Sofia Beatrice Barclay, also credited as Sofia Stuart, is an English actress, who has performed on stage and TV, and in film. She began her professional career in 2010 after attending theatre school in New York. Her films include Love Again and the animation Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (both 2023). On television, she stars in the BBC One crime drama Lynley (2025).
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Early life and education
Sofia Barclay, of British and Indian descent, was born in central London. With an elder sister, Jenna Zoe, and a younger brother, Andrew, their parents are Aidan Barclay, former chairperson of the Telegraph Media Group, and his wife Ferzana ("Fizzy"); she is in turn a granddaughter of the late billionaire Sir David Barclay.
Barclay attended Francis Holland School on Graham Terrace, and Westminster School for sixth form. She later took classes at the Circle in the Square Theatre School in New York City, performing in the school's 2009 showcase. At one point, Barclay and her brother were the registered co-owners of the building housing The Spectator, one of their family's holdings.
Career
Initially credited as Sofia Stuart, Barclay began her career with a made-for-television film, Witchville. She pursued a range of theatrical opportunities across the UK, including fringe theatre in London and Edinburgh, Shakespeare in pub-theatres, and plays for children at the Soho Theatre. She played Desdemona in the 2012 Jack Studio Brockley production of Othello, receiving critical acclaim for her performance. She went on the 2014 tour with The Two Worlds of Charlie F and had further theatre roles as Anna in Future Conditional at the Old Vic in 2015 and Nathalie in Mosquitoes at the National Theatre in 2017.
In 2018 and 2019, Barclay played Selina in the BBC Two legal sitcom Defending the Guilty and Alisha in the Hampstead Theatre production of Everyday I Make Greatness Happen, had a small role in the film In Darkness, and was cast as Adela Zal in a pilot for a potential NYPD Blue spin-off series on ABC. Barclay had recurring roles as Zarina in the 2021 Channel 4 sitcom We Are Lady Parts and Dr. O'Sullivan, Roy Kent's (Brett Goldstein) sister, in the second and third seasons of the Apple TV+ sports comedy Ted Lasso. She originated the role of Maya in The Collaboration at the Young Vic in 2022.
Her film work includes credits spanning psychological thriller, drama, and romantic comedy. She appeared in Julian Jarrold's Sulphur and White and featured in the romantic comedy Love Again alongside Priyanka Chopra. Notably, Barclay voiced Malala Windsor/Spider-UK in the Marvel animated blockbuster Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
In July 2024, it was announced Barclay would star in a Lynley revival for BritBox and BBC One, playing Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, with Leo Suter as Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley. The four-episode first series was streamed on BritBox in 2025, and then aired on BBC One in 2026. Also, in 2025, Barclay played Safiya Zamil, a guest role in the Apple TV+ thriller Prime Target. In 2026, Barclay was noted as filming a second season of Lynley in Ireland.