Sophie McShera

Sophie McShera (born 1 January 1985) is an English actress. She is best known for playing 6th Form student Ros McCain in the fifth series (2009-2010) of BBC drama Waterloo Road and for playing kitchen maid Daisy Mason in Golden Globe winning period drama Downton Abbey. Early life and education McShera was born and raised in Holme Wood, Bradford into a large Irish family. 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. Career 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 school drama 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. The show has attracted critical and popular success. McShera, alongside Hugh Bonneville, made a personal thank you to the audience after Downton Abbey won Most Popular TV Drama at the 2012 National TV Awards. In 2013 McShera played Job Centre regular Byrony in ITV sitcom The Job Lot. She will return to the role in series two which will air on ITV2. McShera will star in Disney's 2015 film, Cinderella as Drizella Tremaine.