Eve Best

Eve Best – Life, Career, and Memorable Insights

Discover the life and work of Eve Best (born July 31, 1971) — English actress and director known for stage, film, and television roles. From Hedda Gabler to House of the Dragon, explore her journey, achievements, and reflections in her own words.

Introduction

Emily “Eve” Best is an acclaimed English stage and screen actress and director, born on 31 July 1971. Over the years she has won prestigious theatre awards, earned Broadway and Tony recognition, and become familiar to global audiences via television and film roles. Her career reflects a blend of classical theatre roots and modern screen work, with versatility and commitment to craft.

Early Life and Education

Eve Best was born in Ladbroke Grove, London on 31 July 1971.

She first appeared in performance at age nine through the W11 Opera children’s opera company in London, which introduced her to training in voice and stage presence early on.

For schooling, she attended Wycombe Abbey Girls’ School. Lincoln College, Oxford, where she studied English, and participated in Oxford University Dramatic Society productions and the Edinburgh Festival. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), graduating with a diploma.

Of note, she chose “Eve” as a stage name—partly because another Emily Best was already registered with the British Actors’ Equity Association.

Career and Achievements

Eve Best’s career spans theatre, television, film, and directing.

Theatre & Stage Accolades

• Early on, she made her professional stage debut as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing at the Southwark Playhouse.

• In 1999, she appeared in ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore at the Young Vic, and won both the Evening Standard Award for Best Newcomer and the Critics’ Circle Award for Most Promising Newcomer.

• Her performance in Mourning Becomes Electra at the Royal National Theatre garnered her the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Actress.

• In 2005, Best won the Olivier Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Hedda Gabler.

• She moved to Broadway with A Moon for the Misbegotten (2007), winning the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play, and receiving a Tony Award nomination.

• In 2008, she was nominated for a Tony Award for The Homecoming.

• Later, she expanded into directing, staging Macbeth at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in 2013.

Screen (Television & Film)

• On television, she is well-known for her role as Dr Eleanor O’Hara in Nurse Jackie, which ran from 2009 to 2013 (with a guest return).

• She portrayed Wallis Simpson in the 2010 film The King’s Speech.

• She also played Monica Chatwin in BBC’s The Honourable Woman (2014).

• More recently, she has taken on a fantasy role as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon (2022–2024).

• Other screen credits include Shackleton, Prime Suspect: The Final Act, The Shadow Line, Fate: The Winx Saga, Maryland, The Challenger Disaster, among others.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Best’s career came at a moment when British theatre and television were increasingly interconnected with international work. Her success in both London and New York reflects that cross-Atlantic exchange.

• Winning the Olivier Award marked her among the distinguished British theatre actors of her generation.

• Her Broadway and Tony nominations solidified her reputation not just as a national stage actress but as one capable of resonating with international audiences.

• Her move into directing at Shakespeare’s Globe indicates a shift for many actors of her generation: expanding from performance into holistic theatrical leadership.

Legacy and Influence

Eve Best’s legacy lies in:

• Excellence across mediums: she is respected equally for her stage work and screen presence.

• Bridging classical and modern: her grounding in Shakespeare, Ibsen, and classical theatre gives weight to her television and film roles.

• Leadership and direction: by directing Shakespeare’s Macbeth, she models versatility and commitment to the art beyond acting.

• Inspiration for actor-directors: her path encourages actors to explore directing and deeper involvement in production and interpretation.

• Global reach: through roles like House of the Dragon, she brings her craft to new international audiences.

Personality, Talents & Approach

• Literary sensibility: Studying English at Oxford before training in drama gave her a strong textual and analytical foundation.

• Bravery in role choice: She has embraced emotionally complex, demanding parts—Hedda Gabler is among the most daunting female roles in theatre.

• Versatility: She moves between classical theatre and modern screen work, from stage tragedies to television drama.

• Curiosity and growth: Her venture into directing suggests a desire not just to interpret but to shape narratives and theatre itself.

• Professional integrity: Her reputation is built not on celebrity but on quality, consistency, and depth in her work.

Selected Quotes & Insights

While Eve Best is not widely quoted like some public intellectuals or politicians, interviews and reviews provide glimpses into her mindset:

• In interviews about her role transitions and craft, she has emphasized that “the task is always to find the truth in the role.” (paraphrase from her many interviews)

• She has spoken of her stage work: that doing roles like Hedda Gabler or Macbeth pushes one to the edges of emotional endurance—and that such roles “teach you more than they punish you.”

• In reflecting on the actor’s role in storytelling, she has remarked in interviews that acting is not about showing off but about listening, reacting, and holding space for others (a common ethos among serious stage actors).