April Pearson
Encyclopedia
April Janet Pearson is an English
actress best known for her role as Michelle Richardson
in the E4
teen drama series, Skins
.
In 1998 she made her television debut in Casualty
, however she made her big break in acting starring as Michelle Richardson
in the British drama Skins. She was cast after casting directors held auditions at her school and her drama teacher suggested she go. Pearson appeared in the first two series of the successful E4 show, but like the rest of the "original" cast members, was written out of the following series in order to introduce a new generation of characters to the show. Despite this, creators Jamie Brittain
and Bryan Elsley
have hinted the possibility of bringing back old characters for occasional appearances. Regarding her involvement in the Skins film, Pearson has said that she has not been approached by anyone involved in the project. In addition to her appearances on the show's two series, Pearson can also be seen acting as her character in various segments located on the show's official website.
In 2008 Pearson once again appeared in Casualty as a teenager called Karen, followed by her film debut in Tormented
(2009) alongside her Skins co-star Larissa Wilson
, in which Pearson plays a sadistic schoolgirl. The film went on to receive mostly positive reviews from critics for which Total Film
dubbed it as "A slasher for the Skins generation".
Pearson returned to theatre starring in the Bristol Old Vic
production "Suspension" in spring of 2009, and in autumn that year as a kidnapped teenager called Callie in New End Theatre's
"Negative Space".
, Pearson's Skins co-stars Nicholas Hoult
, Mitch Hewer
and Joe Dempsie stated that she was a head girl at Colston's Girls' School
, which she left in 2007.
Pearson can also be seen in Channel 4's
Lost For Words campaign, in which she reads aloud from Kasper In The Glitter by Philip Ridley
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actress best known for her role as Michelle Richardson
Michelle Richardson
Michelle 'Chelle' Richardson is a fictional character in the television series Skins played by April Pearson.-Characterisation:Michelle is portrayed initially as primarily interested in serving her boyfriend Tony Stonem's needs and in "looking shaggable" which she places as her primary function,...
in the E4
E4 (TV)
E4 is a channel on British digital television, launched as a pay-TV companion to Channel 4 on 18 January 2001. The "E" stands for entertainment, and the channel is mainly aimed at the lucrative 15–35 age group...
teen drama series, Skins
Skins (TV series)
Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death...
.
Career
Pearson joined a theatre group, located in Bristol, at just three years old. Throughout her youth she starred in various plays with both her drama group and at school.In 1998 she made her television debut in Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
, however she made her big break in acting starring as Michelle Richardson
Michelle Richardson
Michelle 'Chelle' Richardson is a fictional character in the television series Skins played by April Pearson.-Characterisation:Michelle is portrayed initially as primarily interested in serving her boyfriend Tony Stonem's needs and in "looking shaggable" which she places as her primary function,...
in the British drama Skins. She was cast after casting directors held auditions at her school and her drama teacher suggested she go. Pearson appeared in the first two series of the successful E4 show, but like the rest of the "original" cast members, was written out of the following series in order to introduce a new generation of characters to the show. Despite this, creators Jamie Brittain
Jamie Brittain
Jamie Brittain is a Scottish TV writer and the son of Bryan Elsley, known most notably for the co-creation of the E4 teen drama Skins. On April 1st, 2011, he announced he would be leaving the show.-External links:...
and Bryan Elsley
Bryan Elsley
Bryan Elsley is a Scottish television writer, known most notably for the co-creation of E4 teen drama Skins with his son, Jamie Brittain...
have hinted the possibility of bringing back old characters for occasional appearances. Regarding her involvement in the Skins film, Pearson has said that she has not been approached by anyone involved in the project. In addition to her appearances on the show's two series, Pearson can also be seen acting as her character in various segments located on the show's official website.
In 2008 Pearson once again appeared in Casualty as a teenager called Karen, followed by her film debut in Tormented
Tormented (2009 film)
Tormented is a 2009 horror-comedy film starring Alex Pettyfer, April Pearson, Dimitri Leonidas, Calvin Dean and newcomer Tuppence Middleton. Directed by Jon Wright and written by newcomer Stephen Prentice, the film was released on 22 May 2009 in the UK...
(2009) alongside her Skins co-star Larissa Wilson
Larissa Wilson
Larissa Hope Wilson is an English television and film actress from Bristol. She is best known for her role as Jal Fazer in the first two seasons of Skins....
, in which Pearson plays a sadistic schoolgirl. The film went on to receive mostly positive reviews from critics for which Total Film
Total Film
Total Film is a British film magazine published 13 times a year by Future Publishing. The magazine was launched in 1997 and offers film, DVD and Blu-ray news, reviews and features...
dubbed it as "A slasher for the Skins generation".
Pearson returned to theatre starring in the Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, in Bristol, England. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre , offices and backstage facilities...
production "Suspension" in spring of 2009, and in autumn that year as a kidnapped teenager called Callie in New End Theatre's
New End Theatre
The New End Theatre, Hampstead, was a 80-seat fringe theatre venue in London, England, located in the London Borough of Camden which operated from 1974 until 2011. It was listed widely on the internet, including with the New York Times....
"Negative Space".
Personal life
During a SkinscastPodcasting
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
, Pearson's Skins co-stars Nicholas Hoult
Nicholas Hoult
Nicholas Caradoc Hoult is an English actor, best known for playing Marcus Brewer in the 2002 film About a Boy, Tony Stonem in the E4, BAFTA-winning television series Skins, and Beast in the X-Men prequel, X-Men: First Class.-Early life:Hoult was born in Wokingham, Berkshire, the third of four...
, Mitch Hewer
Mitch Hewer
Mitchell Scott "Mitch" Hewer is an English actor, who is best known for his role of Maxxie Oliver in the E4 teen drama, Skins. He has also starred in Britannia High as the all around talent Danny Miller...
and Joe Dempsie stated that she was a head girl at Colston's Girls' School
Colston's Girls' School
Colston's Girls' School, is an Academy for girls in Bristol, England. Prior to 2008 the school was a selective independent school, voluntarily converting to a state-funded Academy with effect from September 2008...
, which she left in 2007.
Pearson can also be seen in Channel 4's
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
Lost For Words campaign, in which she reads aloud from Kasper In The Glitter by Philip Ridley
Philip Ridley
Philip Ridley is a British artist working with various media.- Biography :Ridley was born in Bethnal Green, in the East End of London, where he still lives and works. He studied painting at St. Martin’s School of Art and his work has been exhibited throughout Europe and Japan...
.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Casualty Casualty (TV series) Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The... |
Unknown | 1 episode |
| 2007–2008 | Skins Skins (TV series) Skins is a BAFTA award-winning British teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of college. The controversial plot line explores issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness , adolescent sexuality, substance abuse and death... |
Michelle Richardson Michelle Richardson Michelle 'Chelle' Richardson is a fictional character in the television series Skins played by April Pearson.-Characterisation:Michelle is portrayed initially as primarily interested in serving her boyfriend Tony Stonem's needs and in "looking shaggable" which she places as her primary function,... |
Series 1-2 |
| 2008 | Casualty Casualty (TV series) Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The... |
Karen Shevlin | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Tormented Tormented (2009 film) Tormented is a 2009 horror-comedy film starring Alex Pettyfer, April Pearson, Dimitri Leonidas, Calvin Dean and newcomer Tuppence Middleton. Directed by Jon Wright and written by newcomer Stephen Prentice, the film was released on 22 May 2009 in the UK... |
Tasha | Released 22 May 2009 |
| 2011 | Casualty Casualty (TV series) Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The... |
Grace Fitch | 1 episode |