Ella Bruccoleri: Career, Biography & Top Questions

There’s something quietly mesmerising about watching Ella Bruccoleri trade a nun’s wimple for a Regency bonnet. The British actress won hearts as Sister Frances on Call the Midwife (2018–2022) and now steps into a very different literary icon: Mary Bennet in BBC’s The Other Bennet Sister.

Nationality: British ·
Known for: Sister Frances in Call the Midwife (2018–2022) ·
Education: Oxford School of Drama ·
Upcoming film: Paddington in Peru (2024)

Six facts that define the career of Ella Bruccoleri so far, spanning her breakthrough on Call the Midwife to her newest literary adaptation.

Here’s a quick reference table of her key details:

Why Did Ella Bruccoleri Leave Call the Midwife?

When did she leave?

Ella Bruccoleri left Call the Midwife after the 2022 series, a decision that was a creative choice to pursue other roles (Yours magazine). She had played Sister Frances for four seasons, from 2018 to 2022.

What was her role?

She portrayed the novice nun Sister Frances at Nonnatus House, a character described by the Oxford School of Drama as the “novice at Nonnatus House.” In a 2021 interview with TVZoneUK, Bruccoleri praised showrunner Heidi Thomas, saying she was there “from start to finish.”

The implication: Bruccoleri’s exit allowed her to step into a leading role that would define her next chapter.

What Is Ella Bruccoleri’s Nationality?

Does she speak Italian?

Ella Bruccoleri is a British actress, born in North Yorkshire (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). Despite her Italian surname, there is no evidence that she speaks Italian; her parents’ identities have not been publicly disclosed (Yours magazine).

Who are her parents?

Her parents’ names and occupations are not known. The actress keeps her family life private, and no reliable source has confirmed their identities.

The pattern: Bruccoleri’s Italian-sounding name often sparks curiosity, but her public identity remains firmly rooted in her British upbringing and training.

What Is Ella Bruccoleri Doing Now?

Her role in The Other Bennet Sister

She stars as Mary Bennet, the often-overlooked middle sister in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, in the BBC drama The Other Bennet Sister (2024). In an interview with Country & Townhouse, she described the role as a chance to give Mary “a voice and a story of her own.”

Her role in Paddington in Peru

She appears as Rosita in the 2024 film Paddington in Peru (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).

Other recent projects

• Appeared in the ITV drama Passenger (2024) as Ali Day (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
• Cast in the BBC One crime series Ludwig (2024) (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
• Appears in the horror film The Strangers: Chapter 1 (2024) (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
• Voiced a character in the podcast Have You Got Your Sh*t Together? (2024) (Have You Got Your Sh*t Together? podcast)

The catch: With so many projects in 2024, Bruccoleri is proving she can handle multiple genres simultaneously.

Is Ella Bruccoleri Related to Sam in Corrie?

What’s the connection?

Ella Bruccoleri is not related to the Coronation Street character Sam Blakeman. The confusion likely arises because Sam has been played by different actors, causing a change in appearance (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). The character Eva in Corrie is played by Catherine Tyldesley, who is unrelated to Bruccoleri.

Why does Sam on Coronation Street look different?

Sam was recast: the role was originally played by Jude Riordan and later by other actors. No Bruccoleri link exists.

The trade-off: fan speculation about celebrity family trees is common, but in this case, the surname coincidence is just that — a coincidence.

Was Ella Bruccoleri in Bridgerton?

Her cameo in season 3

Ella Bruccoleri did appear in Bridgerton season 3 as Miss Barragan, a minor character. The podcast episode described her role as “Miss Barragan in Bridgerton season 3.”

Other TV shows she’s been in

• Call the Midwife (2018–2022) – Sister Frances
• Polite Society (2023) – film
• Passenger (2024) – Ali Day
• Ludwig (2024) – role undisclosed
• The Other Bennet Sister (2024) – Mary Bennet

The implication: Bruccoleri’s Bridgerton appearance was a small but notable entry into the most-watched period drama of the decade, further cementing her period-drama credentials.

“It’s a show led by women, run by women and created by women.”

— Ella Bruccoleri, speaking to TVZoneUK about Call the Midwife

“The Christmas episode has become somewhat of a tradition.”

— Ella Bruccoleri, in BBC Media Centre interview for the 2020 Christmas special

“I had fallen deeper and deeper in love with Lucille.”

— Ella Bruccoleri, reflecting on her Call the Midwife character, via Yours magazine

“It would have been really sad if the Christmas episode had not been completed.”

— Ella Bruccoleri, on the 2020 Christmas special, BBC Media Centre

For British viewers who grew up watching Call the Midwife, Ella Bruccoleri’s move from Nonnatus House to the pages of Jane Austen represents something larger: the modern actress’s ability to leap between period worlds. For casting directors, her portfolio is a clear signal that she can carry a literary adaptation while also delivering a crowd-pleasing performance in a family blockbuster. The choice for Bruccoleri is clear: keep building a résumé that spans genres, or risk being typecast as the nun. So far, she’s choosing the former.