Pollyanna McIntosh

Biography

Pollyanna McIntosh, born on March 15, 1979, in Dunbartonshire, Scotland, is a multifaceted talent known for her work as an actress, director, and writer. Her family had an international upbringing, living in Portugal and Colombia before returning to Scotland. She began her performing career at the young age of 16 in London's independent film and theatre scene, working both in front of and behind the camera.   

In 2004, McIntosh moved to Los Angeles, where she directed the stage production "The Woolgatherer." Her first credited film role came in 2005 with "Headspace." She gained recognition for her performances in films like "Exam" (2009), for which she received BAFTA and British Independent Film Award nominations, and the horror films "Offspring" (2009) and "The Woman" (2011), earning a Fangoria Chainsaw Award nomination for the latter.   

McIntosh's career diversified as she took on television roles, including "M.I. High," "Bob Servant Independent," and a memorable turn as the psychopathic Angel in "Hap and Leonard." However, she achieved wider international fame for her portrayal of Jadis (also known as Anne) in the AMC series "The Walking Dead" (2017-2018) and its spin-offs, "The Walking Dead: World Beyond" (2021) and "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live" (2024). She also played Queen Ælfgifu of Denmark in the Netflix series "Vikings: Valhalla" (2022-2024) and voiced Kris in the animated series "Scavengers Reign" (2023).   

Adding another dimension to her career, McIntosh wrote and directed the social issue horror film "Darlin'" (2019), a sequel to "The Woman," which premiered at South by Southwest. She also directed a segment in the anthology film "Deathcember" (2019) and the short film "Quicksand" (2023).

Beyond acting and directing, McIntosh has also worked as a model and is involved with the Joshua Nolan Foundation, a mental health charity. She was married to actor Grant Show from 2004 to 2011 and married actor Bobcat Goldthwait in 2024. With a career spanning various genres and roles, Pollyanna McIntosh has established herself as a dynamic and respected figure in the entertainment industry.