Tilly Keeper
Birth nameMatilda Elizabeth Keeper
Birth date16 August 1997 (age 29)
Birth placeChislehurst, Bromley, England
EducationBromley High School
OccupationActress
Years active2004–present[1]

Matilda Elizabeth Keeper (born 16 August 1997)[2] is an English actress. From 2016 to 2020, she portrayed Louise Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. After her exit from the soap, she starred as Helen in the BBC film Make Me Famous (2020), and has since played Lady Phoebe Borehall-Blaxworth in the Netflix series You (2023–2025) and Darcy Pike in the Channel 4 sitcom Queenie (2024).

Early life

Keeper was born in Chislehurst, in the London Borough of Bromley. She was premature, born at just 33 weeks old,[3] to Peter Keeper, one of the Spitting Image writers, and Amanda.[4] Keeper also has two brothers.[5] She attended the D&B Academy of Performing Arts in Bromley for 14 years.[6] From the age of 4, Keeper took ballet lessons, before joining their agency at the age of 7.[7][8][9] Keeper attended Bromley High School.[10]

Career

Keeper began her career in 2004 when she made appearances in television advertisements. She then made her debut stage appearance in a production of Dick Whittington. Her television debut was as an uncredited school student in an episode of the ITV procedural drama The Bill.[1] She then appeared in a theatre production of Oliver from March to July 2009, where she played a member of the Sovereign's team.[11] In 2014, she appeared as a dancer in the film Cuban Fury, and later appeared in an Oral-B advert and the 2015 short film Female Dog.[12] In 2016, Keeper made her television debut in an episode of the CBBC series Millie Inbetween.[13]

In December 2015, Keeper was cast in the role of Louise Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders,[14][15] appearing from 15 January 2016.[16] Her storylines have included her father Phil's (Steve McFadden) alcoholism, being in a bus crash, getting caught in a fire causing her to have permanent burns, her mother's mental health issues, getting kidnapped, and becoming pregnant with Keanu Taylor's (Danny Walters) child. In December 2019, it was announced that Keeper had made the decision to depart from EastEnders, with her final scenes airing on 24 January 2020.[17][18][19] In April 2020, it was announced that Keeper would star in the BBC Three film Make Me Famous as Helen Cott.[20][21] On her casting, she stated: "I'm thrilled to be a part of this project. It's a really important story that I think we could all learn something from."[20]

In 2021, she co-starred in the short film True Colours alongside Amy-Leigh Hickman.[22] She then starred in the short film Do This For Me as Kat.[23] In June 2021, it was announced that Keeper would star as Emily in the British psychological thriller Marooned Awakening.[24] Principal photography took place on the island of Guernsey in September 2021. The film premiered in September 2022.[25] In 2022, it was announced that Keeper had been cast as Lady Phoebe in the fourth series of the Netflix series You.[26] A year later, she was announced as a main cast member for the Channel 4 drama series Queenie.[27] In 2025, she reprised her role as Lady Phoebe for the fifth and final series of You.[28]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008The BillSchool Girl1 episode
2011Let's Dance for Comic ReliefDancerTelevision special[1]
2014Cuban FuryDancerFeature film
2015Female DogGraceShort film
2016Millie InbetweenChrissieEpisode: "Loved Up"
2016–2020EastEndersLouise MitchellMain role[1]
2017The One ShowHerselfGuest appearance
2018Children in NeedPrincess JasmineTelevision special
2019This MorningHerselfGuest appearance
2020Make Me FamousHelen CottTelevision film[29]
2021True ColoursChloeShort film
Do This For MeKat
2022Marooned AwakeningEmilyFeature film
R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the DamnedCharlotte PulsipherDirect-to-video film
2023–2025YouLady Phoebe Borehall-BlaxworthMain role (series 4); guest role (series 5)
2024QueenieDarcy PikeMain role

Stage

YearTitleRoleRef.
2005Dick WhittingtonBabe[1]
2006Snow White and the Seven DwarfsBabe[1]
2009OliverWorkhouse Child[1]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef(s)
2016TV Choice AwardsBest Soap NewcomerEastEnders[30]
2016TV Times AwardsFavourite NewcomerEastEnders[31]
2016Inside Soap AwardsBest NewcomerEastEnders[32]
2017National Television AwardsNewcomerEastEnders[33]
2023National Film Awards UKBest Supporting Actress in a TV SeriesYou[34]

References

  1. ^ "Tilly Keeper". Insight. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. ^ Dyer, Danny (16 August 2016). "Happy birthday to the lovable sweet talented @tillykeeper last year of ya teens kid. Have a beautiful day babe. ❤️❤️❤️❤️". No. 765478372562665472.
  3. ^ "Young Chislehurst actress set to join cast of EastEnders". News Shopper. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  4. ^ Welch, Tricia (1 October 2017). "EastEnders actress Tilly Keeper on fashion secrets". Daily Express. Archived 31 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  5. ^ Brown, David (28 March 2018). "EastEnders star Tilly Keeper on Louise Mitchell's showdown with Abi Branning – "She has a nose for mischief"". Archived 27 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  6. ^ May, Luke. "Bromley teenager lands role in BBC soap opera". Bromley Times. Archived 2 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  7. ^ "EastEnders welcomes Tilly Keeper". D&B Academy of Performing Arts. 2015. Archived 22 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  8. ^ Brown, Therryl (18 December 2015). "Young Chislehurst actress set to join cast of EastEnders". News Shopper. Archived 18 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Local girl secures key role in EastEnders". Visit Chislehurst. 2015. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Alumnae Catch Up". Bromley High School. 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Oliver Revival Cast". London Musical Online. 2008. Archived 19 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Tilly Keeper D&B". D&B Academy of Performing Arts. 2016. Archived 27 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Millie Inbetween Loved Up credits". CBBC. 2016. Archived 6 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  14. ^ Dainty, Sophie (16 December 2015). "Here comes trouble: Phil Mitchell's feisty daughter Louise is returning to EastEnders next year". Digital Spy. Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  15. ^ Walker, Danny (2016). "Louise Mitchell returns to EastEnders but won't be the only family member welcomed back to Walford". The Mirror. Archived 16 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  16. ^ "15/01/2016, EastEnders - BBC One". BBC. Archived 16 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  17. ^ McCreesh, Louise (3 December 2019). "EastEnders confirms Louise Mitchell exit as Tilly Keeper bows out". Digital Spy. Archived 3 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  18. ^ Patterson, Stephen (3 December 2019). "EastEnders spoilers: Louise to exit as Tilly Keeper leaves the soap". Metro. Archived 3 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  19. ^ Harp, Justin (24 January 2020). "EastEnders airs Louise Mitchell exit scenes as Tilly Keeper leaves soap". Digital Spy. Archived 24 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  20. ^ Patterson, Stephen (2 April 2020). "Tilly Keeper's first role since leaving EastEnders revealed". Metro. Archived 4 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Grantchester's Tom Brittney to play lead role in BBC Three drama Make Me Famous". Belfast Telegraph. 1 April 2020. Archived 10 April 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  22. ^ "True Colours". Milda Films. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  23. ^ Keeper, Tilly. ""Do This For Me" by @april_kelley wonderful people and a wonderful project to have been a part of!". Instagram. Archived 24 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  24. ^ Grobar, Matt (28 January 2022). "Thrillers 'Marooned Awakening', 'American Trash' And 'Deadly Games' Set Casts; Gravitas Acquires 'The Other Me' From EP David Lynch And Horror Pic 'Tethered'; More – Film Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Blackadder actor in Guernsey film". Guernsey Press. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  26. ^ Kitson, Calli. "EastEnders star Tilly Keeper 'to join' Netflix's You". Metro. (DMG Media). Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Queenie and cast revealed for new Channel 4 and Disney's Onyx Collective drama series". Channel 4. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  28. ^ "Every star who makes a surprise return for the final episodes of Netflix's You". Digital Spy. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  29. ^ "Meet the cast of reality TV drama Make Me Famous". Radio Times. Archived 10 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  30. ^ "TV Choice Awards longlist voting begins". BBC. 17 May 2016. Archived 21 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  31. ^ "TV Times Awards – Favourite Newcomer". What's on TV. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  32. ^ "Inside Soap Awards 2-2016". Archived 26 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  33. ^ "National Television Awards 2017". BBC. 11 October 2016. Archived 12 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  34. ^ Joseph, Sara (17 May 2023). "Nominations for the 9th annual National Film Awards are announced". National Film Academy. Archived 1 May 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 May 2024.