Gabrielle Anwar (born February 4, 1970) is an English actress, known for her roles in the 1990s films Scent of a Woman, The Three Musketeers and Body Snatchers. She also appeared as fashion-conscious graphic designer Sam Black in the second series of the hugely popular Children's ITV series Press Gang. Currently, she is starring as Fiona Glenanne opposite Jeffrey Donovan as Michael Westen on the USA Network television series Burn Notice. Anwar's Fiona Glenanne is a former IRA operative and Westen's ex-girlfriend.
Anwar was born in Laleham, Middlesex, England. Her father is Tariq Anwar, an Iranian-born award-winning British film editor of Iranian and Austrian parents, and her mother is an English actress. Anwar attended Laleham C. of E. Primary and Middle School from 1975 to 1982; an end-of-term St. Trinians sketch in the school concert of 1982 gave an early indication of her theatrical leanings. She studied at a London drama and dance school.
Anwar's acting debut was in the British miniseries Hideaway. She made her film debut in Manifesto, which was followed by more British television productions including First Born, Summer's Lease, Press Gang, and The Mysteries of the Dark Jungle. While working on movies and television in London, she met American actor Craig Sheffer, and moved with him to Hollywood. Anwar and Sheffer have also co-starred in a number of American movies together, such as In Pursuit of Honor, The Grave,Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal, Flying Virus, Save It for Later, Water Under the Bridge, and Long Lost Son.
Her first American film was If Looks Could Kill - Teen Agent. She followed that with the acclaimed films Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, Scent of a Woman, Body Snatchers, For Love or Money and The Three Musketeers.
In 1993, People magazine named her one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world.
Anwar has appeared in the TV series John Doe. She recently acted in The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines.
Anwar plays Princess Margaret, sister of Henry VIII of England, on Showtime's The Tudors, which debuted in April 2007.
Currently Anwar co-stars as Fiona Glenanne in the USA Network series Burn Notice. Though she performed the character with a thick Irish accent in the pilot episode, in the second installment Fiona speaks with an American accent.
Anwar has a daughter, Willow, born in 1993, with whom she appeared in the film Daddy Who? Willow's father is American actor Craig Sheffer with whom Anwar had a lengthy relationship in the late 1980s and 1990s. Anwar was later married to actor John Verea; the couple had a son and daughter together before divorcing. Additionally, Anwar had a relationship with actor Johnathon Schaech in 1997.
In June 2007 Anwar announced during an interview regarding Burn Notice that she was a pagan.
