Verity Rushworth
Encyclopedia
Verity Rushworth is an English
actress who is best known for her role as Donna Windsor-Dingle
in the ITV1
soap Emmerdale
, having taken over the role from Sophie Jeffery
in 1998.
In 1998, at the age of 12, she went on to play her most notable role of Donna Windsor in the ITV1 soap Emmerdale, having taken over the role from Sophie Jeffery who played the part from 1993–1997. In an interview, she stated that Mark Charnock
(Marlon Dingle
) is her closest friend from the show.
In December 2006, she appeared in a Emmerdale edition of Family Fortunes, with other members of the Windsors.
In January 2007 she was a contestant on the celebrity singing contest, Soapstar Superstar
, in which she came 9th. Whilst on the show she performed the following songs:
In September 2007 she appeared on Ghosthunting With The Dingles alongside other members of her on-screen family.
After appearing on the show for over 10 years she filmed her final scenes at the end of 2008 which were later aired in January 2009.
From 2 February 2009, she made her West End debut by playing the role of Penny Pingleton in hit musical Hairspray
, taking over the role from Elinor Collett. The show continued until March 2010.
On 5 June 2010, Rushworth appeared on the BBC One programme Hole in the Wall.
In October 2010, Rushworth took on the role of Sophie in Dougal Irvine's production of Departure Lounge at the Waterloo East Theatre. She starred alongside Steven Webb
, Chris Fountain
, Jack Shalloo and Liam Tamne. She finished the role at the beginning of November as Sian Webber
took over.
In January 2011, Rushworth took over the role of Maria in the UK tour of The Sound Of Music
from Connie Fisher
.
Theatrical:
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 who is best known for her role as Donna Windsor-Dingle
Donna Windsor-Dingle
Donna Windsor Dingle is a fictional character that appeared in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She was originally played by Sophie Jeffery, and later replaced by Verity Rushworth in 1998. Donna was the third longest running character on Emmerdale at the time of her departure. She made her first...
in the ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
soap Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
, having taken over the role from Sophie Jeffery
Sophie Jeffery
Sophie Jeffery is an English actress known for her part as Donna Windsor in ITV's Emmerdale which she played from 1993–1997, when she was replaced by Verity Rushworth.-References:...
in 1998.
Life and career
Rushworth trained at the SLP College, Leeds. In 1997 Rushworth had minor roles in ITV programmes such as Heartbeat.In 1998, at the age of 12, she went on to play her most notable role of Donna Windsor in the ITV1 soap Emmerdale, having taken over the role from Sophie Jeffery who played the part from 1993–1997. In an interview, she stated that Mark Charnock
Mark Charnock
Mark Charnock is an English actor best known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as lanky chef Marlon Dingle.-Biography:...
(Marlon Dingle
Marlon Dingle
Marlon Sebastian Dingle is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Mark Charnock. -1996–:...
) is her closest friend from the show.
In December 2006, she appeared in a Emmerdale edition of Family Fortunes, with other members of the Windsors.
In January 2007 she was a contestant on the celebrity singing contest, Soapstar Superstar
Soapstar Superstar
Soapstar Superstar was a reality singing competition produced by Granada Television which first aired on British television station ITV in 2006. In the competition, ten soap opera actors perform in front of a celebrity panel, which included Cilla Black, Billy Sammeth and Chris Cowey...
, in which she came 9th. Whilst on the show she performed the following songs:
- Day 1: RunawayRunaway (The Corrs song)"Runaway" is the début single by the Irish family band The Corrs. It was released in September 1995, and had middling chart success except in Ireland and Australia, where it peaked at #10. In the UK Singles Chart, it reached #49....
(The CorrsThe CorrsThe Corrs are an Irish band which combine pop rock with traditional Celtic folk music. The brother and sisters are from Dundalk, Ireland. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea ; Sharon ; Caroline ; and Jim .The Corrs came to international prominence with their performance at the...
) - Day 2: I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (with Flowers in My Hair)"I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker " is the debut single by Sandi Thom. The song was written by Tom Gilbert and Thom herself. The song was originally released in October 2005 by Viking Legacy Records, reaching number fifty-five in the UK Singles Chart...
(Sandi ThomSandi ThomAlexandria "Sandi" Thom is a Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She became widely known in 2006 after a series of webcasts and the success of the single "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker ".-1984–2004: Early life:Thom was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire...
) - Day 3: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Whitney HoustonWhitney HoustonWhitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
)
In September 2007 she appeared on Ghosthunting With The Dingles alongside other members of her on-screen family.
After appearing on the show for over 10 years she filmed her final scenes at the end of 2008 which were later aired in January 2009.
From 2 February 2009, she made her West End debut by playing the role of Penny Pingleton in hit musical Hairspray
Hairspray (musical)
Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues...
, taking over the role from Elinor Collett. The show continued until March 2010.
On 5 June 2010, Rushworth appeared on the BBC One programme Hole in the Wall.
In October 2010, Rushworth took on the role of Sophie in Dougal Irvine's production of Departure Lounge at the Waterloo East Theatre. She starred alongside Steven Webb
Steven Webb
Steven Webb is an English actor who has been performing in theatre, television and film from the age of eight. Webb was born in Wirral, near Liverpool in the UK.-Career:...
, Chris Fountain
Chris Fountain
Christopher Ryan Fountain is an English actor best known for his role as Justin Burton on the Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks, a role he played from 2003 until his departure in June 2009. He is also now known for playing Tommy Duckworth in Coronation Street. He played the role of PC Paul Tait in...
, Jack Shalloo and Liam Tamne. She finished the role at the beginning of November as Sian Webber
Sian Webber
Sian Webber is a British actress, best known for playing Emma Neesome in the 1980s BBC drama series Howards' Way.She has also appeared in Star Cops, Pie in the Sky, Dangerfield, Highlander: The Series, The Bill, Bad Girls, Peak Practice, Holby City, Waterloo Road and EastEnders, playing Ritchie...
took over.
In January 2011, Rushworth took over the role of Maria in the UK tour of The Sound Of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
from Connie Fisher
Connie Fisher
Connie Fisher is a Welsh actress and singer, who won the BBC One talent contest, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?...
.
Works
Television:- Heartbeat: Lucy Keen (1997)
- EmmerdaleEmmerdaleEmmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
: Donna Windsor-Dingle (1998–2009)
Theatrical:
- HairsprayHairspray (musical)Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues...
: Penny Pingleton (2009–2010 London West End) - Departure Lounge: Sophie (2010)
- The Sound Of MusicThe Sound of MusicThe Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
: Maria (2011 UK Tour)