Katherine Matilda Swinton (born 5 November 1960) is a British actress. She is known for playing eccentric and enigmatic characters, often working with auteur directors. Over her career she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and a British Academy Film Award as well as nominations for three Golden Globe Awards. In 2020, The New York Times ranked her as one of the greatest actors of the 21st century.
Swinton began her career by appearing in Derek Jarman’s experimental films Caravaggio (1986), The Last of England (1988), War Requiem (1989), and The Garden (1990). Swinton won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for her portrayal of Isabella of France in Edward II (1991). She next starred in Sally Potter’s Orlando (1992), for which she was nominated for the European Film Award for Best Actress. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance in The Deep End (2001), followed with appearances in Vanilla Sky (2001) and Adaptation (2002). For the film Young Adam (2003), Swinton won the British Academy Scotland Award for Best Actress.
Swinton won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing a general counsel in the legal thriller Michael Clayton (2007). She has also acted in films such as Constantine (2005), Julia (2008), Burn After Reading (2008), I Am Love (2009), We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011), Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), Snowpiercer (2014), Suspiria (2018), Memoria (2021), The Eternal Daughter (2022), and The Room Next Door (2024). Swinton has gained international recognition for her portrayals as the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia series (2005-2010) and the Ancient One in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. She is also known for her roles in the Wes Anderson films Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Isle of Dogs (2018), The French Dispatch (2021), and Asteroid City (2023).
In 2006, Swinton was awarded an honorary degree by the Edinburgh Napier University for her services to performing arts. She was awarded the Richard Harris Award by the British Independent Film Awards in recognition of her contributions to the British film industry. In 2013, she was given a special tribute by the Museum of Modern Art. Swinton was awarded the British Film Institute Fellowship and the Honorary Golden Lion in 2020.