Rosamund
Pike was born in London, England, the only child of concert musicians/opera singers Caroline (née Friend) and Julian Pike. Her father is now a professor at the Birmingham Conservatoire.
The family travelled across Europe until she was seven, following wherever her parents' performing career took them; as a result, she speaks fluent French and German. Pike won a scholarship to Badminton School, and while appearing in a production of Romeo and Juliet at the National Youth Theatre, was noticed by an agent who helped her embark upon a professional career.
After being turned down by every stage school she applied to, she gained a place to read English Literature at Wadham College, Oxford. While there, she studied under both Bernard O'Donoghue, the Whitbread prize-winning poet, and Robert J. C. Young, the eminent post-colonial theorist.[citation needed] She starred opposite Simon Woods in Pride and Prejudice.
After taking a year off to pursue her acting career, garnering stage experience in David Hare's Skylight, Arthur Miller's All My Sons, and several plays by Shakespeare; she achieved an Upper Second class degree in 2001.
Whilst at university, Pike's British television appearances include A Rather English Marriage (1998),[citation needed] Wives and Daughters (1999), and Love in a Cold Climate (2001), a miniseries based on the Nancy Mitford novels The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate. She appeared as "Sarah Beaumont" in an episode of the series Foyle's War.
On graduation, while considering work at Waterstone's bookshop due to a lack of acting opportunities, she was offered the role as a Bond girl and MI6 agent assigned to aid James Bond in Die Another Day. During the film's release, she appeared in the special show Bond Girls Are Forever and, shortly thereafter, the BAFTA tribute to the James Bond series.
Pike played Elizabeth Malet in The Libertine (2004) co-starring Johnny Depp, which won her the Best Supporting Actress award at the British Independent Film Awards. In the same year, she portrayed Rose in The Promised Land (a film about Israel),[citation needed] and starred as scientist Samantha Grimm in the cinematic adaptation of the computer game Doom.[citation needed] In 2005, she appeared as Jane, the elder sister of Elizabeth (played by Keira Knightley), in Pride & Prejudice.
Pike has a role in the film adaptation of Anne Michaels' novel Fugitive Pieces. She starred as a successful attorney in the film Fracture, opposite Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling.
Her stage credits include Hitchcock Blonde by Terry Johnson (in a role requiring her to appear completely nude on stage with only a pair of high heels) and Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke, both in London's West End, and Gaslight at London's Old Vic Theatre.[citation needed] Pike has said that she would be happy to do at least one play every year. In 2009, she played the title character in Madame De Sade during the Donmar's West End season.
She appeared in the British film Made in Dagenham and in the Canadian film Barney's Version where she plays Miriam. In 2010, she starred in a production of Hedda Gabler on UK tour.
The family travelled across Europe until she was seven, following wherever her parents' performing career took them; as a result, she speaks fluent French and German. Pike won a scholarship to Badminton School, and while appearing in a production of Romeo and Juliet at the National Youth Theatre, was noticed by an agent who helped her embark upon a professional career.
After being turned down by every stage school she applied to, she gained a place to read English Literature at Wadham College, Oxford. While there, she studied under both Bernard O'Donoghue, the Whitbread prize-winning poet, and Robert J. C. Young, the eminent post-colonial theorist.[citation needed] She starred opposite Simon Woods in Pride and Prejudice.
After taking a year off to pursue her acting career, garnering stage experience in David Hare's Skylight, Arthur Miller's All My Sons, and several plays by Shakespeare; she achieved an Upper Second class degree in 2001.
Whilst at university, Pike's British television appearances include A Rather English Marriage (1998),[citation needed] Wives and Daughters (1999), and Love in a Cold Climate (2001), a miniseries based on the Nancy Mitford novels The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate. She appeared as "Sarah Beaumont" in an episode of the series Foyle's War.
On graduation, while considering work at Waterstone's bookshop due to a lack of acting opportunities, she was offered the role as a Bond girl and MI6 agent assigned to aid James Bond in Die Another Day. During the film's release, she appeared in the special show Bond Girls Are Forever and, shortly thereafter, the BAFTA tribute to the James Bond series.
Pike played Elizabeth Malet in The Libertine (2004) co-starring Johnny Depp, which won her the Best Supporting Actress award at the British Independent Film Awards. In the same year, she portrayed Rose in The Promised Land (a film about Israel),[citation needed] and starred as scientist Samantha Grimm in the cinematic adaptation of the computer game Doom.[citation needed] In 2005, she appeared as Jane, the elder sister of Elizabeth (played by Keira Knightley), in Pride & Prejudice.
Pike has a role in the film adaptation of Anne Michaels' novel Fugitive Pieces. She starred as a successful attorney in the film Fracture, opposite Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling.
Her stage credits include Hitchcock Blonde by Terry Johnson (in a role requiring her to appear completely nude on stage with only a pair of high heels) and Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke, both in London's West End, and Gaslight at London's Old Vic Theatre.[citation needed] Pike has said that she would be happy to do at least one play every year. In 2009, she played the title character in Madame De Sade during the Donmar's West End season.
She appeared in the British film Made in Dagenham and in the Canadian film Barney's Version where she plays Miriam. In 2010, she starred in a production of Hedda Gabler on UK tour.
