Hayley Elizabeth Atwell (born 5 April 1982) is a British-American actress. Born and raised in London, Atwell studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and made her stage debut in the 2005 play "Prometheus Bound". She appeared in multiple West End productions and on television, was recognised for her breakthrough role as Lady Elizabeth Foster in "The Duchess" (2008), for which she was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her leading performance in the miniseries "The Pillars of the Earth" (2010) earned her a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Miniseries or Television Film.