Anna Friel is a famous star in British soap operas who gained her celebrity status while still just a teenager. She was born July 12, 1976 in Rochdale, Lancashire.

Her acting career began in the theatre when she was a teen. Friel's first professional job was on a Channel 4 series G.B.H. where she played the daughter of the lead character played by Michael Palin. This role led to many other roles in popular TV series such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale. In 1993, Annal Friel got the role that gained her the popularity of a star in the soap opera Brookside. Her role was as the saucy, waifish Beth Jordache.

When Friel had a lesbian kiss on the show, it only increased her celebrity and remains a legendary moment in soap opera history. In 1995, Anna Friel won the honor of receiving the National Television Award for Most Popular Actress for this role. Despite this, Friel only stayed with the series for two years.

After Brookside, Anna Friel began to branch out into the film industry. Her first movie was for TV and called The Tribe. This got Friel even more media attention because of her nude and three some sex scene with two men. After this, Friel appeared in her film debut The Land Girls with Rachel Weisz. Later she also appeared in The Stringer and Rogue Trader. These films did not get Anna Friel much recognition as an actress though her performances got favorable reviews. She did get attention for her role in on stage in Closer. Once again, Friel played a sexually charged character as a stripper. Anna Friel continues to appear and star in various theatre, TV and movie productions.

She is in a relationship with David Thewlis with whom she stars in the film London Boulevard to be released in April 2010.