Laura Clarke is a prominent British diplomat best known for serving as the British High Commissioner to New Zealand from 2018 to 2022. She is also known as the mother of rising actress Nell Fisher, who gained international attention for her portrayal of Holly Wheeler in the fifth season of Netflix's hit show Stranger Things.
Profile Summary
Laura Mary Clarke was born on 3 June 1978 in England. As of 2026, she is 48 years old. She is a British national of white ethnicity and follows Christianity. She is married to Toby Fisher, a New Zealand environmental lawyer, and they have three children: Nell, Blake, and Margot.
Early Life and Background
Laura Clarke was raised in England. While she keeps her parents and siblings private, she has shared that her mother’s side has aristocratic English roots, with direct descendants including Lord Liverpool, the first Governor-General of New Zealand. Her father passed away in 1999. In a November 2019 Instagram post, she wrote: 'My Dad died 20 years ago today. He taught me that everyone is interesting if you ask the right questions; that there are a few things better in the world than climbing a mountain with friends; and that you fill your children with love until it overflows.'
Education
Clarke attended the University of Cambridge, earning a Master of Arts in Modern Languages (German and Russian). She later studied at the London School of Economics from 2002 to 2003, graduating with a Master of Science in International Relations.
Career Journey
According to her ClientEarth profile, Clarke began her career in public service before joining the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2006. She held senior roles including Team Leader for EU Justice and Home Affairs, Chief of Staff to the Minister for Europe, Political Counsellor in South Africa, and Head of the South Asia Department. She also worked on UK relations with India, Sudan, and Yemen. In recognition of her service, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Between 2018 and 2022, Clarke served as British High Commissioner to New Zealand, High Commissioner to Samoa, and Governor of the Pitcairn Islands. During her tenure, she helped negotiate the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and facilitated climate cooperation across the South Pacific during the UK's COP26 Presidency. She also issued a formal statement of regret on behalf of the British government to Māori communities over the killing of nine of their leaders during Captain James Cook's first voyage in 1769.
In 2022, Clarke left diplomacy to become CEO of ClientEarth, a global environmental law organisation. As CEO, she leads teams across Europe, Asia, and Africa, using legal action to protect the environment and hold governments and companies accountable.
Personal Life and Family
Laura Clarke married Toby Fisher in December 2006. Toby is a New Zealand barrister specialising in international, public, environmental, and human rights law. The couple has three children: Blake, Margot, and Nell Fisher, who plays Holly Wheeler in Stranger Things.
Nell's parents played an unexpected role in her casting. For years, Laura did not let Nell watch Stranger Things because she thought it was too scary. However, after Nell was cast, Clarke finally allowed her to watch. During a January 2026 interview on ITV's This Morning, Nell admitted: 'I have been lobbying to watch it for a long time, but my mum claimed that it would be too scary, she meant it would be too scary for her! But then I got this audition, and it was like … so first of all, 'Oh I could be in Stranger Things, that's exciting.' But my main thought was 'OK, I now get to watch it!''
FAQs
- Who is Laura Clarke? Laura Clarke OBE is a former British diplomat and current CEO of ClientEarth.
- Where is she from? She is from the United Kingdom and grew up in the rural English countryside.
- What is she famous for? She is known as British High Commissioner to New Zealand and mother of Stranger Things actress Nell Fisher.
- What is her religion? She is Christian.
- Where did she study? University of Cambridge and London School of Economics.
- Who is her husband? Toby Fisher, a New Zealand barrister.
- Who are Nell Fisher's siblings? Blake and Margot.
- Where does she live? London, England.
