Joanna Christie

Joanna Lauren Christie, born on 10 April 1982 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, is an English actress and singer. At age 13, she received a music scholarship to Oundle School in Northamptonshire, where she studied flute, piano, and voice. She later relocated to London to train at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

Christie began her stage career as a member of the National Youth Theatre at 17, making an early breakthrough in the production Immaculate Conceit. In 2005, she spent a year with Kevin Spacey's Old Vic, New Voices collective, participating in the 24-hour plays at The Old Vic. The following year, she toured India for five months performing Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in Jaipur.

Her West End debut came when she was cast as Jill Mason in the 2007 revival of Peter Shaffer's Equus at the Gielgud Theatre, directed by Thea Sharrock. Christie secured the role opposite Daniel Radcliffe after competing against more than 300 other actresses for the part.

Christie made her Broadway debut in 2012, playing the role of Girl in the musical Once. Prior to landing the role, she had considered leaving acting to study anthropology at university. Her audition required her to learn two full songs on piano and three scenes in a Czech accent within 24 hours. She had previously been a member of her brother Luke's band, Luke J Christie & The Held Breath, before relocating to New York City to join the production. Christie has lived in New York since April 2013.

Her work on Once extended into a recording collaboration with Glen Hansard, who composed many of the show's songs. Christie recorded a track titled "This Gift" with Hansard, which appeared on his solo album Rhythm and Repose. On 20 April 2014, she contributed piano and vocals to a live album recorded at the Bowery Poetry Club as part of an Adam Brown and Friends performance alongside her Once castmates.

Christie also portrayed Connie Murphy, one of the lead female characters, in the Netflix television series Narcos.

Christie's mother, Sue, conducts for the Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir in Penistone and sings with The Mastersingers. Her father, Paul, was a property developer who died in 2012. Her brother Luke is a musician, singer, and songwriter.