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Tamsin Greig

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Tamsin Greig
Greig in 2010
Born
Tamsin Margaret Mary Greig

(1966-07-12)12 July 1966(age 58)[1]
Maidstone,Kent,England
Other namesTamsin Leaf
Alma materUniversity of Birmingham(BA)
OccupationActress
Years active1990–present
Spouse
​
(m.1997)​
Children3

Tamsin Margaret Mary Greig(/ˈtæmzɪnˈɡrɛɡ/;born 12 July 1966) is a British actress. She is known for both dramatic and comedic roles. She playedFran Katzenjammerin theChannel 4sitcomBlack Books,Dr Caroline Toddin the Channel 4 sitcomGreen Wing,Beverly Lincoln in British-American sitcomEpisodesand Jackie Goodman in the Channel 4 sitcomFriday Night Dinner.Other roles include Alice Chenery inBBC One's comedy-drama seriesLove Soup,Debbie AldridgeinBBC Radio 4's soap operaThe Archers,Miss Bates in the 2009 BBC version ofJane Austen'sEmma,and Beth Hardiment in the 2010 film version ofTamara Drewe.In 2020, Greig starred as Anne Trenchard in Julian Fellowes'ITVseriesBelgravia.

Greig is also a stage actress. She won aLaurence Olivier Award for Best Actressin 2007 forMuch Ado About Nothing,and was nominated in 2011 and 2015 for her roles inThe Little Dog LaughedandWomen on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

Early life

[edit]

Greig was born inMaidstone,Kent,[2]the second of three sisters. Her father, Eric (1906–1998), worked as a colour chemist creating dyes, and her mother, Ann (1933–2001), was enthusiastic about amateur dramatics.[3]There was a 27-year age gap between her parents, with her father being 60 years old when Greig was born.[4][5][6]The family moved toKilburnwhen she was three.

She went to Malorees Junior School, followed byCamden School for Girlslater graduating with afirst-classBAin Drama and Theatre Arts from theUniversity of Birminghamin 1988.[7][8]After graduating, she worked at theFamily Planning Associationand continued doingtemporary workuntil 1996.[8]She also spent some time at a secretarial college.[9]

Career

[edit]

Radio

[edit]

Greig has had a long-running part as Debbie Aldridge in theBBC Radio 4soap operaThe Archerssince 1991. As her other work increased, her appearances in the show decreased and her character Debbie spends most of her time living in Hungary.[10][11]

Her other radio work includes narrating the Radio 4 comedyWarhorses of Letters,[12]and guest-starring in five episodes of the second series of the radio version ofAbsolute Power,playing Charles Prentiss's former lover Gayle Shand, who now runs a rival firm.

Television

[edit]

Greig appeared in a number of supporting parts, notably as Lamia inNeverwhere(1996) and The Mother in an episode ofPeople Like Us(2000).[13]Her first major role wasFran Katzenjammerin the sitcomBlack Books,which ran for three series from 2000. Fran was a friend of the main character, Bernard, and originally owned a gift shop called "Nifty Gifty" next door to his bookshop.[14]

In 2004, she played constantly embarrassed surgical registrarDr Caroline Todd,the lead character in the Channel 4 comedy drama seriesGreen Wing.Her performance won her "Best Comedy Performance" in the 2005Royal Television SocietyAwards.[15]She also appeared as Caroline in an appearance atThe Secret Policeman's Ball.

She starred in theBBCcomedy drama seriesLove Soup(2005), as Alice Chenery, a lovelorn woman working on a department store perfume counter, in a role specifically written for her byDavid Renwick,whom she met in 2003 when she appeared in an episode ofJonathan Creek.[16]In May 2005 she also appeared as a nurse in an episode of the BBC seriesDoctor Who,entitled "The Long Game".

Greig appeared in the role ofEdith Frankin the BBC's January 2009 production ofThe Diary of Anne Frank.[17]Also in 2009, she appeared as Miss Bates in the BBC serialJane Austen'sEmma.In 2010, she playedSacharissa Cripslockin the two part mini-seriesTerry Pratchett's Going Postal.[18]

In 2011, she starred in the BBC/ShowtimesitcomEpisodes,alongsideMatt LeBlancandGreen Wingco-starStephen Mangan.[19]Greig and Mangan play a husband-and-wife writing duo who travel to America to work on an adaptation of their successful series. Greig also stars in the Channel 4 sitcom,Friday Night Dinner,as Jackie Goodman, the mother of a North London Jewish family.

She played Beth in the 2012 BBC seriesWhite Heat. She is also the lead inThe Guiltyin the three-part series onITVin 2013, playing DCI Maggie Brand who investigates the death of a young child who went missing five years previously. [20]In 2014, she played Sally in theInside No. 9episode "Last Gasp".

In 2015 the fourth season ofEpisodeswas aired, and in 2016 a seven-episode fifth season, still starring Greig alongsideStephen ManganandMatt LeBlanc,was filmed in London.[21]

Greig narrated the sixth series ofThe Secret Life of the Zoo,taking over fromOlivia Colman,in 2018.

Greig has received threeBAFTAnominations for her TV work. She was nominated forBest Comedy PerformanceforGreen Wingin 2005, and forBest Female Comedy PerformanceforFriday Night Dinnerin 2012 andEpisodesin 2015.

Theatre

[edit]

During 2006 and early 2007, Greig playedBeatricein a much acclaimed production ofMuch Ado About Nothingfor which she won aLaurence Olivier Award,[22]and Constance inKing John,as part of theRoyal Shakespeare Company'sThe Complete Worksseason. Whilst the win itself was a surprise,[23]her acceptance speech was received very well as being highly entertaining,[24]claiming that she was so excited that she had wet her dress. The speech was apparently completely improvised. Backstage, when told not to tell her mother about her wetting her dress, she told the host that her mum was dead before dedicating her award to her "dead mum".[25]She also won theCritics' Circle Theatre Awardfor "Best Shakespearean Performance" inMuch Ado About Nothing,becoming the first woman to win the award,[26]and was nominated for "The FRANCO'S Best Actress in a Play" in the Whatsonstage Theatregoers' Choice Awards.[27][28]

At theGielgud Theatrein March 2008, she co-starred withRalph Fiennes,Janet McTeerandKen Stottin the UK premiere ofYasmina Reza'sThe God of Carnage(Le Dieu du carnage) translated byChristopher Hamptonand directed byMatthew Warchus.[29][30]The play won theLaurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedyin 2009.[31]In 2008, she co-starred in the surreal sci-fi filmCaptain Eager and the Mark of Voth.

In November 2008, she made herNational Theatredebut inGethsemane,a new play byDavid Harewhich toured the UK.[32] Greig starred inThe Little Dog LaughedbyDouglas Carter Beaneat theGarrick Theatrein London, which ran a limited season until 10 April 2010. She starred alongsideRupert Friend,Gemma ArtertonandHarry Lloyd,and the play was directed byJamie Lloyd.She won the 2011 WhatsOnStage Theatregoers Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a play for her portrayal.[33]Her performance as Diane inThe Little Dog Laughedgarnered her a second Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress.[34]In October 2011 she was Hilary, the central character, inJumpyat theRoyal Court,London.,[35]which later transferred to theDuke of York's Theatrein the West End. In March 2013 she played Varia inLonging,a new play byWilliam Boydbased on two short stories byChekov,at theHampstead Theatre.Greig previously performed inWomen on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdownat the Playhouse Theatre, London, until May 2015. In March 2015, she received a nomination for theLaurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

In October 2016, she returned to theHampstead Theatreto play Empty inThe Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the ScripturesbyTony Kushner.In February 2017 she returned to theRoyal National Theatreto playMalvoliain a new production ofTwelfth Nightat the Olivier Theatre.[36]As aLabourconstituency agentspanning a period of 27 years, she gave a "polished... magnificent" performance inJames Graham'sLabour of Loveat theNoël Coward Theatre,London, in October 2017.[37]

Film

[edit]

Greig made acameo appearancein the 2004 comedyShaun of the Dead.She starred withRichard E. Grantin the 2009 filmCuckoo,[38]and withRoger AllamandGemma ArtertoninTamara Drewe(2010). The latter role earned Greig aBritish Independent Film Awardsnomination for Best Supporting Actress. She co-starred in 2015's comedy-dramaThe Second Best Exotic Marigold Hoteland in the 2016 release ofBreaking the Bank,oppositeKelsey Grammer.

Personal life

[edit]

As of 2011Greig lived in a flat inKensal Green,having moved back to the area in 1996 to be with her dying father. She became aChristianat this time, despite being brought up as anatheist.[11]Greig is also a vegetarian.[39]

Since 1997 she has been married to actorRichard Leaf,whom she met at awrap partyofNeil Gaiman's 1996 miniseriesNeverwhere,[5]and has three children.[40][41]

She is a supporter of theNational Health Service,giving her backing to a rally organised by pro-NHS protest groupNHS Together.[42]She also supports more practical teaching ofShakespearein British schools, supporting theRSC's "Stand Up For Shakespeare" manifesto.[43]Greig was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter toThe GuardianopposingScottish independencein the run-up to the 2014referendum on that issue.[44]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1997 So This is Romance? Carmen
2002 Miranda Receptionist
Pure Liaison Officer
2004 Shaun of the Dead Maggie
2008 Captain Eager and the Mark of Voth Jenny
2009 Cuckoo Simon
2010 Tamara Drewe Beth Hardiment
2014 Breaking the Bank Penelope
2015 The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Lavinia Beech
2019 Official Secrets Elizabeth Wilmshurst
2020 Days of the Bagnold Summer Astrid
2023 My Happy Ending Nancy

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Blue Heaven Prof. Wiseman 1 episode
1996 Neverwhere Lamia 3 episodes
Faith in the Future Emma 1 episode
1997 Wycliffe Dr. Hinkley 1 episode
1997–1998 Blind Men Valerie Marsden 6 episodes
1998 The Great Egyptians Cleopatra TV Miniseries documentary
1999–2001 People Like Us Jenny/Sarah 2 episodes
2000–2004 Black Books Fran Main Role
2001 High Stakes Delphina 1 episode
Happiness Emma 3 episodes
World of Pub Julia Robbins 1 episode
2002 Falling Apart Jackie TV movie
2003 Jonathan Creek Pam 1 episode
Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill Liane TV movie
2004 The Lenny Henry Show various 1 episode
When I'm 64 Denny TV movies
2004–2006 Green Wing Dr. Caroline Todd Main role
2005 Doctor Who Nurse Episode: "The Long Game"
2005–2008 Love Soup Alice Chenery Main role
2009 The Diary of Anne Frank Edith Frank Miniseries
Emma Miss Bates TV serial
2010 Masterpiece Classic Edith Frank 1 episode
Terry Pratchett's Going Postal Miss Cripslock TV miniseries
2011 White Heat Beth Pew TV miniseries, 6 episodes
2011–2017 Episodes Beverly Lincoln Main role
2011–2020 Friday Night Dinner Jackie Goodman
2013 The Guilty DCI Maggie Brand
2014 Inside No. 9 Sally Episode: 'Last Gasp'
2015 Royal Cousins at War Narrator 2 episodes
Crackanory Storyteller 1 episode, "Bob's House"
2016 Behold the Monkey Narrator TV film
Revolting Rhymes Babysitter/Miss Maclahose/Grandma

(voice)

TV film
2017 Diana and I Mary McDonald TV film
2018 To Provide All People GP TV film
2018–2021 The Secret Life of the Zoo Narrator Series 6–10
2019 Elementary DCI Athelney Jones 1 episode[45]
The Tiger Who Came to Tea Mummy (voice) TV short
2020 Belgravia Anne Trenchard Lead Role – TV Series
Talking Heads Rosemary Horrocks Episode: "Nights in the Gardens of Spain"
2020–present Love Monster Narrator 54 episodes
2021 Romeo and Juliet Lady Capulet Television film
Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years and A Lovely Bit of Squirrel Herself TV documentary
The Amazing Mr Blunden Mrs Wickens Television film
2024 Sexy Beast Cecilia Main cast
The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin Helen Gwinear 2 episodes
Suspect Natasha Groves 8 episodes
2025 Riot Women Holly Main cast[46]

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2006 King John Constance Royal Shakespeare Company(RSC)
2006–2007 Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice
2008 God Of Carnage Anette Gielgud Theatre,West End
Gethsemane Meredith National Theatre,London
2010 The Little Dog Laughed Diane Garrick Theatre,West End
2011 Jumpy Hilary Royal Court Theatre,Duke of York's Theatre
2013 Longing Varia Hampstead Theatre
2015 Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Pepa Marcos Playhouse Theatre,West End
2016 The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures Empty Hampstead Theatre
2017 Twelfth Night Malvolia National Theatre,London
Labour of Love Jean Whittaker Noël Coward Theatre,West End
2018 Pinter 3:Landscape/A Kind of Alaska Beth/Deborah Harold Pinter Theatre,West End
2020 Talking Heads Live: Nights in the Garden of Spain Rosemary Bridge Theatre
2021 Peggy For You Peggy Ramsay Hampstead Theatre

Audio

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2012 The Minister of Chance The Sage of the Waves

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2005 British Comedy Awards Best TV Comedy Actress Green Wing,Love Soup Nominated
Royal Television Society Awards Best Comedy Performance Green Wing Won
British Academy Television Awards Best Comedy Performance Nominated
2006 British Comedy Awards Best TV Comedy Actress Nominated
Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards Best Shakespearean Performance Much Ado About Nothing Won
2007 Olivier Awards Best Actress Won
2008 Monte-Carlo Television Festival Golden Nymph – Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Love Soup Nominated
2010 British Independent Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Tamara Drewe Nominated
2011 Olivier Awards Best Actress The Little Dog Laughed Nominated
WhatsOnStage Awards Best Supporting Actress Won
British Comedy Awards Best TV Comedy Actress Friday Night Dinner Nominated
2012 British Academy Television Awards Best Female Comedy Performance Nominated
2015 Episodes Nominated
Olivier Awards Best Actress Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Tamsin Margaret M Greig".familysearch.org.Retrieved14 January2017.
  2. ^"findmypast.co.uk".Search.findmypast.co.uk.Retrieved26 August2014.
  3. ^Appleyard, Bryan."Leading light".
  4. ^Smith, Julia Llewellyn."Tamsin Greig: 'I'm 51, but I feel like an idiot teenager'".
  5. ^abMountford, Fiona (12 August 2012)."'Intriguing isn't it?': Tamsin Greig mulls over life's mysteries ".The Independent on Sunday.Archivedfrom the original on 26 May 2022.Retrieved12 August2012.
  6. ^"Crowded flats (Sunday Times)".bryanappleyard.com. 21 December 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 25 February 2015.Retrieved11 March2015.
  7. ^"Celebrities tell us about their first year at university".The Guardian.14 August 2008.
  8. ^abSale, Jonathan (8 January 2009)."Passed/Failed: An education in the life of the actress Tamsin Greig".The Independent.London.Archivedfrom the original on 26 May 2022.Retrieved8 January2009.
  9. ^Seriously funny,an interview withThe Telegraphwith Tamsin Greig. Written by Jasper Rees, 29 July 2006. Retrieved 17 June 2007.
  10. ^"Debbie Aldridge Played by Tamsin Greig".The Archers.BBC. 8 February 2010.Retrieved29 June2011.
  11. ^abSaner, Emine (3 March 2011)."Tamsin Greig: 'I always think I'll never work again'".The Guardian.Retrieved10 January2012.
  12. ^"BBC Radio 4 – Warhorses of Letters".BBC.
  13. ^"BBC Two – People Like Us, Series 2, the Mother".www.bbc.co.uk.Retrieved18 March2012.
  14. ^'Cooking The Books',Black Booksepisode 1, series 1
  15. ^RTS Winners and Nominations list 2005Archived22 May 2006 at theWayback MachineAccessed 17 June 2007.
  16. ^Woman's HourInterview with Tamsin Greig in February 2005. Retrieved 17 June 2007
  17. ^"Anne Frank TV drama heads to BBC".BBC. 15 October 2007.Retrieved16 October2007.
  18. ^"Terry Pratchett's Going Postal".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved20 September2017.
  19. ^"Showtime Plans a Trio of Premieres for January".The Wrap. 22 September 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 30 October 2010.Retrieved8 October2010.
  20. ^"The Guilty".Archived fromthe originalon 12 May 2014.
  21. ^"Episodes – Official Series Site – SHOWTIME".9 January 2011.Retrieved14 January2017.
  22. ^BBC News (18 February 2007)"Sondheim show wins theatre awards".Retrieved 18 February 2007
  23. ^"Spamalot actress attacks Olivier awards snub"Archived26 May 2009 at theWayback Machine19 February 2007, This Is London
  24. ^"Sondheim show wins theatre awards".BBC News. 19 February 2007.Retrieved24 May2010.
  25. ^"IN DEPTH: Tamsin Greig talks to us"Archived22 July 2011 at theWayback Machine26 February 2009, Maidenhead Advertiser
  26. ^Critics Circle Awards for 2006Archived26 September 2007 at theWayback MachineAlbemarle of London. Retrieved 17 June 2007.
  27. ^"WOS Theatregoers' Choice Nominees Announced".What's on Stage. 7 December 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 9 December 2007.Retrieved10 December2007.
  28. ^"Full List: Your Theatregoers' Choice Award Winners".What's on Stage. 22 February 2008.Retrieved22 February2008.
  29. ^Wheatley, Jane (19 March 2008)."Tamsin Greig: from Ambridge to the West End stage in God of Carnage".The Times.London. Archived fromthe originalon 17 May 2011.Retrieved19 March2008.
  30. ^Paddock, Terri (24 December 2007)."Greig, McTeer & Stott Join Fiennes God of Carnage".What's on Stage. Archived fromthe originalon 25 December 2007.Retrieved24 December2007.
  31. ^"2009 Laurence Olivier Awards Winners".The Official London Theatre Guide. Archived fromthe originalon 12 March 2009.Retrieved9 March2009.
  32. ^Paddock, Terri (18 August 2008)."Hare Gethsemane Debuts With Greig at NT, 11 Nov".Whatsonstage.com. Archived fromthe originalon 17 September 2012.Retrieved4 November2011.
  33. ^"Full List 2011 Whatsonstage.com Award Winners".What's on Stage. 20 February 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 4 November 2012.
  34. ^"Full List of 2011 Award Nominees".Olivier Awards. 20 February 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2011.
  35. ^Spencer, Charles (19 October 2011)."Jumpy, Royal Court".The Daily Telegraph.London.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved4 November2011.
  36. ^Rustin, Susanna (11 February 2017)."Tamsin Greig as Malvolia is good for equality, and for raising standards in our theatre".The Guardian.Retrieved22 March2017.
  37. ^Bano, Tim (4 October 2017)."Labour of Love review at the Noel Coward Theatre, London – 'light, political and nostalgic'".The Stage.Retrieved19 October2017.
  38. ^"Star on Yarmouth movie set".Norfolk Daily Evening Press. 12 December 2007.Retrieved12 December2007.[dead link]
  39. ^Nathanson, Hannah; Hunter Johnston, Lucy (8 June 2012)."Tamsin Greig welcomes in the summer".London Evening Standard.Retrieved8 June2012.
  40. ^"Tamsin Greig on Friday Night Dinner series two, going grey and growing up".Retrieved14 January2017.
  41. ^Llewellyn Smith, Julia (2 September 2017)."Tamsin Greig: 'I'm 51, but I feel like an idiot teenager'".The Times.Retrieved3 September2017.
  42. ^Haynes, Alex (1 November 2007)."Rally backs health service".Harrow Times.Retrieved1 November2007.
  43. ^"RSC Stands Up For Shakespeare".Official London Theatre Guide. 3 March 2008.Retrieved3 March2008.[dead link]
  44. ^"Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories | Politics".The Guardian.7 August 2014.Retrieved26 August2014.
  45. ^Davies, Alex (24 May 2019)."Elementary season 7 cast: Who is in the cast of Elementary?".Express.co.uk.Retrieved26 February2020.
  46. ^"Riot Women - cast announced for Sally Wainwright's new drama".bbc.com/mediacentre.28 September 2024.Retrieved19 September2024.
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