Wissenswertes

Her eight-times great aunt is author Jane Austen.

She's twice a descendant of Mary Boleyn.

She has twice lost Colin Firth to another woman in a film. First in Stolz und Vorurteil (1995) when, as "Caroline Bingley", she loses out to Jennifer Ehle's "Elizabeth Bennet". Then, in Was Mädchen wollen (2003) as "Glynnis Payne", she loses him to Kelly Preston's "Libby Reynolds". Her bad luck when it comes to landing film hubbies apparently began in 1994's Vier Hochzeiten und ein Todesfall (1994), in which her "Henrietta" was jilted at the altar by terminal bachelor "Charles", played by actor Hugh Grant.

The niece of journalist/commentator Alexander Chancellor, and the daughter of John Chancellor with his first wife Hon. Mary Jolliffe, of the Lords Hylton (and herself a great-granddaughter of former Prime Minister H.H. Asquith). She is a cousin of actress Helena Bonham Carter (also a great-granddaughter of Asquith through his elder daughter, Violet).

She was nominated for the 1997 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role of 1996 for her performance in "Stanley".

Has been nominated twice for the Laurence Olivier award for stage performances in London's West End- Stanley and Private Lives.

Anna's father was the great-grandson (maternally) of the 12th Earl of Winchilsea & Nottingham, who was himself the son of the 10th Earl of Winchilsea & Nottingham (two separate earldoms) with his *third* wife Fanny Margaretta Rice. Fanny Rice was herself the granddaughter maternally of one Edward Knight, of Chawton, Hants, and Godmersham, Kent, whose younger sister just happened to be one Jane Austen, novelist.

Trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, but left at the age of 21 when she became pregnant with her daughter, Poppy.

She had one daughter, Poppy Chancellor, born in 1988. Her father was Scots poet Jock Scott (1952-2016). Poppy died from leukaemia on 29 September 2023 aged 36.

Once famously shocked TV hosts Richard & Judy, the TV audience, and the ITV network bosses, when she uttered the 'f' word live on This Morning (1988) whilst being interviewed.

She's a descendant of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough.

Her paternal grandfather was the managing director of Reuters.

Educated at Dorset Catholic Boarding School.