Lulu Popplewell, born Laura Francesca Popplewell, is a British actress, comedian, and singer. She became known as a child actor through Love Actually and the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of His Dark Materials, later developing a stand-up career with shows including Actually, Actually and Love Love.
Background
Laura Francesca Popplewell was born on January 15, 1991, in London, England. She later adopted the public name Lulu Popplewell; a 2021 deed poll recorded the name Lulu Bird Popplewell and British citizenship.
She comes from a family associated with law, the judiciary, and acting. Her father, Andrew Popplewell, is a senior English judge, while her sister Anna Popplewell is an actress and her brother Freddie Popplewell is a barrister. Her grandfather Sir Oliver Popplewell was also a judge, and her uncle Nigel Popplewell played first-class cricket.
Career
Popplewell began acting as a child, appearing as Emma in the television miniseries Love in a Cold Climate in 2001. She gained wider recognition as Daisy, the daughter of Karen, in Richard Curtis's 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually. The film was produced by Working Title Films and interwove several stories set in London during the Christmas season.
In 2003, she played Lyra Belacqua in BBC Radio 4's dramatization of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. The radio production adapted the three novels as a large-scale audio drama and was later rebroadcast and released in recorded formats.
Popplewell subsequently developed a career in stand-up comedy. She performed on the British comedy circuit from 2016, appeared in BBC New Comedy Award programming, and presented material in shows including The Humble Bumhole, Actually, Actually, and Love Love. Actually, Actually, her sold-out 2023 Edinburgh Fringe debut, drew on the continuing public attention surrounding her childhood role in Love Actually. She also appeared in Finding Laredo, Dog House, and comedy programs and events in the 2020s.
Achievements
Popplewell established a second career in stand-up comedy after beginning as a child actor, performing regularly on the British comedy circuit from 2016.
Her debut solo comedy show, Actually, Actually, sold out at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe and developed material from the public association between her childhood role and Love Actually.
(Popplewell's second Edinburgh Fringe hour, a stand-up sho...)
2025
TV miniseries
Love in a Cold Climate
(Television miniseries in which Popplewell played Emma as ...)
2001
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
Chortle described Popplewell's 2023 comedy show Actually, Actually as upbeat, fun, honest, and a good survivor story.
Connections
Popplewell is the daughter of Andrew Popplewell and Debra Lomas. Her sister Anna Popplewell is an actress known for The Chronicles of Narnia film series, and her brother Freddie Popplewell is a barrister. Her grandfather was the judge Sir Oliver Popplewell, and her uncle Nigel Popplewell was a cricketer.
Father:
Andrew Popplewell
Judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales.
Mother:
Debra Lomas
Dermatologist.
Sister:
Anna Popplewell
Actress known for playing Susan Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia film series.
Lulu Popplewell - IMDb
Provides biographical information and screen credits, including her birth date, birthplace, and roles in Love Actually and His Dark Materials.
Love Actually - Working Title Films
Provides production information for the 2003 film Love Actually, including its release date, premise, principal creative personnel, and production context.
