Caroline Harding(born March 1962) is an English television actress and playwright. She has played recurring roles in theITVsoap operaCoronation Streetand crime dramaScott & Bailey,as well as in theNetflixsix-partmockumentarysitcomHard Cell.She has also written and performed in numerous theatrical productions, including her playTwo Sisters,which received nominations for twoManchester Evening News Theatre Awardsfor Best Play and Best Performance in 2007, and aone-woman showabout the eminentRestorationactressNell Gwyn.
Caroline Harding | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 1962 (age 62) Marlow,Buckinghamshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Guildford School of Acting |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouses | |
Early life and education
editHarding was born and raised inMarlow,Buckinghamshire, England.[1]She graduated from theGuildford School of Actingand worked extensively for theRoyal Shakespeare Companyin the late '80s.[1]
Career
editStage
editTogether with fellow actress Candida Gubbins, she formed the theatre company Two Friends Productions in 2000.[1][2]Soon after, she made her debut as a playwright withPostcards from Maupassant,a 2001 play based on the late 19th-centuryshort storiesby French authorGuy de Maupassant,in which she also starred.[3]It first premiered at theEdinburgh Festivaland then, after receiving rave reviews from critics, went on a national tour.[4]Sam Marlowe ofThe Timeswrote: "All three actors are excellent throughout, but here Harding in particular is painfully funny and sad as the child-like, crazed wife. Her portrayal is still more impressive when you consider that, by contrast, just a couple of scenes earlier she was an elegant, icy society doyenne in sequins and silk."[5]Ten years after the initial premiere, Harding adapted it intoFrench Fancies.[2]
Her next play wasTwo Sisters,a grippingblack comedyset in 1880's Russia and directed byChris Gascoyne.[6]First performed in July 2006 at theBuxton Festival,it was soon followed by a national tour and nominations for twoManchester Evening News Theatre Awardsfor Best Play and Best Performance.[7]Around the same time, Harding starred in the productions ofTerrence McNally'sFrankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune(2004),[8]Tom Stoppard'sThe Real Thing(2005)[9]andArthur Miller'sDeath of a Salesman(2007).[10]
In 2008 she wrote and performed aone-woman showabout one of the first actresses on the English stage and a long-timemistressof KingCharles II of England,Nell Gwyn.[11]She called itPretty Witty Nellafter a description of Gwyn bySamuel Pepys,the fameddiaristand social commentator of the day.[10]Described by Harding as "a sort of historical stand-up",[1]the show toured the UK for two years.[12]
Television
editHer television career began in a 1992 episode of theITVcrime dramaVan der Valk,based onNicolas Freeling's novels about a detective in Amsterdam, played byBarry Foster.[13]She then appeared in all four episodes of theBBC Twomedical dramaDegrees of Error(1995), starringBeth Goddard,and all six episodes of theBBC Onelegal dramaFish(2000), starringPaul McGannin the eponymous role.[14][15]In 2007, she briefly appeared oppositeRobert PattinsonandHolly GraingerinThe Bad Mother's Handbook,the television adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name byKate Long.[16]She then had recurring roles inScott & BaileyandDoctorsin the early 2010s.[17][18][16]
For three months in autumn 2020 she appeared in theITVsoap operaCoronation StreetasDr. Howarth,who treated the dying son ofSteve McDonaldandLeanne Battersby,and later told the court it would be an act of kindness and compassion to switch off his life support.[19]Harding has also played five different characters, including three doctors, in another popular ITV soap opera,Emmerdale.[1][16]
In 2022 she appeared as series regular Sal inHard Cell,Catherine Tate'sNetflixmockumentarysitcom set in a women's prison.[20][21]Together withLorna Brown,she led a storyline about a couple who found love in the prison and have no desire to leave.[22]
Personal life
editHarding has been married to actorChris Gascoyne,best known for his role asPeter Barlowin the soap operaCoronation Street,since 2002.[10]In 2004, they starred opposite each other in theOctagon Theatreproduction ofFrankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.[8]The couple have a daughter, Belle.[23]Harding also has two children, Pip and Freddie, from a previous marriage to actorJason Watkins.[24]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Van der Valk | Maarte de Kleine | Episode: "Still Waters" |
| The Old Boy Network | Journalist | Episode: "The Book of Revelations" | |
| Waiting for God | Janet Follett | Episode: "The Estate Agent" | |
| 1993 | The Buddha of Suburbia | New York Interpreter | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | A Touch of Frost | A&ESister | Episode: "Dead Male One" |
| Degrees of Error | Susan | 4 episodes | |
| 1999 | Dangerfield | Sheila Lardner | Episode: "Through a Glass, Darkly" |
| 2000 | Doctors | Eve Sharpe | Episode: "God's Will" |
| Fish | Juliette Vishnevski | 6 episodes | |
| Casualty | Louise Bennett | Episode: "Getting to Know You" | |
| EastEnders | Welfare Officer | 1 episode | |
| 2004 | Doctors | Harriet Scott | Episode: "Turning Back the Clock" |
| 2005 | Casualty | Ruby Townend | 2 episodes |
| Emmerdale | Belinda Connors | 1 episode | |
| 2006 | Life on Mars | Raimes' Lawyer | 1 episode |
| Strictly Confidential | Stephanie | 2 episodes | |
| 2007 | The Bad Mother's Handbook | Sandra Gale | TV film |
| The Royal | Diane Fletcher | Episode: "Laura" | |
| 2008 | Cold Blood | Mrs. Armstrong | Episode: "The Last Hurrah" |
| Emmerdale | Dr. Judd | 1 episode | |
| Spooks: Code 9 | Sarah | 1 episode | |
| 2009 | Casualty 1909 | Edith Dean | Known asLondon Hospitalin the USA; 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Holby City | Sally Carley | Episode: "Thursday's Child" |
| 2013 | Scott & Bailey | Louise | 4 episodes |
| Emmerdale | Dr. Garrett | 2 episodes | |
| Mount Pleasant | Maître d' | 1 episode | |
| Holby City | Anja Fancourt | Episode: "If I Needed Someone" | |
| 2014 | Doctors | Grace Henning | 5 episodes |
| 2015 | Coronation Street | Consultant | 2 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | Emmerdale | Prosecution Barrister | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Dr. Todd | 2 episodes | |
| 2020 | Coronation Street | Dr. Howarth | 18 episodes |
| 2022 | Hard Cell | Sal | 6 episodes |
| 2023 | Happy Valley | SIO Mary Whitaker | 1 episode |
References
edit- ^abcdeWolfisz, Francine (25 April 2008)."A fruity tale of the Restoration".Bucks Free Press.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^abMeads, Glenn (13 March 2011)."Caroline Harding On...French Fancies | WhatsOnStage".www.whatsonstage.com.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^Monahan, Mark; Leith, Sam (8 August 2001)."Edinburgh diary".The Telegraph.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^Gardner, Lyn (22 August 2001)."Review: Postcards From Maupassant".the Guardian.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^Marlowe, Sam (5 September 2003)."Postcards from Maupassant".The Times.ISSN0140-0460.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"Two Sisters @ Buxton Festival Fringe".Manchester Evening News.15 February 2007.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"M.E.N. Theatre Awards: Our guide to the winners".Manchester Evening News.15 February 2007.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^ab"Here's Johnny... and Frankie!".Manchester Evening News.28 October 2004.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"The Real Thing, Library, Manchester".the Guardian.16 February 2005.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^abcDibbits, Kat (26 September 2008)."Interview: Caroline Harding in Pretty Witty Nell".Lancashire Telegraph.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"Exciting line-up from Arts Alive".Hereford Times.20 January 2011.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^Cunningham, Dave (9 June 2009)."Pretty Witty Nell (Tour – Salford) | WhatsOnStage".www.whatsonstage.com.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"Caroline Harding".IMDb.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"TV: Fish out of water in this limp courtroom drama".NZ Herald.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"Off the hook".the Guardian.1 May 2000.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^abc"The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich".www.wolseytheatre.co.uk.19 January 2015.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"Doctors, Series 15, About the Boy".BBC One.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"Scott & Bailey Season 3".Radio Times.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^Gonzalez, Elliot (3 November 2020)."Steve betrays Leanne after judge decides that Oliver's life support should be withdrawn in Corrie".I Talk Telly.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^Kanter, Jake (30 July 2021)."'Hard Cell': Netflix Rounds Out Cast For Catherine Tate Prison Comedy Series ".Deadline.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"Netflix announces new Catherine Tate comedy series Hard Cell".About Netflix.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"Hard Cell review: Catherine Tate's prison comedy is too much, too late".Radio Times.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^O'Sullivan, Kyle; Fitzpatrick, Katie (8 June 2021)."Peter Barlow actor Chris Gascoyne on his co-star wife and drastic weight loss".Manchester Evening News.Retrieved29 January2023.
- ^"Who is Caroline Harding? Meet Coronation Street's Chris Gascoyne's co-star wife".Heart.Retrieved29 January2023.