Harriet Thorpe

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Harriet Thorpe
Harriet Thorpe
Thorpe in 2023
Born
Harriet Amelia Thorpe

(1957-06-08) 8 June 1957 (age 66)
Hampstead, London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1984–present
Children2
Parent
RelativesMatilda Thorpe (sister)

Harriet Amelia Thorpe (born 8 June 1957) is an English actress. Thorpe trained at London's Central School of Speech and Drama. She is known for her roles in the British sitcoms, The Brittas Empire (1991–1997) and Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012) and has also starred in the West End musicals, Cabaret (2006), Wicked (2008) and Mamma Mia! (2010). In 2023, she took over the role of Elaine Peacock in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders.

Early life[edit]

Harriet Amelia Thorpe was born on 8 June 1957 in Hampstead, London.[1][2] She is the daughter of Gillian (née Freeman), a writer, and Edward Thorpe, an actor and writer. Her sister is the actress Matilda Thorpe.[3][4]

Thorpe studied dance at the Royal Ballet School and afterwards attended Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 1979.

Career[edit]

Television[edit]

She appeared in the 1990s British television sitcom The Brittas Empire, playing Carole Parkinson, the receptionist who was prone to depression and fits of emotion who permanently kept her children with her in drawers under her desk, and would sometimes be seen feeding them or washing their clothes. Thorpe also starred in a celebrity edition of The Weakest Link as Madame Morrible, in which she was voted off in the first round.

Thorpe played Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous, an eccentric and somewhat odd work-colleague. Along with working extensively with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, she has appeared in BBC2's Alexei Sayle's Stuff, A Bit of Fry & Laurie; BBC's Casualty, Material Girl and ITV's The Bill, Midsomer Murders and the sitcom Me, You and Him. She played Beverley Osman in the BBC children's comedy drama No Sweat, starring boyband North and South. She made a guest appearance in Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Elizabeth. In 2020, she played Nanny Ribble in an episode of Father Brown and in 2021 she guest starred in another episode of Midsomer Murders and in episode of Doctors.[5] In September 2021, Thorpe played Miss Newell in Endeavour.

Film[edit]

Thorpe has appeared in numerous films, such as Calendar Girls as the rather patronising and superior head of the Women's Institute; Mike Leigh's Life is Sweet; Greystoke; The Calling; and S.N.U.B. Also The Lenny Henry Show in the early 80s.

Theatre[edit]

Thorpe has appeared on stage. She worked extensively at the Royal National Theatre, in London's West End and two Shakespeare seasons at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. She was in the original revival cast of Cabaret as Fraulein Kost at the Lyric Theatre in London on 22 September 2006.[6] Prior to this, she played Mrs. Lovett in the national tour of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, originated the role of Ida Arnold in the Almeida Theatre's original musical, Brighton Rock, and played the role of Madame Thenardier in the hit musical, Les Misérables.

On 14 April 2008, she took over the role of Madame Morrible from Susie Blake in the West End production of Wicked.[7] She played her final performance on 27 March 2010, and was replaced by Julie Legrand.[8]

Thorpe took over the role of Tanya from Jane Gurnett in the West End production of Mamma Mia! on 14 June 2010.[9]

She returned to the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park to play the parts of Lottie Childs and Patricia Fodor in Timothy Sheader and Stephen Mear's revival of Crazy For You, for which she was nominated for the 2012 Theatregoers' Choice Awards [1]

Thorpe returned to Wicked to play Madame Morrible from Monday 22 April 2013 until Saturday 16 November 2013, in place of Louise Plowright who withdrew from the role due to illness.[10]

In 2018, Thorpe joined the cast of Ruthless! The Musical as Miss Myrna Thorn.[11]

Ambassador[edit]

Thorpe is an ambassador for Walk the Walk,[12] the UK's largest grant-making breast cancer charity, and the UK's Diversity In Media Awards (DIMAS)

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role(s) Notes
1984 Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes Iris
1985 Morons from Outer Space Blood Royal Lady
1986 Foreign Body Gucci salesgirl
1987 Maurice Barmaid
1988 Young Toscanini Comparsa
1990 Life Is Sweet Customer
1995 Jack and Sarah Small role
2003 Calendar Girls Brenda Mooney
2004 Suzie Gold Charity Silver
2009 The Calling Consuela
That's for Me! Marilyn Zimmerman
2010 S.N.U.B! Elaine
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Wakanda Scene cut
2012 City Slacker Dating Interviewer
2015 The Lady in the Van Customer Scene cut
2016 Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Fleur
2022 Tomorrow Morning Joy
TBA Fyre Rises Gloria Filming

Television[edit]

Year Title Role(s) Notes
1984 Who Dares Wins Woman in Restaurant Episode: #1.8
1985 Happy Families Mother Episode: "Cassie"
1985–1986 Girls on Top Chris 2 episodes
1986 The Bill Tarty Woman Episode: "Loan Shark"
The Comic Strip Presents... Jane Episode: "Consuela (Or 'The New Mrs Saunders')"
Who Dares Wins Secretary Episode: #3.5
Lenny Henry Tonite Stephanie Episode: "Gronk Zillman"
1987–2003 French and Saunders Various 8 episodes
1987 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Anita Margolis 2 episodes
The Comic Strip Presents... Brenda Episode: "Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door"
1988 Alexei Sayle's Stuff Various 5 episodes
1990 A Bit of Fry & Laurie Various Episode: #2.3
Smith and Jones Various Episode: #6.5
1991–1997 The Brittas Empire Carole All 52 episodes
1991 'Allo 'Allo! Ethel Episode: "Up the Crick Without a Piddle"
Bottom Wife Episode: "Smells"
Murder Most Horrid Sarah Deveraux Episode: "He Died a Death"
1992 The Big One Various Episode: "Flights of Fancy"
Me, You and Him Helen All 6 episodes
1992–2012 Absolutely Fabulous Fleur 13 episodes
1994 Mike and Angelo Margaret Pinner Episode: "Up to My Neck"
1996 Goodnight Sweetheart Gillian Episode: "Change Partners"
1997–1998 No Sweat Bev Osman 13 episodes
1998 Duck Patrol Abigail Episode: "Occurrences"
1999 Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Carol Singer TV film
2000 Casualty Hannah Episode: "The Morning After"
The 10th Kingdom Charm Seller Episode: #1.8
Happy Birthday Shakespeare Victoria TV film
Mirrorball Cat Rogers TV pilot
2002 Crossroads Denise Hamilton Episode: #1.285
2003 Final Demand Mrs. Roe TV film
Casualty Ruth Episode: "Three in a Bed"
The Bill Anne Wilson Episode: "Lured in to the Trap"
2004 All About Me Ruth Episode: "Downloading"
2006 Midsomer Murders Elaine Trim Episode: "Dance with the Dead"
2007 A Bucket o' French & Saunders Various Episode: #1.2
The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle Journalist Episode: #1.3
Janey Evans Episode: "The Vivienne Vyle Show"
2008 Doctors Clodagh Merrylees 4 episodes
2009 Victoria Wood's Mid Life Christmas Eve Bluston TV film
2010 Material Girl Mimi's Mum Episode: #1.5
2013 Doctors Sandy Wares Episode: "No Smoke Without Fire"
2014 The Secrets Lynn Episode: "The Conversation"
2015 Doctors Dr. Chris Bassey Episode: "Mr Charity"
2016 The Musketeers Lady Francoise Episode: "The Queen's Diamonds"
2017 Hollyoaks Elizabeth 2 episodes
Casualty Raquel Kovak Episode: #32.3
2018 Doctors Miranda Hill Episode: "Doctor Carter Said"
2019 Pancake Ms. Shearer TV pilot
2020 Father Brown Nanny Ribble Episode: "The Curse of the Aesthetic"
Mister Winner Sharon Winner 2 episodes
2021 Midsomer Murders Georgie Tremayne Episode: "The Stitcher Society"
Doctors Hattie Brooks Episode: "Wonderland"
Endeavour Miss Newell Episode: "Striker"
2022 The Man Who Fell to Earth Newsie Hat Episode: "Changes"
Keep Calm & Carry On Susan All 4 episodes
2023 The Madame Blanc Mysteries Flora Marshall Episode: #2.4
Pointless Celebrities Contestant Series 16, Episode 8[13]
2023–present EastEnders Elaine Peacock Series regular

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ms Harriet Amelia Thorpe company-director-check.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  3. ^ Smith, Harrison (11 March 2019). "Gillian Freeman, whose novel Leather Boys was a gay landmark, dies at 89". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  4. ^ Bray, Elisa (1 June 2023). "BBC EastEnders: Meet the old Queen Vic's tough new Jewish landlady". The Jewish Chronicle.
  5. ^ Timblick, Simon. "'Doctors' spoilers: Valerie Pitman in Wonderland!". What to Watch. Future plc. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Maxwell Martin, Dreyfus, Hayden, Hancock, Hutchings, Thorpe & Maud Lead Cabaret Cast". Theatre.com. 18 August 2006. Archived from the original on 5 April 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  7. ^ Shenton, Mark (19 February 2008). "Playbill News: London's Wicked to Welcome New Madame Morrible in April". Playbill. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  8. ^ Shenton, Mark (28 January 2010). "Lee Mead to Join London's Wicked as Fiyero; Principals Confirmed". Playbill. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
  9. ^ Sierra, Gabrielle (19 April 2010). "Harriet Thorpe Set For West End MAMMA MIA!, More New Casting Announced". Broadway World.
  10. ^ "Harriet Thorpe Returns to WICKED as 'Madame Morrible' Today". Broadway World. 22 April 2013.
  11. ^ "NEWS: Tracie Bennett & Harriet Thorpe join London cast for Ruthless premiere, TICKETS ONSALE". My Theatre Mates. 29 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Walk The Walk - Breast Cancer Grant Making Charity - Register Now!". Walk the Walk. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  13. ^ Riet, Richard van't (30 December 2023), Episode #16.8, Pointless Celebrities, Alexander Armstrong, Richard Osman, Chizzy Akudolu, retrieved 17 April 2024{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links[edit]

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