If you’ve seen Peaky Blinders, you know Ada Thorne—the Shelby sister who holds her own in a family of gangsters. The actress behind that fierce character, Sophie Rundle, has built a career that stretches from the Titanic mini-series to Gentleman Jack, all while keeping her personal life mostly out of the spotlight.
Born: 21 April 1988 ·
Age: 36 (as of 2024) ·
Partner: Matt Stokoe ·
Children: Yes (at least one) ·
Known for: Ada Thorne in Peaky Blinders
Quick snapshot
- Born 21 April 1988 (IMDb (film database))
- Played Ada Thorne in Peaky Blinders (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- In a relationship with Matt Stokoe (HELLO! Magazine (celebrity news outlet))
- Has at least one child (People (entertainment magazine))
- Graduated from RADA in 2011 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Exact number of children
- Official marriage status
- Specific details about her education timeline
- Net worth
- Children’s names
- Whether she is married or engaged (publicly unconfirmed)
- 2012: First TV role in Titanic (People (entertainment magazine))
- 2013-2022: Portrayed Ada Thorne in Peaky Blinders (TV Insider (TV guide))
- 2017: Starred in Jamestown with Matt Stokoe (HELLO! Magazine (celebrity news outlet))
- 2024: Reprising role in Peaky Blinders film (BBC Media Centre (UK broadcaster))
- Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man film (2024/2025)
- Continued work in television and film
- Bone Garden Films production company with Matt Stokoe
Six key facts about Sophie Rundle, one pattern: her career has been steady and varied, from period dramas to thrillers, without a single breakout overshadowing the rest.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Sophie Rundle |
| Date of birth | 21 April 1988 |
| Place of birth | Bournemouth, England |
| Partner | Matt Stokoe |
| Children | Yes (number unconfirmed) |
| Notable role | Ada Thorne – Peaky Blinders |
Does Sophie Rundle have a child?
Yes, Sophie Rundle has at least one child, and likely two. She welcomed her first son over the Easter weekend in 2021, according to HELLO! Magazine (celebrity news outlet). In June 2024, she gave birth to her second son, as reported by the same outlet. The couple keeps their sons’ names private and intentionally shares photos without showing their faces.
Who is Matt Stokoe?
- Matt Stokoe is an English actor (IMDb (film database))
- He met Sophie Rundle on the set of Jamestown in 2016 (HELLO! Magazine)
- The couple got engaged in 2019 (People (entertainment magazine))
- They co-founded Bone Garden Films (Schön! Magazine (fashion and culture magazine))
The implication: Rundle’s personal life is deliberately private, but the timeline of meeting Stokoe on set and building a family together is well-documented.
Who dated Sophie Rundle?
- Sophie Rundle has been in a public relationship with Matt Stokoe since at least 2016 (HELLO! Magazine)
- No other romantic partners have been publicly confirmed
What this means: Rundle has kept her dating history out of the press, and the only confirmed relationship is with Stokoe.
Sophie Rundle balances a high-profile career with a family life she guards closely. The result: fans know her on-screen characters far better than her off-screen role as a mother and partner.
Did they change Ada actress in Peaky Blinders?
No. Sophie Rundle has portrayed Ada Thorne (later Ada Shelby) throughout all six seasons of Peaky Blinders, from 2013 to 2022, as confirmed by IMDb (film database). She will reprise the role in the upcoming film Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. No actress change occurred for Ada.
Are any Peaky Blinders cast members Irish?
- Several cast members are Irish or of Irish descent, including Cillian Murphy (Irish) and Helen McCrory (English-born but of Irish descent)
- Sophie Rundle is English, not Irish (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
The pattern: the show’s setting in Birmingham’s Irish community attracted actors from various backgrounds, but Rundle’s own nationality is English.
Who did Sophie Rundle play in Titanic?
In the 2012 TV mini-series Titanic, Sophie Rundle played Roberta Maioni, a character based on a real first-class passenger. This was one of her early notable roles, as reported by IMDb (film database).
The trade-off: while Titanic gave her an early break, it was Peaky Blinders that made her a household name.
What is Sophie Rundle’s most popular role?
Her most famous role is Ada Thorne in Peaky Blinders, a part she played for nine years. The BBC describes her character as “the sister of the Peaky Blinder boys” and a “feral wild child” (BBC Media Centre (UK broadcaster)). She has also gained recognition for roles in Gentleman Jack (as Ann Walker), The Bodyguard, and Jamestown (TV Insider (TV guide)).
Why this matters: Rundle’s range from period drama to political thriller shows she’s not a one-role actress, even if Ada Thorne remains her defining part.
For viewers who only know Rundle from Peaky Blinders, Gentleman Jack offers a completely different register—she plays Ann Walker, a gentle foil to Suranne Jones’s Anne Lister. The contrast is striking.
What this means: Rundle’s range extends beyond gangsters to historical romance, proving her adaptability.
Why was Grace removed from Peaky Blinders?
Grace Shelby (played by Annabelle Wallis) was killed off in Season 3 as a narrative decision by the show’s creator Steven Knight. Her death was intended to shake the Shelby family and propel the storyline forward (BBC Media Centre (UK broadcaster)). Sophie Rundle’s character Ada was affected by Grace’s death, as the two had a complex relationship.
The implication: removing a major character allowed the writers to deepen the family dynamics, and Ada’s role grew as a consequence.
Timeline
- 2012 – Portrayed Roberta Maioni in TV mini-series Titanic (IMDb (film database))
- 2013 – Began role as Ada Thorne in Peaky Blinders (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- 2017 – Starred in Jamestown alongside Matt Stokoe (HELLO! Magazine (celebrity news outlet))
- 2018 – Appeared in BBC’s The Bodyguard (TV Insider (TV guide))
- 2022 – Peaky Blinders series concluded
- 2024 – Set to reprise role in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man (People (entertainment magazine))
What this means: Rundle’s career has built steadily from early mini-series to long-running series, with a focus on period dramas.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Sophie Rundle was born 21 April 1988 (IMDb (film database))
- She played Ada Thorne in Peaky Blinders (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- She played Roberta Maioni in Titanic (2012) (People (entertainment magazine))
- She is in a relationship with Matt Stokoe (HELLO! Magazine (celebrity news outlet))
- She has at least one child (HELLO! Magazine)
- She will reprise role in upcoming Peaky Blinders film (People (entertainment magazine))
What’s unclear
- Exact number of children
- Official marriage status
- Specific details about her education timeline
- Net worth
- Children’s names
- Whether she is married or engaged (publicly unconfirmed)
The pattern: The confirmed facts outweigh the unclear ones, giving a solid foundation for understanding Rundle’s public persona.
“Ada is the sister of the Peaky Blinder boys” and described her as a “feral wild child.”
— Sophie Rundle, speaking to BBC Media Centre (UK broadcaster)
Sophie Rundle is an English actress best known for playing Ada Shelby/Ada Thorne in Peaky Blinders, as noted by IMDb (film database).
For fans of Peaky Blinders, the upcoming film will be a chance to see Ada Thorne once more, and for Rundle, it’s a return to the role that defined her career. The question is whether she can balance family life with the demands of a major film production. For the actress, the choice is clear: continue building a legacy on screen while protecting the private world she’s built with Matt Stokoe and their children.
Related reading: **Polly Walker: Biography, Spouse, Children & Career Facts** · **MyAnna Buring: Biography, Ethnicity, Languages, and Height**
peaky-blinders.fandom.com, youtube.com, people.com, youtube.com, facebook.com, alexmoreland.co.uk, unelmatrip.fi
Fans of the actress can explore Sophie Rundles biography for a detailed look at her career and personal life.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Sophie Rundle?
Born 21 April 1988, she is 36 as of 2024.
What movies and TV shows has Sophie Rundle appeared in?
Notable TV includes Peaky Blinders, Gentleman Jack, The Bodyguard, Jamestown, and the mini-series Titanic.
Is Sophie Rundle active on social media?
She maintains a relatively low profile on social media, sharing occasional posts but not engaging heavily.
What is Sophie Rundle’s net worth?
Her net worth is not publicly known, but given her steady TV work, it is estimated in the range of £1-3 million by various unverified sources.
Does Sophie Rundle have any upcoming projects?
She is set to reprise her role as Ada Thorne in the upcoming Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man film.
Freddie Clarke is Senior Reporter at WordPatch.co.uk, covering writing, language, publishing, books, digital culture and entertainment stories for UK audiences.