Samantha Spiro
Samantha Spiro | |
---|---|
Born | |
Education | Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art (BA) |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1994–present |
Spouse | Mark Leadbetter (m. 2002) |
Children | 2 |
Samantha Spiro (born 20 June 1968) is an English actress and singer. She is best known for portraying
Background
Born in
Spiro attended Bancroft's School from 1982 to 1985 and subsequently returned in 2016 for an Arts & Drama masterclass[6] Spiro spoke about how her time at Bancroft's had fuelled her enthusiasm for a career in the Arts.
Spiro married actor Mark Leadbetter, whom she met at drama school, in February 2002.[7] They have two daughters and live in Queen's Park, London.[2]
Career
Theatre
Spiro's first acting job after graduating from drama school was with the
Spiro played Barbara Windsor in Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick at the National Theatre, a production she credits as her first big break, which "open[ed] a lot of doors".[5] She has also appeared in the Minerva Theatre production of Funny Girl and the first West End revival of Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce.[1][8]
Spiro played Rachel in Mike Leigh's production of Two Thousand Years at the National Theatre. This was the first Jewish role of her career. She said:
For English/Jewish artists in this business, we’re English first and the Jewish thing comes down the line. Whereas in the United States, Jewishness is a much celebrated thing. Jewishness is a part of their very being.
Here, I think, we repress it and, far from celebrating it, almost shy away from it. After Two Thousand Years, I suddenly felt that there is a place for people like me. Until that point I hadn’t had a career playing Jewish people. I had got that stuff out of the way by the time I came to play Fanny Brice [in Funny Girl] who is very much a Jewish character.[3]
In 2009, Spiro played Maria in the
In 2013, Spiro played Lady Macbeth in Macbeth at Shakespeare's Globe, alongside Billy Boyd and Joseph Millson.
Discussing whether she prefers acting in the theatre to television or film, Spiro said: "I think theatre prefers me. These days you have to do both, but it never feels as if the TV casting people are beating down my door to offer me work. I just feel that in this business you are lucky if you’re doing something you enjoy."[5]
Television, film and radio
Spiro reprised the role of Barbara Windsor in the television adaptation of Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick, Cor, Blimey!, starring opposite Geoffrey Hutchings.[10]
Her other television credits include
In September 2013, Spiro joined the cast of the BBC Three sitcom Bad Education as Professor Celia Green, the new deputy headmaster and adversary to Jack Whitehall's character.
In 2013 Spiro starred in an episode of the Sky Atlantic series Little Crackers, an autobiographical comedy written by Rebecca Front in which Spiro played Front's mother.
In 2016 she joined the
Spiro has appeared in the films Beyond Bedlam (1994), as WPC Foster, and Tomorrow La Scala! (2002), as Janey. She also played Martha Tabram in From Hell (2001), opposite Johnny Depp.
Her radio drama credits include The Casebook of Inspector Steine, Gospel According to Mary, Little Cinderellas, Beside the Seaside,
In 2018 Spiro played the role of Mrs Erlynne in Kathy Burke's production of Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan at London's Vaudeville Theatre. This production was recorded and shown in cinemas under the "More2Screen" initiative.
From 2019 to 2023, Spiro portrayed the recurring character Maureen Groff in Laurie Nunn's British comedy-drama series Sex Education.
Awards
In 2001, Spiro was awarded the
Spiro won a 2004
In the 2011 British Comedy Awards she won the Best Female Comedy Breakthrough Artist award for her performance in Grandma's House.[15]
Filmography
Film
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Beyond Bedlam | WPC Foster | |
1998 | Guru in Seven | Sharon | |
2001 | From Hell | Martha Tabram | |
2002 | Tomorrow La Scala! | Janey | |
2016 | Me Before You | Josie Clark | |
2017 | Carnage | Edith Paper | |
2017 | Catherine the Great: Husbands, Lovers and Sons | Catherine II
|
|
2019 | Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans | Mrs. Felix | |
2023 | One Life | Esther Rantzen |
Television
Year | Show | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | The Bill | Cherie | Episode: "Dealer Wins" |
1994 | The Knock | Young Woman | Episode: #1.1 |
2000 | Cor, Blimey! | Barbara Windsor | TV film |
2001 | Cold Feet | Ruth Wylie | 3 episodes |
TV Go Home | Sarah Galoshes | Unknown episodes | |
2002 | Sir Gawain and the Green Knight | Red Lady | Voice; TV film |
2003 | M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team | DI Vivien Friend | 8 episodes |
2004 | Coupling | Jeffina | Episode: "9½ Months" |
2007 | After You've Gone | Ann Venables | 2 episodes |
2010–2012 | Grandma's House | Auntie Liz | All 12 episodes |
2011 | Rock & Chips | Beryl Bird | Episode: "The Frog and the Pussycat" |
2012 | Playhouse Presents | Mary Whitehouse | Episode: "Psychobitches" |
2012–2014 | Psychobitches | Various | 11 episodes |
2012 | Little Crackers | Sheila Front | Episode: "Rainy Days and Mondays" |
2012 | Panto! | Di Jenkins | TV film |
2013 | Bad Education | Professor Celia Green | 3 episodes |
2014 | The Wrong Mans | Maria | Episode: "X-Mans" |
2015 | London Spy | Detective Taylor | 4 episodes |
2016–2018 | Tracey Ullman's Show | Various | 13 episodes |
2016,2019 | Plebs | Sylvia | 2 episodes |
2016 | Game of Thrones | Melessa Tarly
|
Episode: "Blood of My Blood" |
2017 | Babs | Barbara Windsor | TV film |
2017–2018 | Tracey Breaks the News
|
Various | TV pilot |
2017 | Doctor Who | Hazran | Episode: "The Doctor Falls" |
Doc Martin | Tina Collins | Episode: "Accidental Hero" | |
2018 | Grandpa's Great Escape | Patricia Bunting | TV film |
2018 | Oi Leonardo | Various | 3 episodes |
2018 | Agatha and the Truth of Murder | Pamela | TV film |
2019 | Island of Dreams | J. K. Rowling | TV film |
2019–2020 | Semi-Detached | Kate | 6 episodes |
2019–2023 | Sex Education | Maureen Groff | 24 episodes |
2020 | Call the Midwife | Grace Calthorpe | Episode: #9.5 |
2021 | Midsomer Murders | Phyllis Cuttle | Episode: "For Death Prepare" |
2021 | Ridley Road | Liza Epstein | All 4 episodes |
2021 | The Larkins | Bertha | Episode: "In Which Ma's Sister Bertha Comes to Visit" |
2021 | Ragdoll | Joy | 3 episodes |
2022 | Dodger | Marie Tussaud | Episode: "Waxworks" |
2022 | Not Going Out | Bigoted Woman | Episode: "Jury" |
2022 | The Pentaverate | Darleen Windelchuck | 2 episodes |
2023 | Inside No. 9[16] | Sue | Episode: Paraskevidekatriaphobia |
2023 | Beyond Paradise | Yvonne Wiley | 1 episode |
2023 | Still Up | Upcoming series |
Theatre
- Lady Windermere's Fan Vaudeville Theatre, West End (2018)
- The House They Grew Up In Chichester Minerva (2017)[17]
- Guys and Dolls Phoenix Theatre
- The Taming Of The Shrew d: Toby Frow, Shakespeare's Globe
- Filumena d: Michael Attenborough, Almeida Theatre
- Company d: Jonathan Munby, Sheffield Crucible
- Chicken Soup With Barley d: Dominic Cooke, Royal Court Theatre
- Hello Dolly (Dolly) d:Tim Sheader, Regents Park
- Best Actress in a Musical – 2010 Olivier Awards
- Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice) d: Tim Sheader, Regents Park
- Twelfth Night (Maria) d: Michael Grandage, Donmar / Wyndhams
- Funny Girl (Fanny Brice) d: Angus Jackson, Chichester Festival
- The Family Plays (Mother) d: Joe Hill-Gibbons, Royal Court Theatre
- Two Thousand Years d: Mike Leigh, Royal National Theatre
- A Little Night Music (Charlotte) d: Gary Griffin Chicago Shakespeare's Theatre
- Winner: Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Joseph Jefferson Awards 2004
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (Titania/Hippolyta) d: Michael Grandage Crucible, Sheffield
- Bedroom Farce (Jan) d: Loveday Ingram Michael Codron Plays
- Merrily We Roll Along (Mary Flynn) d: Michael Grandage Donmar Warehouse
- Olivier Awards 2001 & Whatsonstage.com Awards 2001 – Best Actress in a Musical
- As You Like It (Celia) d: Michael Grandage Crucible & Lyric
- Jumpers (Dorothy Moore) d: Bill Alexander Birmingham Rep
- Cleo Camping...(Barbara Windsor) d: Terry Johnson Royal National Theatre
- Roots (Beatie Bryant) d: John Retallack Watford Palace/Oxford
- As You Like It (Phoebe) d: Polly Irvin W. Yorkshire/Bristol
- Teechers (Gail Saunders) d: Graham Watts Hull Truck & No 1 Tour
- On The Piste (Bev Ryan) d: Graham Watts Hull Truck
- How The Other Half Lovers (Mary) d: Penelope Keith Theatre Royal, Windsor
- Glyn & ‘It’ (Clara Bow) d: Richard Cottrell Yvonne Arnaud & tour
- Midsummer Night's Dream (Hermia) d: Delena Kidd London & Middle East
- Tons Of Money (Simpson) d: David Conville Mercury Th, Colchester
- Midsummer Night's Dream (First Fairy) d: Ian Talbot Regents Park Open Air
- As You Like It (Audrey) d: Maria Aitkin Regents Park Open Air
- Lady Be Good (Daisy) d: Ian Talbot Regents Park Open Air
- Macbeth (Witch) d: Bill Baunt Regents Park Open Air
- The Boys From Syracuse (Courtesan) d: Judi Dench Regents Park Open Air
References
- ^ a b c Paddock, Terri (8 April 2002). "20 Questions With...Samantha Spiro". What's On Stage. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Why Samantha Spiro loves Regent's Park". Times Series. 5 June 2009. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- ^ a b Nathan, John (4 December 2008). "Interview: Samantha Spiro". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- ^ Logan, Brian (11 March 2013). "Samantha Spiro: 'I was never an ingenue'". The Guardian. London.
- ^ a b c d e Smurthwaite, Nick (26 June 2009). "Spiro's inspired roles". The Stage. Retrieved 8 July 2007.
- ^ "Game of Thrones Actor Attends Arts Celebration at Former School". Pressburst.news. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ Marlow, Will (7 December 2002). "Go directly to jail". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- ^ a b Bosanquet, Theo (19 May 2008). "Samantha Spiro On...Playing Funny Girls". What's on Stage. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Lockyer, Daphne (2 April 2000). "I became Babs so completely even now I can't stop doing her wiggle". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
- ^ a b "Interviews with the team from M.I.T with On The Box". 21 September 2009. Archived from the original on 21 September 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
- ^ "Meet the Tarlys: Game of Thrones adds three more actors to season 6!". Watchers On The Wall. 16 September 2015.
- ^ Chichester Festival Theatre: What's On: Samantha Spiro Archived 8 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 8 July 2009.
- ^ Samantha Spiro – Biography IMDB. Retrieved on 8 July 2009.
- ^ "In Full: British Comedy Awards – Winners". Digital Spy. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ "Inside No.9 season 8: Guest stars, release date and trailer". BT Group. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- )
External links
- Samantha Spiro at IMDb