Katherine Langford

Katherine Langford, born 29 April 1996 in Perth, Western Australia, is the eldest daughter of paediatrician Elizabeth (née Green) and flying‑doctor Stephen Langford, and the older sister of actress Josephine Langford. Raised in the riverside suburb of Applecross, she excelled academically and athletically, serving as sports captain at Perth Modern School and achieving a national ranking in swimming while also pursuing classical, jazz, and contemporary vocal training under Heidi Lake. Her teenage years were marked by a burgeoning passion for musical theatre, eisteddfods, and drama competitions, culminating in a starring role in the school production of Hotel Sorrento in 2013. After a brief stint studying music theatre at the Principal Academy of Dance & Theatre Arts and an intensive residency at NIDA, she was accepted into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts but chose to launch her professional career instead, moving directly into independent film work and early stage roles.

Langford’s breakout came when she was cast as Hannah Baker in Netflix’s groundbreaking series 13 Reasons Why (2017‑2018), a performance that earned her a Golden Globe nomination and widespread critical acclaim for its emotional depth and authenticity. She subsequently appeared in notable films such as Love, Simon (2018), the ensemble murder‑mystery Knives Out (2019), and the dark comedy Spontaneous (2020), for which she received a Critics’ Choice Super Awards nomination. In addition to her on‑screen work, she has headlined the Netflix fantasy series Cursed (2020) as Nimue and made her West End stage debut as Sally Bowles in Cabaret (2024). Throughout her career, Langford has demonstrated a remarkable versatility, moving fluidly between television, film, and theatre while maintaining a reputation for thoughtful role preparation and a commitment to socially relevant storytelling.