Born in England to father Adrian (banker) and mother Janet (journalist) on July 1 1982, Romola Garai's unusual name is credited as the female version of Romulus, an Italian name for boys. She grew up in Singapore and Hong Kong until she was eight when her family returned to lay roots in Wiltshire. At sixteen, she left her parents and youngest sister, Roxy, to live in London with her older sister, Rosie, and attend school at City of London's School for Girls, where her major studies were based on theatre. She got her beginnings as a professional actress when she was spotted in a school production by a casting director looking for girls to play Judi Dench in the ITV drama The Last of the Blonde Bombshells. After that role, she went on with her studies, eventually enrolling in University of London where she majored in English, planning to become a journalist like her mother once was. But after offers for other roles began to come in, she deferred her degree and eventually quit altogether to focus more on her acting career. Romola went on to film Daniel Deronda, I Capture the Castle, Nicholas Nickleby, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and Vanity Fair with Reese Witherspoon. Not to mention her role in the West End adaptation of George Eliot's novel, Calico as Lucia Joyce for which she is currently nominated Outstanding Newcomer by the Evening Standard Theatre Awards.



She is currently at university reading English. She used to sing in a jazz band. A casting agent scouting at her school for young girls, chose her for her first acting role in The Last of the Blonde Bombshells (2000) (TV). [2000] Was brought up in Hong Kong and Singapore until she was 10. She is of Hungarian descent and her great grandfather is Bert Garai, founder of Keystone Press Agency in London in 1924. She had no professional dancing experience before arriving on the set of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004). Director François Ozon affectionately calls Romola "his muse". Has visited Hong Kong, Singapore, Malta, Venice, Australia, Italy, Belgium and Indonesia. Is a huge fan of "The Simpsons" (1989), in fact her favorite TV character of all time is Lisa Simpson. While filming Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004), she became good friends with Diego Luna. They remain close and have a very strong bond. Was Joe Wright's first choice for the role of Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice before Keira Knightley auditioned. But Joe being a huge admirer of Romola's talent then offered her the role of Briony in Atonement as he really wanted to work with her. Cites Mike Leigh, Michael Winterbottom, Ken Loach, The Coen brothers, David Lynch, and Todd Haynes as her favorite directors and would love to work with them in the future. Lives in London. Romola has said her ideal role would be to play the eighteenth century feminist Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797). Favorite horror movie is The Blair Witch Project (1999). Plans and hopes to write screenplays and direct movies someday. Received a standing ovation at the Berlin Film Festival for her performance in Angel. Attended the National Youth Theatre. Was considered for the female lead in Good (2008), but wasn't able to do it due to schedule conflicts. Hailed by The Sunday Times Magazine as one of Britain's finest Rising Stars along with Matthew Goode, Hugh Dancy, Eddie Redmayne, Gemma Arterton, Hayley Atwell, Andrea Riseborough, Richard Coyle, Tom Sturridge, Rachel Hurd Wood, Eliza Bennet Daniel Mays and Kaya Scodelario (2009).