Thandiwe Newton

• Television role (Wednesday): Joined Wednesday Season 2 (2025) as Dr. Rachael Fairburn, chief psychiatrist at Willow Hill Psychiatric Facility, described by TheWrap and People as a trailblazer in outcast psychiatry who oversees Tyler Galpin's treatment.
• Award-winning TV role: Won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2018 for playing Maeve Millay in HBO's Westworld (out of three Emmy nominations for the role), per the Television Academy; also won two Critics' Choice Awards for the part.
• Award-winning film role: Won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Crash (2004), per the Television Academy and TheWrap/People.
• Franchise film work: Appeared as Nyah Nordoff-Hall in Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) and as Val in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), per TheWrap and People.

Performance style

• Commanding, authoritative stillness — TheWrap profiles Newton's Dr. Fairburn as the 'chief psychiatrist' at Willow Hill with a trailblazing reputation, and People notes she is an 'Emmy-winning' performer bringing weight to the role; the part calls for a restrained, authoritative register.
• Acclaimed dramatic range (anchor work) — The Television Academy records Newton's Emmy-winning, critically acclaimed turn as Maeve Millay in Westworld; TheWrap and People cite Westworld as her best-known role.

Reception

• Wednesday Season 2 (2025): Newton's casting as Dr. Fairburn was highlighted as a high-profile Season 2 addition by TheWrap and People; the role was framed as a potential antagonist before the season's twist. No independent critic review of her specific performance was retrieved this pass.
• Westworld (2016-2022): Newton won the 2018 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Maeve Millay and received two Critics' Choice Awards, per the Television Academy - recognition attributed to named awards bodies.

Cast they appear alongside

• Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams (Wednesday) — Title lead; Fairburn is a figure Wednesday investigates at Willow Hill.
• Hunter Doohan as Tyler Galpin (Wednesday) — Fairburn's patient at Willow Hill.
• Heather Matarazzo as Judi (Wednesday) — Fairburn's executive assistant at Willow Hill.
• Steve Buscemi as Barry Dort (Wednesday) — Nevermore principal in Season 2.
• Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams (Wednesday) — Nevermore parent; Season 2.

Who plays Dr. Fairburn in Wednesday?

Thandiwe Newton plays Dr. Rachael Fairburn, the chief psychiatrist at Willow Hill Psychiatric Facility, in Season 2 (2025).

What is Dr. Rachael Fairburn's job in Wednesday?

She is the chief psychiatrist at Willow Hill, where she oversees the treatment of Tyler Galpin and is described as a trailblazer in outcast mental health, per TheWrap and People.

Did Thandiwe Newton win an Emmy for Westworld?

Yes. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2018 for playing Maeve Millay in Westworld, out of three Emmy nominations for the role, per the Television Academy.

Is Thandiwe Newton a guest or main cast member in Wednesday?

She was announced as a guest star for Wednesday Season 2; her character Dr. Fairburn appears at Willow Hill, per the Season 2 cast guides.

What is Thandiwe Newton known for besides Wednesday?

She is best known as Maeve Millay in HBO's Westworld (Emmy-winning), Christine in Crash (BAFTA-winning), and roles in Mission: Impossible 2 and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

• Wednesday — show hub
• Wednesday cast guide
• All Actors & Cast
• Adam Scott
• Billie Piper
• Britt Lower
• Catherine Zeta-Jones
• Christina Ricci
• Christopher Walken
• Dichen Lachman
• Emma D'Arcy
• Emma Myers
• Evie Templeton
• Fred Armisen
• Georgie Farmer
• Gwendoline Christie
• Hunter Doohan
• Isaac Ordonez
• Jamie McShane
• Jen Tullock
• Jenna Ortega
• Joanna Lumley
• John Turturro
• Joy Sunday
• Justin Hartley
• Luis Guzman
• Moosa Mostafa
• Patricia Arquette
• Percy Hynes White
• Riki Lindhome
• Sarah Bock
• Steve Buscemi
• Tramell Tillman
• Victor Dorobantu
• Zach Cherry