Kathy Burke
Encyclopedia
Katherine Lucy Bridget Burke (born 13 June 1964; London
, England
) is an English actress, comedienne, playwright
and theatre director
. She is best known for her portrayals of Perry in the Harry Enfield
film Kevin and Perry Go Large, and of Linda La Hughes
in the British sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme (the latter of which she co-wrote and developed with Jonathan Harvey
). She is also known for her regular appearances on French and Saunders
, Absolutely Fabulous
and Harry Enfield and Chums. She has been nominated for six BAFTA awards
.
in London
, and raised in the Irish area of Islington
. Her mother Bridget (Bridie)http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018834/bio died of cancer when she was two, and she was raised by neighbours (the Galvin family) for the following few years. Subsequently, she returned to live with her father Patrick (Paddy), an alcoholic, who died of cancer in 1985. Burke attended the Maria Fidelis RC Convent School. She has two older brothers, John and Barry.
, directed by Swedish
actress Mai Zetterling
and featuring Pam St. Clement
, Robbie Coltrane
, Miriam Margolyes
, Honey Bane
, Debby Bishop
and Eva Mottley
. The movie was set in a young offenders' institute for girls and was seen as a female version of the film Scum
.
Burke appeared in a non-speaking role in a 1985 public information film about heroin addiction.
Burke first became familiar to television
audiences as a player of minor roles in sketches by better-known performers such as Harry Enfield
, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders
. Early TV work included regular appearances on the chat show "The Last Resort" hosted by Jonathan Ross
on UK Channel 4 in the early 1980s, playing the characters 'Tina Bishop' and 'Perry the Pre-pubscent Schoolboy". Bishop was a continually pregnant "expert" offering advice on household chores, always with disastrous results. Along with French & Saunders
, she has contributed to two Comic Relief charity singles. She first appeared as a member of Bananarama
parody band Lananeeneenoonoo in 1989, and then as a member of Spice Girls
' look-alike band The Sugar Lumps in 1997. In real life Burke is a big fan of Morrissey
and appeared in the video for his 1989 single "Ouija Board, Ouija Board
" and later in the 2002 Channel 4
documentary The Importance Of Being Morrissey.
She quickly became successful in her own right and although mainly associated with comedy
, she has played several serious roles including that of Queen Mary I of England
in Elizabeth
.
Burke won the Best Actress
award at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival
for her role in the gritty drama Nil by Mouth
which also earned her a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
nomination. Since then she has appeared as Perry in Kevin and Perry Go Large, and as Linda La Hughes
in Gimme Gimme Gimme were she was nominated for 3 British Comedy Awards
(winning one) , 2 BAFTA TV Awards and a National Television Award for her performance. In 2000, she appeared in the cult film Love Honour and Obey with Ray Burdis.
In 2003, she was listed in The Observer
as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.
Beginning in 2001, she refrained from acting and threw herself into theatre directing; something she considers to be one of her true passions. She said in an interview with Dawn French in Dawn French's Girls Who do Comedy that she no longer felt the same creative energy associated with acting that she used to (she described it as a "feeling in my belly") and that this was the reason she had stopped acting. However, she has done some voiceover work in the past few years, including adverts for Ski yoghurt (in the UK) as well as Flushed Away
(2006). She also appeared in the 2007 Christmas Special of The Catherine Tate Show as Nan's daughter.
In early 1990 she wrote and directed her first play, Mr Thomas, at the Old Red Lion Theatre
. Set in 1950s London it starred James Clyde
, Anita Graham, Jamie Oliver
, Ian Jentle, Oliver Smith
, and Ray Winstone
. It was subsequently filmed and shown on Channel 4
the next year.
In 2007, Burke contracted Clostridium difficile
while in hospital for an operation, resulting in her having to pass directing duties on Dying for It at the Almeida theatre (which starred Charlie Condou
and Sophie Stanton
who she worked with on Gimme Gimme Gimme).
In 2009, Burke made her television directorial debut with the BBC Three
sketch show series Horne & Corden
, starring Mathew Horne
and James Corden
.
In 2010, Burke completed a short autobiographical film, "Better Than Christmas", for "Little Crackers", a collection of comic shorts. Burke plays a nun.
In 2011, Burke played Connie Sachs
in the film adaptation
of the novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
.
Nominations
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
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...
) is an English actress, comedienne, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and theatre director
Theatre direction
A theatre director or stage director is a practitioner in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production by unifying various endeavours and aspects of production...
. She is best known for her portrayals of Perry in the Harry Enfield
Harry Enfield
Henry Richard "Harry" Enfield is a BAFTA-winning English comedian, actor, writer and director.-Early life:...
film Kevin and Perry Go Large, and of Linda La Hughes
Linda La Hughes
Linda Lolita Lulu La Hughes nicknamed "Olive" is a fictional character who appeared in the 1999-2001 British sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme...
in the British sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme (the latter of which she co-wrote and developed with Jonathan Harvey
Jonathan Harvey (playwright)
Jonathan Harvey is a British playwright whose work has earned multiple awards. He is also a former secondary school English teacher.-Life and works:...
). She is also known for her regular appearances on French and Saunders
French and Saunders
French and Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring comic duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. It is also the name by which the performers are known on the occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act....
, Absolutely Fabulous
Absolutely Fabulous
Absolutely Fabulous, also known as Ab Fab, is a British sitcom created by Jennifer Saunders, based on an original idea by her and Dawn French, and written by Saunders, who plays the leading character. It also stars Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha, along with June Whitfield and Jane Horrocks...
and Harry Enfield and Chums. She has been nominated for six BAFTA awards
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
.
Family and upbringing
She was born at the Royal Free HospitalRoyal Free Hospital
The Royal Free Hospital is a major teaching hospital in Hampstead, London, England and part of the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and raised in the Irish area of Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
. Her mother Bridget (Bridie)http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018834/bio died of cancer when she was two, and she was raised by neighbours (the Galvin family) for the following few years. Subsequently, she returned to live with her father Patrick (Paddy), an alcoholic, who died of cancer in 1985. Burke attended the Maria Fidelis RC Convent School. She has two older brothers, John and Barry.
Career
Burke's first role was in the controversial 1983 film ScrubbersScrubbers
Scrubbers is a 1983 British drama film directed by Mai Zetterling and starring Amanda York and Chrissie Cotterill. It was shot primarily in Virginia Water, Surrey, England. It was inspired by the success of the 1979 film Scum.-Plot:...
, directed by Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
actress Mai Zetterling
Mai Zetterling
-Early life:Zetterling was born in Västerås, Västmanland, Sweden to a working class family. She started her career as an actress by the age of seventeen at Dramaten, the Swedish national theater, and appeared in war-era film starting in her teens.-Career:...
and featuring Pam St. Clement
Pam St. Clement
Pamela Ann Clement , known by the stage name Pam St. Clement, is an English actress. She has played Pat Evans in the BBC soap opera EastEnders since 1986, and is now one of the programme's longest-serving cast members. St. Clement announced her intention to leave EastEnders on 8 July 2011 and will...
, Robbie Coltrane
Robbie Coltrane
Robbie Coltrane, OBE is a Scottish actor, comedian and author. He is known both for his role as Dr...
, Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes, OBE is an English actress and voice artist. Her earliest roles were in theatre and after several supporting roles in film and television she won a BAFTA Award for her role in The Age of Innocence .-Early life:...
, Honey Bane
Honey Bane
Honey Bane is an English singer and actress, possibly best known for her 1981 UK Top 40 single "Turn Me On Turn Me Off"....
, Debby Bishop
Debby Bishop
Debby Bishop is a British actress. She is probably best known to television viewers for her appearance in the second series of the crime drama Widows, having taken over the part of Bella O'Reilly from Eva Mottley....
and Eva Mottley
Eva Mottley
Eva Mottley was a British actress, best known for her role as Bella O'Reilly in the acclaimed television drama Widows....
. The movie was set in a young offenders' institute for girls and was seen as a female version of the film Scum
Scum (film)
Scum is a 1979 British crime drama film directed by Alan Clarke, portraying the brutality of life inside a British borstal. The story was originally made for the BBC's Play for Today strand in 1977, however due to the violence depicted in the film, it was withdrawn from broadcast...
.
Burke appeared in a non-speaking role in a 1985 public information film about heroin addiction.
Burke first became familiar to television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
audiences as a player of minor roles in sketches by better-known performers such as Harry Enfield
Harry Enfield
Henry Richard "Harry" Enfield is a BAFTA-winning English comedian, actor, writer and director.-Early life:...
, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders
Jennifer Saunders
Jennifer Jane Saunders is an English comedienne, screenwriter, singer and actress. She has won two BAFTAs, an International Emmy Award, a British Comedy Award, a Rose d'Or Light Entertainment Festival Award, two Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards, and a Peoples Choice Award.She first came into...
. Early TV work included regular appearances on the chat show "The Last Resort" hosted by Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
on UK Channel 4 in the early 1980s, playing the characters 'Tina Bishop' and 'Perry the Pre-pubscent Schoolboy". Bishop was a continually pregnant "expert" offering advice on household chores, always with disastrous results. Along with French & Saunders
French & Saunders
French and Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring comic duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. It is also the name by which the performers are known on the occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act....
, she has contributed to two Comic Relief charity singles. She first appeared as a member of Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
parody band Lananeeneenoonoo in 1989, and then as a member of Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
' look-alike band The Sugar Lumps in 1997. In real life Burke is a big fan of Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
and appeared in the video for his 1989 single "Ouija Board, Ouija Board
Ouija Board, Ouija Board
"Ouija Board, Ouija Board" was a single released by Morrissey in November 1989, catalogue number HMV POP 1622. The single was poorly received by the music press and the public: its highest chart position was No. 18, making it the first Morrissey single not to reach the British top 10. It appeared...
" and later in the 2002 Channel 4
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...
documentary The Importance Of Being Morrissey.
She quickly became successful in her own right and although mainly associated with comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
, she has played several serious roles including that of Queen Mary I of England
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
in Elizabeth
Elizabeth (film)
Elizabeth is a 1998 biographical film written by Michael Hirst, directed by Shekhar Kapur, and starring Cate Blanchett in the title role of Queen Elizabeth I of England, alongside Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes, Sir John Gielgud, Fanny Ardant and Richard Attenborough...
.
Burke won the Best Actress
Best Actress Award (Cannes Film Festival)
The Best Actress Award is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of films at the festival. It was first awarded in 1946.-Award Winners:-External links:* * ....
award at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival
1997 Cannes Film Festival
-Jury:*Isabelle Adjani *Gong Li *Mira Sorvino *Paul Auster *Tim Burton *Luc Bondy *Patrick Dupond *Mike Leigh *Nanni Moretti *Michael Ondaatje -Feature film competition:...
for her role in the gritty drama Nil by Mouth
Nil by Mouth (film)
Nil by Mouth is a 1997 British drama film portraying a family of characters living in South East London. It was Gary Oldman's debut as a writer and director; the film was produced by Douglas Urbanski and Luc Besson. It stars Ray Winstone as Raymond, the abusive husband of Valerie...
which also earned her a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Best Actress in a Leading Role is a British Academy Film award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts to recognise an actress who has delivered an outstanding leading performance in a film.- Winners and nominees :...
nomination. Since then she has appeared as Perry in Kevin and Perry Go Large, and as Linda La Hughes
Linda La Hughes
Linda Lolita Lulu La Hughes nicknamed "Olive" is a fictional character who appeared in the 1999-2001 British sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme...
in Gimme Gimme Gimme were she was nominated for 3 British Comedy Awards
British Comedy Awards
The British Comedy Awards is an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom celebrating notable comedians and entertainment performances of the previous year.-History:...
(winning one) , 2 BAFTA TV Awards and a National Television Award for her performance. In 2000, she appeared in the cult film Love Honour and Obey with Ray Burdis.
In 2003, she was listed in The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.
Beginning in 2001, she refrained from acting and threw herself into theatre directing; something she considers to be one of her true passions. She said in an interview with Dawn French in Dawn French's Girls Who do Comedy that she no longer felt the same creative energy associated with acting that she used to (she described it as a "feeling in my belly") and that this was the reason she had stopped acting. However, she has done some voiceover work in the past few years, including adverts for Ski yoghurt (in the UK) as well as Flushed Away
Flushed Away
Flushed Away is a 2006 computer animated British film directed by David Bowers and Sam Fell. It is a partnership between Aardman Animations of Wallace and Gromit fame, and DreamWorks Animation, and is Aardman's first completely computer-animated feature as opposed to the usual stop-motion.The film...
(2006). She also appeared in the 2007 Christmas Special of The Catherine Tate Show as Nan's daughter.
In early 1990 she wrote and directed her first play, Mr Thomas, at the Old Red Lion Theatre
Old Red Lion Theatre
The Old Red Lion Theatre is a fringe theatre, situated above a pub at The Angel, in the London Borough of Islington.It was founded in 1948 as the Old Red Lion Theatre Club.-Construction:...
. Set in 1950s London it starred James Clyde
James Clyde
James Clyde may refer to:*James Avon Clyde, Lord Clyde , Scottish politician and judge*James Latham Clyde, Lord Clyde , Scottish Unionist politician and judge*James Clyde, Baron Clyde , British judge and law lord...
, Anita Graham, Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver
James "Jamie" Trevor Oliver, MBE , sometimes known as The Naked Chef, is an English chef, restaurateur and media personality, known for his food-focused television shows, cookbooks and more recently his campaign against the use of processed foods in national schools...
, Ian Jentle, Oliver Smith
Oliver Smith (actor)
Oliver Smith is an English actor. He is probably best known for playing the role of Frank The Monster from the original Hellraiser film in 1987, as well as Mr. Browning and Skinless Frank from Hellbound: Hellraiser II film in 1988...
, and Ray Winstone
Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over...
. It was subsequently filmed and shown on Channel 4
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...
the next year.
In 2007, Burke contracted Clostridium difficile
Clostridium difficile
Clostridium difficile , also known as "CDF/cdf", or "C...
while in hospital for an operation, resulting in her having to pass directing duties on Dying for It at the Almeida theatre (which starred Charlie Condou
Charlie Condou
Charlie Lomax David Condou is an English actor and Guardian columnist who is best known for his role as Marcus Dent in the British soap opera, Coronation Street....
and Sophie Stanton
Sophie Stanton
Sophie Stanton is an actress and playwright. She is known for her role as Detective Chief Inspector Jill Marsden in the television series EastEnders , Rose in 'Dressing For Breakfast' and as Dilly in The Wilsons...
who she worked with on Gimme Gimme Gimme).
In 2009, Burke made her television directorial debut with the BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
sketch show series Horne & Corden
Horne & Corden
Horne & Corden was a British sketch show written by Jon Brown, Steve Dawson, Andrew Dawson, Tim Inman and the cast, script edited by Sam Ward, and starring Mathew Horne and James Corden. It aired on BBC television in 2009. The first episode was broadcast on 10 March 2009 on BBC Three...
, starring Mathew Horne
Mathew Horne
Mathew Frazer Horne is an English actor, stand-up comedian, television presenter and narrator best known for appearing on several BBC sketch shows and sitcoms, most notably Gavin & Stacey portraying Gavin Shipman, The Catherine Tate Show, Teachers and Horne and Corden.-Early life:Horne was born...
and James Corden
James Corden
James Kimberley Corden is an English actor, television writer, producer and presenter. He is co-creator and star of BBC comedy shows Gavin & Stacey and Horne & Corden, and acted in the 2009 film Lesbian Vampire Killers....
.
In 2010, Burke completed a short autobiographical film, "Better Than Christmas", for "Little Crackers", a collection of comic shorts. Burke plays a nun.
In 2011, Burke played Connie Sachs
Connie Sachs
Connie Sachs is a fictional character created by John le Carré. Sachs plays a key supporting role in le Carré's Karla Trilogy of spy novels including Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The Honourable Schoolboy; and Smiley's People....
in the film adaptation
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (film)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a 2011 English-language espionage film directed by Tomas Alfredson, from a screenplay written by Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan based on the 1974 novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré...
of the novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a 1974 British spy novel by John le Carré, featuring George Smiley. Smiley is a middle-aged, taciturn, perspicacious intelligence expert in forced retirement. He is recalled to hunt down a Soviet mole in the "Circus", the highest echelon of the Secret Intelligence...
.
Film and television appearances
- ScrubbersScrubbersScrubbers is a 1983 British drama film directed by Mai Zetterling and starring Amanda York and Chrissie Cotterill. It was shot primarily in Virginia Water, Surrey, England. It was inspired by the success of the 1979 film Scum.-Plot:...
(1983) - A Very Peculiar PracticeA Very Peculiar PracticeA Very Peculiar Practice is a BBC comedy-drama series, which ran for two series in 1986 and 1988. It was the first major success for screenwriter Andrew Davies, and was inspired by his experiences as a lecturer at the University of Warwick.- Storyline :...
(Episode 7) (1986) - Sid and NancySid and NancySid and Nancy is a 1986 British biopic directed by Alex Cox. The film portrays the life of Sid Vicious , bassist of the seminal punk rock band the Sex Pistols, and his relationship with girlfriend Nancy Spungen .-Plot:The film opens with several police officers dragging Sid Vicious out of the Hotel...
(1986) - Straight to Hell (1987)
- WalkerWalker (film)Walker is a 1987 Acid Western film directed by Alex Cox. The film based on the life story of William Walker , the American filibuster who invaded Mexico in the 1850s and made himself President of Nicaragua shortly thereafter. It was written by Rudy Wurlitzer and scored by Joe Strummer, who also...
(1987) - French and SaundersFrench and SaundersFrench and Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring comic duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. It is also the name by which the performers are known on the occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act....
(1987) - Two of UsTwo of Us (1987 film)Two of Us is a 1987 gay-themed BBC television film written by Leslie Stewart and directed by Roger Tonge. Produced as part of the BBC Schools SCENE series and intended for young adults...
(1987) - Work ExperienceWork Experience (film)Work Experience is a 1989 short comedy film directed by James Hendrie. It won an Academy Award in 1990 for Best Short Subject.-Cast:* Lenny Henry - Terence Weller* Kathy Burke - Sally* Neil Pearson - Greg* Shelagh Fraser* Neil McCaul...
(1989) - The BillThe BillThe Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
(1989) (Episode: "Leaving") - Harry Enfield's Television ProgrammeHarry Enfield's Television ProgrammeHarry Enfield's Television Programme was a British sketch show starring Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse...
(1990) - Have I Got News for YouHave I Got News for YouHave I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been broadcast since 1990, currently the BBC's longest-ever running television panel show...
(1993) - The Fat SlagsThe Fat SlagsThe Fat Slags is a comic strip appearing in the "alternative" British comic Viz. The characters made their debut in 1989. The eponymous slags are Sandra Burke and Tracey Tunstall, known to other characters as San and Tray. They are depicted as overweight, eating large amounts of food, mainly chips,...
(1992) - Absolutely FabulousAbsolutely FabulousAbsolutely Fabulous, also known as Ab Fab, is a British sitcom created by Jennifer Saunders, based on an original idea by her and Dawn French, and written by Saunders, who plays the leading character. It also stars Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha, along with June Whitfield and Jane Horrocks...
(1992) - Mr. Wroe's Virgins (1993)
- Harry Enfield and Chums (1994)
- Never Mind the BuzzcocksNever Mind the BuzzcocksNever Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game television show with a pop music theme, currently without a permanent presenter. It stars Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding as team captains. The show is produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC, and is usually aired on BBC Two...
(1996) - "Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
" (1997) - Nil by MouthNil by Mouth (film)Nil by Mouth is a 1997 British drama film portraying a family of characters living in South East London. It was Gary Oldman's debut as a writer and director; the film was produced by Douglas Urbanski and Luc Besson. It stars Ray Winstone as Raymond, the abusive husband of Valerie...
(1997) - Dancing at LughnasaDancing at LughnasaDancing at Lughnasa is a 1990 play by dramatist Brian Friel set in Ireland's County Donegal in August 1936 in the fictional town of Ballybeg. It is a memory play told from the point of view of the adult Michael Evans, the narrator...
(1998) - ElizabethElizabeth (film)Elizabeth is a 1998 biographical film written by Michael Hirst, directed by Shekhar Kapur, and starring Cate Blanchett in the title role of Queen Elizabeth I of England, alongside Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes, Sir John Gielgud, Fanny Ardant and Richard Attenborough...
(1998) - Rex the RuntRex the RuntRex the Runt is an animated claymation television show produced by Aardman Animations for BBC Bristol in association with EVA Entertainment and Egmont Imagination. Its main characters are four plasticine dogs: Rex, Wendy, Bad Bob and Vince....
(1998) - Ted & RalphTed & RalphTed and Ralph are fictional characters created by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, played by Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson in the BBC comedy sketch show The Fast Show...
(1998) - Gimme Gimme Gimme (1999–2001) (co-wrote)
- Let Them Eat CakeLet Them Eat Cake (TV series)Let Them Eat Cake is a British sitcom that aired on BBC One in 1999. Starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, it is one of the few programmes in which French and Saunders have appeared which they did not create themselves.-Plot:...
(1999) - Pleasure Island (1999)
- Shooting GalleryShooting Gallery (TV series)Shooting Gallery is a television series on the Outdoor Channel hosted by Elle Alexander, Michael Bane, and Katie Rowe. The series deals with sharpshooting and target practice....
(1999) - This Year's LoveThis Year's LoveThis Year's Love is the title of a 1999 film set in and around Camden Town in London. It was written and directed by David Kane.-Cast:*Dougray Scott as Cameron*Jennifer Ehle as Sophie*Ian Hart as Liam*Sophie Okonedo as Denise...
(1999) - Kevin and Perry Go Large (2000)
- Love, Honour and ObeyLove, Honour and ObeyLove, Honour and Obey is a 2000 mock gangster film starring several members of the Primrose Hill set. It was jointly written and directed by Dominic Anciano and Ray Burdis as a follow-up to their 1998 film Final Cut...
(2000) - Room 101Room 101 (TV series)Room 101 is a BBC comedy television series based on the radio series of the same name, in which celebrities were invited to discuss their pet hates and persuade the host to consign them to a fate worse than death in Room 101, named after the torture room in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, which is...
(2000) - The Martins (2001)
- Anita and MeAnita and MeAnita and Me is Meera Syal's debut novel, and was first published in 1996. It is a semi-autobiographical novel which won the Betty Trask Award....
(2002) - The Importance of Being Morrissey (2002) (guest appearance)
- Once Upon a Time in the MidlandsOnce Upon a Time in the MidlandsOnce Upon a Time in the Midlands is a 2002 film directed and co-written by Shane Meadows and set in an anonymous town in the Midlands. It was filmed on location in Nottingham.-Plot:...
(2002) - V Graham NortonV Graham NortonV Graham Norton was an entertainment programme shown on Channel 4 in the UK starring Graham Norton, broadcast every weeknight as a successor to the weekly So Graham Norton. It aired from 6 May 2002 to 26 December 2003. It featured celebrities who chatted with Graham and became involved in studio...
(2002) - Dawn French's Girls Who Do ComedyDawn French's Girls Who Do ComedyDawn French's Girls Who Do Comedy is an interview series shown on BBC Four. In the series, Dawn French interviewed some of the most prolific comedians of the century from Phyllis Diller to Catherine Tate and asked about life, love, family and comedy...
(2006) - Flushed AwayFlushed AwayFlushed Away is a 2006 computer animated British film directed by David Bowers and Sam Fell. It is a partnership between Aardman Animations of Wallace and Gromit fame, and DreamWorks Animation, and is Aardman's first completely computer-animated feature as opposed to the usual stop-motion.The film...
(2006) (voiceover) - The F-WordThe F-WordThe F Word is a British food magazine and cooking show featuring chef Gordon Ramsay. The programme covers a wide range of topics, from recipes to food preparation and celebrity food fads. The programme is made by Optomen Television and aired weekly on Channel 4...
(2006) (guest appearance) - The Catherine Tate ShowThe Catherine Tate ShowThe Catherine Tate Show is a British television sketch comedy written by Catherine Tate and Aschlin Ditta. Tate also stars in all but one of the show's sketches, which feature a wide range of characters. The Catherine Tate Show airs on BBC Two and is shown worldwide through the BBC...
(2007) (Guest appearance) - DIANE, daughter of "NAN", mother of "NAN'S GRANDSON" - The Eejits (2007) (As The Virgin Mary)
- The Rav Doe Show (2008) (Guest appearance)
- Little CrackersLittle CrackersLittle Crackers is a British television comedy series that was broadcast on Sky1 and Sky1 HD in December 2010. It consists of a series of short films featuring stars of British comedy including Dawn French, Stephen Fry and Catherine Tate...
(2010) (short film, wrote and directed) - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) as Connie SachsConnie SachsConnie Sachs is a fictional character created by John le Carré. Sachs plays a key supporting role in le Carré's Karla Trilogy of spy novels including Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; The Honourable Schoolboy; and Smiley's People....
- The Antics Roadshow (2011) as the narrator
Theatre
- Lilli in Amongst Barbarians by Michael Wall at the Royal Exchange, ManchesterRoyal Exchange, ManchesterThe Royal Exchange is a grade II listed Victorian building in Manchester, England. It is located in the city centre on the land bounded by St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, Cross Street and Old Bank Street...
(1989) - It's a Great Big Shame! by Mike LeighMike LeighMichael "Mike" Leigh, OBE is a British writer and director of film and theatre. He studied theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and studied further at the Camberwell School of Art and the Central School of Art and Design. He began as a theatre director and playwright in the mid 1960s...
(Theatre Royal Stratford EastTheatre Royal Stratford EastThe Theatre Royal Stratford East is a theatre in Stratford in the London Borough of Newham. Since 1953, it has been the home of the Theatre Workshop company.-History:...
, 1993)
As director
- Out in the Open by Jonathan HarveyJonathan Harvey (playwright)Jonathan Harvey is a British playwright whose work has earned multiple awards. He is also a former secondary school English teacher.-Life and works:...
at the Hampstead TheatreHampstead TheatreHampstead Theatre is a theatre in the vicinity of Swiss Cottage and Belsize Park, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. In 2009 it celebrates its 50 year anniversary.The original theatre was...
. - Kosher Harry (2002) by Nick GrossoNick GrossoNick Grosso is a British playwright, born in London in 1968 to Argentine parents of Italian and Russian extraction. His style has been described as that of a "latter-day Oscar Wilde on speed" by Sheridan Morley.-Career:...
at the Royal Court TheatreRoyal Court TheatreThe Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
. - Born Bad (2003) by Debbie Tucker Green at the Hampstead Theatre.
- Love Me Tonight (2004) by Nick StaffordNick StaffordNick Stafford is a British playwright and writer. He is best known for writing the stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's novel War Horse, which garnered him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play in 2008, and the Tony Award for Best Play in 2011.-Career:Stafford trained at Rose...
at the Hampstead Theatre.
Awards
- 1997 Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalThe Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
- Best Actress - Nil By MouthNil by Mouth (film)Nil by Mouth is a 1997 British drama film portraying a family of characters living in South East London. It was Gary Oldman's debut as a writer and director; the film was produced by Douglas Urbanski and Luc Besson. It stars Ray Winstone as Raymond, the abusive husband of Valerie... - 2002 British Comedy AwardsBritish Comedy AwardsThe British Comedy Awards is an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom celebrating notable comedians and entertainment performances of the previous year.-History:...
- Best Comedy Actress - Gimme Gimme Gimme
Nominations
- 1998 Bafta Film Awards - Best Actress - Nil By MouthNil by Mouth (film)Nil by Mouth is a 1997 British drama film portraying a family of characters living in South East London. It was Gary Oldman's debut as a writer and director; the film was produced by Douglas Urbanski and Luc Besson. It stars Ray Winstone as Raymond, the abusive husband of Valerie...
- 1998 Bafta TV Awards - Best Actress - Tom JonesThe History of Tom Jones, a FoundlingThe History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, often known simply as Tom Jones, is a comic novel by the English playwright and novelist Henry Fielding. First published on 28 February 1749, Tom Jones is among the earliest English prose works describable as a novel...
- 1998 Bafta TV Awards - Best Light Entertainment Performance - Harry Enfield and Chums
- 1999 Bafta TV Awards - Best Light Entertainment Performance - Harry Enfield's Yule log Chums
- 2001 Bafta TV Awards - Best Comedy Performance - Gimme Gimme Gimme
- 2002 Bafta TV Awards - Best Comedy Performance - Gimme Gimme Gimme
External links
- KathyBurke.co.uk – "Everything you could reasonably want to know about the actress and director"