Dolly Wells

• Birth Name — Dorothy Perpetua Gatacre • Born — 5 December 1971 • Birthplace — Merton, London, England • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1997–present • Parents — John Wells • Relatives — * Christopher Chancellor (maternal grandfather) • Anna Chancellor (cousin) • Children — 2

Wells was born Dorothy Gatacre, in Merton, London, on 5 December 1971, the youngest of six children. She is the daughter of comic actor John Wells and Teresa Chancellor, daughter of Sir Christopher Chancellor, general manager of Reuters from 1944 to 1959. Wells grew up thinking her father was her stepfather, and did not find out he was her biological father until she was eighteen. She later changed her name from Gatacre—her mother's first husband was Edward Gatacre—to Wells. Her first cousin is the actress Anna Chancellor. She was educated in a Catholic convent school, after failing the entrance exam for St Paul's. While trying to build an acting career, she worked as a journalist at the Evening Standard and as a book reviewer.

Wells married photographer Mischa Richter in 2000. They have a daughter, Elsie (b. 2002) and a son, Ezra (b. 2005). Both appeared with their mother in Doll & Em. In 2020, Wells and Richter divorced.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1997 — The Bill — Janet James — 1 episode • 1998 — Dinnerladies — Hannah • Midsomer Murders — Ava Rokeby • 1999 — In the Name of Love — Helen Walters — TV film • Goodnight Sweetheart — Celia Johnson — 1 episode • 2000 — Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes — Elspeth Scott • 2002 — The Gathering Storm — Sarah Churchill — TV film • Bertie and Elizabeth — Princess Mary • 2003–2008 — Peep Show — Paula — 2 episodes • 2004 — The Final Quest — Anthea — TV film • Sex Traffic — Sarah • Murphy's Law — Susan Green — 1 episode • 2006 — Doctors — Claire Morris • 2006–2008 — Star Stories — Various characters — 12 episodes • 2007 — The Mighty Boosh — Methuselah — 1 episode • 2007–2010 — The IT Crowd — Miranda / Paula — 2 episodes • 2009 — Comedy Showcase — Lydia Tennant — 1 episode • Free Agents — Sarah Stephens — 3 episodes • 2009–2011 — Campus — Lydia Tennant — 7 episodes • 2011–2012 — Spy — Judith Elliot — 16 episodes • 2012 — Starlings — Annika — 1 episode • Casualty — Josie Betts • Pramface — Ante-natal Instructress • 2012–2014 — Some Girls — Anna Hitchcock — 18 episodes • Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy — Various characters — 9 episodes • 2014–2015 — Doll & Em — Dolly — 12 episodes; also creator, writer, associate producer • 2015–2016 — Blunt Talk — Celia Havemeyer — 20 episodes • 2016 — Younger — Stephanie — 1 episode • 2018 — Portlandia — Dolly Wells • Room 104 — Catherine • 2020 — Dracula — Sister Agatha Van Helsing / Dr. Zoe Van Helsing — Miniseries • Soulmates — Jennifer — 1 episode • 2021 — The Pursuit of Love — Aunt Sadie — 3 episodes • Around the World in 80 Days — Estella — 1 episode • 2021–2022 — The Outlaws — Margaret — 11 episodes • 2022 — Inside Man — Janice Fife — Miniseries • 2023–2025 — And Just Like That... — Joy — 12 episodes • 2024 — Here We Go — Penny — 1 episode • The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin — Eliza Bean — 5 episodes • Hacks — Laurie — 1 episode • 2026 — Two Weeks in August — Flick — TV Series

The authorities additionally record the heading Dorothy Perpetua Wells. Her recorded language was English. She was the child of John Wells and Teresa Chancellor.

Dolly Wells is recorded as actress, screenwriter and film director.