English actress Gabrielle Anwar was born on February 4, 1970 in Middlesex, England. Her mother is an actress, while her father is award-winning film producer Tariq Anwar. Her acting prowess was first demonstrated in an end-of-term school concert in 1982, and she started acting after pursuing further training as an actress. After her acting debut in the British miniseries Headway, she appeared in several more British programs, including The Press Gang, First Born, Summer’s Lease and The Mysteries of the Dark Jungle. In addition, she appeared in several films, beginning with the 1988 romantic comedy Manifesto.
She met actor Craig Sheffer in some of these British projects, and later the two started a relationship. The two moved to Hollywood, and appeared in numerous releases together or individually. After Anwar’s American film debut in the fantasy-themed film If Looks Could Kill, she later appeared in several movies with her partner, including The Grave, Flying Virus, Lost Son and Water Under the Bridge. She is also known for a memorable scene in Scent of a Woman, where she did the tango with Al Pacino’s blind character. In a recognition of her success, People magazine named her as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. However, her relationship with Sheffer would not last, as the two split up in the late 1990s.
Anwar has had recent success in television, beginning with a recurring role in the short-lived series John Doe. She starred in the historical drama The Tudors, playing the sister of King Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Myers), Margaret Tudor. Later in 2007, she joined the cast of the drama series Burn Notice, appearing as disillusioned former Irish Republican Army operative Fiona Glenanne, who works with Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) in his various jobs after being “burned” as a spy.
