Early life
Friel was born in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the daughter of Julie, a special needs teacher, and Des Friel, a former teacher of French and owner of a web design company. Friel's Irish Catholic father, a former folk guitarist, was born in Belfast, County Down, Northern Ireland, and grew up in Donegal, Ireland. Her brother Michael starred in Hovis television adverts.
She attended Crompton House Church of England High School, in High Crompton, Shaw and Crompton. She then attended Holy Cross College in Bury.
She started off her Training at Oldham Theatre Workshop where she met Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton.
Personal life
In 2001, Friel began a relationship with actor David Thewlis, whom she met on a flight to Cannes. Their daughter, Gracie Ellen Mary Friel, was born on 9 July 2005 at Portland Hospital in London. In December 2010, Friel and Thewlis ended their relationship. She began dating fellow actor Rhys Ifans, with whom she acted in the SyFy mini series, Neverland, in 2011.
In 2008, Friel began supporting the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign in support of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
Also read : Anna Friel Wallpapers and Pictures
