Anna Friel and David Thewlis’ daughter Gracie took a major step in her burgeoning music career this week as she performed her first major live show in Bristol.
The singer, 20, is carving out a very different path from her famous actor parents as she pursues the music industry, singing and writing her own music.
Gracie put on an incredible performance as she opened for rising indie star Nell Mescal, 22, – the younger sister of Normal People actor Paul Mescal – at the packed Bristol venue, The Fleece.
Playing the guitar while singing, the youngster delivered an emotional set that included her latest song, Chemical Reaction, which drew cheers from the crowd.
She told fans: ‘I wrote this song about the frustration of being with someone who only loves you the way you want when they are the furthest thing from themselves. I hope this song finds someone who can relate to this feeling.’
A source close to the rising star said: ‘This was a huge gig for Gracie. Stepping onto a stage and opening for Nell Mescal, who she adores, means so much to her.
Anna Friel and David Thewlis daughter Gracie took a major step in her burgeoning music career this week as she performed her first major live show in Bristol
The singer, 20, is carving out a very different path from her famous actor parents as she pursues the music industry, singing and writing her own music
‘Anna and David are incredibly proud. They know how hard she’s working to make it as a singer.’
The Bristol venue has previously played host to famous acts including Radiohead, Oasis, Amy Winehouse, and Ed Sheeran.
Next Monday, she will take to the stage yet again – this time opening for Declan J Donovan at Bristol favourite The Louisiana, where The Libertines, Kings of Leon, and Dua Lipa performed at the start of their careers.
Gracie is the only child of Marcella star Anna Friel, 49, and her ex-partner David Thewlis, 62, who played Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter films.
The pair started dating in 2001 and separated in 2010, when Gracie was one. Anna has previously described her and Gracie as a ‘little unit’ who travelled together from set to set during her early childhood.
Gracie, who has always said she has no desire to follow her parents into acting, is very open about drawing inspiration for her song-writing from her troubled love life.
She recently explained on TikTok that another one of her songs, Meet My Skin Again, is ‘about the unfulfillment of someone not being able to commit to you emotionally. I hope the person this song is about never hears it.’
Fans online have praised her talent, with one calling her voice ‘literally amazing’ while another predicted: ‘You’re going to go so far with these songs.’
Playing the guitar while singing, the youngster delivered an emotional set that included her latest song, Chemical Reaction, which drew cheers from the crowd
Gracie opened for rising indie star Nell Mescal, 22, (L) – the younger sister of Normal People actor Paul Mescal (R) – at the packed Bristol venue, The Fleece
Gracie is the only child of Marcella star Anna Friel, 49, and her ex-partner David Thewlis, 62, who played Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter films; pictured in 2009
Gracie said of another recent track of hers: ‘I wrote this song after a guy spoke at me for 45 minutes straight about his philosophical views… and told me that I’m such an “amazing person” even though I hadn’t uttered a word.’
She has been very candid about the challenging process of writing and trying to make it as a singer.
In a post shared on TikTok last month, showing her sitting in the back of a car to the sound of Lily Allen’s hit song Pussy Palace.
She captioned it: ‘Either gonna write something about the fact I feel guilty for not believing in God, my unhealthy relationship with intimacy or the fear that I’ve become aromantic.’
Anna has previously said of Gracie’s career: ‘She loves the creative world but she’s more into her music. Playing guitar is her escape.’
