Vanessa Kirby and Jessica Brown Findlay to Join Paul Rhys in UNCLE VANYA at the Almeida

According to the Daily Mail, Vanessa Kirby, who will soon be seen in Netflix's THE CROWN, has signed on to play 'Yelena' in UNCLE VANYA at the Almeida Theatre. DOWNTON ABBEY's Jessica Brown Findlay will take on the role of her step-daughter, 'Sonya', in the production.

Robert Icke will direct what Kirby describes as his "radicalised and exciting" new version of the Chekhov play, which runs at the Almeida February 5 through March 26, 2016. Joining Kirby and Findlay will be previously announced Paul Rhys in the title role. Tobias Menzies and Richard Lumsden are also in the cast.

Commenting on her often "languorous and louche" character, Kirby told the Mail, "I see her as a huge life force, with a very active and dynamic mind. I don't see her at all as relaxed; she's in huge turmoil."

Following UNCLE VANYA, Kirby will join Gillian Anderson and Ben Foster in a reprise of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn. THE CROWN, in which the actress plays Princess Margaret, starts filming next summer. She just appeared in the BBC drama THE DRESSER, opposite Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen, starred on the big screen in JUPITER ASCENDING and recently gained recognition for her role in BBC's GREAT EXPECTATIONS.

Brown Findlay is just coming off her professional theatre debut in Icke's ORTESTEIA at the Almeida. Since DOWNTON ABBEY, she has appeared on the big screen in WINTER'S TALE and VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN and will soon be seen in THE BEAUTIFUL FANTASTIC.