Mia McKenna-Bruce Biography: Age, Wiki, Family, Relationship and More

Mia McKenna-Bruce is a rising British actress who has established herself as one of her generation’s most talented performers through critically acclaimed roles in both television and film. Moreover, her breakthrough performance in the indie film How to Have Sex (2023) earned her the prestigious BAFTA Rising Star Award at the 77th British Academy Film Awards, marking a pivotal moment in her career. Furthermore, at just 28 years old, she has already accumulated impressive credits including Netflix’s Persuasion, fantasy series Vampire Academy, and the upcoming The Seven Dials Mystery.

Mia McKenna-Bruce Biography / Wiki 

Who is Mia McKenna-Bruce?

Mia McKenna-Bruce is an English actress best known for her iconic role as Tee Taylor in Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground, which she portrayed from age 10 through her teenage years. Beyond these beloved children’s shows, she gained international recognition for her lead performance as Tara in Molly Manning Walker’s directorial debut How to Have Sex, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival and won the Un Certain Regard prize.​

Her film and television work spans diverse genres including period dramas (Persuasion, 2022), fantasy (Vampire Academy, The Witcher), thrillers (Get Even), and upcoming historical drama (The Seven Dials Mystery on Netflix). Currently, she balances her burgeoning acting career with motherhood, having welcomed her first child with actor husband Tom Leach in August 2023.​

Mia McKenna-Bruce Age – How Old is She?

Mia McKenna-Bruce was born on July 3, 1997 in Bexley, Kent, England. Consequently, she is 28 years old as of January 2026. Her zodiac sign is Cancer. She was born and raised in southeast London, in the historic Chislehurst and Bromley areas.​

Mia McKenna-Bruce Height & Appearance

Height: 5’0″ (1.52 meters), notably shorter than typical Hollywood standards, yet she carries herself with remarkable stage presence.​

Hair Color: Naturally dark blonde to light brown​

Eye Color: Not specifically documented in public sources​

Build: Petite and athletic, maintained through her lifelong dance background​

Distinctive Features: Her expressive face and natural charm have made her ideal for playing relatable, nuanced characters​

Her appearance has been characterized as “edgy and youthful” with a “light huskiness” to her voice, contributing to her casting in roles requiring authenticity and emotional vulnerability

Early Life and Background

Mia was born into a supportive family in Bexley, Kent, and raised in southeast London by her mother, Angela McKenna-Bruce. She grew up alongside her siblings Ellis and Anya in the historic Chislehurst area.​

Her interest in performance began remarkably early. At just two years old, she started taking dance classes at various academies including Sapphire Dance Academy in Bexleyheath and Liz Burville Performing Arts Centre in Bexley. By age six, after watching a television adaptation of the Titanic, she became fixated on acting.​

The catalyst for her professional career came at age seven when she auditioned for an amateur production of Seussical the Musical after finding an advertisement in the local newspaper. Her success in that production led her to secure her first theatrical agent. Subsequently, at age eight, she landed her first professional role as a ballet dancer in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical, making her one of the youngest professional performers in London’s theater district.​

Mia McKenna-Bruce Education

Mia McKenna-Bruce attended Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, a selective grammar school in Kent. She balanced secondary education with her increasingly demanding acting schedule from ages 8 through 18, demonstrating exceptional time management.​

Rather than pursuing traditional higher education immediately, she took a deliberate break from acting at age 18 after working continuously for a decade. During this hiatus, she spent eight months traveling in Australia, using the time for personal development and reflection.​

Upon returning to London at age 19, she pursued a part-time drama course at Capital Screen Arts, a specialized drama training institution focusing on screen acting. This unconventional path—combining childhood professional experience with structured adult training—equipped her with both practical on-set knowledge and formal dramatic technique.​

Mia McKenna-Bruce Profession

Mia McKenna-Bruce works as a professional actress and producer across film and television. Her work spans multiple genres and mediums:​

• Film Actress: She appears in features ranging from independent productions to major studio releases.​
• Television Actress: She performs in British television dramas, international co-productions, and streaming series.​
• Producer: She holds producer credits on certain projects, expanding her creative control.​
• Voice Work: She has provided narration for documentaries.​

Her career demonstrates strategic role selection, choosing projects offering emotional complexity and social relevance over purely commercial considerations.​

Mia McKenna-Bruce Career Journey

Early Childhood Career (2005–2012)

Mia’s professional acting began at age eight with her iconic role in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical, where she performed as one of the ballet dancers. This prestigious role on London’s West End marked the beginning of a decade-long run as a working child performer.​

Her first television appearance came in 2008 with a minor role in Small Dark Places, followed by guest appearances in established British television dramas. She made appearances in medical drama Holby City and the long-running soap opera EastEnders (2008), where she played Penny Branning in five episodes. Subsequently, she appeared in police procedural The Bill (2009) and medical series Doctors (2009).​

Her film debut arrived in 2009 with the supernatural thriller The Fourth Kind, where she played Ashley Tyler opposite Mimi Rogers. However, it was her role as Tee Taylor in Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012) that became her signature child role. Based on bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson’s beloved novels, the CBBC series made her a household name among British children.​

Extended Dumping Ground Era (2013–2018)

Following Tracy Beaker Returns, Mia reprised her role as Tee Taylor in the spin-off series The Dumping Ground (2013–2018), maintaining the character for five years and becoming synonymous with the role. The show’s success on CBBC and subsequent international distribution established her as a recognized performer globally.​

During this period, she also appeared in The Dumping Ground: I’m…, a webisode series, and The Dumping Ground Survival Files, demonstrating the franchise’s expansion across multiple platforms. This extended commitment to a single character provided both financial stability and significant professional challenge—playing the same role from ages 10 to 21 required constant character development and audience connection.​

Career Break & Transition (2018–2019)

At age 18, Mia made a courageous decision to step away from acting despite being in the midst of career success. Her stated reason reflected mature self-awareness: after a decade playing predominantly Tee Taylor, she had difficulty transitioning to adult acting roles and auditioning without established character frameworks. She also acknowledged feeling disadvantaged compared to peers who attended drama school full-time while she worked.​

This career break proved transformative. She traveled in Australia for eight months, gaining life perspective and emotional maturity. Upon returning to London at 19, she undertook part-time drama training while supporting herself through side jobs including office work, pub employment, and babysitting. These experiences, rather than derailing her dreams, ignited fresh commitment.​

Professional Resurgence (2019–2022)

Mia’s return to acting came through landing a role with Fully Focused UK, a youth-driven theatrical production company. Working with passionate artists rekindled her love for performance. She subsequently secured an agent and began “jobbing”—taking available roles while building her career methodically.​

Television roles during this period included appearances in The Witcher (2019) as Marilka, The Rebels (2019) as main character Enica, and most significantly, Get Even (2020) as Bree Deringer, a lead role in the BBC iPlayer thriller series. Her performance in Get Even demonstrated her evolution as an adult actress capable of carrying complex projects.​

In 2021, she secured the period drama role of Mary Musgrove in Netflix’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion (2022) and was cast as Mia Karp in the Peacock series Vampire Academy. These were significant opportunities introducing her to international streaming audiences.​

Breakthrough & Award Recognition (2022–2024)

The pivotal moment in Mia’s career arrived when she auditioned for and won the lead role of Tara in Molly Manning Walker’s directorial debut, How to Have Sex (2023). Filmed in Crete during October-November 2021, the indie film explores themes of consent, peer pressure, and sexual assault through the eyes of an inexperienced schoolgirl on a rite-of-passage holiday.​

The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival in May 2023 and won the Un Certain Regard prize, gaining immediate international recognition. Mia’s performance received universal critical praise. It is worth noting that Screen Daily identified her as a Screen Star of Tomorrow in 2023, cementing her status as an emerging talent, according to industry sources.​

Her accolades for this role accumulated impressively: she won the British Independent Film Award for Best Breakthrough Performer (2023), was nominated for Best European Actress at the European Film Awards (2023), won Best Breakthrough Performer of the Year at the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards (2024), and most significantly, won the BAFTA Rising Star Award at the 77th British Academy Film Awards (2024).​

Recent & Upcoming Projects (2024–2026)

In 2025, she appeared in The Lady as Jane Andrews, and The Fence as Leonie. Most notably, she is set to star in Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery on Netflix in 2026, playing the lead role of Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent.​

Looking forward, Mia was announced in 2025 to play Maureen Starkey in a series of Beatles biographical films directed by Sam Mendes, with productions scheduled for 2028 release. This high-profile casting indicates her rising stature in the industry.​

Mia McKenna-Bruce Movies and TV Shows

Feature Films

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2009	The Fourth Kind	Ashley Tyler	Supernatural thriller debut ​
2017	Milo	Mia	Short film ​
2019	Hit It and Quit It	Nikki	Short film ​
2022	Persuasion	Mary Musgrove	Netflix period drama ​
2023	How to Have Sex	Tara	Cannes winner; BAFTA Rising Star ​
2025	The Fence	Leonie	Feature film ​
2025	Eating the Future	Narrator	Documentary ​
TBA	Everybody Wants to F*ck Me	Lead role	Currently filming ​

Television Series

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2008	Small Dark Places	Ester	TV debut; 1 episode ​
2008	Holby City	Abi Taylor	Medical drama; 2 episodes ​
2008	EastEnders	Penny Branning	British soap; 5 episodes ​
2009	The Bill	Keira Curtis	Police procedural ​
2009	Doctors	Pearl Snow	Medical drama; 3 episodes ​
2010–2012	Tracy Beaker Returns	Tee Taylor	CBBC main role ​
2011	Spy	Ashley	1 episode ​
2011	The Tracy Beaker Survival Files	Tee Taylor	5 episodes ​
2013–2018	The Dumping Ground	Tee Taylor	Spin-off; main role ​
2014	The Dumping Ground Survival Files	Tee Taylor	Main role ​
2016	The Dumping Ground: I’m…	Tee Taylor	Webisode series ​
2017	Holby City (guest)	Asia Lucas	Episode: “Growing Pains” ​
2017	Josh	Babysitter	1 episode ​
2019	Piss Off, I Love You	Teen Snogger	1 episode ​
2019	Cleaning Up	Emily	1 episode ​
2019	The Rebels	Enica	Main role ​
2019	The Witcher	Marilka	Netflix fantasy; 1 episode ​
2020	Get Even	Bree Deringer	BBC iPlayer lead role ​
2021	Vera	Maya Draper	Crime drama; 1 episode ​
2022	Vampire Academy	Mia Karp	Peacock fantasy main role ​
2025	The Lady	Jane Andrews	Main cast; 4 episodes ​
2026	The Seven Dials Mystery	Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent	Netflix; lead role ​

Video Games

She provided voice work for Tracy Beaker Returns: You Choose (2011) and The Dumping Ground Game series (2013–2015), reprising her character Tee Taylor.​

Mia McKenna-Bruce Family

Relationship	Name/Details
Mother	Angela McKenna-Bruce ​
Father	Name not publicly disclosed ​
Sister	Anya McKenna-Bruce ​
Brother	Ellis McKenna-Bruce ​
Husband	Tom Leach (married August 2024) ​
Son	Born August 2023 (name not publicly disclosed) ​
Engagement	February 2022 ​

Marriage & Motherhood

It is worth noting that Mia became engaged to fellow actor Tom Leach in February 2022, according to official sources. The couple welcomed their first child in August 2023 while still engaged, demonstrating modern relationship dynamics. They subsequently married in August 2024, making their relationship official before the press.​

Mia has been candid about motherhood’s challenges while maintaining a successful acting career. When filming in Senegal for three months in 2024, she brought her young son and husband with her, prioritizing family unity over conventional career demands. She has discussed “mum guilt” as a real concern while acknowledging the importance of modeling working motherhood for her child.​

Mia McKenna-Bruce Net Worth

As of 2026, Mia McKenna-Bruce’s net worth is estimated between $1 million to $5 million. Her wealth has accumulated through:​

Television Work: Her decade-long role as Tee Taylor in Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground generated consistent income from CBBC and international broadcast.​

Film Roles: Her breakthrough performance in How to Have Sex and subsequent roles in Persuasion, Vampire Academy, and upcoming Netflix projects command increasingly higher compensation.​

BAFTA Recognition: Her BAFTA Rising Star Award (2024) significantly increased her market value and likely resulted in higher fees for subsequent projects.​Upcoming Major Projects: Her casting in the Beatles biographical films (2028) and The Seven Dials Mystery suggests continued financial growth.