Gemma Whelan

Gemma Whelan is a British actress with a diverse career spanning stage, screen, and stand-up comedy. Born on 23rd of April 1981 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, she has built a reputation as a versatile performer. Her most prominent role is Yara Greyjoy in the HBO series Game of Thrones, a character she played from the second season onward. Whelan's early film credits include Gulliver's Travels and The Wolfman, both released in 2010. She has also appeared in comedies such as Upstart Crow, Uncle, and The Agency.

Beyond acting, Whelan is a trained comedian, winning the Funny Women Variety Award for stand-up in 2010. She is known for performing in character as Chastity Butterworth, and in 2014 she recorded a pilot chat show for BBC Radio 4 called The Chastity Butterworth Show. Her background also includes professional dance, specializing in tap and jazz, and she is a member of the London-based dance troupe the Beaux Belles. She is trained in musical theatre and has a mezzo-soprano singing voice. She can speak conversational Spanish.

Whelan lives in London. In July 2017, she was expecting her first child with her husband Gerry, and she gave birth to their daughter a few months later. She is vegetarian, though she has eaten meat on the sets of Game of Thrones. She attended The King's High School for Girls in Warwick. At 45 years old, she stands 5'6" tall with an average build. She has brown hair, blue eyes, and a natural B-cup bust. She has various tattoos but no piercings.