Poppy Drayton

Poppy Drayton
Born
Poppy Gabriella Drayton

(1991-06-07) 7 June 1991 (age 35)
Surrey, England
EducationArtsEd
OccupationActress
Years active2012–present
Spouse
Rory D. Bentley
​
(m. 2025)​

Poppy Gabriella Drayton (born 7 June 1991) is an English actress. On television, she is known for her roles in the Hallmark Channel pilot When Calls the Heart (2013), the MTV fantasy series The Shannara Chronicles (2016–2017), and the CW fantasy series Charmed (2019–2022). Her films include The Rising Hawk (2019).

Early life

Drayton graduated from the Arts Educational School in Chiswick.

Career

In 2013, Drayton was cast in her first major role in the Hallmark Channel television movie pilot for When Calls the Heart, in which she played Elizabeth Thatcher (a role that was taken over by Erin Krakow in the subsequent television series). This was followed by a role in the 2013 Downton Abbey Christmas special. Drayton has also done stage work, appearing in The Green Bay Tree at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London in 2014.

In 2014, Drayton was cast as Amberle Elessedil, one of the lead roles in the MTV fantasy drama series The Shannara Chronicles; the series premiered on 5 January 2016. In February 2016, Drayton was cast in the titular role in newly launched MVP Studios' film The Little Mermaid (originally titled A Little Mermaid), an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story.

In 2019, she joined the cast of Charmed as a series regular in the role of Abigael, a mysterious witch, starting with the second season’s third episode.

In 2026, Drayton joined the cast of the ITV crime drama Professor T for its fifth series as Leonie Vass.

Personal life

In August 2025, Drayton married independent film director Rory D. Bentley in a small ceremony.

Filmography

Film roles
Year Title Role Notes
2014 Down Dog Amy
2015 Unhallowed Ground Verity Wickes
Writers Retreat Jo
2018 The Little Mermaid Elizabeth
2019 See You Soon Elise
The Rising Hawk Myroslava
2025 Jingle Bell Heist Brianna
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
2013 When Calls the Heart Elizabeth Thatcher Television movie (Hallmark)
Downton Abbey Madeleine Allsopp Episode: "The London Season"
2014 Father Brown Selina McKinley Episode: "The Ghost in the Machine"
Midsomer Murders Summer Haleston Episode: "The Killings of Copenhagen"
Plebs Cordelia Episode: "The Phallus"
2016–2017 The Shannara Chronicles Amberle Elessedil Main role (season 1); guest role (season 2)
2018 Home by Spring Loretta Johnson Television movie (Hallmark)
2019–2022 Charmed Abigael Main role (seasons 2–3)
2026 Professor T Leonie Vass 6 episodes (series 5)
Video game roles
Year Title Role Notes
2017 Dark Souls III Shira, Knight of Filianore

References

  1. ↑ Birthday from: Poppy Drayton [@PoppyDrayton] (8 January 2016). "@amberlestan @wilohmsfrd June 7th" (Tweet). Retrieved 2016-01-18 – via Twitter., in response to @amberlestan (8 January 2016). "@PoppyDrayton whens your bday we want to know" (Tweet). Retrieved 2016-01-18 – via Twitter.
  2. 1 2 3 Jess Denham (25 December 2013). "Downton Abbey Christmas special: Poppy Drayton talks life on set playing new girl Madeleine Allsop". The Independent. Retrieved 2016-01-18. ...Drayton, as the 22-year-old confesses not to have been a "Downton addict"...
  3. 1 2 Jon Coates (11 August 2013). "Downton Abbey set to make Poppy Drayton a household name". Daily Express. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  4. ↑ "Hallmark Channel Adds Second Original Series 'When Calls The Heart', Renews 'Home & Family'". Deadline Hollywood. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  5. ↑ ""When Calls the Heart," Hallmark Channel's Newest Original Primetime Series Kicks Off with a 2-Hour Special Extended Pilot on October 5" (Press release). Hallmark Channel. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-01-11 – via The Futon Critic.
  6. ↑ Matt Wolf (3 December 2014). "In Sondheim Musical, a Clamorous Portrait of Psychosis". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-01-11. ...the comely Leonora (Poppy Drayton, giving the best performance of the night).
  7. ↑ Nellie Andreeva (13 November 2014). "Poppy Drayton To Star In MTV 'Shannara' Series Based On Terry Brooks' Books". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  8. ↑ Maureen Ryan (4 January 2016). "TV Review: 'The Shannara Chronicles'". Variety. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  9. ↑ Lindsay MacDonald (23 February 2016). "Poppy Drayton is the second live-action 'Little Mermaid'". Zap2It. Archived from the original on 2016-06-12. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  10. ↑ Dave McNary (23 February 2016). "Shirley MacLaine Starring in 'A Little Mermaid' Movie". Variety. Retrieved 2016-06-01.
  11. 1 2 AJ Caulfield (10 March 2017). "The Little Mermaid live-action film trailer unveiled". Looper. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  12. ↑ Andy Swift (25 October 2019). "Charmed Adds Shannara Actress as New Series Regular for Season 2". TVLine.
  13. ↑ "Poppy Drayton". Creative Artists Management. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
  14. ↑ "Our Woodland Wedding". Retrieved 2026-02-15.