Kierston Wareing
Born on 7 January in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, Kierston Wareing is a British actress whose work spans gritty British cinema and acclaimed television drama. She is perhaps best known to fans of this franchise for her role as Kate Carter in the original Rise of the Footsoldier (2007), a performance she reprised in archive footage in Rise of the Footsoldier 3: The Pat Tate Story (2017).
Early Film Career
Wareing’s entry into film was immediately striking. Her first screen role was the lead in Ken Loach‘s It’s a Free World… (2007), playing Angie, a performance that announced her as a significant new talent in British cinema. That same year she appeared in *Rise of the Footsoldier, cementing her place in one of the most celebrated British crime films of the decade.
She followed this with a supporting role in Andrea Arnold‘s *Fish Tank (2009), playing Joanne Williams. The film was a major critical success, winning the BAFTA Award for Best British Film and the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Television Work
Wareing has built an equally strong reputation on television. Her credits include long-running and critically praised series such as Luther, Wire in the Blood, and The Take. She also appeared in the darkly comic The End of the F*ing World as Debbie, and in the BBC adaptation Strike as Leda Strike.
Further Film Credits
Beyond the Rise of the Footsoldier franchise, Wareing has continued to take on varied film roles. These include The Double (2014), 100 Streets (2016) as Kathy, Love Bite (2012) as Natalie, and Avengement (2019) as Bez. More recently she appeared in Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare (2025) as Roxanne “Roxy” Hook.
Wareing’s career demonstrates a consistent commitment to bold, character-driven roles across both independent British film and mainstream television, making her one of the most versatile actresses of her generation.