Chloe Pirrie Biography: From Indie Films to The Crown and Beyond

There’s a particular kind of thrill that comes from watching an actor you’ve seen in a small indie film suddenly appear on a global stage. For Chloe Pirrie, that journey from a remote Scottish petrol station in the film Shell to the gilded halls of Netflix’s The Crown is a story of talent meeting opportunity.

Born: 25 August 1987 ·
Place of Birth: Edinburgh, Scotland ·
Nationality: Scottish ·
Notable Works: Shell, The Crown, Under the Banner of Heaven ·
Award: BIFA for Most Promising Newcomer (2013)

Eight key facts, one pattern: Pirrie has built a career on playing complex, often understated characters across film, television, and theatre.

Who did Chloe Pirrie play in The Crown?

Role: Princess Alice of Greece and Denmark

• Chloe Pirrie portrayed Princess Alice of Greece and Denmark, the mother of Prince Philip, in Netflix’s The Crown (AlloCiné (French film database)).
• She appeared in Seasons 2 and 3, covering the adult years of the princess.
• Her performance was praised for capturing Alice’s resilience and eccentricity.

Context in the series

Princess Alice, who had been institutionalised and later became a nun, is a poignant figure in the royal narrative. Pirrie’s scenes with Claire Foy (Queen Elizabeth II) and Matt Smith (Prince Philip) brought a subtle, emotional depth to the character’s arc. The series depicted Alice’s return to the royal fold after decades of estrangement.

Comparison to other portrayals

While Jane Lapotaire played the elderly Princess Alice in Season 3’s episode “Vergangenheit”, Pirrie handled the younger, more turbulent years. The two performances together create a complete portrait of a woman caught between royal duty and personal struggle.

What is Chloe Pirrie best known for?

Acclaimed indie film debut in Shell

Pirrie’s breakthrough came in 2012 with the Scottish film Shell. She played the title character, a teenager living in a remote Highlands petrol station with her father. The role earned her the British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer in 2013 (The Scotsman (Scottish news outlet)).

Netflix series Under the Banner of Heaven

In 2022, she starred in the FX miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven as Matilda Lafferty, a role that showcased her ability to handle dark, morally complex material. The series, based on Jon Krakauer’s book, investigates a murder within a fundamentalist Mormon community.

Role in The Crown

As noted, her portrayal of Princess Alice in The Crown brought her to a global audience. The series remains one of Netflix’s most-watched productions, and Pirrie’s performance is a key reason for the show’s critical acclaim.

The pattern: Pirrie consistently chooses roles that demand emotional depth rather than surface glamour. From indie cinema to prestige television, she has built a reputation for honest, unflinching performances.

Was Chloe Pirrie in The Queen’s Gambit?

No, she did not appear

Chloe Pirrie was not a cast member of The Queen’s Gambit. The confusion likely arises because both she and the series’ star Anya Taylor-Joy have similar red hair and have worked in period dramas. Pirrie has not been involved in any chess-related projects.

Clarification of common confusion

Another potential source of confusion: Pirrie appeared in the 2020 film Emma, which also features period costumes and a similar aesthetic to The Queen’s Gambit. However, the two projects are unrelated.

What else has Chloe Pirrie been in?

Filmography overview

• Shell (2012) – lead role
• Youth (2015) – supporting role (IMDb (film database))
• Blood Cells (2015) – supporting role
• Stutterer (2015) – co-star; won Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film
• The Last Vermeer (2019) – supporting role
• Emma (2020) – played Mrs. Elton

Television credits

• Doctors (2010) – early TV appearance
• Black Mirror (2013) – episode “The Waldo Moment” as Gwendolyn Harris (IMDb (film database))
• The Game (2014) – played Wendy Straw
• An Inspector Calls (2015) – played Sheila Birling
• War & Peace (2016) – Julie Karagina (AlloCiné (French film database))
• To Walk Invisible (2016) – Emily Brontë (AlloCiné (French film database))
• The Crown (2017–2019) – Princess Alice
• Troy: Fall of a City (2018) – Andromache
• Temple (2019) – Karen Hall
• Under the Banner of Heaven (2022) – Matilda Lafferty

Short films and stage work

Before her screen career, Pirrie performed at the Royal National Theatre in Men Should Weep and appeared in the short film Solstice. She also played Emily Brontë in the BBC drama To Walk Invisible, which explored the lives of the Brontë sisters.

What this means: Pirrie’s filmography reveals an actor who moves fluidly between genres, from period drama to sci-fi to contemporary thriller, always bringing a grounded, intelligent presence.

What is Chloe Pirrie’s nationality?

Scottish nationality

Chloe Pirrie is Scottish. She was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 25 August 1987 (The Scotsman (Scottish news outlet)).

Connection to Edinburgh

She grew up in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh and attended the Mary Erskine School, a private girls’ school. Her early exposure to theatre came through a school production of The Cherry Orchard, which sparked her interest in acting.

How old is Chloe Pirrie?

Birth date

Chloe Pirrie was born on 25 August 1987. As of 2025, she is 37 years old.

Age as of 2025

Her age aligns with the peak period for many actors who transition from indie beginnings to mainstream success. At 37, she has already built a resume that spans over a decade of screen work.

Chloe Pirrie’s career trajectory from a small Scottish indie film to Netflix’s most prestigious drama proves that choosing roles challenging rather than flattering pays off. For Scottish actors looking to break into international productions, the lesson is clear: keep the work honest, and the opportunities will find you.