Zoë Wanamaker

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Zoë Wanamaker
Born 13 May 1949 (1949-05-13) (age 62)
New York City, New York, United States[1]
Occupation Actress
Years active 1973-present
Spouse Gawn Grainger
(1994-present)
Parents Sam Wanamaker (deceased)
Charlotte Holland (deceased)
Website
http://www.zoewanamaker.com/

Zoë Wanamaker, CBE (born 13 May 1949)[1][2] is an American-English actress. She has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company; in films, including the Harry Potter series; and in a number of television productions, including a long-time role as Susan Harper in the sitcom My Family.

Contents

[edit] Early life and family

Wanamaker was born in New York City, the daughter of Canadian-born actress and radio performer Charlotte Holland, and American-born actor, film director, and radio producer Sam Wanamaker, who decided not to return to the United States after being blacklisted in 1952.[1]

Wanamaker's parents were Jewish, though she had a non-religious or observant upbringing. Her family was of Ukrainian extraction.[3] The BBC documentary Who Do You Think You Are? broadcast on 24 February 2009, revealed that Wanamaker's paternal grandfather Maurice Wanamaker (originally Manus Watmacher) was a tailor (born 1895) in Nikolaev in what is now Ukraine.

Wanamaker was educated at the independent King Alfred School in Hampstead, London and at Sidcot School, a Quaker boarding school in Somerset. She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama.[1][4]

In November 1994, Wanamaker married actor and dramatist Gawn Grainger.[1]

[edit] Career

[edit] Stage

Wanamaker's career started in the theatre. From 1976 to 1984 she was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. She won an Olivier Award for her 1979 performance in Once In a Lifetime[5] and a second for Sophocles' Electra in 1997.[6] In 1985, she played Verdi's wife Giuseppina Strepponi in the original production of After Aida. She appeared on stage playing the part of Beatrice opposite Simon Russell Beale as Benedick in the National Theatre's production of Much Ado About Nothing. She has received Tony Award nominations for her performances in Piaf, Loot, Electra, and Awake and Sing!.[7]

From 19 May to 2 October 2010 (extended from 11 September), Wanamaker appeared in Arthur Miller's play All My Sons, portraying the role of Kate Keller at the Apollo Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in London.[8][9]

[edit] Screen

Starting in the early 1980s, Wanamaker began performing on screen, most notably in a number of critically acclaimed television productions, such as the BBC Television production Edge of Darkness; she was nominated for a BAFTA Award for her portrayal of the love interest of a suspected serial killer in the first instalment of the Granada series Prime Suspect.[citation needed]

She played Madam Hooch in the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

Television series have included Love Hurts (1992–94) with Adam Faith.

She played Clarice, one of the dim-witted twin sisters of Lord Groan in Gormenghast (2000), a BBC television adaptation of Mervyn Peake's trilogy.

Wanamaker portrayed Susan Harper in the BBC situation comedy My Family from 2000 to 2011.

Wanamaker voiced a CGI character named Lady Cassandra in the Doctor Who episode "The End of the World" (2005), and reprised the role (also appearing in the flesh this time) in the episode "New Earth" (2006).

Wanamaker lent her voice to the 2008 Xbox 360 game Fable II as the blind Seeress Theresa, who guides the playing character throughout the game.

Wanamaker has played Ariadne Oliver in several episodes of Agatha Christie's Poirot.

[edit] Honours

Wanamaker holds both American and British nationalities, having become a British citizen in 2000, specifically so that she could receive a CBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace, rather than an honorary decoration from the British Foreign Secretary.[citation needed]

[edit] Charity work

Wanamaker has been a Patron of the UK charity Tree Aid,[10] since 1997. Tree Aid enables communities in Africa's drylands to fight poverty and become self-reliant, while improving the environment. In 2006 Wanamaker recorded a successful Radio 4 appeal for the charity.[citation needed]

She is a Patron of Dignity in Dying, The Lymphoedema Support Network,[11] Youth Music Theatre: UK and of the Young Actors' Theatre, Islington. She is also one of the Honorary Patrons of the London children's charity Scene & Heard.[12]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Video games

[edit] Stage work

  • The Devil's Disciple, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1976
  • Wild Oats; or, The Strolling Gentleman, Royal Shakespeare Company,1976
  • Ivanov, Royal Shakespeare Company, Aldwych Theatre, London, 1976
  • The Taming of the Shrew, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1978
  • Captain Swing, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1978
  • Piaf, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1978
  • Mary Daniels, Once in a Lifetime, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1979
  • Toine, Piaf, Plymouth Theatre, 1981 (Broadway debut)
  • The Importance of Being Earnes, Royal National Theatre, London, England, 1982
  • The Time of Your Life, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1983
  • Twelfth Night, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1983
  • Comedy of Errors, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1983
  • Mother Courage, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1984
  • Wrecked Eggs, Royal National Theatre, 1986
  • The Bay at Nice, Royal National Theatre, 1986
  • Fay, Loot, Manhattan Theatre Club Stage I, then Music Box Theatre, both New York City, 1986
  • Mrs. Klein, Royal National Theatre, London, 1988, then Apollo Theatre, London, 1989
  • Othello, Royal Shakespeare Company, 1989
  • The Crucible, Royal National Theatre, 1990
  • The Last Yankee, Young Vic Theatre, London, then New York City production, 1993
  • Dead Funny, New York City, 1994
  • The Glass Menagerie, Donmar Warehouse Theatre, London, then Comedy Theatre, London, 1995
  • Sylvia, Apollo Theatre, 1996
  • The Old Neighborhood, Royal Court Theatre, London, 1997
  • Electra, Donmar Warehouse Theatre, 1997, then McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, then Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, 1998–1999
  • Battle Royal, National Theatre, London, 1999
  • Boston Marriage, Donmar Warehouse, London, 2001
  • The Women, Old Vic, London, 2001
  • His Girl Friday, National Theatre, London, 2003
  • One Knight Only, Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, 2005
  • Awake and Sing!, Belasco Theatre, New York, 2006
  • The Rose Tattoo, National Theatre, London, 2007
  • Much Ado About Nothing, National Theatre, London, 2007
  • All My Sons, Apollo Theatre, London, 2010
  • The Cherry Orchard, National Theatre, London, 2011

[edit] Awards and nominations

 This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (March 2011)
  • Nominated for a 1981 New York City Drama Desk Award for featured actress for her performance in Piaf
  • Nominated for a 1981 Tony Award for best featured actress in a play for Piaf
  • Won the 1984 London Critics' Circle Award (Drama Theatre Award) for best supporting actress in Mother Courage
  • Nominated for a 1986 New York City Drama Desk Award for featured actress for her performance in a revival of Joe Orton's Loot
  • Nominated for a 1986 Tony Award for best featured actress in a play for Loot
  • Won the 1998 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress of the 1997 season for her performance in Electra at the Donmar Warehouse
  • Nominated for a 1999 New York City Drama Desk Award for outstanding actress for her performance in Electra
  • Nominated for a 1999 Tony Award for best actress in a play for Amy's View
  • Nominated for a 2002 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress of 2001 for her performance in Boston Marriage performed at the Donmar Warehouse and at the New Ambassador's Theatre, London
  • Nominated for a Tony Award in 2006 for best performance by a featured actress in a play for Awake and Sing!
  • Won the 2006 New York City Drama Desk Award for outstanding ensemble performance for the Belasco Theatre production of Awake and Sing!

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Biography". Zoë Wanamaker Official Website. http://www.zoewanamaker.com/biography.php. Retrieved 16 January 2011. 
  2. ^ Zoe Wanamaker Biography (1949-)
  3. ^ 'Madam Hooch' rides her broomstick in from Odessa: Actress Zoë Wanamaker offers a glimpse into her family history
  4. ^ Who's Who on Television (1982 edition),
  5. ^ "Once in a Lifetime". Zoë Wanamaker Official Website. http://www.zoewanamaker.com/stage.php?name=Once_in_a_Lifetime. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
  6. ^ "Electra (UK)". Zoë Wanamaker Official Website. http://www.zoewanamaker.com/stage.php?name=Electra_%28UK%29. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
  7. ^ "Awake and Sing!". Zoë Wanamaker Official Website. http://www.zoewanamaker.com/stage.php?name=Awake_and_Sing!. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
  8. ^ Billington, Michael (28 May 2010). "All My Sons, Apollo, London". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2010/may/28/all-my-sons-michael-billington. 
  9. ^ "All My Sons". Zoë Wanamaker Official Website. http://www.zoewanamaker.com/stage.php?name=All_My_Sons. Retrieved 14 January 2011. 
  10. ^ Tree Aid web site
  11. ^ Zoë Wanamaker becomes LSN Patron
  12. ^ "Scene & Heard - Who We Are". sceneandheard.org. 2010. http://sceneandheard.org/about_whoweare.html. Retrieved 2010-06-19. 

[edit] External links
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