Sophie McShera

Biography

Sophie McShera is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Ros McCain in the fifth series of the BBC television series Waterloo Road, as Daisy Mason in the ITV television series Downton Abbey, and as Drizella Tremaine in the 2015 Disney film Cinderella.

McShera was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, into a large Irish family. Her mother is a teacher and her father is a teacher turned financial adviser. At an early age, her family moved to nearby Eccleshill, West Yorkshire, also in Bradford, where she attended St Joseph’s College.

After high school, she attended the Footsteps Theatre School before getting her stage break at the age of twelve in the comedy The Goodbye Girl. She followed this up with a stint on tour with Annie before completing her GCSEs and A-levels and going to Brunel University, London, where she earned a degree in drama.

McShera’s acting career started after university in 2007, with roles in the soap operas Emmerdale and Doctors and the drama Survivors in 2008. In 2009, she joined the regular cast of BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road, playing A-level student Ros McCain for the entirety of the fifth series. Ros’ storylines revolved around her trying to fulfil her academic potential and also questioning her sexuality. Following her departure from Waterloo Road, McShera became part of the cast of Julian Fellowes ITV costume drama Downton Abbey as Daisy, the kitchen maid.