From Surrey to Hollywood: Here are the Royal Holloway alums that made it big

So many of us hope to make it big after university. If the fees and workload are anything to go by, we all absolutely deserve it. For those of you who are soon to graduate or are even looking to the future with fear of what is to come, here is a little hope and proof that, whoever you are, you can make it big!

So, from musicians to actors, let’s have a look at Royal Holloway’s most well-known alumni.

Mark Strong, BA drama and theatre studies, 1985

Starting off the list very strong, I’d say (no pun intended). Apart from absolutely breaking my heart when his character, Merlin, sacrificed himself for Eggsy, in Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Mark Strong has a really impressive acting portfolio.

You probably recognise him from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and Kick Ass, as well as Cruella and Sherlock Holmes to name just a few. Mark Strong has become a household name in British TV and film and even made a name for himself in Hollywood. So as you can see, the sky is the limit.

Sir Lenny Henry CBE, MA screenwriting for film, 2010

This man may be one of Britain’s television’s loved faces. Sir Lenny Henry has made his mark on the entertainment industry with television presenting, acting, writing and stand-up comedy.

One of his most notable career achievements is the creation of Comic Relief, which has raised over £1 billion to date. Sir Lenny Henry was also knighted by the late Queen in 2015 for his service to drama and charity.

KT Tunstall, BA drama and music, 1996

Most Read

Diddy’s heinous one-word whisper to his lawyer caught on the courtroom mic

P Diddy allegedly told an escort to perform this horrifying act on his ex Cassie Ventura

All Bonnie Blue and Lily Phillips’s grossest OnlyFans challenges, ranked by ick factor

Grammy nominated Scottish singer/songwriter and musician KT Tunstall first gained attention with a live performance of her song Black Horse and the Cherry Tree in 2004, only eight years after graduating.

Fast forward to 2025, KT’s accumulated record sales are said to be around the 7 million mark. Despite an impressive discography and still releasing music to this day, KT has stated she is actually 97 per cent deaf in one ear!

In 2022, it was estimated that she had a net worth of around $12 million. So, next time you hear the classic song Suddenly I See, remember that Royal Holloway is part of that story!

Example, BA media arts, 2004

Example, also known as Elliot Gleave (Initials EG as in example), is an English DJ, producer and rapper.

Example achieved significant success in 2010 with his second studio album, Won’t Go Quietly, which reached number four on the UK Albums Chart and claimed the top spot on the UK Dance Chart. The album featured two top 10 singles: Won’t Go Quietly and Kickstarts. In September 2011, Example released his third studio album, Playing in the Shadows, which topped the charts and included two number one singles: Changed the Way You Kiss Me and Stay Awake. His fourth studio album, The Evolution of Man, was launched in November 2012, peaking at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart while securing the number one position on the UK Dance Chart.

In 2013, Example released All the Wrong Places, the lead single from his upcoming album, which reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. The following year, he put out the single Kids Again, which also peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. Nowadays, Example can be seen touring the UK and the rest of the world in high energy shows.

Emily Wilding Davison, English, 1893

via Andrew William Dron on Creative Commons

I’m pretty sure everyone who has studied 20th century British history has heard this name.

Did you also know the newest campus library/student services centre is named after her? Fun fact.

Emily Wilding Davidson paved the way for ordinary women to be able to vote in elections with her key involvement in the Suffragette movement. She was famously killed by jumping in front of the King’s horse during the 1913 Epsom Derby whilst holding a Suffragette banner.

I am sure that Royal Holloway, as a female only institution at the time, paved the way for a forward thinker such as herself to change the course of history.

Jojo Moyes

Remember crying whilst watching a rom-com? You were probably watching the heartbreaking film Me Before You, featuring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin.

Well, if you’ve watched this iconic film, then you’ll know who Jojo Moyes is, as she wrote the book on which the movie is based.

Jojo is an award-winning romance novelist, New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter. However, I still haven’t got over the ending of Me Before You, Jojo!

Georgina Campbell, BA film studies, 2014

Georgina Campbell is an English actress who won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress in 2015 for her role in Murdered by My Boyfriend, becoming the first non-white actress to receive this honour.

You’ve probably seen this famous face in a massively talked about Netflix TV show called Black Mirror! That’s right, Georgina appeared in the episode Hang the DJ as the protagonist, Amy, one of the many roles in her now impressive acting portfolio.

José Maria de Tavira, BA drama, 2007

José is a brilliant Mexican actor and producer whom I have even had the pleasure of meeting last year!

José’s films and TV shows can be seen on a number of streaming services, with my favourite being El Candidato on Amazon Prime, in which José plays the character Lalo Yzaguirre.

In the fast-paced political thriller, José speaks English and Spanish, so not only is José an absolute HEART-THROB, but he is also a heart-throb in Spanish.

Jose is a big star abroad, but you may be wrong if you think you haven’t seen one of his works! Remember the iconic film The Mask of Zorro? Well, José plays the main part of young Alejandro Murrieta!

Aaron Bastani, PhD in political science, 2015

Ever heard of Novara Media? It’s an independent, progressive, political media organisation that Aaron Bastani co-founded in 2011.

In 2025, Novara Media has grown to a readership of over half a million a month and primarily appeals to an audience of younger people dissatisfied with traditional media outlets.

Aaron is also a senior contributing editor to Novara Media and can often be seen on Novara Live, deep in political discussion. His organisation is paving the way in British independent media as a source for challenging society’s so-called norms and giving a voice to the issues that mainstream media are often too scared to tackle.

George Eliot, maths and Latin, 1849

Alexandre-Louis-François d’Albert-Durade via Creative Commons

All you campus inhabitants will recognise this name. Did you know your accommodation was named after a Victorian female writer who used a pen name?

George Eliot, whose real name was Mary Anne Evans, was one of the first students to attend what was then named Bedford College, a historically all-female college at the time.

George Eliot paved the way in English literature for the writings of famous novels such as Adam Bede (1859), The Mill on the Floss (1860), Silas Marner (1861), Middlemarch (1872) and Daniel Deronda (1876).

Roxanne McKee, BA social policy and political studies, 2005

Adding another actress to the list! Roxanne’s impressive list of movies and TV show roles includes Game of Thrones and Hollyoaks!

Roxanne is Canadian-born but was raised in London. She won her first British Soap Opera award for Hollyoaks in 2006, just a year after she graduated!

Two years after she graduated, Roxanne won an award for being the sexiest woman. Additionally, Roxanne was ranked 97th on FHM’s list of the 100 Sexiest Women in the World. Iconic.

Jeremy Northam, BA English, 1984

via Transangst on Creative Commons

Jeremy has achieved significant success in both theatre and film.

His breakthrough role was as Hamlet at the National Theatre, stepping in for Daniel Day-Lewis, who fell ill just 30 minutes into his performance.

He later received an Olivier Award for Best Newcomer for his role in the National Theatre’s production of The Voysey Inheritance.

On television, he has taken on the role of Thomas More in The Tudors and Prime Minister Anthony Eden in Netflix’s The Crown.

Featured image via Instagram