Sofia Barclay

Sofia Barclay, of British and Indian descent, was born in central London.^[1][2] With an elder sister, Jenna Zoe,^[3] and a younger brother, Andrew, their parents are Aidan Barclay, former chairperson of the Telegraph Media Group, and his wife Ferzana ("Fizzy"); she is in turn a granddaughter of the late billionaire Sir David Barclay.^[4][5]

Barclay attended Francis Holland School on Graham Terrace, and Westminster School^[2] for sixth form. She later took classes at the Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York City, performing in the school's 2009 showcase.^[6][7] At one point, Barclay and her brother were the registered co-owners of the building housing The Spectator, one of their family's holdings.^[8]

Initially credited as Sofia Stuart, Barclay began her career with a made-for-television film, Witchville.^[9] She pursued a range of theatrical opportunities across the UK, including fringe theatre in London and Edinburgh, Shakespeare in pub-theatres, and plays for children at the Soho Theatre.^[10] She played Desdemona in the 2012 Jack Studio Brockley production of Othello,^[11] receiving critical acclaim for her performance.^[12][13][14] She went on the 2014 tour with The Two Worlds of Charlie F and had further theatre roles as Anna in Future Conditional at the Old Vic in 2015^[15] and Nathalie in Mosquitoes at the National Theatre in 2017.^[16]

In 2018 and 2019, Barclay played Selina in the BBC Two legal sitcom Defending the Guilty^[17][18] and Alisha in the Hampstead Theatre production of Everyday I Make Greatness Happen,^[19] had a small role in the film In Darkness, and was cast as Adela Zal in a pilot for a potential NYPD Blue spin-off series on ABC.^[20] Barclay had recurring roles as Zarina in the 2021 Channel 4 sitcom We Are Lady Parts^[21][22] and Dr. O'Sullivan, Roy Kent's (Brett Goldstein) sister, in the second and third seasons of the Apple TV+ sports comedy Ted Lasso.^[23] She originated the role of Maya in The Collaboration at the Young Vic in 2022.^[24]

Her film work includes credits spanning psychological thriller, drama, and romantic comedy. She appeared in Julian Jarrold's Sulphur and White^[25] and featured in the romantic comedy Love Again alongside Priyanka Chopra.^[1] Notably, Barclay voiced Malala Windsor/Spider-UK in the Marvel animated blockbuster Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.^[26]

In July 2024, it was announced Barclay would star in a Lynley revival for BritBox and BBC One, playing Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, with Leo Suter as Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley. The four-episode first series was streamed on BritBox in 2025, and then aired on BBC One in 2026.^[27][28] Also, in 2025, Barclay played Safiya Zamil, a guest role in the Apple TV+ thriller Prime Target.^[29] In 2026, Barclay was noted as filming a second season of Lynley in Ireland.^[30]