Stefanie Martini: 6 Things to Know
Stefanie Martini is having a MASTERPIECE moment. This fall, she returns to MASTERPIECE Mystery! in two very different roles: Louise Maigret in Maigret and Marnie, the wife of criminal John Palmer, in The Gold. But the actress behind those characters has a few unexpected dimensions of her own—from an impromptu hula-hoop moment with co-star Tom Cullen to a creative life that includes selling her artwork on Etsy. Here are six fascinating facts about actor Stefanie Martini.
An Early Role for Martini was One Helen Mirren Made Famous
At just 22, Stefani Martini starred as the young Jane Tennison in MASTERPIECE’s Prime Suspect: Tennison prequel. This meant taking over the 1990s Prime Suspect character made famous by Dame Helen Mirren—a massive and intimidating milestone for an actor so early in her career. And Martini landed the coveted role only six months after completing drama school at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
You can still see Prime Suspect: Tennison when you watch with PBS Passport, an added member benefit.
Stefanie Martini First Wanted to be an Illustrator
Martini is also a talented artist and actively draws and paints as an avocation, as she tells the MASTERPIECE Studio podcast. While she’s said that she likes keeping this branch of her creativity as something just for herself, she does share her artwork on Instagram via the handle @stef_sketch. Martini has even sold hand-drawn Christmas cards on Etsy.
Martini Reunited with Old Friends on 2 MASTERPIECE Sets
Stefanie Martini didn’t have to meet her Maigret and The Gold husbands from scratch. She’d known both Ben Wainwright and Tom Cullen for over 10 years before they played her on-screen spouses—making both roles a lot easier and the sets much more fun.
Wainwright, who plays Jules Maigret, was in Martini’s social circles since drama school days. “He was in the same year of drama school as one of my best, best, best friends,” she shared in a MASTERPIECE interview. “We’ve been at parties together; we’ve been at gigs together for over a decade.”
Her history with Tom Cullen, who plays The Gold’s John Palmer, is even more memorable. “I met Tom on a rooftop at a house party when I was 22,” she told the MASTERPIECE Studio podcast. “I can’t remember what we spoke about, but I had my hula hoop with me; it was about 6am.”
Stefanie Martini Had a Goth Phase
Deciding to pursue acting was a big step for Martini, who describes herself as someone high school peers made fun of. “When I was a teenager, I was a Goth. I can’t imagine it now, but I was a rebel in my own way,” she told The Mercury News. “Everything was great in my life. I had nothing to rebel against. But I was into all kinds of teenage angst. I’d wear ridiculous clothes, fishnet tights on my arms, loads of bangles and rings, and red hair.
“But I think all the best people get made fun of when they’re at school. You don’t want to peak [then]. You need to have that struggle, that not-really-fitting-in, awkward thing in order to smash it when you’re older.”
Martini’s Favorite Co-Star to Date is Glenn Close
Stefanie Martini singles out the 2017 film Crooked House as one of her favorite projects, partly because she got to work with the multi-award-winning Glenn Close. The movie is based on the Agatha Christie novel and Martini was cast alongside Close as well as Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) and Amanda Abbingdon (Sherlock). She was particularly awestruck by the veteran Glenn Close, describing her as “a powerhouse” in Country & Town House, and someone she was “learning from constantly” on set.
Actor Stefanie Martini Doesn’t Own a TV
Stefanie Martini doesn’t own a television even though she’s already appeared in many notable shows. She has said she prefers to avoid screen time and distractions, focusing on hobbies and relationships. When asked by ITV’s Morning Show how she’d watch her on-screen performances, she joked she’d have to go to a friend’s house.
