kirby also served as an executive producer on the film, giving her a role behind the camera as well as the lead performance. The movie was another example of her willingness to alternate between large studio productions and smaller, character-driven projects.
2022 — The Son
Kirby appeared as Beth in Florian Zeller’s family drama The Son. The film stars Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, Zen McGrath, and Anthony Hopkins and examines the emotional struggles surrounding a teenager experiencing serious difficulties after his parents’ separation. Kirby plays the young boy’s stepmother, becoming part of the complicated family dynamic at the heart of the story. The film followed Zeller’s acclaimed The Father and continued his focus on emotionally challenging family relationships.
2023 — Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Kirby returned as Alanna Mitsopolis, the White Widow, in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the action thriller reunites her with Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt as the IMF team faces a powerful artificial intelligence known as the Entity. Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Pom Klementieff also feature in the ensemble. Kirby’s White Widow has a more substantial role in this installment, helping connect the franchise’s espionage elements with its expanding international storyline.
2023 — Napoleon
Ridley Scott’s historical epic Napoleon gave Kirby one of her most prominent period-film roles when she portrayed Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. Joaquin Phoenix plays Napoleon, while the film charts his rise from military officer to French emperor and examines the complicated relationship between Napoleon and Joséphine. Kirby’s performance brings considerable attention to Joséphine’s personal influence and emotional relationship with Napoleon. The film was one of the largest historical productions in her filmography and reunited her with major international filmmaking talent.
2024 — Eden
Kirby played Dore Strauch in Ron Howard’s historical survival thriller Eden. The film is based on the true story of European settlers who attempted to establish new lives on Floreana Island in the Galápagos during the period before the Second World War. Kirby stars alongside Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Sydney Sweeney, Daniel Brühl, and Felix Kammerer, portraying one of the settlers whose idealistic experiment becomes increasingly dangerous. Eden premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, although its wider theatrical releases took place in 2025, making 2024 the year of its official festival debut.
2025 — Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a special case in Vanessa Kirby’s movie career because her appearance as the White Widow is primarily through archival footage rather than newly performed material. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the eighth main Mission: Impossible film continues Ethan Hunt’s battle against the Entity and features Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, and Pom Klementieff. Kirby’s earlier performance as Alanna Mitsopolis is incorporated into the film through archive footage, so this should not be treated as a conventional new acting role. The film was released theatrically in 2025 and officially lists Kirby’s White Widow among the franchise’s returning characters.
2025 — The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Kirby entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Sue Storm, also known as the Invisible Woman, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Directed by Matt Shakman, the superhero film features Kirby alongside Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Ralph Ineson as a new version of Marvel’s iconic Fantastic Four team. Sue Storm is a founding member of the team whose ability to become invisible and generate powerful force fields makes her one of its most important members. The movie marked a major new franchise chapter for Kirby after her established roles in the Mission: Impossible and Fast & Furious universes.
2025 — Night Always Comes
In Night Always Comes, Kirby plays Lynette, a woman who embarks on a dangerous overnight journey while desperately trying to secure a future for herself and her family. Directed by Benjamin Caron, the thriller also features Jennifer Jason Leigh and Zack Gottsagen. The story unfolds over a single intense night as Lynette encounters people and circumstances connected to her difficult past. Kirby also served as a producer on the project, making it notable not only as an acting vehicle but also as part of her expanding work behind the scenes.
Vanessa Kirby Movies by Year: Career Overview
Vanessa Kirby’s movie career has developed from relatively small early appearances into a varied filmography spanning independent drama, historical cinema, romantic comedy, science fiction, action, and superhero entertainment. Her early films such as Love/Loss, The Rise, About Time, and Queen and Country established her versatility, while Me Before You and Genius brought her to larger international audiences.
Her career changed significantly with Mission: Impossible – Fallout, where the White Widow became one of her signature roles. She subsequently balanced blockbuster projects such as Hobbs & Shaw and the Mission: Impossible sequels with challenging dramatic work in Pieces of a Woman and The World to Come. Her portrayal of Martha in Pieces of a Woman was particularly important, earning her an Academy Award nomination and demonstrating her ability to lead demanding dramatic material.
More recent Vanessa Kirby movies by year show her continuing to move between major franchises and ambitious character-driven films. Napoleon gave her a prominent historical role, Eden placed her in a true-story survival drama, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduced her to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Sue Storm. With her combination of stage experience, dramatic range, and blockbuster appeal, Kirby has built one of the more diverse film careers among her generation of British actors.
