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Kim Medcalf
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Kim Louise Medcalf (born 8 December 1973) is a British actress who has made occasional appearances as a singer, best known for playing the character Sam Mitchell in the long running BBC Soap Opera EastEnders over a period of three years .
Born in Bromley, London Medcalf completed her A-level studies at Newstead Wood School for Girls and after leaving, unsuccessfully applied to various stage schools. Eventually she attended Bristol University to study Law.
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Encyclopedia
Kim Louise Medcalf (born 8 December 1973) is a British actress who has made occasional appearances as a singer, best known for playing the character Sam Mitchell in the long running BBC Soap Opera EastEnders over a period of three years .
Born in Bromley, London Medcalf completed her A-level studies at Newstead Wood School for Girls and after leaving, unsuccessfully applied to various stage schools. Eventually she attended Bristol University to study Law. In an interview with Paul O'Grady, Kim said she would 'never say never' to another return as Sam Mitchell.
Early career
In her early career, Medcalf found herself as an account manager selling soap powder for a big company and later, a nursery nurse, but while on holiday with friends, she decided this was no longer for her and she left to try something different. She enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama for an eight month course. After successfully completing the course, she took part in various theatre productions, including The Beggars Opera at the National Theatre and One Touch Of Venus at the King's Head in Islington.
Acting career
In 2002, Medcalf landed the role of Sam Mitchell, taking over from Daniella Westbrook, and making herself a UK household name in the process. She filmed her first scenes with Barbara Windsor in Spain. Just months after joining EastEnders, she was involved in a horrific car accident in France, which left her with multiple broken bones, the worst being her leg, which had to be pinned together using a metal rod.
Medcalf's final scenes were filmed in September 2005 and screened in November of that year. Her character, Sam, having escaped possible imprisonment for being an accessory in the murder of Den Watts, left to join her brother, Grant Mitchell, in Brazil.
Medcalf's first post-EastEnders work included a role in a dramatic staged reading of The Penelopiad directed by Phyllida Lloyd at St James's Church, Piccadilly on October 23rd 2005, appearances for Children in Need on 18 November 2005 and in South Pacific at the Symphony Hall on 29 & 30 November 2005. In Spring 2006, she began an acclaimed four month run in the revival of Hay Fever at the Theatre Royal Haymarket alongside Dame Judi Dench.
Medcalf has recently been seen as the host of the Mitchells Weekend on the UKTV Gold network and on the 23 January 2007 she appeared in an episode of the BBC's Afternoon Play series called Death becomes him.
In February and March 2007, Metcalf appeared as the "guest star" in a short UK tour of the West end hit The Play What I Wrote.
On 2 April 2007, Medcalf took over the role of Sally Bowles from Anna Maxwell Martin in Rufus Norris' revival of Cabaret at the Lyric Theatre in the West End receiving strong reviews, her run as Bowles ended on 29 September 2007.
From 25 February until the - 1 March 2008, Kim appeared at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking, in a run of The Vagina Monologues alongside Sue Holderness and Shobna Gulati and in March 2008 she appeared in an episode of The Fixer for ITV1.
Currently (July/August 2008), Kim plays a lead role in Harley Street a new series for ITV1.
In March 2009, it was reported that EastEnders bosses were planning a return of Sam Mitchell, but they were trying to lure back Danniella Westbrook, as it was allegedly reported that Kim Medcalf had turned down the oppurtunity to return as Sam.
Singing
In 2004, Medcalf showcased her singing ability at the Eastenders Christmas party, a TV special, where she sang All I Want For Christmas. Subsequently, she was invited to join the students of the 2005 Comic Relief does Fame Academy. Medcalf performed various songs including Don't Know Why and Perfect, as well as group songs with other students. After the judges initially being confused about Medcalf's voice she prevailed, helped by an emotional performance of Delta Goodrem's "Born to Try", and finished in second place behind Radio One's Edith Bowman.
On 11 September 2005, Medcalf wowed the crowds at London's Hyde Park where she took part in the BBC Family Prom; she performed her own version of Over the Rainbow accompanied by the BBC Orchestra. On 16 July 2006, she sang at Love letter to Dan a Gala tribute to Dan Crawford, the late founder of the The King's Head Theatre.
She is a mezzo-soprano.
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