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Sara Powell
Born (1968-06-23) 23 June 1968 (age 56)
Jamaica
EducationRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupations
Years active1992–present
Children2[1]

Sara Powell (born 23 June 1968) is a British-Jamaican stage, screen and voice-over actress and audiobook narrator. Her regular television roles include crown prosecutor Rachel Barker in the BBC's police procedural drama HolbyBlue (2007–2008), driver Sally Reid in ITV's firefighting drama London's Burning (1993–1994) and psychologist Cass in Channel 4's sitcom Damned (2016–2018).

She also played historical figure Mary Seacole in the thirteenth series of the BBC One long-running science fiction series Doctor Who (2021), as well as a number of other characters in its spin-off audio dramas, produced by Big Finish Productions.

Early life and education

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Powell was born on 23 June 1968[2] in Jamaica.[3] She loved acting from a very young age, making up little shows together with her brother and forcing her father and any guests at home to watch them.[3] Sara studied Commerce (B.Com) at Birmingham University from 1986 to 1989. She studied acting at London's Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.[4][5]

Career

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Television

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Powell's television debut happened in 1992, in an episode of the BAFTA-winning BBC police drama Between the Lines. From 1993 to 1994, she appeared in her first regular role in both the sixth and seventh series of the ITV firefighting drama London's Burning, playing Sally Reid, the watch's first female driver.[3] In 2007, she joined the main cast of the BBC police procedural drama HolbyBlue (2007–2008), playing senior crown prosecutor Rachel Barker throughout the first and second series.[6]

From 2016 to 2018, Powell appeared as psychologist Cass in both series of the Channel 4 sitcom Damned (2016–2018), starring comedians Jo Brand, Alan Davies and Kevin Eldon. Her other television highlights include the ITV crime dramas The Ice Cream Girls (2013), Little Boy Blue (2017) and Unforgotten (2018), comedy thriller You, Me and the Apocalypse (2015), medical drama The Family Man (2006),[7] situation comedy Ghosts (2021) and the film My Zinc Bed (2008), starring Uma Thurman.[8]

"She's just such an inspirational character. I mean, I can't tell you how exciting and what a privilege it is to be able to represent her."

— Powell on portraying Mary Seacole[9]

In 2021, she played historical figure Mary Seacole in the episode "War of the Sontarans" of the BBC's long-running science fiction series Doctor Who, featuring the Thirteenth Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker.[10][11][12] Fans of the classic Doctor Who series, broadcast from 1963 to 1989, may also be familiar with Powell's voice, as she has portrayed more than ten other characters in several Doctor Who audio drama spin-offs from Big Finish Productions, featuring the First, Fourth, Sixth and Seventh Doctors.[13]

Stage work

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Since 1995, she has appeared on stage as often as on television, taking part in about thirty productions at the National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Bush Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Arcola Theatre, Crucible Theatre, Birmingham Rep and more. Powell played various Shakespearean roles, such as Andromache in Troilus and Cressida (1999), Lady Macduff in Macbeth (2005) and Queen Elizabeth in Richard III (2017).[4] Her other classical credits include playing Cariola in John Webster's revenge tragedy The Duchess of Malfi (2000–2001) for the Royal Shakespeare Company's touring production, directed by Gale Edwards.[14] In 2005, Powell starred opposite Friends star David Schwimmer in Neil LaBute's original West End production of Some Girl(s) at the Gielgud Theatre.[15][16] The cast also included Catherine Tate, Lesley Manville and Saffron Burrows.[17]

In April 2003, she made her debut as a theatre director with Come Out Eli, a play based on the events of the Hackney siege, Britain's longest police siege.[18][19] It opened at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London only four months after the siege ended. The story was told through recounting interviews taken from eyewitnesses and local residents during the incident.[20] Powell dismissed accusations that the production was exploiting a tragedy, "This [is] not exploitative to me because we are re-telling people's stories. We are not using the stories in any way because we are telling them in the way they told us during the interviews. It is a different method of storytelling to your usual theatre experience. It is technically quite difficult but it does capture the nuances of tone and speech in a very real way."[20]

In 2019, she got a small part in the romantic comedy film Last Christmas, written by Emma Thompson and starring Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke.[21] Three years later, she joined Clarke in her West End debut, Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, directed by Jamie Lloyd.[22] It was broadcast in cinemas worldwide as part of the National Theatre Live programme,[23] just like Powell's other theatrical production, The Madness of George III (2018), with Mark Gatiss as the lead.[24] Two more plays starring Powell, Mapping the Edge (2001) and Albert Camus's The Plague (2017), have been broadcast on BBC Radio.[25]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1992 The Golden Years Tecuichpo TV film [22]
1994 One Night Stand Anna Short film [26]
1996 The Office Joan TV film [27]
2008 My Zinc Bed Maxine TV film [22]
2016 Denial Jacqueline Thomas [22]
2019 Ruth Ruth Short film; lead role [28]
Last Christmas Casting Director [29]
2023 The Red Ball Mother Short film [30]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Between the Lines School Teacher Episode: "The Chill Factor"
1993–2009 The Bill Various 5 episodes
1993–1994 London's Burning Sally Reid Regular role in series 6–7; 21 episodes
1997 Casualty Justine Leonard 2 episodes
1998 Vanity Fair Miss Swartz 2 episodes
2001–2012 Doctors Various 5 episodes
2002 Silent Witness DS Esther Linden 2 episodes
2005 Judge John Deed Kerry Ramsay Episode: "Lost and Found"
2006 The Family Man Jane Main role; 3 episodes
2007–2008 HolbyBlue Rachel Barker Main role in series 1–2; 16 episodes
2010–2011 Florrie's Dragons Splish-Splash (voice) 52 episodes
2011 Sadie J Traci 2 episodes
Law & Order: UK Annetta Trew Episode: "Deal"
2012 Public Enemies Dawn Clough Episode #1.3
Casualty Kerry Fitzgerald Episode: "Confidences"
2013 The Ice Cream Girls Fez Gorringe 3 episodes
2015 You, Me and the Apocalypse Naomi 3 episodes
2016–2018 Damned Cass 8 episodes
2017 Little Boy Blue ACC Pat Gallan 4 episodes
Midsomer Murders Maxine Lockston Episode: "Crime and Punishment"
2018 Silent Witness Tilly Maddox 2 episodes
Unforgotten Arbiter 3 episodes
2019 Death in Paradise Josephine Porter Episode: "Frappe Death Day"
2021 Ghosts Jacqui Episode: "I Love Lucy"
Doctor Who Mary Seacole Episode: "War of the Sontarans"
2022 Murder in Provence Cosette Faraud Episode #1.2
The House Across the Street Joanne 4 episodes
2023 The Killing Kind Belinda Grey 5 episodes

Audio

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Full-cast audio dramas

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Year Title Role Production Notes
2014 Blake's 7 Dr Cara Petrus Big Finish Productions Episode: "Drones"
The Early Adventures Audrey Newman Episode: "An Ordinary Life"
2015 Pathfinder Legends Deka-An-Keret / Zizzira Episode: "Shifting Sands"
2016 The Diary of River Song The PA Episode: "World Enough and Time"
2016–2017 The Prisoner Number 9 / Number 90 Series 1–2
2017 Blake's 7 Rokon Episode: "Liberation"
2018 The Early Adventures Jacklyn Karna Episode: "The Dalek Occupation of Winter"
The Seventh Doctor: The New Adventures Contessa Episode: "Vanguard"
2021 The Fourth Doctor Adventures Emma Fremantle Episode: "The World Traders"
Torchwood Mo Simister Episode: "The Five People You Kill in Middlesbrough"
Jenny: The Doctor's Daughter Andros Fax / Bar Person Episode: "Inside the Maldovarium"
2022 Peladon Queen Minaris Episode: "The Death of Peladon"
The War Master Blythe / Confederation Official 2 episodes
2023 The Fourth Doctor Adventures Moira Tenaka Episode: "The Wizard of Time"

Audiobook narration

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Video games

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Theatre

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Year Title Role Venue Ref.
1995 The House of Bernarda Alba Magdalena The Brix Theatre [47]
Our Country's Good Dabby Theatr Clwyd [48]
1996 Golden Girls Dorcas Ableman Mercury Theatre [49]
1998 The Basset Table Lady Lucy Bristol Old Vic [48]
1999 Troilus and Cressida Andromache National Theatre [4]
The Darker Face of the Earth Scylla [48]
1999–2000 Honk! The Ugly Duckling Maureen [50]
2000 The Villain's Opera Mardelle [48]
2000–2001 The Duchess of Malfi Cariola Royal Shakespeare Company [4]
2001 Mapping the Edge Nadia Crucible Theatre [51]
2003 Racing Demon Stella Marr Birmingham Repertory Theatre [52]
Murmuring Judges Irina Platt [53]
The Absence of War Mary Housego [54]
2003–2004 World Music Paulette Jones Crucible Theatre / Donmar Warehouse [55]
2004 Stuff Happens Foreign Office official National Theatre [56]
2005 Macbeth Lady Macduff Almeida Theatre [4]
Some Girl(s) Tyler Gielgud Theatre [15]
2011 A Walk On Part Actress Soho Theatre [48]
2013 Disgraced Jory Bush Theatre [50]
2015 The Crucible Tituba Bristol Old Vic [57]
2017 Richard III Queen Elizabeth Arcola Theatre [4]
The Plague Dr. Rieux [58]
2018 The Madness of George III Lady Pembroke Nottingham Playhouse [59]
2019 Keith? Veena Arcola Theatre [60]
Cyrano Roxane Bristol Old Vic [61]
2021–2022 Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Cassandra Charing Cross Theatre [50]
2022 The Seagull Polina Andryevna Harold Pinter Theatre [3]

References

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  1. ^ Episode 23: Sara Powell - London's Burning Interview (Feb 2022), 3 February 2022, retrieved 2022-09-26
  2. ^ "★ Sara Powell Address". www.fanmail.biz. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  3. ^ a b c d Shury-Smith, Hannah (6 September 2022). "TBB TALKS … The Seagull with Sara Powell | The British Blacklist". Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Sara Powell | BBA Shakespeare". bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  5. ^ "WhatsOnStage Award Winners". The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 2022-09-27. The Madness of King George III – including performance from Sara Powell (Stage 1992)
  6. ^ admin (9 March 2010). "Sara Powell Interview". www.holby.tv. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  7. ^ BBC. "The Family Man". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  8. ^ "BBC - Drama - Holby Blue - Sara Powell as Rachel Barker". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  9. ^ Who is Mary Seacole? | Behind the Scenes | Doctor Who: Flux, 8 November 2021, retrieved 2022-09-27
  10. ^ Hogan, Michael (2021-11-07). "Doctor Who: Flux, episode 2, review: Chibnall's heroic charge may be too late". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  11. ^ Haring, Bruce (2021-10-15). "'Doctor Who: Flux' Releases First-Look Trailer For 13th Season, Spotlighting Guest Actors And Monsters". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  12. ^ "The week in TV: Doctor Who; Showtrial; How Green Is the Government?; Dalgliesh". the Guardian. 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  13. ^ "Sara Powell - Contributions - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  14. ^ "Production of The Duchess of Malfi | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  15. ^ a b "Some Girls, Gielgud, London". the Guardian. 2005-05-25. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  16. ^ Standard, Nicholas de Jongh, Evening (2012-04-10). "Schwimmer and his girl (Friends)". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2022-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ JOHNS, IAN. "Neil LaBute double sting in his tales". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  18. ^ "Longest siege in British police history". the Guardian. 2003-01-10. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  19. ^ Marlowe, Sam (2003-09-08). "Come Out Eli". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  20. ^ a b "Hackney siege hits stage". 2003-04-30. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  21. ^ "Christmas, romance film 'Last Christmas' featuring Sara Powell and Calvin Demba". SueTerryVoices. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  22. ^ a b c d Wild, Stephi. "Full Cast Announced for The Jamie Lloyd Company's THE SEAGULL, Starring Emilia Clarke". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  23. ^ "National Theatre Live to Broadcast The Seagull Starring Emilia Clarke". Playbill. 2022-07-29. Archived from the original on 2022-07-29. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  24. ^ "The Madness of George III, National Theatre Live on YouTube, stage review: 'Hamilton's less musical British cousin'". Hackney Citizen. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  25. ^ "BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  26. ^ "One Night Stand (1993)". BFI. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  27. ^ "The Office (ITV Sitcom, Robert Lindsay, Isla Blair) | Memorable TV - Episodes, News & More". 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  28. ^ "Ruth -Trailer". screeningroom.nfts.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  29. ^ "Colin Morgan and Emma Appleton to lead new thriller The Killing Kind". Radio Times. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  30. ^ "Talk Radio | Hidden Art Films | Liverpool". hiddenartfilms. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  31. ^ The Cellar.
  32. ^ When I Was Invisible.
  33. ^ All Men Want to Know.
  34. ^ Bryan, Judith (4 February 2021). Bernard and the Cloth Monkey.
  35. ^ The Sex Lives of African Women.
  36. ^ Citizens.
  37. ^ Assassin's Orbit.
  38. ^ Sankofa.
  39. ^ Island Songs.
  40. ^ What Is History, Now?.
  41. ^ In Every Mirror She's Black.
  42. ^ "Evelyn Dove: Britain's Black Cabaret Queen". Audiobooks.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  43. ^ The Wordhord.
  44. ^ Watson, Mary. Blood to Poison.
  45. ^ The Blunder.
  46. ^ "Racial Code: Tales of Resistance and Survival". Audiobooks.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  47. ^ "A broad church in Brixton". The Independent. 1995-04-18. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  48. ^ a b c d e "Macbeth". Almeida Theatre. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  49. ^ "Programme for 'Golden girls' by Louise Page". Mercury Theatre. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  50. ^ a b c "Sara Powell theatre profile". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  51. ^ "wilson+wilson". Wils Wilson. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  52. ^ Dungate, Rod (2003-03-21). "RACING DEMON: till 19 April". ReviewsGate. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  53. ^ "Review: Theatre of the highest quality; Murmuring Judges Birmingham Rep. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. The Birmingham Post. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  54. ^ Dungate, Rod (2003-03-20). "THE ABSENCE OF WAR: till 19 April". ReviewsGate. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  55. ^ Aguinaldo (16 May 2018). "WORLD MUSIC. To 7 June". Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  56. ^ "Sara Powell". www.bushtheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  57. ^ "The Crucible review, Old Vic, Bristol, 2015". The Stage. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  58. ^ "The Plague". Arcola Theatre. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  59. ^ "The Madness of George III review – Mark Gatiss delivers a tour de force". the Guardian. 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  60. ^ Wild, Stephi. "Photos: First Look at KEITH? A COMEDY". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  61. ^ "Cyrano review – sorely lacking in panache". the Guardian. 2019-10-24. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
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