Michael Button
Fiona Button is an English actress, born in Lausanne , Switzerland , in 1983 to a Swiss mother and an English father. She was raised in Newbury, Berkshire , where she attended Park House School and later St. Bartholomew's School for sixth form . Button studied drama at the University of Birmingham before training at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London .
Button began her career in stage and screen acting, appearing in London theatre productions and early television roles in series such as The Bill , Midsomer Murders , and The Palace . She gained prominence for her role as Tess Roberts in the BBC Three drama Lip Service (2010–2012), a series exploring lesbian relationships in contemporary Glasgow. Her breakthrough in mainstream television came with the role of Rose Defoe, the free-spirited youngest daughter in a family of divorce lawyers, in the BBC legal drama The Split (2018–2024), which earned critical acclaim for its portrayal of modern family dynamics and gender issues.
In addition to television, Button has appeared in films and other series, including a role in the HBO financial drama Industry (2020) and the romantic comedy Truelove (2024). She is also a voice artist, known for her versatile range including fresh, young, cool, honest, and intelligent tones, and speaks fluent Swiss French and French. Button has directed projects and continues to work in both acting and voice-over capacities, represented by agencies for on-screen and audio work.
Fiona Button was born in 1983 in Lausanne , Switzerland , to a Swiss mother, Jacqueline, and an English father, Charles.
Her parents' marriage ended in divorce when Button was four years old, after which she and her older sister moved to live with their mother in Berkshire , England .
Button was raised in Newbury, Berkshire, where she attended Park House School and later the sixth form at St. Bartholomew's School , following the family's relocation from Switzerland .
Fiona Button attended the University of Birmingham , where she studied drama and earned an undergraduate degree around 2005.
Her time there fostered a deep appreciation for the subject, as she later recalled enjoying the city's vibrant cultural scene, including local curries and the evolving Bullring area, which complemented her academic pursuits.
Following her undergraduate studies, Button took a year of odd jobs before enrolling at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London for specialized acting training.
She graduated from the academy in 2007, having focused on classical techniques such as Received Pronunciation (RP) to prepare for stage work.
During her time at Webber Douglas—now integrated into the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama—Button engaged in rigorous performance training that emphasized vocal and physical discipline, though she later reflected that developing her unique voice was equally crucial for professional success.
The academy's curriculum provided Button with foundational skills that directly bridged her academic background to early professional opportunities, enabling her to secure roles immediately upon graduation, such as her West End debut in Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll .
This training built on her early interest in performance, honed through informal experiences, and equipped her with the versatility needed for theatre transitions.
Fiona Button made her West End debut in Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll in 2007, originating the roles of young Esme and Alice at the Royal Court Theatre before the production transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre , under the direction of Trevor Nunn .
Her performance as Wendy Darling in the Royal Shakespeare Company's Wendy & Peter Pan in 2013 marked a significant lead role, with the production receiving critical acclaim for its fresh adaptation of J.M. Barrie's classic.
