Hanako Footman

Hanako Footman is an English actress and writer. On television, starred in the BBC Two sitcom Defending the Guilty (2018–2019). Her debut novel Mongrel was published in 2024.^[1]

Born27 April 1994 (age 31)

Wimbledon, London, England

AlmamaterLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

OccupationsActress, writer

Yearsactive2011–present

Quick facts Born, Alma mater ...

Hanako Footman
Born	(1994-04-27) 27 April 1994 (age 31) Wimbledon, London, England
Alma mater	London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupations	Actress, writer
Years active	2011–present

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Early life and education

Hanako Footman was born to a Japanese mother and an English-Irish father^[2] and grew up in Wimbledon, South London.^[3] She has two sisters; her sister Erika is a musician.^[4]

Footman took a year-long foundation course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).^[4]

Career

Acting

Footman made her television debut as Isabella in an episode of the 2012 ITV miniseries The Town. She starred in the 2015 production of Thyestes at the Courtyard Theatre, London and Modern Love, which was put on in 2016 at the Pleasance in London followed by a run at the Etcetera Theatre in Camden.^[5]

She returned to television in 2017 when she guest-starred as Lily in a season 2 episode of the Netflix historical drama The Crown, titled "A Company of Men". She also made her feature film debut in the indie horror An American Exorcism.^{[citation needed]}

The following year, Footman appeared in the comedy horror film Slaughterhouse Rulez and starred in the lead role of Pia in the BBC Two sitcom Defending the Guilty; the rest of the series aired in 2019.^[6] Also in 2019, she had film roles as Nicole Mowbray in Gavin Hood's Official Secrets and Ruby in Jason Lei Howden's action-comedy Guns Akimbo.^[7] She made guest appearances in the E4 sitcom Dead Pixels and the Amazon Prime thriller Absentia, and appeared in the Icelandic series Stella Blómkvist.^[8]

In 2022, Footman originated the character Devon in Theresa Rebeck's play Mad House for its David Harbour-led world premiere and run at the Ambassadors Theatre, marking Footman's West End debut.^[9] She then appeared in Not Yet Midnight, of the three translated plays featured in the Royal Court Theatre's New Plays: Japan presentation in January 2023.^[10]^[11]

Writing

Footman's debut novel Mongrel was longlisted for the 2021 Mo Siewcharran Prize and was published in February 2024 by Footnote Press.^[12] It was then shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize.^[13] It was also longlisted for the Polari Prize in the First Book category.^[14] Footman was one of several authors to withdraw her book from the Prize to protest the inclusion of John Boyne over his anti-transgender views.^[15]

Footman has a forthcoming untitled young adult (YA) occult novel, set for a 2027 publication date via Doubleday.^[16]

Personal life

Footman is in a relationship with fellow actor Jack Farthing, who also appeared in the film Official Secrets.^[17]