Claudia Jessie Peyton is an English actress. She is known for her television roles as Annie Taylor in the third BBC One series of WPC 56, Amelia Sedley in the ITV series Vanity Fair, Lucy in the Dave sitcom Porters, and Eloise in the Netflix series Bridgerton.
Early life
Jessie was born in Moseley and grew up on a barge. She spent some of her childhood in London and was homeschooled from the age of 14 before returning to Birmingham when she was 17. Her family struggled financially; Jessie described the experiences that came with it, such as bailiffs coming to the door, as traumatic. In addition, her parents split and her father was not around. Her single mother, Dawn, worked cleaning houses to provide for her and her brother and to afford Jessie’s ballet lessons. She was discovered by Hannah Phillips who cast her in several local productions. She then signed with an agent in 2012.
Career
Jessie’s early work included appearances in Doctors, Casualty, and Line of Duty. She appeared in House of Anubis, including in its Touchstone of Ra television film.
From 2014 to 16, Jessie starred in the BAFTA-winning CBBC Online web series Dixi as Shari. In 2015, she was cast as WPC Annie Taylor, the lead character in the third series of the BBC One television programme WPC 56. She was a guest in Josh, playing the love interest. Jessie acted in the 2014 short film Copy That directed by Kingsley Hoskins which won the Best Comedic Short Film award at TSFA in New York.
Jessie made her feature film debut as Doris in the 2016 war film Their Finest. She starred in the 2017 Dave sitcom Porters and the 2018 ITV miniseries Vanity Fair. She appeared in the 2018 Doctor Who episode “Kerblam!”. In 2020 she began playing Eloise, the fifth Bridgerton child, in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton, an adaptation of the novels by Julia Quinn.
Personal life
Jessie has a boyfriend, Joseph. She has stated she is a vegan and meditates for at least an hour a day. Her aunt introduced her to Nichiren Buddhism, and Jessie has regularly practised it since she was 17 for her mental health. She has spoken of her experiences with panic attacks and anxiety since childhood as well as Depersonalisation disorder.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Rosie | Rosie | Short film |
| 2014 | Copy That | Beth | Short film |
| 2016 | Their Finest | Doris Cleavely / Lily |