Ruth Gemmell
Ruth Gemmell | |
---|---|
Born | Ruth Katrin Gemmell 1967 (age 56–57) Bristol,England |
Alma mater | Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art |
Years active | 1991–present |
Spouse |
Ruth Katrin Gemmell(born 1967) is an English actress. She starred in the filmFever Pitchin 1997 which was followed by supporting roles in television seriesEastEnders,Casualty,Home FiresandPenny Dreadful.[1]She has playedCarly Beaker,the mother of the title character in theTracy Beakerfranchise since 2004. In 2020, she began playing Violet, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton in the Netflix seriesBridgerton.[2][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Ruth Katrin Gemmell was born inBristoland grew up inCounty Durham,first inBarnard Castlebefore moving toDarlingtonwith her mother upon her parents' divorce. She has three older brothers and a sister. She attendedPolam Hall School.[4][5]Gemmell later moved to London, where her father lived, to pursue acting.[6]She trained at theWebber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.[7]
Career
[edit]Gemmell has played roles in both theatre and TV dramas. She played the leading female role inFever Pitch,based onNick Hornby'smemoir of the same name,starring oppositeColin Firth[8]and had another leading role in the comedy/drama2 January(2006). She played the recurring character of Detective Constable Kerry Cox in the first series of the BBC police proceduralSilent Witness,which premiered in 1996. She returned to the series as different characters in 2006 and 2014.
In 2004, she starred inTracy Beaker's Movie of Meas the mother of the title character. From January 2009 she became a recurring character inEastEndersasDebra Dean,the absentee mother ofWhitney Dean.In August 2009, she starred as Rebecca Sands in two episodes ofThe Bill.[9]
Gemmell appeared three times in the BBC's police dramaWaking the Dead,playing different characters. Her first appearance was in 2002 in the episode "Special Relationships" as DI Jess Worral, a former lover of DSI Boyd. She next appeared on the show in 2008, as Linda Cummings, an exceptionally intelligent serial killer. She reprised the role of Cummings in "Endgame", the finale of the eighth series.[10]
Gemmell starred in Episode 8 ofJimmy McGovern's BBC dramaMoving Onas Joanne, in November 2010.[11]In November 2011, Gemmell played Lady Shonagon in the adaptation for BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour ofThe Pillow Book,by Robert Forrest. She appeared as Jen, the wife of an adulterous civil servant, in Channel 4 dramaUtopia,in early 2013.
In 2015, Gemmell appeared in five episodes of the television seriesPenny Dreadfulas Octavia Putney. In 2020, she began playing Lady Violet Bridgerton in the Netflix seriesBridgerton.[12][13]
In 2021, Gemmell reprised her role of Carly Beaker forMy Mum Tracy Beaker.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Gemmell was married inWestminster,London, in 1997 to the actorRay Stevenson(1964–2023), whom she met in 1995 during the filming of TV dramaBand of Gold.The couple divorced in 2005.[15]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | Who Needs a Heart | Abigail | |
1996 | A Stiff Drink | Woman | Short film |
1997 | Fever Pitch | Sarah Hughes | |
2006 | January 2nd | Claire | |
Love for Sale | Lonely Lady | Short film | |
2007 | Ela | Ela's Mum | |
The Imaginary Girl | Mother | ||
2008 | Gone Fishing | Imogen | |
2008 | Good | Elisabeth | |
2010 | F | Sarah Balham | |
2012 | Storage 24 | Sarah | |
Offender | Cassie | ||
2013 | Chrysanthemum | Janet | Short film |
2019 | Cliffs of Freedom | Varvara Vakrinos |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | The Bill | Sue Latham | Episode: "Woman of Substance" |
Band of Gold | Gina Dickson | Episode: "Sold" | |
1996 | Kavanagh QC | Jenny Norris | Episode: "Men of Substance" |
Short Sharp Shocks | Kate | Episode: "Everywhere" | |
Silent Witness | Kerry Cox | Recurring role (series 1) | |
1997 | Peak Practice | Christine Higson | Episode: "Home Truths" |
The Perfect Blue | Jo | Television film | |
1998 | Macbeth | Lady Macduff | Television film |
1999 | The Bill | Jane Joyce | Episode: "Sex, Lies and Videotape" |
The Alchemists | Julia Bannerman | Television film | |
Four Fathers | Nicola Yallop | 3 episodes | |
2001 | Holby City | Diana Calder | Episode: "Extra Time" |
2002 | Dalziel and Pascoe | Rachel Waller | Episode: "For Love Nor Money" |
Waking the Dead | DI Jess Worrall | 2 episodes | |
2003 | The Bill | Carol Evans | 3 episodes |
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Jeannie Waring | "Playing for the Ashes" | |
Murder in Mind | Liz Willis | Episode: "Landlord" | |
Spooks | Miranda | 1 episode | |
2004 | Tracy Beaker: The Movie of Me | Carly Beaker | Television film |
Blue Dove | Jenny Page | Miniseries | |
2005 | Midsomer Murders | Anne Merrick | Episode: "The House in the Woods" |
2006 | The Afternoon Play | Rachel | Episode: "Are You Jim's Wife?" |
A Touch of Frost | Christine Harris | Episode: "Endangered Species" | |
Silent Witness | DI Beth Ashdown | Episode: "Terminus: Part 2" | |
2007 | Five Days | Dr Tobolska | 3 episodes |
2008 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Miss Sweetiman | Episode: "Mrs. McGinty's Dead" |
Summerhill | Rose | Television film | |
2008–2009 | Waking the Dead | Linda Cummings | Guest role (series 7–8) |
2009 | Trial & Retribution | Kay Satchell | Episode: "Shooter: Part 1" |
Primeval | Katherine Kavanagh | 2 episodes | |
EastEnders | Debra Dean | 11 episodes | |
The Bill | Rebecca Sands | 2 episodes | |
2010 | Lewis | Robyn Strong | Episode: "Your Sudden Death Question" |
Casualty | Kate Margolin | Episode: "No Place Like Home" | |
Law & Order: UK | Mel Garvey | Episode: "Confession" | |
Moving On | Joanne | Episode: "Losing My Religion" | |
2011 | The Fades | Alice | TV mini-series |
2012 | Inside Men | Rebecca | TV mini-series |
2013 | Father Brown | Martha Quinton | Episode: "The Wrong Shape" |
Dancing on the Edge | Lady Winnet | 1 episode | |
Holby City | Amanda Layton | 2 episodes | |
Coming Up | Lynn | Episode: "Big Girl" | |
2013–2014 | Utopia | Jen Dugdale | Recurring role (9 episodes) |
2014 | Silent Witness | Ellie Brooke | Episode: "Undertone: Parts 1 & 2" |
Inspector George Gently | Irene Seddon | Episode: "Gently Between the Lines" | |
Casualty | DC Monica Darling | Episode: "Deadfall" | |
2015 | Midsomer Murders | Diana Carnarvon | Episode: "A Vintage Murder" |
Penny Dreadful | Octavia Putney | Guest role (series 2) | |
2015–2016 | Home Fires | Sarah Collingborne | Main role |
2017 | Ransom | Laurie | Episode: "Girl on a Train" |
2018 | Doctors | DCI Gail Hargreaves | 2 episodes |
2020–present | Bridgerton | Violet, Lady Bridgerton | Main role |
2021 | My Mum Tracy Beaker | Carly Beaker | |
2023 | Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story | Violet, Lady Bridgerton | Main role |
Theatre
[edit]Title | Role | Director | Venue | Notes | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A Tale of Two Cities | Seamstress | Phillip Prowse | Glasglow Citizens | [16] | ||
The Country Wife | Alethia | Ian Forrest | Lancaster Playhouse | [16] | ||
Tis Pity She's a Whore | Annabella | [16] | ||||
The Importance of Being Earnest | Cecily | Hugh Hogart | Edinburgh Lyceum | [16] | ||
The Winter's Tale | Perdita | Debbie Paige | Salisbury Playhouse | [16] | ||
An Ideal Husband | Mabel Chilton | Hugh Hodgart | Edinburgh Lyceum | [16] | ||
Uncle Vanya | Yelena | [16] | ||||
Measure for Measure | Isabella | Ian Forrest | Chester Gateway | [16] | ||
1991 | The Second Mrs. Tanqueray | Ellen | Debbie Page | Salisbury Playhouse | [16][17] | |
1994 | Othello | Desdemona | Oliver Godfrey | The Railway Tavern | Fast Intent Theatre Company | [18] |
1997 | Turn of the Screw | Governess | Julian Woolford | Hornchurch Queen's Theatre | [19][16] | |
1998 | Nabokov's Gloves | Mary Duggan | Ian Brown | Hampstead Theatre | [20][16] | |
1999 | The Weir | Valerie | Ian Rickson | Royal Court Theatre | [21] | |
2000-2001 | Ancient Lights | Iona | Ian Brown | Hampstead Theatre | [22] | |
2002 | Kick for Touch | Eileen | Josie Rourke | Crucible Theatre | [23] | |
Trips' Cinch | Lucy Parks | Thea Sharrock | Southwark Playhouse | [24] | ||
2004 | Midwinter | Maude | Zinny Harris | Royal Shakespeare Company | [25] | |
2004-2005 | Macbeth | Lady Macduff/ Witch | Dominic Cooke | Royal Shakespeare Theatre | [26] | |
King Lear | Regan | Bill Alexander | [27] | |||
2005 | Coram Boy | Mrs Lynch | Melly Still | National Theatre | [28] | |
2008 | Helter Skelter / Land of the Dead | Woman | Patricia Benecke | Bush Theatre | [29] | |
Riflemind | Cindy | Philip Seymour Hoffman | Trafalgar Studios | [30] | ||
2010 | Les Liaisons Dangereuses | Merteuil | Toby Frow | Salisbury Playhouse | [31] | |
2011 | Zephaniah: In the Night, A Promise | — | Charlotte Westenra | Bush Theatre | Apart of:"Sixty Six Books" | [32] |
Death and the Maiden | Paulina | Patricia Benecke | Salisbury Playhouse | [33][34] | ||
2012 | Betrayal | Emma | Nick Bagnall | Sheffield Theatres | [35] | |
2014 | The Ant and the Cicada | Selina | Erica Whyman | The Other Place | Royal Shakespeare Company -Midsummer MischiefPlays | [36] |
Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. | — | [36] | ||||
I Can Hear You | Ruth | Jo McInnes | [36] | |||
This is Not an Exit | Nora | [36] | ||||
2017 | No Places for a Woman | Annie | Kate Budgen | Theatre503 | [37] | |
2018 | The Whale | Liz | Laurence Boswell | Theatre Royal Bath | [38] | |
Still Alice | Self | David Grindley | West Yorkshire Playhouse | [39] |
Radio dramas
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Station | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Woman of Juda | Vivien Davies | [40] | |||
Maestro | Various characters | [40] | |||
The Cloths of Heaven | Rachel | [40] | |||
1994 | Teen Lurve | Nickie | BBC Radio 5 | [40][41] | |
The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes | Violet de Merville | BBC Radio 4 | Episode: "The Illustrious Client" | [42][43] | |
1996 | The Candlemass Road | Lady | Saturday Night Theatre | [40][44] | |
The House | Polly Bannister | Series 6 | [45][40] | ||
1999 | Fireworks | Maid | [46] | ||
2001 | Ancient Lights | Iona | BBC Radio 3 | [47] | |
2003 | Parade's End | Sylvia | [48] | ||
After Scarborough | Sandy | BBC Radio 4 | [49] | ||
The Spaceman | Mother | [50] | |||
2008 - 2018 | The Pillow Book | Sei Shōnagon | Woman's Hour Drama;Series 1-11 | [51] | |
2009 | Classic Serial:The Spy Who Came in from the Cold | Liz | Episodes: 1, 3 | [52][53] | |
2010 | The Vanishing | Lieneke | Saturday Play | [54] | |
Classic Serial: The Secret Pilgrim | Stephanie | Episode: 1 | [55][56] | ||
2011 | The Spy Who Came in from the Cold | Liz Gold | [57] | ||
2013 | The Corrupted | Gracie Braden | [58] | ||
The Man in the Lift | Angie | [59] | |||
2013-2014 | The Cazalets | Villy | Series: "Casting Off," "All Change" | [60] | |
2014 | Old Times | Kate | BBC Radio 3 | [61] | |
Alison Moore: The Pre-War House and Other Stories | Narrator | BBC Radio 4 Extra | 5 episodes | [40][62] | |
Time | BBC Radio 4 | Episode: "A Bagful of Stories" | [63] | ||
The Mysterious Death of Jane Austen | Anne | 15 Minute Drama:5 episodes | [64] | ||
The Time Being: Spells for Love | Melissa | [40][65] | |||
2015 | The Left Hand of Darkness | Ashe | 2 episodes | [66][67] | |
Clown Shoes | Narrator | BBC Radio 4 Extra | 5 episodes | [68] | |
2017 | The Essex Serpent | BBC Radio 4 | 10 episodes | [69] | |
A Perfect Spy | Mary | [70] |
Audio dramas
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | The Archers | Victoria | Episode: "1.19335" |
Awards and nominations
[edit]Award | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2021 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Bridgerton | Nominated | [71] |
References
[edit]- ^"Ruth Gemmell | Hamilton Hodell".hamiltonhodell.co.uk.Retrieved14 April2022.
- ^"Ruth Gemmell – aka Lady Violet Bridgerton – talks family, feminism and fabulous fashion in Season 2 of the Netflix hit".Tatler.21 March 2022.Retrieved14 April2022.
- ^Baty, Emma (5 April 2022)."Ruth Gemmell Responds to 'Bridgerton' Season 2 Fans' Sex Scene Complaints:" There's Agency in the Slow Burn "".Cosmopolitan.Retrieved14 April2022.
- ^Gibb, Bill (7 April 2016)."Home Fires star Ruth Gemmell shares an embarrassing encounter".The Sunday Post.Retrieved15 March2017.
- ^Hardwick, Viv (14 October 2004)."MagicMacBeth".thenorthernecho.co.uk.Retrieved23 March2011.
- ^Macbeth 2004 interview with Ruth Gemmell – dead link
- ^"'Bridgerton's Ruth Gemmell On The Truth Behind *That* Scene With Jonathan Bailey ".Bustle.28 March 2022.Retrieved14 April2022.
- ^Fever PitchCast discuss film
- ^Ruth Gemmell to guest inThe Bill
- ^Percival, Daniel (27 September 2009),End Game: Part 1,Waking the Dead, Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston, Tara Fitzgerald,retrieved23 May2023
- ^BBC Press Office Week 45
- ^"Bridgerton star Ruth Gemmell shares exciting details about the plot of season two".3 February 2021.
- ^Norris, Susanne (25 March 2022)."Bridgerton's Ruth Gemmell opens up about season two of the show".Good Housekeeping.Retrieved14 April2022.
- ^My Mum Tracy Beaker (TV Series 2021– ) - IMDb,retrieved23 May2023
- ^Koncienzcy, Rebecca (10 December 2017)."Where is the cast of Band Of Gold now?".Liverpool Echo.Reach Plc.Retrieved7 March2019.
- ^abcdefghijk"Ruth Gemmell | Theatre | Hamilton Hodell".hamiltonhodell.co.uk.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^"Production of The Second Mrs Tanqueray | Theatricalia".theatricalia.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Bayley, Clare (16 March 1994)."Othello (1994)".Times Out.Retrieved29 February2024.
- ^Web, UK Theatre."Tour archive for The Turn of the Screw (Play). 3rd October 1997-25th October 1997 [T125277089]".UK Theatre Web.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^"Theatre Review: Defence mechanisms".The Independent.21 May 1998.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^"London Theatre Guide Archive Theatre Reviews / The Weir".London Theatre.8 June 2016.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Wolf, Matt (2 January 2001)."Ancient Lights".Variety.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Clapp, Susannah(9 June 2002)."The missing link".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Billington, Michael (13 September 2002)."Trip's Cinch".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Billington, Michael (19 January 2008)."Land of the Dead/ Helter Skelter".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^"| RSC Performances | Macbeth | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust".collections.shakespeare.org.uk.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^"RSC Performances | King Lear | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust".collections.shakespeare.org.uk.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Billington, Michael (16 November 2005)."Coram Boy".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Billington, Michael (19 January 2008)."Land of the Dead/ Helter Skelter".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Billington, Michael (19 September 2008)."Riflemind".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^"Theatre review: Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Salisbury Playhouse".British Theatre Guide.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^"SIXTY SIX BOOKS".Charlotte Westenra.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Dorfman, Ariel (14 October 2011)."Death and the Maiden's haunting relevance".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Smith, Ellie (23 March 2022)."Ruth Gemmell on Bridgerton Season Two".Country and Town House.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Brennan, Clare (26 May 2012)."Betrayal – review".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^abcd"Midsummer Mischief 2014 | Royal Shakespeare Company".rsc.org.uk.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Allen, Polly (11 May 2017)."No Place for a Woman, Theatre 503 – Review".Everything Theatre.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^Gains, Andrew (13 April 2018)."Cast Complete for U.K. Premiere of The Whale Starring Tony Winner Shuler Hensley".Playbill.Retrieved29 February2024.
- ^"Still Alice: a delicately moving portrayal of living with early onset Alzheimer's".The State Of The Arts.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^abcdefgh"Ruth Gemmell | Radio | Hamilton Hodell".hamiltonhodell.co.uk.Retrieved1 March2024.
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- ^"The BBC audio complete Sherlock Holmes".merrisonholmes.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^"The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, Volume One".Goodreads.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^"Saturday Night Theatre: The Candlemass Road".genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.25 May 1996.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^BBC Radio 4 (19 August 1989),The House - A BBC Radio Political Drama,retrieved1 March2024
{{citation}}
:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^"The Friday Play: Fireworks".genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.16 July 1999.Retrieved1 March2024.
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- ^BBC – Saturday Play –The Vanishing
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- ^BBC –The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
- ^"BBC Radio 4 - GF Newman's The Corrupted, Series 1, Episode 1".BBC.Retrieved1 March2024.
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- ^"BBC Radio 4 Extra - Time, A Bagful of Stories".BBC.Retrieved1 March2024.
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{{citation}}
:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^Oganesyan, Natalie; Moreau, Jordan (4 February 2021)."2021 SAG Awards: The Complete Nominations List".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on 5 February 2021.Retrieved20 September2021.
External links
[edit]- Living people
- 1967 births
- 21st-century English actresses
- 20th-century English actresses
- Actresses from Bristol
- Alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
- English film actresses
- English radio actresses
- English stage actresses
- English television actresses
- People from Barnard Castle
- Actresses from Darlington