Tanya Louise Reynolds (born 4 November 1991) is a British actress, known for her roles as Lily in the 2019 Netflix series Sex Education, and as Mrs Elton in the 2020 film Emma.
Early life
Reynolds was born and raised in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire on 4 November 1991. Her father was a builder and her mother was a sign writer. Reynolds’ first experience in acting was at the age of four in the school nativity. Reynolds won a fully-funded scholarship to attend the Oxford School of Drama, purportedly conceding that otherwise she would not have been able to afford the drama school fees. Reynolds graduated in 2015.
Career
Reynolds first appeared on screen in several short films, including Civilised People by UK comedy duo In Cahoots, which was shown at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2015, The Jealous Boyfriend, also by In Cahoots, and Introducing Lucy. In 2016, Reynolds landed her first TV appearance in Delicious, where she played Teresa Benelli for 12 episodes.
2017 saw Reynolds furthering her TV career, with parts in Outlander, playing Lady Isobel Dunsany, and in the BBC thriller series Rellik, as 20 year old Sally. In 2018, Reynolds was a leading actor in the feature film Fanny Lye Deliver’d, among a cast that included Charles Dance and Maxine Peake. She also played a leading role as Teresa in the Sky One comedy Delicious, alongside a cast which included Iain Glen and Dawn French. In 2019, she began starring in the recurring role of Lily in the Netflix comedy-drama Sex Education. The series was released on 11 January 2019, to critical acclaim. Reynolds stars as Mrs. Elton in a 2020 film remake of Jane Austen’s Emma, alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Bill Nighy.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Jealous Boyfriend | Katie | Short film |
| 2015 | Civilised People | Francesca | Short film |
| 2015 | Introducing Lucy | Lucy | Short film |
| 2018 | Fanny Lye Deliver’d | Rebecca Henshaw | |
| 2019 | The Delivery | Jana Palmer | Short film |
| 2019 | For Love or Money | Alexa | |
| 2019 | Lily Meets Charlie | Lily | Short film |
| 2019 | Undergods | Maria | |
| 2020 | Emma. | Mrs. Augusta Elton | |
| 2020 | Second Skin | TBA | Short film |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–2019 | Delicious | Teresa Benelli | 12 episodes |
| 2017 | Rellik | Sally | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | Outlander | Lady Isobel Dunsany | Episode: “Of Lost Things” |
| 2017 | Death in Paradise | Pearl Marston | Episode: “Murder from Above” |
| 2018 | The Bisexual | Jill | Episode: “1.5” |
| 2019 | The Mallorca Files | Claire Taylor | Episode: “Honour Amongst Thieves” |
| 2019–present | Sex Education | Lily Iglehart | Main role |
| 2020 | Breeders | Therapist | Episode: “1.6” |