Pollyanna McIntosh

Pollyanna McIntosh is a Scottish actress and filmmaker. She is widely recognized for her performances across feature films, television series, and voice acting, as well as for her work Behind the camera as a writer and director.

Born in Dunbartonshire, Scotland, McIntosh spent parts of her early childhood in Portugal, Edinburgh, and Colombia due to her father's career transition from acting to international business. She completed her secondary education at St. George's School for Girls in Edinburgh.

McIntosh began her acting career at the age of 16 in London, participating in independent theater and film projects as both a performer and director. She relocated to Los Angeles in 2004, where she directed a theatrical production of The Woolgatherer. The following year, she made her feature film acting debut in the 2005 release Headspace.

Her breakthrough came with key roles in major independent films. She gained prominent recognition for her performance in the 2009 thriller Exam, followed by her starring role in the 2011 film The Woman. Subsequent film projects include the 2014 title Let Us Prey. In 2019, McIntosh made her feature directorial and screenwriting debut with the social issue horror film Darlin', in which she also starred, following its premiere at the South-by-Southwest festival.

On television, McIntosh appeared as Angel in the first season of Hap and Leonard in 2016. She gained widespread audience recognition starring as Jadis, also known as Anne, in The Walking Dead franchise from 2017 to 2024. Her later television credits include portraying Queen Ælfgifu of Denmark in Vikings: Valhalla starting in 2022, and providing the voice for the character Kris in the 2023 animated series Scavengers Reign.

Over the course of her career, McIntosh has earned several award nominations. For Exam, she received nominations for Best Work of a Rookie at the BAFTA Awards and the Raindance Award at the British Independent Film Awards. Her role in The Woman earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. In addition to her entertainment work, she has worked in the fashion industry and supports the Joshua Nolan Foundation, a charity focused on young people.