Around the time that fans were introduced to the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) also decided to shed some light on the beginnings of Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill. And so, in the early scenes of Guardians of the Galaxy, viewers got to learn that Peter lost his mom, Meredith, to terminal cancer when he was just a young boy. Since then, his life has been a constant intergalactic adventure.
Meanwhile, in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, fans also got a glimpse of Peter’s life with his mom during his earlier (and happier) years. Since then, however, the Guardians’ story (along with MCU’s overall storyline) has just continued to move forward. And unfortunately, that may mean that fans won’t be seeing more of Peter’s mom (even in flashbacks). In case anyone is wondering though, the actress behind the role has been busy with various Hollywood projects in recent years.
Who Played Meredith Quill In The ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ Movies?
The woman who played Pratt’s onscreen mom is none other than Laura Haddock. Prior to Guardians of the Galaxy, the England native had already appeared in the MCU once, briefly sharing a scene with Chris Evans’ Steven Rogers as an “autograph seeker” in Captain America: The First Avenger. Just a few years later, Haddock found herself working with Marvel, and this time, it was for James Gunn’s first movie for the studio. Upon learning of her casting, Haddock couldn’t be more thrilled.
“Yes, I got an opportunity to go in and do a part in that movie. It was amazing working with James Gunn and Chris Pratt,” the actress remarked. “My part is very personal, very important to the story, but quite a small part. But [still] very important certainly to [Star-Lord's] journey. I don't know much I can say it's very different to anything I've ever done. It's a complete opposite of anything I've ever done.”
At that point, Haddock had only done television mostly (aside from Captain America, she also booked a small role in the British comedy The Inbetweeners), starring in shows such as BBC’s How Not to Live Your Life and the Emmy-nominated drama Upstairs Downstairs and Missing. And after her Guardians debut, Haddock’s career continued to flourish in both film and television.
Here’s What Laura Haddock Has Been Up To Since ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’
Around the time that Haddock worked on the first Guardians film, the actress also landed a role in the Emmy-winning Starz series Da Vinci's Demons. And then, when Haddock returned to reprise her role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, she also got cast in Michael Bay’s Transformers: The Last Knight.
In the film, she played Vivian Wembly, an Oxford professor who also happens to be a descendant of Merlin. Incredibly, Haddock booked the part after she had just given birth to her son. “I was auditioning with Michael Bay for the movie, and he said, ‘The fact that you’re here and in the room, having just had a baby, makes me believe that you’re strong, and I want to hire you for this job,’” the actress recalled. “So that was a pretty amazing moment.”
Following the film’s release, it’s unclear if Haddock’s Vivian will ever make a return to the Transformers universe. Since then, however, the actress just kept going. In fact, just a couple of years later, Haddock booked the lead role in the Netflix crime drama White Lines. She also followed this up with the Peacock crime mystery The Capture.
Meanwhile, on the big screen, Haddock starred alongside Dianna Agron and Tom Hughes in the critically acclaimed drama thriller The Laureate. She then followed this up with the biopic Hill of Vision. At the same time, Haddock joined the cast of the critically acclaimed series Downton Abbey for its second film, Downton Abbey: A New Era.
In the movie, she played Myrna Dalgleish, a silent film actress who suddenly learns that her film is being turned into a talkie. And while most of the cast have been working together for years, Haddock had no problem fitting in, especially since it’s such a welcoming environment behind the scenes.
“It’s been amazing joining the cast, they’re brilliant,” Haddock remarked. “You see them all on screen, and they’re wonderful, but actually backstage, they’re brilliant as well… they made us all feel very welcome.”
At the same time, she also had a lot of fun with her character. “Myrna Dalgleish comes in and just stirs the pot,” the actress explained. “She’s a bit of an anomaly. She just bowls in with unapologetic energy.”
Meanwhile, Haddock is set to star alongside Noah Centineo in an upcoming Netflix spy series. Centineo is also serving as one of its executive producers. Aside from this, Haddock can also be seen in the upcoming drama Tyger. The actress is also one of the voice actors in the upcoming animated film Watch the Skies where she is joined by Sean Bean, Gemma Arterton, and Asa Butterfield.
As for a possible return to the MCU, there has been no hint that Haddock will appear in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but one can hope. On the other hand, the actress may also return to Downton, although a third Downton film is yet to be confirmed.