Kim Medcalf
| Kim Medcalf | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kim Louise Medcalf 8 December 1973 Bromley, Kent, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Newstead Wood School for Girls |
| Alma mater | University of Bristol |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 2002—present |
| Height | 5' 5¾" (1.67 m) |
| Television | EastEnders (2002–2005) |
| Parents | Diane Medcalf Peter Medcalf |
Kim Louise Medcalf (born 8 December 1973[1]) is an English actress and occasional singer. She has made occasional appearances as a singer and is best known for playing the character Sam Mitchell in the long running BBC Soap Opera EastEnders from 2002 to 2005.
Contents |
[edit] Early life and personal life
Kim Medcalf was born in Bromley, Kent, to parents Diane and Peter, where she grew up in a loving family with her 2 older brothers. Medcalf completed her A-level studies at Newstead Wood School for Girls and after eventually leaving, attended the University of Bristol to study Law.
On graduation, she became an account manager but while on holiday with friends, she decided this was no longer for her and she left to try something different. In 2010, Kim gave birth to a girl.
[edit] Career
She enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama. After successfully completing the course, she took part in various theatre productions, including One Touch Of Venus at the King's Head in Islington.[2] in which Sheridan Morley wrote "Playing Venus is Kim Medcalf, an actress here making her professional debut straight from drama school: It is the most impressive I have seen in a musical for many a long year"
[edit] Acting
In 2002, Medcalf landed the role of Sam Mitchell, taking over from Danniella Westbrook.[2] 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. After being cut-out of her Toyota Yaris, which was being driven by her then boyfriend, the accident left her with multiple broken bones, the worst being her leg, which had to be pinned together using a metal rod.[3] She won the best newcomer award in 2002. Medcalf opted to leave Eastenders in 2005.[4] Her 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.[5] Her final scenes aired on 17 November 2005.
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 23 October 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 Judi Dench.
Medcalf was 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.[6] Her run as Bowles ended on 29 September 2007.
From 25 February until the - 1 March 2008, Medcalf appeared at the New Victoria Theatre, Woking, in a run of The Vagina Monologues alongside Sue Holderness and Shobna Gulati.[7] In March 2008 she appeared in an episode of The Fixer for ITV1, and then played a lead role in Harley Street, a daytime series for ITV1.[6]
In early 2009, after a second appearance in The Vagina Monologues but this time in Nottingham,[7]
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. It was confirmed by the BBC in April 2009, that Westbrook would be returning as Sam in the Summer of 2009, not Medcalf. [8]
In March 2010 she appeared in BBC 1 drama Missing. Medcalf appeared again in the programme, in an episode aired on 1 December 2010. On 5 August 2011, she appeared on Lorraine to promote the Gershwin musical Crazy For You. She is playing Irene Roth at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre from 28th July to 9th September 2011.
[edit] Singing
Medcalf is a mezzo-soprano and in 2004, Medcalf showcased her singing ability at the Eastenders Christmas party, a TV special, where she sang "All I Want For Christmas Is You". 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.
[edit] Filmography
[edit] TV
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2005 | EastEnders | Sam Mitchell | Series regular |
| 2002, 2004, 2005 | EastEnders Revealed | Herself | 3 episodes |
| 2002 | Sport Relief | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2003, 2007 | Richard & Judy | Herself | Guest |
| 2003, 2004 | EastEnders Christmas Party | Herself | Regular |
| 2004, 2005 | GMTV | Herself | 3 episodes |
| 2004 | The Terry and Gaby Show | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2005 | Comic Relief Does Fame Academy | Herself | Regular, Runner up |
| 2005 | This Morning | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Breakfast | Herself | Guest |
| 2005 | Top of the Pops | Herself | Guest |
| 2005 | Children in Need | Herself | Guest |
| 2006 | Death Becomes Him | Laura Manning | Regular |
| 2006 | The Xtra Factor | Herself | Guest |
| 2007 | Mitchells Weekend | Herself | Presenter |
| 2007 | Saturday Kitchen | Herself | Guest |
| 2008 | The Fixer | Caroline Sheen | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Harley Street | Nurse Annie Harke | Regular |
| 2010 | Missing | Adele Scott | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Daybreak | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Lorraine | Herself | 1 episode |
[edit] References
- ^ http://web.researcha.com/iccquery/detail/?did=3246905&c=uk
- ^ a b "Kim Medcalf". BBC Eastenders. http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/characters_cast/cast/cast_kim_m.shtml. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ Shakinovsky, Tania (2002-07-03). "EastEnders star in car crash". London: Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-126059/EastEnders-star-car-crash.html. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ "Medcalf and Ryan quitting 'EastEnders'?". Digital Spy. 29 January 2005. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a18804/medcalf-and-ryan-quitting-eastenders.html. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ "Medcalf speaks about quitting 'Enders". Digital Spy. 20 March 2005. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a20020/medcalf-speaks-about-quitting-enders.html. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ^ a b "On the Couch with Dr Hillary.... Kim Medcalf". Fabulous Magazine. http://www.fabulousmag.co.uk/health/health_dr_hilary_issue_025.php. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ a b "The Vagina Monologues: Ex-EastEnder Kim Medcalf". This Is Nottingham. 2009-01-29. http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Ex-EastEnder-Kim-Medcalf-Vagina-Monologues/article-655261-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
- ^ "Ender Kim in tsunami orphan aid". The Sun (London). 21 December 2009. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/2779267/Kim-Medcalf-visits-kids-who-lost-their-parents-in-2004tsunami.html.
