Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 2003-07-15
- Born Place: Kensington and Chelsea, London
Also Known As:
Viola Margaret Jane Prettejohn
Viola Prettejohn
Viola Prettejohn (born 2003) is a rising British actress whose career has quickly transitioned from high-profile television roles to major independent cinema. Raised in London and an alumna of St Paul’s Girls’ School, Prettejohn discovered her passion for acting through school productions and the National Youth Theatre. She made an impactful professional debut in the Starz series Counterpart (2018), playing a young version of Olivia Williams’ character, Emily Silk. This early success was followed by a role in the first season of Netflix’s The Witcher (2019), where she portrayed "Fake Ciri," a Cintran noblewoman caught in a web of political intrigue. She further solidified her reputation in the HBO series The Nevers (2021–2023), playing Myrtle Haplisch, a character who speaks a chaotic mélange of languages after being "Touched" by supernatural powers. In 2023, Prettejohn achieved widespread acclaim for her portrayal of a teenage Princess Elizabeth in the final season of Netflix’s The Crown. Appearing in the poignant episode "Ritz," she depicted the future Queen’s rare night of freedom during the VE Day celebrations of 1945. Her performance was praised for its "carefree" energy, offering a stark contrast to the more stoic iterations of the monarch seen throughout the series. Following this, she took on the role of Finn in Ben Wheatley’s zombie-satire Generation Z (2024) and played Mary FitzRoy, Duchess of Richmond, in the BBC adaptation of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light. As of January 2026, Prettejohn is being hailed as a "breakout star" for her performance in Mona Fastvold’s historical musical drama The Testament of Ann Lee (2025). In the film, she portrays Nancy Lee, the niece of the titular Shaker leader (played by Amanda Seyfried). Her role is central to the film's exploration of communal devotion, requiring both visceral physical acting and participation in the film’s "all-singing, all-dancing" musical sequences. Looking forward, Prettejohn is set to star in the historical drama series Amadeus as Princess Elizabeth and has joined the cast of the horror film Brides, continuing her trajectory toward becoming one of the most versatile young talents in the industry.
