The Wheel of Time, featuring Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred, an Aes Sedai in search of the Dragon Reborn, is now streaming weekly on Amazon Prime Video. The acclaimed English actress and producer, known for her roles in Gone Girl, State of the Union, and 3 Body Problem, was born in Hammersmith, London, to opera singers Julian Pike and Caroline Friend.

She was discovered by an agent while performing as Juliet in a National Youth Theatre production of Romeo and Juliet. Despite being rejected by every stage school she applied to, she went on to study English literature at Wadham College, Oxford.

After taking a year off to focus on acting, she landed several roles in plays. Post-graduation, she was cast as a Bond girl and MI6 agent in Die Another Day, making her the first Bond girl to have attended Oxford.

Her portrayal of Amy Dunne in Gone Girl garnered further attention, with director David Fincher stating she had been his top choice. He wanted to cast someone not widely recognized and found her 'difficult to read'.

In her personal life, she dated actor Simon Woods for two years while at Oxford. They later portrayed lovers Jane Bennet and Charles Bingley in Pride and Prejudice.