3-day-old infant was abandoned at a doorstep. 19 years later, she's co-starring with Julia Roberts
One of Northern Ireland's first adoptees is now making waves in the acting world
More often than not, when we look at successful stars, we assume that they were dealt a winning hand from the start. They were born into privilege, industry connections, or at least a stable, predictable path. But Northern Irish actor Thaddea Graham's story began very differently. Abandoned as an infant and later adopted by a family in Northern Ireland, Graham faced circumstances that could have defined the rest of her life. Instead, she grew up to share the screen with some of Hollywood's biggest names, including Julia Roberts and George Clooney. The actress's story came to light only recently in The Independent, with a snippet also posted on their Instagram (@the.independent) on May 18, amassing over 3,400 likes.
3-days-old, all alone in a city of 10 million
The 29-year-old's story began in Central China, where her parents left her at the doorstep of a building in the vibrant city of Changsha. Graham was all alone in a city with a population of over 10 million at just three days old. Anything could've happened to her, but thankfully, she was spotted by a kind, unknown person who did what was right and took her to the authorities. Soon, after just her first birthday, this small Chinese girl became one of the first international adoptees of Ireland.
She was adopted by a couple from Belfast. It was a feat so unique that it actually helped her and her new parents feature on the BBC Spotlight segment when she was just a toddler, according to Screen Daily. Soon, she moved to County Down, where she then grew up and took her first steps toward a new life. However, obviously, it didn't come without challenges, as back in the 1990s, the Asian population in Northern Ireland was almost non-existent. Still, the community did everything to make her feel she was no different from the rest of the kids.
Her teacher, Mrs. Hanlon, played a huge role in this. She not only made her feel included, but also celebrated her Chinese heritage. Amid all this, Graham developed her likeness for the stage. From dancing to dramatics, she did it all growing up. So, when the time came for her to choose what she wanted to study in college, she decided to opt for a Bachelor of Arts in Acting from the prestigious Arts Educational Schools in London, as per The Observer. It was there during the final year of her studies that she got her first major break.
Transitioning to the screen
After countless rejections, Graham landed her first role in Sky One's dystopian thriller series called "Curfew." Since then, she's never looked back. She went on to appear in the 2022 romantic comedy "Ticket to Paradise," sharing the screen with Julia Roberts and George Clooney, before landing roles in shows such as "Bad Sisters" and Apple TV+'s latest drama "Margo's Got Money Troubles." Her latest movie 'After the Hunt' (2025) also stars Julia Roberts. Nonetheless, Graham's story, inspiring as it is, also shines a light on a broader issue in Northern Ireland. According to CoramBAAF, 3,999 children were living under the care of local authorities.
What's concerning is that out of these children, about 82% have been under continuous care for about a year or longer. Additionally, only about 97 out of these looked-after children were adopted, showcasing that people aren't opting for adoption as much as they should.
People were happy to see Graham shine despite her tough childhood. Many of them extended their support to the rising star. @nywinelady wrote, "So so good in MGMT. Beautiful layered work. Funny character on the outside with so much heart and depth under the laughs. Loved watching her through Margot’s AND dad’s very different journeys..." Meanwhile, @terriconraddesigns noted, "I love watching her work! So, so talented."
You can follow Thaddea Graham (@thaddeagraham) on Instagram for more updates about her life.
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