Miranda Raison
Miranda Raison | |
---|---|
![]() Raison in 2014 | |
Born | Miranda Caroline Raison 18 November 1977 Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, England |
Occupation(s) | Actress, voice over narrator |
Years active | 1999–present |
Spouse(s) |
Christopher Mollard
(m. 2017) |
Children | 2 |
Miranda Caroline Raison (born 18 November 1977) is a British actress.
Early life
Miranda Raison was born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, on 18 November 1977. Her mother is former Anglia News reader Caroline Raison (née Harvey).[1] Her father, Nick Raison, is a jazz pianist who accompanied the BBC National Orchestra of Wales when Raison played a showgirl in the Doctor Who episodes "Daleks in Manhattan" and "Evolution of the Daleks".[2]
Raison's parents divorced when she was five years old. From a young age she attended five boarding schools, including Gresham's School, Felixstowe College and Stowe School; her education was paid for by her grandfather.[3][4]
It was at Felixstowe College where she developed an interest in acting; she moved there after experiencing bullying at her previous school.[5] She trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.[6]
Career
Theatre
In 1999, she played the role of June Stanley in the play The Man Who Came to Dinner.[7]
In 2000, Raison played Desdemona in William Shakespeare's Othello at the Theatre Royal, York.[8]
From 27 February to 7 April 2001, she performed in the role of Davina in the farce Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! (originally titled Whitehall Farce) at The Mill, Sonning.[9][10]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Miranda_Raison_at_Shakespeare%27s_Globe%2C_2013.jpg/200px-Miranda_Raison_at_Shakespeare%27s_Globe%2C_2013.jpg)
From 2002–3, she appeared as Ben-Hur's love interest in a minimalist production of the eponymous play at the Battersea Arts Centre.[11] Later in 2003, she was featured in Pains of Youth, again at the Battersea Arts Centre, playing the death obsessed bisexual Desiree;[12] Lyn Gardner of The Guardian described her performance as making "Desiree's death wish seem tragic rather than merely silly."[13]
In 2010 she played the title role in Anne Boleyn, a new play by Howard Brenton, who had also been involved in scripts for BBC's Spooks in which Raison went on to appear in 5 series, which premiered at Shakespeare's Globe on 24 July 2010 to high critical acclaim. In the same Shakespeare's Globe season Raison also played Anne Boleyn in Henry VIII by William Shakespeare.[14]
In 2011, she appeared as Ann in the short play "Oliver Lewis" by Jack Thorne, part of the series of plays 66 Books performed at the Bush Theatre.[15]
In June/July 2012 she appeared in a production of The Physicists: A Comedy in Two Acts at the Donmar Warehouse, playing the roles of Lina Rose, the lead character's ex-wife, and Monika Settler, the lead's attending nurse.[16] From October 2012 Raison starred in The River, a new play by Jez Butterworth, at the Royal Court Theatre (Jerwood) alongside Dominic West. Tickets became "the most sought-after theatre tickets in London" after rave reviews.[17]
In 2013–14 she played Anne Faulkner in the theatrical version of Strangers on a Train at the Gielgud Theatre, produced by Barbara Broccoli.[18]
From January to February 2015, she starred opposite Shaun Evans in Hello/Goodbye at the Hampstead Theatre.[19] In August 2015 she joined the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company in The Winter's Tale and Harlequinade which ran at the Garrick Theatre from October 2015 until January 2016. Raison played the wife of Kenneth Branagh's character in both plays.[20] She stated that she enjoyed the experience and was grateful for the opportunity, given that previously she had a bad audition with Branagh for Macbeth in 2011. She also enjoyed learning from Judi Dench.[21]
Film and television
Raison's first film role in 2000 was playing Marianne Faithfull in Suzy Q alongside Carice Van Houten
In 2004, Raison was cast as 'Heather' in Match Point, the first Woody Allen film to be made in London.[22]
In 2005, she appeared in Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, which she said "may as well have been the most brutal Lars von Trier film. Another actress and I actually spent a whole night just crying." She called the experience "regrettable from start to finish" and a "hideous, hideous moment and a great lapse of judgement on my part".[23]
Raison's breakthrough role was as Jo Portman (2005–2009) in the BBC One television drama series Spooks (also broadcast under the title MI-5). She requested that the production company let her go in 2009 as she felt that her character could not develop further and wanted to follow up on theatre opportunities.[24]
In April 2007 she appeared in the Doctor Who episodes "Daleks in Manhattan" and "Evolution of the Daleks" as Tallulah, a show girl whose opening scene involved singing to a musical number, for which Raison's father played the piano background as part of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.[2]
In 2009, she was featured in the show Plus One. She was originally featured in the Comedy Showcase pilot in 2007, where she wore a fat suit.[25]
In 2010 after leaving Spooks, she played a model called Abbey in the ITV1 comedy-drama Married Single Other.[26]
She had a small role in My Week with Marilyn. She expressed pleasure in being able to work with great British talent and her fascination with Marilyn Monroe.[27]
In 2012 she played DI Georgina Dixon in the second series of Vexed, screened on BBC2.[28]
In 2013 she played 'Harriet Hammond' in the third series of the BBC legal drama Silk; her character was a practice manager who shook up the firm and a potential love interest for her former Spooks co-star Rupert Penry-Jones' character.[29]
In 2014, she had a small role in I Am Soldier, playing "Stella", the lead interrogator in the "Tactical Questioning" portion of the lead character's training.[9]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Miranda_Raison%2C_November_2014.jpg/220px-Miranda_Raison%2C_November_2014.jpg)
In July 2014 she was announced as a new cast member of Spotless, a (10 × 1 hour episode) drama produced by Canal+.[30]
In 2018, Raison reprised her role as ‘Sylvie’ in 6 episodes of Dark Heart, played xenobiologist ‘Tessia’ in 6 episodes of Nightflyers and appeared in Artemis Fowl.[31]
In May 2019 it was announced that Raison would be joining the main cast of Warrior for the second season.[32]
In September 2021 it was announced that Raison had joined the first series of Sister Boniface Mysteries playing Ruth Penny, a main character across all ten episodes.[33]
Raison is set to reprise her role as 'Nellie Davenport', as part of the main cast of the third season of Warrior which will begin filming in the summer of 2022.[34][35]
Other works
In 2005 she appeared in the BBC radio comedy Deep Trouble. She has voiced several video game characters, including Cassandra Pentaghast in the Dragon Age series, Lieutenant Sandra Lansing in Apache: Air Assault and Natasha and other characters in Renegade Ops. BioWare also hired Raison for providing several voices in Mass Effect: Andromeda. She voiced three characters in The Secret World and lent her voice for Dreamfall Chapters and Blades of Time.[36]
Raison has also voice-acted in several Big Finish Doctor Who audios, including The Davros Mission and The Wreck of the Titan, and plays Constance Clarke, a regular companion to the Sixth Doctor. She also provides additional voices in other Big Finish audio productions, including other Doctor Who stories and The Avengers.[37]
In 2013 she joined the CGI series cast of Thomas & Friends and provides the voice of Millie (UK/US), first introduced in King of the Railway.[38]
Since July 2017 she has been narrating the BBC2 documentary Hospital.[39]
Personal life
She plays golf and is a member of the Aldeburgh Golf Club.[40]
While separated from her first husband, Raza Jaffrey, she began a relationship with her Married Single Other co-star Ralf Little in November 2009, which ended in February 2013.[3]
She married again in 2017 to Christopher Mollard and had a daughter in that same year.[41][unreliable source?]
She speaks fluent French and is conversational in Italian and Spanish.[42][40]
Raison is distantly related to Jack Huston.[43] Her cousin, Paul Raison, was a Chairman of Christie's.
Filmography and voice over
Year/s | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Suzy Q | Marianne Faithfull | TV Film. |
Heartbeat | Lucy | TV Series. Ep "Kindness of Strangers" | |
2000 | Sunburn | Madeline Chalfont | TV Series. Episode 2.13 |
2001 | Perfect Strangers | Young Grace | TV Series. Flashback scenes; 3 episodes |
Dark Realm | Nicole | TV Series. Episode "Castle Keep" | |
Emmerdale | Nurse | TV Series. | |
2002 | The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Ros | TV Series. 2 episodes: For the Sake of Elena, part 1 + 2 |
2003 | The Private Life of Samuel Pepys | Deb Willet | TV Film. |
Emmerdale | Rosanna Jennings | TV Series. | |
Holby City | Michelle Andrews | TV Series. Episode "Me and My Gal" | |
2004 | The Deal | Virginia | Short Film. |
Heartbeat | Kate | TV Series. "No Hard Feelings"; also guest starred Benedict Cumberbatch | |
2005 | Spooks | Jo Portman | TV Series. 37 episodes: 2005–2009 |
Coming Up | Katy | TV Series. 1 episode: "Bird's Eye View" with Charles Mnene | |
Match Point | Heather | Film. | |
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo | Svetlana Revenko | Film. | |
2006 | Land of the Blind | Daisy | Film. |
Nostradamus | Henriette | TV Film. | |
2007 | Doctor Who | Tallulah | TV Series. 2 episodes: Daleks in Manhattan and Evolution of the Daleks |
Totally Doctor Who | guest | TV Series. 1 episode | |
Plus One | Linsey | TV Series. 6 episodes | |
2008 | Exit Strategy | Wife / Eve Klammer | Short film. |
2008 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Mlle. Blanche | TV Series. Ep. "Cat Among The Pigeons." |
2009 | HeavenScent | Voice of HeavenScent | Short Film. |
2010 | Married Single Other | Abbey | TV Series. 6 episodes |
Heaven and Earth | Helena Langrish Smith | Filming had begun but production was then pulled; Miranda Raison is no longer involved.[44] | |
Apache: Air Assault | Lieutenant Sandra Lansing | Video Game. | |
2011 | Dragon Age II | Cassandra Pentaghast | Video Game. |
Sugartown | Emily Shirley | TV Series. 3 episodes | |
Renegade Ops | Natasha (voice) | Video Game. | |
Death in Paradise | Megan Talbot | TV Series. Series 1 Episode 4 Missing a Body? | |
Merlin | Isolde | TV Series. 2 episodes | |
My Week with Marilyn | Vanessa | Film. | |
Lockwood & Co. Book 1: The Screaming Staircase | Narrator | Audio-Book. | |
2012 | Dirk Gently | Kate Edwards | TV Series. Episode 1 |
Blades of Time | Ayumi (voice) | Video Game. | |
The Secret World | Zaha, Rada Nastase, Aveline Belmont, Additional Voices (voice) | Video Game. | |
Sinbad | Lara Assuage | TV Series. 1 episode | |
Vexed | DI Georgina Dixon | TV Series. Series 2, 6 episodes | |
2013 | Lewis | Dr. Stella Drew | TV Series. 2 episodes, "Intelligent Design" parts 1 and 2 |
Jo | Katie Miville | TV Series. 1 episode | |
King of the Railway | Millie (voice) | Film. | |
2013–2019 | Thomas & Friends | Millie (voice) | TV Series. 10 episodes |
2014 | 24: Live Another Day | Caroline Fowlds | TV Series. 6 episodes |
I Am Soldier | Stella | Film. | |
Dragon Age: Inquisition | Cassandra Pentaghast | Video Game. | |
Dreamfall Chapters | Nela Vlček & Na'ane | Video Game. | |
2015 | Spotless | Julie Greer-Bastière | TV Series. 10 episodes |
Yussef Is Complicated | Emily Robson | Short Film. | |
AfterDeath | Robyn | Film. | |
2016 | Dark Heart | Sylvie | TV Film. |
2017 | My Daughter is Missing | Sara | TV Film. First lead role in a film; Production Alternative title is Missing in Europe. By Lifetime Channel. |
Breathe | Mary Dawnay | Film. | |
Murder on the Orient Express | Sonia Armstrong | Film. | |
Hospital | Narrator | BBC2 Documentary. Series 2-4 | |
Widow's Walk | Eve | Film. | |
2018 | Dark Heart | Sylvie | TV Series. 6 episodes |
2019 | Nightflyers | Tessia | TV Series. 6 episodes |
2020 | Artemis Fowl | Angeline Fowl | Film. |
Warrior | Nellie Davenport | TV Series. | |
Into the Night | Ines Mélanie Ricci (English voice) | TV Series. | |
2021 | Hospital | Narrator | BBC2 Documentary. Series 5-6 |
2022 | Safe Space | TV Series (Post-production) | |
Fairytale | Kirsty | Post-production | |
2022–present | Sister Boniface Mysteries | Ruth Penny | TV Series. |
References
- ^ "Anglia Newsreaders – Profile of Caroline Raison". thetvroomplus.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ a b "Doctor Who (David Tennant and Billie Piper)". BBC. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Miranda Raison – Playing Anne Boleyn". sharonfeinstein.com. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ "Spooks star's new mission in Suffolk". EADT Suffolk Magazine. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
- ^ "The Raison being". EDP Norfolk Magazine. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Jo Portman – Spooks (UK) Characters". ShareTV. 13 May 2002. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ^ "Cast list, The Man Who Came to Dinner (1999) – Pass It On". passiton.cft.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- ^ "Othello (2000): Theatre Royal, York | BBA Shakespeare". University of Warwick. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ^ a b Partnership, The Artists. "Miranda Raison Artist Details – The Artists Partnership". theartistspartnership.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
- ^ "Tour archive for Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! (Play). 27 February 2001 – 7 April 2001 [TOUR]". uktw.co.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- ^ "Ben Hur". beggarsbelief.org.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ "Mind Rocket: Pains Of Youth, pullout flyer – Battersea Arts Centre Digital Archive" (in Czech). Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- ^ Lyn Gardner (31 July 2003). "Pains of youth". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ Ed Caesar (22 April 2010). "The alternative Boleyn girl".
- ^ "66 Books, a Curtain up London review".
- ^ Benedict, David (12 June 2012). "Review: 'The Physicists'". Variety. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Jez Butterworth play The River wows at the Royal Court". BBC. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "Strangers on a Train at the Gielgud Theatre, W1". The Times. 20 November 2013.
- ^ "Hello/Goodbye". Hampstead Theatre. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Spooks actress Miranda Raison is set to star in The Winter's Tale". The Independent. 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ "interview | miranda raison". Schön! Magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ "Miranda Raison - Biography". Hello!.
- ^ "Miranda Raison". officiallondontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ "Miranda Raison". officiallondontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ Davies, Jeff. "character makeups | fat faces & fat-suits | obese & morbidly obese | Miranda Raison in 'Plus One' | themakeupgallery". www.themakeupgallery.info. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^ Ian Wylie (12 March 2010). "Married Single Other: Miranda Raison | Manchester Evening News". menmedia.co.uk. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ^ "Miranda Raison on her role. working with great British talent and..." Getty Images. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- ^ Patrick McLennan (20 July 2012). "A quick chat with Vexed star Miranda Raison".
- ^ Ellen E Jones (1 April 2014). "Silk, BBC1 - TV review: 'Thrilling twists and turns make Silk's farewell a guilty pleasure'". Independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (23 June 2014). "Tandem and Canal Plus Unveils International Cast of 'Spotless'". Variety. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ Bill Gibb (30 October 2018). "Dark Heart star Miranda Raison has had her busiest year yet with several hit roles, a wedding and a baby". Sunday Post. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
- ^ Denise Petski (9 May 2019). "'Warrior' Casts Four For Season 2 Of Cinemax Drama Series". Deadline.
- ^ Mel Lynch (9 September 2021). "'Drama secures UK broadcasting rights for Sister Boniface Mysteries". UKTV.
- ^ "Warrior Season 3 - What We Know So Far". looper.com. 21 April 2022.
- ^ Petski, Denise (27 July 2022). "'Warrior': Mark Dacascos & Chelsea Muirhead Joins Season 3 Cast Of HBO Max Series". Deadline.
- ^ "Dragon Age: Inquisition Preview - Meet Miranda Raison Who Plays Cassandra". Game Informer.
- ^ "Miranda Raison".
- ^ "Millie".
- ^ "Miranda Raison".
- ^ a b "My perfect weekend: Miranda Raison".
- ^ "Miranda Raison". 7Watchlist. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ "Interview with Miranda Raison".
- ^ "Raison d'etre". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
- ^ www.t75.org. "IndieLondon: Vexed – Miranda Raison interview (exclusive) – Your London Reviews". indielondon.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Living people
- 1977 births
- People educated at Gresham's School
- People educated at Stowe School
- Alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
- Actors from Norfolk
- English film actresses
- English stage actresses
- English television actresses
- English video game actresses
- English voice actresses
- 21st-century English actresses