Jump to content

Miranda Raison

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Miranda Raison
Raison in 2018
Born
Miranda Caroline Raison

Burnham Thorpe,Norfolk,England
Occupation(s)Actress and narrator
Years active1999–present
Spouses
​
​
(m.2007;div.2009)​
Christopher Mollard
​
​
(m.2017)​
Children2
RelativesPaul Raison(cousin)

Miranda Caroline Raisonis a British and French actress. She is best known for playingJo Portmanin five seasons ofSpooks(MI5) and Nellie Davenport inHBO'sWarrior.[1]She originated the title role inHoward Brenton'sAnne Boleynat Shakespeare's Globe Theatre[2]and played Hermione inKenneth Branagh's production ofThe Winter's Tale,both to critical acclaim.[3]She is also a prolific voice artist.[4]

Early life and education[edit]

Miranda Caroline Raison was born inBurnham Thorpe.[5]Her mother is former Anglia News reader Caroline Raison (néeHarvey).[5]Her father, Nick Raison, is ajazzpianist who accompanied the BBC National Orchestra of Wales[6]when Raison played a showgirl in theDoctor Whoepisodes "Daleks in Manhattan"and"Evolution of the Daleks".[7]

Raison's parents divorced when she was five years old. From a young age she attended five boarding schools, includingGresham's School,Felixstowe CollegeandStowe School;her education was paid for by her grandfather.[8][9]

It was atFelixstowe Collegewhere she developed an interest in acting; she moved there after experiencing bullying at her previous school.[10]She trained at theWebber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.[11]

Career[edit]

Theatre[edit]

Raison atShakespeare's Globe,2013

From 2002–3, she appeared as Ben-Hur's love interest in a minimalist production of theeponymous playat theBattersea Arts Centre.[12]Later in 2003, she was featured inPains of Youth,again at theBattersea Arts Centre,playing the death obsessed bisexual Desiree;[13]Lyn Gardner ofThe Guardiandescribed her performance as making "Desiree's death wish seem tragic rather than merely silly."[14]

In 2010 she played the title role inAnne Boleyn,a new play by Howard Brenton, who had also been involved in scripts for BBC'sSpooksin which Raison went on to appear in 5 series, which premiered atShakespeare's Globeon 24 July 2010 to high critical acclaim. In the sameShakespeare's Globeseason Raison also playedAnne BoleyninHenry VIIIbyWilliam Shakespeare.[15]

In 2011, she appeared as Ann in the short play "Oliver Lewis" byJack Thorne,part of the series of plays66 Booksperformed at theBush Theatre.[16]

In June/July 2012 she appeared in a production ofThe Physicists: A Comedy in Two Actsat theDonmar Warehouse,playing the roles of Lina Rose, the lead character's ex-wife, and Monika Settler, the lead's attending nurse.[17]From October 2012 Raison starred inThe River,a new play byJez Butterworth,at theRoyal Court Theatre(Jerwood) alongsideDominic West.Tickets became "the most sought-after theatre tickets in London" after rave reviews.[18]

In 2013–14 she played Anne Faulkner in the theatrical version ofStrangers on a Trainat theGielgud Theatre,produced byBarbara Broccoli.[19]

From January to February 2015, she starred oppositeShaun EvansinHello/Goodbyeat the Hampstead Theatre.[20]In August 2015 she joined the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company inThe Winter's TaleandHarlequinadewhich ran at theGarrick Theatrefrom October 2015 until January 2016. Raison played the wife ofKenneth Branagh's character in both plays.[21]She stated that she enjoyed the experience and was grateful for the opportunity, given that previously she had a bad audition with Branagh forMacbethin 2011. She also enjoyed learning fromJudi Dench.[22]

Film and television[edit]

Raison's first film role in 2000 was playingMarianne FaithfullinSuzy QalongsideCarice Van Houten

In 2004, Raison was cast as 'Heather' inMatch Point,the first Woody Allen film to be made in London.[23]

In 2005, she appeared inDeuce Bigalow: European Gigolo,which she said "may as well have been the most brutal Lars von Trier film. Another actress and I actually spent a whole night just crying." She called the experience "regrettable from start to finish" and a "hideous, hideous moment and a great lapse of judgement on my part".[24]

Raison's breakthrough role was asJo Portman(2005–2009) in theBBC Onetelevision drama seriesSpooks(also broadcast under the titleMI-5). She requested that the production company let her go in 2009 as she felt that her character could not develop further and wanted to follow up on theatre opportunities.[25]

In April 2007 she appeared in theDoctor Whoepisodes "Daleks in Manhattan"and"Evolution of the Daleks"as Tallulah, a show girl whose opening scene involved singing to a musical number, for which Raison's father played the piano background as part of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.[7]

In 2009, she was featured in the showPlus One.She was originally featured in the Comedy Showcase pilot in 2007, where she wore a fat suit.[26]

In 2010 after leavingSpooks,she played a model called Abbey in theITV1comedy-dramaMarried Single Other.[27]

She had a small role inMy Week with Marilyn.She expressed pleasure in being able to work with great British talent and her fascination with Marilyn Monroe.[28]

In 2012 she played DI Georgina Dixon in the second series ofVexed,screened onBBC2.[29]

In 2013 she played 'Harriet Hammond' in the third series of theBBClegal dramaSilk;her character was a practice manager who shook up the firm and a potential love interest for her formerSpooksco-starRupert Penry-Jones' character.[30]

In 2014, she had a small role inI Am Soldier,playing "Stella", the lead interrogator in the "Tactical Questioning" portion of the lead character's training.[31]

Miranda Raison, November 2014

In July 2014 she was announced as a new cast member ofSpotless,a (10 × 1 hour episode) drama produced byCanal+.[32]

In 2018, Raison reprised her role as ‘Sylvie’ in 6 episodes ofDark Heart,played xenobiologist ‘Tessia’ in 6 episodes ofNightflyersand appeared inArtemis Fowl.[33]

In May 2019 it was announced that Raison would be joining the main cast ofWarriorfor the second season.[34]

In September 2021 it was announced that Raison had joined the first series ofSister Boniface Mysteriesplaying Ruth Penny, a main character across all ten episodes.[35]

Raison reprised her role as 'Nellie Davenport', as part of the main cast of the third season ofWarriorwhich began airing on HBO in July 2023.[36][37][38]

In April 2023 she was cast asJean Sebergin L'Enchanteur oppositeCharles BerlingasRomain Garywhich was aired onFrance 2in 2024.[39]

Other works[edit]

In 2005 she appeared in the BBC radio comedyDeep Trouble.She has voiced several video game characters, includingCassandra Pentaghastin theDragon Ageseries, Lieutenant Sandra Lansing inApache: Air Assaultand Natasha and other characters inRenegade Ops.BioWarealso hired Raison for providing several voices inMass Effect: Andromeda.She voiced three characters inThe Secret Worldand lent her voice forDreamfall ChaptersandBlades of Time.[40]

Raison has also voice-acted in severalBig FinishDoctor Whoaudios,includingThe Davros MissionandThe Wreck of the Titan,and plays Constance Clarke, a regular companion to theSixth Doctor.She also provides additional voices in other Big Finish audio productions, including otherDoctor Whostories andThe Avengers.[41]

In 2013 she joined theCGIseries cast ofThomas & Friendsand provides the voice of Millie (UK/US), first introduced inKing of the Railway.[42]

Since July 2017 she has been narrating the BBC2 documentaryHospital.[43]

Personal life[edit]

She plays golf and is a member of the Aldeburgh Golf Club.[44]

While separated from her first husband,Raza Jaffrey,she began a relationship with herMarried Single Otherco-starRalf Littlein November 2009, which ended in February 2013.[8]

She married again in 2017 and had a daughter in that same year. In the summer of 2022, Raison gave birth to her second child. Her husband is 13 years her junior.[45]

Raison has dual nationality and holds both French and British passports.[46]She speaks fluent French and is conversational in Italian and Spanish.[47][44]

Raison is distantly related toJack Huston.[48]Her cousin,Paul Raison,was a Chairman ofChristie's.

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Suzy Q Marianne Faithfull Television film
2003 The Private Life of Samuel Pepys Deb Willet Television film
2004 The Deal Virginia Short film
2005 Match Point Heather Feature film
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo Svetlana Revenko Feature film
2006 Land of the Blind Daisy Feature film
Nostradamus Henriette Television film
2008 Exit Strategy Wife / Eve Klammer Short film
HeavenScent HeavenScent Short film; voice role
2011 My Week with Marilyn Vanessa Feature film
2013 Thomas & Friends: King of the Railway Millie Direct-to-video; voice role
Thomas & Friends: The Thomas Way Millie Direct-to-video; voice role
2014 I Am Soldier Stella Feature film
Thomas & Friends: Trouble on the Tracks Millie Direct-to-video; voice role
2015 Thomas & Friends: Dinos and Discoveries Millie Direct-to-video; voice role
Yussef Is Complicated Miss Robson Short film
AfterDeath Robyn Feature film
Thomas & Friends: Tales on the Rails Millie Direct-to-video; voice role
2016 Thomas & Friends: Tinsel on the Tracks Millie Direct-to-video; voice role
Thomas & Friends: Full Steam to the Rescue! Millie Direct-to-video; voice role
2017 My Daughter Is Missing Sara Television film
Breathe Mary Dawney Feature film
Thomas & Friends: Christmas on Sodor Millie Direct-to-video; voice role
Murder on the Orient Express Sonia Armstrong Feature film
2019 Widow's Walk Eve Feature film
2020 Artemis Fowl Angeline Fowl Uncredited
2024 L'Enchanteur Jean Seberg Feature film

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Heartbeat Lucy Episode: "Kindness of Strangers"
2000 Sunburn Madeline Chalfont Episode: "Children and Growing Up"
2001 Emmerdale Nurse Episode: "26th January 2001"
Perfect Strangers Young Grace Miniseries; 3 episodes
Dark Realm Nicole Episode: "Castle Keep"
2002 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Ros Episode: "For the Sake of Elena"
2003 Emmerdale Rosanna Jennings Episode: "30 June 2003"
Holby City Michelle Andrews Episode: "Me and My Gal"
2004 Heartbeat Kate Episode: "No Hard Feelings"
2005 Coming Up Katy Episode: "Bird's Eye View"
2005-09 Spooks Jo Portman Series regular; 37 episodes
2007 Doctor Who Tallulah Episodes: "Daleks in Manhattan"&"Evolution of the Daleks"
Comedy Showcase Linsey Episode: "Plus One"
2008 Agatha Christie's Poirot Mademoiselle Blanche Episode: "Cat Among the Pigeons"
2009 Plus One Linsey Series regular; 5 episodes
2010 Married Single Other Abbey Series regular; 6 episodes
2011 Sugartown Emily Shirley Miniseries; 3 episodes
Death in Paradise Megan Talbot Episode: "Missing a Body?"
Merlin Isolde Episode: "The Sword in the Stone"
2012 Dirk Gently Kate Edwards Episode: "Episode 1"
Vexed DI Georgina Dixon Series regular; 6 episodes
Sinbad Lara Assuage Episode: "Fiend or Friend?"
2013 Jo Katie Miville Episode: "Concorde"
Lewis Stella Drew Episode: "Intelligent Design"
2013-20 Thomas & Friends Millie Voice role
2014 Silk Harriet Hammond Series regular; 6 episodes
24: Live Another Day Caroline Fowlds Series regular; 6 episodes
2015 Spotless Julie Greer-Bastière Series regular; 10 episodes
2018 Dark Heart Sylvie Series regular; 6 episodes
Nightflyers Tessia Series regular; 6 episodes
2020-23 Warrior Nellie Davenport Series regular; 17 episodes
2022 Dragon Age: Absolution Cassandra Pentaghast Episode: "A Woman Unseen"
2022-24 Sister Boniface Mysteries Ruth Penny Recurring character; 12 episodes

Video games[edit]

Year Game Role Notes
2010 Apache: Air Assault Lieutenant Sandra Lansing Voice role
2011 Dragon Age II Cassandra Pentaghast / Varania / Dulci de Launcet / Elsa Voice role
Renegade Ops Natasha English version; voice role
2012 Blades of Time Ayumi / Spirit of the Dragon Voice role
The Secret World Zaha / Rada Nastase / Aveline Belmont Voice role
2014 Dreamfall Chapters Nela / Na'ane Voice role
Dragon Age: Inquisition Cassandra Pentaghast Voice role
2015 Dragon Age: Inquisition – Trespasser Cassandra Pentaghast Voice role
2017 Mass Effect: Andromeda Mariette Rensus / Saneris / Annea / Ljeta / Revia Luxen Voice role
2019 Anthem Kista Stormbreaker / Varice Mal / Detective Hops Voice role
2021 Mass Effect Legendary Edition Mariette Rensus / Saneris / Annea / Ljeta / Revia Luxen Voice role
2022 Elden Ring Fia Voice role

References[edit]

  1. ^"Spooks star Miranda Raison pledges to help Suffolk parents in new patron role".East Anglian Daily Times.13 May 2020.Retrieved18 October2023.
  2. ^Billington, Michael (29 July 2010)."Anne Boleyn".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved18 October2023.
  3. ^Kellaway, Kate (15 November 2015)."The Winter's Tale; Harlequinade; All on Her Own review – a gift to eye and heart".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved18 October2023.
  4. ^"Miranda Raison - Exclusive Voiceover agent for Miranda Raison; British actress best known for her roles in Spooks, 24, Murder on the Orient Express and the Oscar nominated film My Week with Marilyn. Starred in 2022's The Sister Boniface Mysteries. Neutral/RP accent. - Voiceover Agency London".Anthea Represents.Retrieved18 October2023.
  5. ^ab"The Raison being".Great British Life. 20 October 2014.Retrieved1 March2024.
  6. ^https://guide.doctorwhonews.net/person.php?name=MirandaRaison
  7. ^ab"Doctor Who".BBC. Archived fromthe originalon 25 January 2007.Retrieved7 July2012.
  8. ^ab"Miranda Raison – Playing Anne Boleyn".sharonfeinstein. 18 July 2011.Retrieved30 June2017.
  9. ^"Spooks star's new mission in Suffolk".EADT Suffolk Magazine.Retrieved22 July2017.
  10. ^"The Raison being".EDP Norfolk Magazine.Retrieved20 June2017.
  11. ^"Jo Portman – Spooks (UK) Characters".ShareTV. 13 May 2002.Retrieved7 July2012.
  12. ^"Ben Hur".beggarsbelief.org.uk.Retrieved28 June2017.
  13. ^"Mind Rocket: Pains Of Youth, pullout flyer – Battersea Arts Centre Digital Archive"(in Czech).Retrieved12 July2017.
  14. ^Lyn Gardner (31 July 2003)."Pains of youth".TheGuardian.Retrieved11 December2018.
  15. ^Ed Caesar (22 April 2010)."The alternative Boleyn girl".
  16. ^"66 Books, a Curtain up London review".
  17. ^Benedict, David (12 June 2012)."Review: 'The Physicists'".Variety.Retrieved11 July2017.
  18. ^"Jez Butterworth play The River wows at the Royal Court".BBC. 29 October 2012.Retrieved23 September2016.
  19. ^"Strangers on a Train at the Gielgud Theatre, W1".The Times.20 November 2013.
  20. ^"Hello/Goodbye".Hampstead Theatre.Retrieved20 June2017.
  21. ^"Spooks actress Miranda Raison is set to star in The Winter's Tale".The Independent.4 November 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 15 May 2022.Retrieved23 September2016.
  22. ^"interview | miranda raison".Schön! Magazine.Retrieved21 June2017.
  23. ^"Miranda Raison - Biography".Hello!. 8 October 2009.
  24. ^"Miranda Raison".officiallondontheatre.co.uk.Retrieved18 June2017.
  25. ^"Miranda Raison".officiallondontheatre.co.uk.Retrieved19 June2017.
  26. ^Davies, Jeff."character makeups | fat faces & fat-suits | obese & morbidly obese | Miranda Raison in 'Plus One' | themakeupgallery".themakeupgallery.info.Retrieved15 July2017.
  27. ^Ian Wylie (12 March 2010)."Married Single Other: Miranda Raison | Manchester Evening News".menmedia.co.uk.Retrieved7 July2012.
  28. ^"Miranda Raison on her role. working with great British talent and..."Getty Images.Retrieved15 June2017.
  29. ^Patrick McLennan (20 July 2012)."A quick chat with Vexed star Miranda Raison".
  30. ^Ellen E Jones (1 April 2014)."Silk, BBC1 - TV review: 'Thrilling twists and turns make Silk's farewell a guilty pleasure'".Independent.co.uk.Archivedfrom the original on 15 May 2022.
  31. ^Partnership, The Artists."Miranda Raison Artist Details – The Artists Partnership".theartistspartnership.co.uk.Retrieved14 July2017.
  32. ^Keslassy, Elsa (23 June 2014)."Tandem and Canal Plus Unveils International Cast of 'Spotless'".Variety.Retrieved23 September2016.
  33. ^Bill Gibb (30 October 2018)."Dark Heart star Miranda Raison has had her busiest year yet with several hit roles, a wedding and a baby".Sunday Post.Retrieved11 December2018.
  34. ^Denise Petski (9 May 2019)."'Warrior' Casts Four For Season 2 Of Cinemax Drama Series ".Deadline.
  35. ^Mel Lynch (9 September 2021)."'Drama secures UK broadcasting rights for Sister Boniface Mysteries ".UKTV.
  36. ^"Warrior Season 3 - What We Know So Far".looper.21 April 2022.
  37. ^Petski, Denise (27 July 2022)."'Warrior': Mark Dacascos & Chelsea Muirhead Joins Season 3 Cast Of HBO Max Series ".Deadline.
  38. ^https://bleedingcool /tv/warrior-season-3-promo-spotlights-women-warriors-aftershow-podcast/
  39. ^https:// allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=315416.html
  40. ^"Dragon Age: Inquisition Preview - Meet Miranda Raison Who Plays Cassandra".Game Informer.
  41. ^"Miranda Raison".31 January 2023.
  42. ^"Millie".
  43. ^"Miranda Raison".
  44. ^ab"My perfect weekend: Miranda Raison".
  45. ^"Doctor Who Interview | Miranda Raison - WHO Corner to Corner | A Doctor Who Podcast".
  46. ^"Doctor Who Interview | Miranda Raison - WHO Corner to Corner | A Doctor Who Podcast".
  47. ^"Interview with Miranda Raison".18 December 2015.
  48. ^"Raison d'etre".Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2014.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toMiranda Raison.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miranda_Raison&oldid=1233005039"