The Fortune's Eleanor Tomlinson: Split with Poldark co-star, marriage to rugby player husband, and famous family
The red-head is back on our screens in a Channel 5 thriller
Eleanor Tomlinson leads the cast of Channel 5 thriller The Fortune this month, and it’s not unusual for TV viewers to see her in the spotlight – after all, she was practically born into showbusiness.
The actress made her name playing fiery redhead Demelza in the BBC period drama Poldark… And she hasn’t looked back since the show came to an end in 2019. Eleanor has subsequently proved herself in comedy, steamy thrillers, and films.
And in the past seven years, she’s married her sportsmen husband, and had their first child together. Talk about over-achieving! Here’s Eleanor Tomlinson’s life and career unpacked, including her famous ex-boyfriend, new partner, and celebrity family.
Who plays Amanda Blakefield in The Fortune?
London-born Eleanor Tomlinson stars as protagonist Amanda Blakefield in The Fortune. Amanda is a mum-of-one, happily married, and works in her best friend’s seaside cafe. But her happy life becomes a nightmare when she is left a huge inheritance from a man she doesn’t believe she knows. And, of course, his family – horrified to have been cut out of the will – believe she ensnared him in some way.
The synopsis tells us: “Her life starts to disintegrate as she becomes embroiled in the world of The Worrall Family. The patriarch Martin Worrall is head of a family which is bound in past secrets. As Amanda’s story leads her further and further into the Northumbrian countryside, she begins to unravel the past. And all of their lives are turned upside down.”
This is a great watch for fans of The Inheritance and The Feud, which were also both written by Aschlin Ditta.
What TV and films is The Fortune’s Eleanor Tomlinson famous for?
Eleanor is most famous for playing flame-haired Demelza in BBC One’s Poldark alongside Rivals star Aidan Turner. She played the role between
Demelza Poldark (née Carne) was the fiercely independent and resilient heroine of Winston Graham’s Poldark novels and the acclaimed BBC television series. Rising from a impoverished background, she went from being a kitchen maid to the beloved, grounding wife of Ross Poldark.
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Eleanor has been on our screens since 2005, when she played Little Daphne in the Michael Kitchen film Falling. She was just 13 years old at the time. Other notable roles include Lady Isabel Neville in The White Queen, Amy in The War of the Worlds, Candy Skov-King in Intergalatic, and Mary Brighton in The Nevers.
More recently, Eleanor’s played Lady Gabby in three series of BBC One comedy, The Outlaws. She’s also starred in Channel 4 thriller The Couple Next Door, and played Sylvie in the Netflix adaptation of One Day.
The Forsyte fans will know her as Louisa Byrne, a role she will reprise in the upcoming series 2.
Did Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson get along on Poldark?
Eleanor Tomlinson and her Poldark co-star Aidan Turner got on very well. They worked together for four years and some of their marital scenes were rather passionate!
During that time, they developed a close friendship and Aidan said their real-life chemistry made playing Ross and Demelza effortless. Eleanor did call for pay equality during the show’s run, insisting that she and Turner were “equal leads”. However, this was directed at the production company who in turn argued that Aidan Turner had significantly more screen time.
During an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Eleanor explained how she had formed a close relationship with her co-star. She said in 2019: “You can’t name what it is that Aidan and I had. It was just there from the first screen test. There’s a lot of love between us and a lot of respect. I spent every day for six months with him for the past five years… you do form this bond. We’ve been each other’s support network and that shows. We have a real commitment to each other. We lean on each other to get through it.”
Meanwhile, Aidan said of Eleanor: “Our relationship progresses alongside the relationship between our characters.” He revealed that he and his Poldark co-star Eleanor both felt that their on-screen relationship felt “very real”.
How old is she, and where is she from?
Eleanor Tomlinson was born in London, however she and her family moved to Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, when she was young. She went on to attend girls comprehensive Beverley High School.
She was born on May 19, 1992
Can The Fortune actress Eleanor Tomlinson sing?
Yes, Eleanor is a rather good singer. We told you she was a high-achiever!
During her time on Poldark, the actress frequently sang traditional folk tunes. Fans loved the singing so much, she subsequently released a folk album in 2018 called Tales from Home.
It covered traditional British songs, including I Can’t Make You Love Me, The Wild Mountainside, and She Moved Through the Fair. You can listen here.
Who has she dated?
Although lots of Poldark fans speculated about the nature of Eleanor’s relationship with Aidan Turner, she actually dated her Australian co-star Harry Richardson. Harry played Demelza’s brother Drake Carne in the BBC drama, and the pair reportedly dated for about a year before breaking up.
Eleanor and Harry became an item after he joined Poldark in 2017 and they made their romance public that summer with several public smooches.
She was previously in a two-year relationship with equestrian Ben Atkinson who worked as a stunt double for actor Aidan Turner.
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Who is Eleanor Tomlinson’s husband or boyfriend?
The actress is now married to former rugby player Will Owen, who has played for Leicester Tigers, Doncaster Knights and Nottingham Rugby Club. They wed in July 2022 after two years of dating in a romantic ceremony at Euridge Manor in the Cotswolds. She looked incredible in a white Provonias wedding dress which she teamed with Christian Laboutin heels.
She shared a trio of wedding photographs on Instagram and wrote: “When a Miss becomes a Mrs. I love you. The best weekend of our lives. The biggest thank you to all our family and friends…”
The Manor’s official social media account congratulated the couple after their special day. It said: “An incredible weekend with this gorgeous couple and their family. Eleanor and Will once again huge congratulations! You’re the most kind and loving human beings. Can’t wait to share more from this gorgeous wedding.”
In October 2024, the couple announced they were expecting a baby. The birth of the baby girl was subsequently announced in February 2025. She does occasionally share photos of the bubba on her Insta account, although she is careful to hide the baby’s face.
Did she film while pregnant?
Eleanor did film The Forsytes while pregnant. Speaking ahead of series 2, she said: “She came in between seasons one and two. So I filmed season one pregnant, which was really interesting in the corsets, but they were all amazing about it.
“And then, by the time I came back for season two, I had a little friend with me. It was a real joy, and Mammoth [the production company] were fantastic about it, so supportive and really incredible. It’s how everyone should be about women working and enabling women to go back to work. So I had the most positive experience. I felt very good.”
Is The Fortune’s Eleanor Tomlinson related to Ross Tomlinson?
Yes, Eleanor is related to actor Ross Tomlinson. In fact she has a rather famous family…
She is the daughter of Judith Hibbert, a singer and actress. She’s the star of Rainbow, Slipstream, and The New Statesman, but is best known for her work ion theatre. She is currently appearing in her own one-woman show called Peep Through a Long Row Window.
Eleanor’s dad is Malcolm Tomlinson, an actor and horse racing commentator. Malcolm has appeared in EastEnders, Emmerdale, Peaky Blinders, and Doctors. As a broadcaster, he has frequently worked with major networks like Sky Sports Racing and BBC Radio Humberside.
Her 32-year-old brother, Ross Tomlinson is also an actor. He played Tony in the TV version of Four Weddings and a Funeral, and PJ in This Is Going to Hurt. Most recently, Ross portrayed Raymondo in the film Arthur’s Whisky opposite Patricia Hodge, Diane Keaton, and Lulu.
Is she a natural red head?
No, Eleanor Tomlinson is not a natural redhead. She is actually a “muddy” blonde, but dyed it red to play Demelza in Poldark. She subsequently decided to keep the iconic shade because she felt it suited her and boosted her confidence…
Appearing on The One Show, she told Alex Jones: “I thought Demelza should have red hair. I thought it would add to her feistiness and her fiery temper. In real life I’m blonde.”
She has also said: “I’ve established myself as a redhead now. I could never be quite as strong as a blonde.”
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