Eva Green’s television career is defined by Penny Dreadful, the Showtime horror drama that earned her a Golden Globe nomination and widespread critical acclaim. She has also starred in Camelot, The Luminaries, and Liaison, with an upcoming role in Wednesday Season 3.
The Breakthrough: Camelot (2011)
Eva Green made her television debut in 2011 with the Starz series Camelot, playing the sorceress Morgan Pendragon . The role allowed her to explore a character across 10 episodes, a creative opportunity she described as unusual for film work .
Critical reception to the series was mixed, but Green stood out. One Metacritic user review noted that she was “the only actress who truly shone, completely dominating the screen” . The series was cancelled after one season, but it established Green as a compelling television presence.
The Defining Role: Penny Dreadful (2014–2016)
From 2014 to 2016, Green starred as Vanessa Ives in Showtime’s Penny Dreadful, a Gothic horror series set in Victorian London . The show ran for three seasons and 27 episodes, with Green’s character serving as the narrative and emotional center .
Her performance generated significant critical praise. Eric Diaz of Nerdist called it “a Master Class in acting,” while The A.V. Club described her as “a fearless actress who has no time for pedestrian concerns about vanity” . The Hollywood Reporter noted that Green “has proven to be the revelation of Penny Dreadful” and that “few performances on TV are as reliably, consistently and exhaustively committed” .
The role earned Green a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards in 2016 . She also won the Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best TV Actress in 2016 .
Green spoke about the character’s complexity in a 2014 interview with the Toronto Sun. “I play Vanessa Ives and she’s kind of a rebel,” Green said. “It’s such a repressed time, the Victorian times. And so she’s very hungry for life” .Quick Bio: Eva Green
Note on Net Worth: Reliable, verified figures for Eva Green’s net worth are not publicly available from authoritative financial sources. Estimates from salary aggregator sites vary and cannot be independently confirmed, so no figure is included here.
The Luminaries (2020)
In 2020, Green appeared in The Luminaries, a six-part adaptation of Eleanor Catton’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel . The series was set during the 1860s gold rush in New Zealand and was produced by Working Title Television and Southern Light Films for BBC Two in association with TVNZ .
Green played Lydia Wells, a character described as a femme fatale in a story of love, murder, and revenge . The production was notable as “the biggest New Zealand TV series based on a local story that has ever been made,” with 87% New Zealand cast and 96% New Zealand crew .
The series premiered on TVNZ 1 on 17 May 2020 and later aired on BBC One in the United Kingdom . It received 14 nominations at the 2020 New Zealand Television Awards, winning multiple categories including Best Script and Best Director .
Liaison (2023)
Green starred alongside Vincent Cassel in Liaison, Apple TV+’s first Anglo-French original series . The contemporary thriller explored espionage and political intrigue, with the two actors playing former lovers reunited in the wake of a cyberterrorist attack .
The series was created and written by Virginie Brac and directed by Stephen Hopkins . It premiered on 24 February 2023 on Apple TV+ . The production was co-produced by French outfit Newen’s Ringside Studios and Leonis Productions .
Upcoming: Wednesday Season 3
Green will join the cast of Netflix’s Wednesday for its third season as Aunt Ophelia Frump, the estranged sister of Morticia Addams . The character was teased in Season 2 before the official casting announcement .
The role reunites Green with executive producer Tim Burton, with whom she previously collaborated on Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Dark Shadows, and Dumbo . In a statement to Netflix, Green said: “I’m thrilled to join the woefully twisted world of ‘Wednesday’ as Aunt Ophelia. This show is such a deliciously dark and witty world, I can’t wait to bring my own touch of cuckooness to the Addams family” .
What Defines Her Television Work
Green’s television choices reveal a preference for genre-driven, character-focused material. From the Arthurian fantasy of Camelot to the Gothic horror of Penny Dreadful, she has consistently gravitated toward complex women navigating supernatural or morally ambiguous worlds.
Her characters share a quality of being outsiders or nonconformists. As Green told The New York Times in 2016, “I love playing a character from those repressed times who is so nonconformist, it’s very jubilating” . This attraction to unconventional roles has shaped a television career marked by selectivity rather than volume.
The common thread across her series is the centrality of her performances. Whether in a cancelled fantasy drama or a prestige horror hit, Green brings an intensity that critics consistently single out. For viewers exploring her television work, these shows offer a focused look at an actress whose small-screen choices have been as distinctive as her film career.What TV shows has Eva Green starred in?
Eva Green’s television credits include Camelot (2011), Penny Dreadful (2014–2016), The Luminaries (2020), and Liaison (2023), with an upcoming role in Wednesday Season 3 .
What is Eva Green’s most famous TV role?
Her most acclaimed television role is Vanessa Ives in Showtime’s Penny Dreadful, a Gothic horror series set in Victorian London. The performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2016 .
Who does Eva Green play in The Luminaries?
Green plays Lydia Wells, a brothel madam described as a femme fatale, in the 2020 adaptation of Eleanor Catton’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel set during the 1860s New Zealand gold rush .
Who does Eva Green play in Wednesday Season 3?
Green joins Netflix’s Wednesday as Aunt Ophelia Frump, the estranged sister of Morticia Addams. The character was teased in the Season 2 finale before the official casting announcement .
What is Liaison about?
Liaison is Apple TV+’s first Anglo-French original series, a contemporary thriller starring Green alongside Vincent Cassel. The six-episode series explores espionage and political intrigue against a story of enduring love .
