Naomie Melanie Harris was born in Finsbury Park, London on 6th September 1976 to Lisselle Kayla, a Jamaican-born screenwriter. Harris was raised in the British capital and attended a local school before studying Pembroke College, Cambridge, for a social science degree. Yet, as early as age nine Harris was taking bit parts in film and television, in part, prompted by her mother who was in the industry.

During her time at university, it was a challenge for Harris to find her feet in academia. Years later she recalled her mother's warning that the lifestyle would be very unfamiliar. Her peers all enjoyed British 'public' school educations, whilst she was fresh from the Big Smoke.

Beyond her studies Naomie found a passion for the dramatic arts and appeared in several local productions before attending Anna Scher Theatre School. Shunning her liberal arts degree, Harris took herself to Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, whose alumni include both Moneypennys, Samantha Bond and Caroline Bliss as well as Daniel Day-Lewis, Jeremy Northam, Miranda Richardson and many other famed British actors and actresses.

Namoie appeared in "Runaway Bay" (1993), and "The Tomorrow People" (1992-5) when she was in her late teens. Her work on these now-forgotten TV dramas set her in good stead for the forthcoming Scifi/disaster film, "28 Days Later" (2002), which also starred Irishmen Cillian Murphy and Brendan Gleeson.

On the basis of her work in this well-received thriller, Harris eared a series of supporting roles in big-budget films - both British and American - during the early 2000s.

Selected Interview Quotes
"I've been driving cars and stunt fighting and yoga (to get my body really toned), firing guns, machine guns and Walter PPKs. I've done a lot of work over the last two months." - On gearing up for her stunt work in "Skyfall".

"I wanted to play roles which offered new ways of viewing black women and black people in general - and I have done that. And I have always, whether I needed to pay the rent or not, I've always turned down roles which I thought were stereotypical." - Harris on race and skincolour in Hollywood.

"I haven't been directed by a woman. I'd love to be; it would make a big difference. Often as an actress you can feel very alienated, especially if you are playing the female lead in a male-dominated cast and environment. It's very hard to feel relaxed, to feel able to express yourself and to feel that you will be heard in that kind of environment."