English model and actress Talulah Jane Riley-Milburn, better known by her stage name Talulah Riley, has acted in a number of movies, including Pride & Prejudice, The Boat That Rocked, St. Trinian’s, Inception, and St. Trinian’s 2: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold. In addition to being a well-known movie star, she made headlines for her marriage to millionaire businessman Elon Musk. Despite being the talk of the town, the couple’s relationship was, to put it mildly, difficult. It would be unjust to Talulah, an incredibly gifted actress who has performed in stage plays, television, and countless movies, to think of her as just Musk’s wife. The British actress is frequently compared to fellow countrywomen in Hollywood like Kendall Jenner and Anya Wu as the industry’s upcoming big thing. Talulah has maintained a high level of professionalism despite being divorced and having a challenging personal life, especially in a fiercely cutthroat field like movies.
Early Childhood & Life
On September 26, 1985, Una Riley and Doug Milburn welcomed a daughter, Talulah Jane Riley-Milburn. Tallulah, her parents’ lone child, was raised in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK. Talulah hails from a well-off, reputable family. His father, screenwriter Doug Milburn, has a number of well-known scripts in his resume.
He has written numerous episodes for well-known television programs like The Bill, Prime Suspect, and Silent Witness. He led the National Security Unit before switching to screenwriting. Una Riley, Riley’s mother, is a well-known figure in her industry. She started and is the CEO of two businesses: a security agency and a PR firm.
Riley was raised exclusively in England. She went to Berkhamsted Collegiate School and Aske’s School for Girls, both run by Haberdashers. Cheltenham Women’s College served as her place of higher education. She pursued acting in London while also enrolling in the Open University.
Talulah’s Riley Career
Riley began her on-screen career in 2003 at the age of barely 18. Her first appearance in cinema was as a minor supporting character in the Poirot movie adaptation of Agatha Christie. She made an appearance in one of the Five Little Pigs episodes.
When she was chosen for Joe Wright’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” in 2005, she had her first significant break. She portrayed Mary Bennet, one of the protagonist’s sisters, who was masterfully portrayed by Penelope Cruz. Despite not playing the main character in the film, her performance caught the eye of the filmmakers, and she hasn’t looked back since.
After “Pride and Prejudice,” she was cast in a variety of parts, both significant and minor. She appeared in supporting roles in a number of films and television programs during the following several years, including Agatha Christie’s “Marple,” “Friends Forever,” and “Phoo Action.” She joined the St. Trinian’s franchise and originated the character of Annabelle Fritton. St. Trinian’s 2: The Tale of Fritton’s Gold included her in the same role as well.
Riley portrayed Lila Reed in the 2007 television series “Almost Famous,” in which she also had a key part. She was featured in each of the show’s six episodes. She portrayed Miss Evangelista in the renowned television program “Doctor Who” in 2008.
She played the major role in the 2009 short film “The Summer House.” The film was extremely highly regarded all over the world and peaked at the top of numerous rating charts, including iTunes.
The biggest movie in her resume was Christopher Nolan’s box office smash “Inception,” which was released in 2010. Riley had the opportunity to collaborate with the talented director and appeared on-screen alongside Leonardo Di Caprio.
Riley has appeared in other films since Inception, including “The Dilemma,” “White Frog,” “The Knot,” “The Liability,” and “In a World.” She portrayed a nurse in the Marvel film “Thor: The Dark World.” Riley landed a repeat part in the popular television series “Westworld,” which was created and directed by Christopher Nolan’s brother, Jonathan Nolan.
Riley appeared in six of the 10 episodes that were shown in season one of the show, which was an instant hit. Riley portrays Angela in the science fiction program, one of the “hosts” who welcomes the “guests” into the robot world. The second season of the program, which is anticipated to premiere in 2018, also has her scheduled to feature.
She plays Jeanette Mitchell in her most recent film, “The Final Witness.” In the latter half of 2017, the movie is scheduled for release.
Riley has worked on theatrical productions in London in addition to film and TV shows. 2005 was her debut performance on stage in “The Philadelphia Story” at London’s famed Old Vic theater. In 2006, she participated in the stage adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ “Summer and Smoke.”
Riley’s Individual Life
Riley’s private life has generated a lot of controversies. She was married to Elon Musk, the millionaire founder of the technology juggernaut Tesla. At Mayfair, London’s West End club Whisky Mist is where the two first connected. At the time, Musk was going through a divorce from his first wife. After nearly two years of dating, they started taking things seriously and got married in 2010.
Unfortunately, soon after, reports of problems in their marriage started to circulate, and things started to go south. In December 2012, Musk requested a divorce, and the pair separated.
They made up a year after the divorce and wed once more. It attracted a lot of media attention, and at the time, articles about their marriage appeared in every tabloid. Although they weren’t parents, the pair shared a home with Musk’s five children from his prior marriage.
Nevertheless, this time around, their marriage also did not survive very long. On December 31st, 2014, Musk re-filed for divorce. According to the couple’s pre-nuptial agreement, the alimony was set at 16 million US dollars in cash and a sizeable quantity of assets. Musk eventually withdrew the lawsuit, but by that time the well had already been contaminated.
Riley filed for divorce on her own in March 2016, not waiting for Musk to have the chance to do so. Also, she stated that they had been living apart for more than six months prior to filing for divorce. In October 2016, the divorce was finally formalized. The settlement’s precise financial information has not yet been made public.
Recognition & Awards
Over Riley’s career, she has received five nominations for international honors, including the renowned Screen Actor Guild Awards and the Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards. In 2015, she was also a candidate for the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s Audience Award.
Estimated Net Worth
Her divorce from financier and entrepreneur Elon Musk landed her name in the tabloids. As of 2023, Riley’s total net worth is projected to reach $1.5 million.
Trivia
Riley was the cover model for Esquire’s March 2010 edition, which emphasized fashion.
Also, she was selected as one of the 2011 Brits to Watch by BAFTA (British Academy of Cinema and Television Art). According to rumors, she was a virgin when she wed Musk in 2010.