Whether you know her from her TV appearances or are a fan of her books, Mary Beard has carved out an impressive career as an expert in Ancient Rome. Find out more about her with our guide – including which languages she can speak (and the surprising one she can't always decipher)...
Who is Mary Beard?
Mary Beard is an English classicist, author and TV presenter specialising in Ancient Rome. She taught at the University of Cambridge for over 40 years as a Professor of Classics, and is now a trustee of the British Museum. She has been awarded an OBE and a DBE.
Her books include Emperor of Rome, Women & Power: A Manifesto and SPQR. Her TV programmes include Inside Culture and Meet the Roman Emperor with Mary Beard.
How old is she?
Mary Beard was born on 1 January 1955.
Where does she live?
Mary Beard is based in Cambridge.
Is Mary Beard married?
Mary married art historian and classicist Robin Cormack in 1985.
Does she have any children?
Mary Beard has two adult children with her husband Robin.
Where did she go to school?
Mary Beard went to an all-girls' school in Shropshire, then went to Newnham College at the University of Cambridge. She stayed at Cambridge to complete her PhD.
What languages does she speak?
According to a post on X, Mary Beard can speak Italian and French, and read Spanish.
Can Mary Beard understand Latin?
In an article for the Times Literary Supplement, Mary has said that you don't 'know Latin' in the same way you would a modern language, writing 'It's not really the same when you are reading anything complicated for the first time.'
Find out more
Check out our guides to other favourite TV presenters, including Alice Roberts, Matt Baker, Helen Skelton, Iolo Williams, Megan McCubbin, Anita Rani and Gillian Burke.
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Main image: Mary Beard in 2017. Credit: UC3M (youtube), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
