British actress Ophelia Lovibond has kicked off 2026 with the most joyous of news, announcing she has become a mother for the first time. The star revealed she and her husband, actor Henry Pettigrew, welcomed their newborn on New Year's Eve 2025.
A Radiant Announcement on Social Media
The 39-year-old, best known for her roles in Minx and Elementary, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share her happiness with fans. She posted a series of tender selfies where she beamed at the camera, her newborn baby curled up and sleeping peacefully on her chest.
In her caption, Lovibond marked the profound personal milestone, writing: 'A very special year ✨✨ #thankyou2025 #sweettthing #happynewyears #nye2025'. She chose to keep her child's name and sex private for the time being, focusing instead on the sheer joy of her new arrival.
Congratulations Pour In From Famous Friends
The announcement was swiftly met with an outpouring of love from her followers and celebrity peers. Dee O'Leary, wife of presenter Dermot O'Leary, responded with a string of heart emojis. Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor exclaimed, ‘Woo! Congratulations! Happy news xxxx’, while fellow pop star Pixie Lott and TV presenter Laura Whitmore also sent their warmest wishes.
Lovibond had first shared her pregnancy news in June 2025 with a striking black-and-white photograph. The beachside snap showed her cradling her baby bump in a bikini, captioned simply: 'Baby on the way!'
A Love Story Forged On Stage
The arrival of their first child comes three years after Ophelia and Henry tied the knot, culminating a romance that began nearly a decade ago. The couple first met and fell in love in 2015 while playing lovers in Lucy Prebble’s theatre production, The Effect.
Reflecting on their intense beginning, Ophelia once admitted, 'It was quite intense - the characters in the play fall in love. We just knew.' Their connection proved undeniable, leading to a proposal from Henry in 2021 that left Ophelia 'over the moon'.
They married in 2022 at the historic Wilton’s Music Hall in London, in a celebration Ophelia described as her 'dream wedding'. The ceremony featured a gospel choir performing Stevie Wonder and vows exchanged amidst wildflowers and fairy lights.
Professionally, Lovibond's career continues to thrive with diverse roles, from leading the feminist comedy Minx to portraying Carrie Johnson in This England. She also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Carina. Henry Pettigrew is renowned for his portrayal of astronaut Neil Armstrong in Netflix's The Crown.
