Ellie Heydon is a British actress and filmmaker whose career has developed across acting, directing and producing. She first gained screen attention as Anne Pettifer in the period drama Harlots, before moving increasingly into directing. Her later work includes directing episodes of Trying, Dreamland, Outrageous and the fourth season of Ted Lasso.
Heydon has also built a body of short-form work, including Pelicans, Fred Forever and Pragma. Her career reflects a move from performing in front of the camera toward creating and directing stories of her own.
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Ellie Heydon |
| Profession | Actress, Director, Executive Producer |
| Nationality | British |
| Known For | Harlots, Trying, Dreamland, Outrageous, Ted Lasso |
| Acting Breakthrough | Anne Pettifer in Harlots (2017–2019) |
| Directing Work | Trying, Dreamland, Outrageous, Ted Lasso, Tommy & Tuppence |
| Education | Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; Northumbria University* |
| Birth Date | Not reliably verified |
| Birthplace | London, England* |
| Spouse | Phil Dunster |
| Years Active | 2010s–present |
| Notable Voice Work | Elden Ring, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Baldur's Gate III |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
Early Life & Background
Publicly available information about Ellie Heydon's childhood and family background is limited. A biographical database describes her as British and gives London as her birthplace, but major entertainment references such as IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes do not publish a verified date of birth. For that reason, an exact birth date or age is not included here.
Heydon has discussed her early ambitions in an interview, explaining that she originally expected to study modern languages before discovering that acting offered another way to explore communication, people and different worlds. She subsequently trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Education
Heydon studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where she completed a BA (Hons) in acting. A biographical source also reports that she studied at Northumbria University and received the English Speaking Union Scholarship for Achievement in Shakespeare. Those details are not listed in the major entertainment databases, so they are best treated as secondary-source information rather than the foundation of her biography.
During her time at drama school, Heydon became involved in theatre and later helped establish the theatre company Siberian Lights with fellow Royal Welsh College graduates. In an interview after graduation, she described herself as both an actor and director and spoke about the company's work and her interest in the creative process behind productions.
Acting Career
Heydon's best-known early television role was Anne Pettifer in the Hulu period drama Harlots. She appeared in the series from 2017 to 2019, with IMDb crediting her across 21 episodes.
She subsequently appeared in the short films The Colour of Spring and Divertimento, playing Julia and Helen respectively. IMDb also credits her with voice performances in several major video games, including Elden Ring, A Plague Tale: Requiem, The DioField Chronicle, Edengate: The Edge of Life and Baldur's Gate III.
These credits demonstrate that Heydon's acting work has extended beyond conventional television and film into voice performance for interactive entertainment.
Directing Career
Directing has become an increasingly prominent part of Heydon's career.
Her directing credits include the Apple TV+ comedy-drama Trying, for which she directed all eight episodes of the fourth season in 2024. The season premiered on May 22, 2024, and episode credits confirm Heydon as director.
She also directed episodes of Dreamland, the British comedy series starring Lily Allen and Freema Agyeman. Her work on the series formed part of a growing television directing résumé that included both comedy and drama.
In 2025, Heydon co-directed Outrageous, the BBC Studios/UKTV and BritBox drama about the Mitford sisters, alongside Joss Agnew. Firebird Pictures officially lists Heydon among the show's two directors.
Directing Ted Lasso
One of Heydon's most visible recent directing assignments is Ted Lasso. IMDb lists her as director of an episode in the show's fourth season, while recent entertainment coverage reports that she directed two episodes of the new season.
The connection is particularly notable because Heydon's husband, actor Phil Dunster, was a major cast member of the original Ted Lasso run, playing Jamie Tartt. Dunster discussed Heydon's involvement with the fourth season in a 2026 Esquire interview, referring to her as his wife and saying that directing the show gave her a perspective on the series from a different position.
The fourth season premiered in August 2026 and introduced a new chapter for the Apple TV+ comedy.
Short Films and Producing
Heydon has also directed and produced short-form projects. Her credits include Pelicans, Fred Forever, Pragma and Safe Word. IMDb lists her as director of these projects and as a producer on Pelicans and Safe Word.
Her production company and representation materials describe her short films as female-led stories with a mixture of comedy and darker themes. Pragma, starring Nick Mohammed and Phil Dunster, was selected for the Tribeca Film Festival, according to Snapper Films.
This short-film work has been an important part of Heydon's development as a filmmaker, allowing her to create original material alongside her television directing assignments.
Personal Life
Ellie Heydon is married to English actor Phil Dunster, best known for playing Jamie Tartt in Ted Lasso. The couple had been together for several years before announcing their engagement in 2024. Dunster confirmed their marriage in 2026, and he has publicly referred to Heydon as his wife.
The couple also work in the same creative industry. Heydon directed part of Ted Lasso's fourth season while Dunster's character had been central to the show's first three seasons. Dunster told Esquire that Heydon's directing role made the production particularly meaningful to their shared professional history.
Beyond their professional connection, the pair generally keep their private life relatively low-key.
Net Worth
There is no credible, independently verified public estimate of Ellie Heydon's personal net worth. Online figures that assign her a specific fortune are not supported by sufficiently authoritative financial sources, so no net-worth figure is included.
Interesting Facts About Ellie Heydon
- Ellie Heydon is both an actress and director, with credits spanning television, short films and video games.
- Her television acting breakthrough came with the role of Anne Pettifer in Harlots.
- She directed all eight episodes of Trying season four in 2024.
- Heydon co-directed the 2025 period drama Outrageous, about the Mitford sisters.
- She has directed short films including Pelicans, Fred Forever and Pragma.
- Heydon is married to actor Phil Dunster, who played Jamie Tartt in Ted Lasso.
- Her acting credits include voice work in games such as Elden Ring and Baldur's Gate III.
FAQs
Who is Ellie Heydon?
Ellie Heydon is a British actress, director and filmmaker. She is known for acting in Harlots, The Colour of Spring and Divertimento, as well as directing television series including Trying, Dreamland, Outrageous and Ted Lasso.
What is Ellie Heydon known for?
Heydon initially became known as an actress through Harlots. She has since become increasingly recognized for directing, particularly for her work on Trying, Outrageous and Ted Lasso.
Did Ellie Heydon act in Harlots?
Yes. Heydon played Anne Pettifer in Harlots, appearing across the series between 2017 and 2019.
What shows has Ellie Heydon directed?
Her television directing credits include Trying, Dreamland, Outrageous and Ted Lasso. She directed eight episodes of Trying season four.
Is Ellie Heydon married?
Yes. Ellie Heydon is married to actor Phil Dunster, who is best known for playing Jamie Tartt in Ted Lasso. Dunster referred to Heydon as his wife in a 2026 interview.
Did Ellie Heydon direct Ted Lasso?
Yes. Heydon directed episodes of the fourth season of Ted Lasso. Recent coverage reported that she directed two episodes, while IMDb credits her as a director on the season.
What video games has Ellie Heydon worked on?
Her voice-acting credits include Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate III, A Plague Tale: Requiem, The DioField Chronicle and Edengate: The Edge of Life.
Conclusion
Ellie Heydon has built a varied career that began with acting and expanded into directing and producing. Her role in Harlots introduced her to television audiences, while projects such as Trying, Outrageous and Ted Lasso have established her increasingly as a television director.
Her short films and voice-acting work add further range to her résumé. With directing now a central part of her career, Heydon has developed a profile that extends well beyond her early work as an actress.
