Yrsa Daley-Ward
Born 1989 · Age 37
English writer, model and actor known for poetry (Bone), memoir (The Terrible), co‑writer on Beyoncé's Black Is King, and as an Instagram poet.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Chorley, Lancashire, England
Born in Chorley, Lancashire to a Jamaican mother and Nigerian father; raised by grandparents who were devout Seventh-day Adventists.
Raised by grandparents in a Seventh-day Adventist household
Grew up with grandparents in Chorley; religious upbringing later informed her writing.
Began modelling career (approx.)
Began modelling in her late teens and early 20s, later working for major brands; start estimated in mid/late 2000s.
Acting: Appeared in Drop Dead Gorgeous
Early acting appearance credited in TV/film listing (Drop Dead Gorgeous).
Acting: Appeared in Shameless
Television appearance in Shameless (credited in filmography).
Moved to South Africa to pursue modelling
Found money to buy a ticket to South Africa in search of more diverse modelling opportunities; subsequently lived there for about three years.
Began performing poetry in Cape Town
While living in South Africa she started writing and performing her own poetry at venues in Cape Town, gaining recognition.
Acting: Appeared in David Is Dying
Credit in short/film 'David is Dying' (2011) listed in filmography.
Returned to London
After living in South Africa for approximately three years, she returned to London in 2012.
Invited by British Council to headline Johannesburg poetry festivals
Shortly after returning to London she was invited back to South Africa to work with the British Council, headlining two poetry festivals in Johannesburg.
Television: Appeared in Kidnap and Ransom
Credit in television drama 'Kidnap and Ransom' (2012).
Named one of five female writers to watch by Company Magazine
Listed by Company Magazine as a top five female writer to watch.
Publication: On Snakes and Other Stories (short stories)
Published a book of short stories, On Snakes and Other Stories (3:am Press), marking an early literary release.
Acting: Credit in Death Race: Inferno (video)
Appeared in 'Death Race: Inferno' (2013) according to filmography listings.
Early critical recognition and festival headline slots
By 2013 she was headlining poetry festivals (e.g., Johannesburg) and attracting festival bookings and critical attention.
TEDx Talk: 'Your Stories and You' at TEDxSquareMile
Delivered a TEDx talk (video posted 2 December 2013) about storytelling and personal narratives.
Self-published poetry collection 'Bone'
First edition of Bone self-published; collection contains poems on identity, race, mental health, and femininity.
Acting: Appeared in Der Koch
Acting credit in film 'Der Koch' (2014) listed in filmography.
Gained substantial Instagram following ('Instagram poet')
Became widely known as an 'Instagram poet'—using Instagram/Twitter to publish and promote poetry and build her audience (growth principally 2013–2017).
Acting: Appeared in multiple films (A Moving Image, White Colour Black, Boxx)
Multiple acting credits in 2016 across short/feature projects.
Penguin republishes 'Bone' with foreword by Kiese Laymon
Bone was picked up by Penguin (Particular Books) in 2017 with additional poems and an introductory essay by Kiese Laymon, widening distribution and profile.
Social media and mainstream crossover begins
Transition from social-media poet to mainstream publishing/press around Penguin pickup and national profiles (2017 onward).
Interview/profile in ELLE UK
Featured in ELLE (12 Oct 2017) discussing craft, social media and resilience.
Atlantic magazine praises 'Bone'
Hanif Abdurraqib in The Atlantic called Bone an 'impressive debut', further elevating critical reception.
Profiled by major news outlets (e.g., BBC News Jan 2018, The Guardian June 2018)
Featured in multiple national/international outlets as a leading contemporary poet and writer.
Themes of writing gain prominence: mental health, identity
Public and critical attention emphasized her poems on depression and identity (e.g., 'Mental Health' in Bone), shaping her public persona and advocacy.
Publication: The Terrible (memoir)
Released The Terrible, a coming-of-age memoir in June 2018, to strong critical acclaim.
BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour appearance
Discussed her life and read her poem 'Poetry' on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour (4 June 2018).
Publication: Contributor to New Daughters of Africa anthology
Contributed work to Margaret Busby's 2019 anthology New Daughters of Africa.
Award: Won the PEN/Ackerley Prize for The Terrible
The Terrible won the PEN/Ackerley Prize in 2019, recognizing excellence in autobiographical writing.
Acting: TV - World on Fire (Series debut)
Appeared as Connie Knight in World on Fire (series began 2019; credited through 2019–2023).
Acting: World on Fire credited through 2023
Appeared as Connie Knight in World on Fire (credited 2019–2023), continuing parallel literary and acting careers.
Co-writer credit on Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' (visual album)
Credited as a co-writer on Beyoncé's musical film/visual album Black Is King, released as a visual companion to The Lion King: The Gift; release and coverage peaked July 2020.
Acting: TV - Outer Range (Series debut as Dr. Nia Bintu)
Appeared as Dr. Nia Bintu in Outer Range, credited for Series 1 and 2 (2021–2024).
Publication: The How – Notes on the Great Work of Meeting Yourself
Published The How (2 November 2021), a compilation of essays, poems and advice focusing on self-discovery.
Work featured widely in fashion/lifestyle publications
By this time her writing and byline had appeared in Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Dazed, Playboy and Notion (ongoing contributor/subject).
Acting: Outer Range credited through 2024
Continued appearance in Outer Range Series 2 (credit range shown as 2021–2024).
Honorary Doctorate from Lancaster University
Awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Lancaster University, recognizing achievement in literature and the arts.
Publication: The Catch (novel) released
Published The Catch: A Novel (W.W. Norton/Liveright) in 2025 — a novel on motherhood, sisterhood and family, with reviews and features in major outlets.
Major reviews and features for The Catch (NYT, NPR, Cosmopolitan)
The Catch received coverage in The New York Times Book Review, NPR and Cosmopolitan in mid‑2025.
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