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==Career==
==Career==
===Early work===
===Early work===
Oberman spent four years at the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]], performing in a variety of plays including the award-winning version of [[Christopher Marlowe|Christopher Marlowe's]] ''[[Tamburlaine]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://calm.shakespeare.org.uk/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Performance&dsqSearch=PerfCode==%27TAB199310%27&dsqCmd=Show.tcl |title=Tamburlaine |date=14 |month=October |year=1993 |work= |publisher=DServe Archive Performance |accessdate=2010-03-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtc-uk.com/talent/tracy-ann-oberman |title=Tracy-Ann Oberman profile |date= |month= |year= |work= |publisher=MTC Talent |location= |accessdate=2010-03-02 }}</ref>
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Oberman has acted extensively in [[radio drama]] and [[radio comedy]], appearing regularly on [[BBC Radio 4]] as a member of the station's unofficial "repertory" company, including; ''[[The Way It Is (programme)|The Way It Is]]'' (1998–2001), the leading role in ''[[The Attractive Young Rabbi]]'' (1999–2002), ''[[The Sunday Format]]'' (1999–2004), and ''[[Getting Nowhere Fast]]''.

⚫
She has acted extensively in [[radio drama]] and [[radio comedy]], appearing regularly on [[BBC Radio 4]] as a member of the station's unofficial "repertory" company, including; ''[[The Way It Is (programme)|The Way It Is]]'' (1998–2001), the leading role in ''[[The Attractive Young Rabbi]]'' (1999–2002), ''[[The Sunday Format]]'' (1999–2004), and ''[[Getting Nowhere Fast]]''.


She has appeared in many TV programmes including; ''[[The Way It Is (programme)|The Way It Is]]'' (2000), ''[[Bob Martin (TV series)|Bob Martin]]'' (2000–2001) opposite [[Michael Barrymore]], ''[[Lenny Henry in Pieces]]'' (2000-2001), ''[[Big Train]]'' (2002), ''[[SuperTex]]'' (2003) and in episodes of ''[[Doctors (BBC soap opera)|Doctors]]'', ''[[The Last Detective]]'', ''[[Where the Heart Is (1997 TV series)|Where the Heart Is]]'', ''[[The Bill]]'', ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''. She played the previously [[unseen character]] of Marion in a special half-hour episode of the [[monologue]] series ''[[Marion and Geoff]]'' in 2001.
She has appeared in many TV programmes including; ''[[The Way It Is (programme)|The Way It Is]]'' (2000), ''[[Bob Martin (TV series)|Bob Martin]]'' (2000–2001) opposite [[Michael Barrymore]], ''[[Lenny Henry in Pieces]]'' (2000-2001), ''[[Big Train]]'' (2002), ''[[SuperTex]]'' (2003) and in episodes of ''[[Doctors (BBC soap opera)|Doctors]]'', ''[[The Last Detective]]'', ''[[Where the Heart Is (1997 TV series)|Where the Heart Is]]'', ''[[The Bill]]'', ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''. She played the previously [[unseen character]] of Marion in a special half-hour episode of the [[monologue]] series ''[[Marion and Geoff]]'' in 2001.

Revision as of 18:58, 1 March 2010

Tracy-Ann Oberman
Occupation(s)Actor, playwright, writer
Years active1993-present
Spouse(s)Rob Cowan
(m. 2004-present)

Tracy-Ann Oberman[1] (born (1969-08-15)15 August 1969 in London) is an English television, theatre and radio actress, widely known for her role as Chrissie Watts in the BBC soap opera Eastenders.

Early life

Tracy Ann Oberman was born in Greater London, Middlesex, in 1969. She grew up in North London, attending Heathfield School for Girls, before going on to study Classics at Leeds; however, after a year she moved to Manchester University to pursue drama.[2] After graduating she was accepted into the Central School of Speech and Drama, where she trained as an actor.[3] In 1991, Oberman went to study at the Moscow Arts Theatre School as part of further training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Oberman has spoken of how her drive for professionalism was a result of her parents' initial concern with her career choice.[2] Coming from a strong legal background, her family "weren’t wildly happy" about her desire to become an actor: "My parents were always making me watch Rumpole of the Bailey, going ‘You see? It’s just like acting, you make things up, you wear a wig and a funny outfit. Why not the law?’ But I just always, always wanted to act, as far back as I remember."[4] Joining the Royal Shakespeare Company though, finally won her parents over.[2] However, in a 2004 interview Oberman noted that her father's death seven years earlier prevented him seeing the development of her career and her national success as an actor: "I've come a long way in my career since he died and I wish he was here to see it. He was a big EastEnders fan so I know he'd be very, very proud of me."[5]

Career

Early work

Oberman spent four years at the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing in a variety of plays including the award-winning version of Christopher Marlowe's Tamburlaine.[6][7]

She has acted extensively in radio drama and radio comedy, appearing regularly on BBC Radio 4 as a member of the station's unofficial "repertory" company, including; The Way It Is (1998–2001), the leading role in The Attractive Young Rabbi (1999–2002), The Sunday Format (1999–2004), and Getting Nowhere Fast.

She has appeared in many TV programmes including; The Way It Is (2000), Bob Martin (2000–2001) opposite Michael Barrymore, Lenny Henry in Pieces (2000-2001), Big Train (2002), SuperTex (2003) and in episodes of Doctors, The Last Detective, Where the Heart Is, The Bill, Casualty. She played the previously unseen character of Marion in a special half-hour episode of the monologue series Marion and Geoff in 2001.

She has also written comedy sketches and an award-winning sitcom for BBC Three, The Harringham Harker.

She also worked at the Royal Shakespeare Company for four years and also the National Theatre.

In 2004, Oberman was runner up on a celebrity edition of Mastermind (her specialist subject being the "Imperial Roman family"), and scored the highest IQ when she appeared on Test The Nation

Eastenders

In 2004-2005 Oberman played the character of Chrissie Watts in Eastenders for almost two years, and won acclaim for both her portrayal and bringing back some light to the show which had become a little lacklustre, after her tough character murdered cheating husband Den Watts and tried to frame two other people who were there at the killing. She left the show in November 2005 after her character was arrested for Den's murder. Oberman has since been quoted as saying that although she loved the character some of Chrissie Watts's ' volte-face personality changes, were unbelievable" and "illogical" and that she often used Bette Davis, her heroine, as a role model when approaching some of the huge melodramatic scenes she sometimes played.[8]

In 2004, Oberman was nominated for a National Television Award for "Most Popular Newcomer" for her work on Eastenders.

In 2009, Oberman said she would like to return to Eastenders to finish off Chrissie Watts' story. She also revealed a trial for Den Watts' murder was planned but later shelved owing to the characters of Zoe Slater and Sam Mitchell no longer being in the programme.[9]

Tracy gave interviews for EastEnders Revealed: The Return of Sam Mitchell in September 2009. The programme marked Danniella Westbrook's return to the BBC Soap, and looked back at the character, when Westbrook and Medcalf played the character.

After Eastenders

Since departing Eastenders, Oberman has provided the voice of "Miss Dickson" in the adult-themed cartoon series Bromwell High for Channel 4 (2005), appeared in the BBC One comedy drama series Sorted (2006) She has also featured as Yvonne Hartman, head of the Torchwood Institute, in "Army of Ghosts" and "Doomsday", the two-part finale of the 2006 series of Doctor Who. She played Alice James in the CBBC series Summerhill (2008).

She had a role in the BBC One drama Robin Hood, as the wife of the Sherriff of York.

In 2009, she had a guest starring role in Mistresses as an owner of a sex-toy company.

In the theatre, she has worked on an adaptation of Chekhov's Three Sisters at the National Theatre. Her original idea led to a co-written play Three Sisters on Hope Street at the Hampstead Theatre (2008) which garnered critical acclaim.[citation needed] She has also played Gretchen in the West End hit Boeing Boeing at the Comedy Theatre in London (2007-2008). In 2008 she played Frieda Lawrence in the world premiere of On the Rocks, also at the Hampstead Theatre.

In 2009, she will appear as a Police Detective in upcoming Internet Crime Thriller Girl Number Nine, also starring Gareth David Lloyd [10]

In 2010 she played a minor role in the CBBC drama Tracy Beaker Returns as Terrie Fender, a travel agent and con artist. She also played the Grandmistress/ Anita Kane in an episode of another CBBC drama MI High.

Other work

She has recently[when?] been a regular columnist for The Guardian, appeared as a guest reviewer on an episode of Film 2007 with Jonathan Ross, as a contestant on a Doctor Who special of The Weakest Link and as a special guest performer in Tim Crouch's two-hander The Oak Tree at the Soho Theatre. In 2004 she came a close second place on Celebrity Mastermind, specialist subject being The Imperial Roman Family Augustus to Claudius Caesar.

In September 2005 she was a guest on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross In 2006 she was the guest on Nigel Slater's A Taste of My Life and in 2007 Oberman appeared on BBC One's Saturday Kitchen.

She is currently starring in the BBC Radio 4 show Rudy's Rare Records.

Tracey-Ann is also known for her narration of advertisements and documentaries such as Five's I'm A Celebrity: Who Really Won!.

She is featured in the video for The Yeah You's debut single "15 Minutes", hosting her own fictional chat show, interviewing the rock band.

She made it through to the quarter-finals of Celebrity Masterchef in 2009.

She is a keen Science Fiction buff.

Is a regular panelist on The Wright Stuff

She is to play Shirley Porter in the explosive 'Shirleymander" for BBC Radio 4 in NOvember 2009

Personal life

In 2005, Oberman was cast in Mike Leigh's play Two Thousand Years at the National Theatre but had to drop out when she became ill. In August 2006, Oberman gave birth to a girl, Anoushka India, at a Central London hospital with her husband Rob Cowan by her side.

In December 2004 whilst on her honeymoon, Oberman was amongst those injured in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.[citation needed]

Awards

Year Group Award Won Film/Television series
1998 BBC 3 Awards Comedy writing[2] Won Harringham Harker
2004 National Television Awards Most popular newcomer[11] Nominated EastEnders
British Soap Awards Best newcomer[11] Nominated
2005 British Soap Awards Villain of the year[12] Nominated EastEnders
British Soap Awards Best storyline (for Den's murder)[12] Won
Inside Soap Awards Best actress[12] Nominated
Inside Soap Awards Best bitch[12] Nominated
British Soap Awards Best dressed star[13] Won
2006 British Soap Awards Soap bitch of the year[12] Nominated EastEnders

Credits

Theatre and radio

Year Title Role Theatre
1993 Tamburlaine Olympia Royal Shakespeare Company
1993 The Changeling Diaphanta Royal Shakespeare Company
1993 A Jovial Crew Joan Cope Royal Shakespeare Company
1993 The Beggar's Opera Molly Brazen Royal Shakespeare Company
1993-94 Macbeth[14] Third Witch Royal Shakespeare Company
1994 A Christmas Carol Belle Royal Shakespeare Company
1995 Love for Love[15] Angelica New End Theatre, Hampstead
1998 Loot[16] Faye Vaudeville Theatre
1999 Waiting for Leftie Florence National Theatre
2001 School Play[17] Miss Fry Soho Theatre
2003 Edmond[18] Wife Royal National Theatre
2003 Hello and Goodbye[19] Hester Southwark Playhouse
2007 The Oak Tree[20] N/A Soho Theatre
2007-2008 Boeing! Boeing! Gretchen West End, London
2008 On the rocks Frieda Lawrence Hampstead Theatre, London
Year Title Role Format Radio Broadcast
1997 Man in the Elephant Mask[21] Play BBC Radio 4
1998-2001 The Way It Is Lolly Swain Serial BBC Radio 4
1999-2000 Sean Lock: 15 Storeys High Serial BBC Radio 4
1999-2002 The Attractive Young Rabbi Su Jacobs Serial BBC Radio 4
1999-2004 The Sunday Format[22] (Sketch show) Serial BBC Radio 4
2000 The Grass is Singing 3 episodes BBC Radio 4
2001-2003 Getting Nowhere Fast Chantal Serial BBC Radio 4
2002 Tango Sensations Play BBC Radio 4
2009 Shirleymander[23] Dame Shirley Porter Play BBC Radio 4

Television

Year Title Role Notes Production
1997 Loved By You Jenny Two episodes: "I'm just so happy for you", "Out of the past" Carlton
1997 The Grove Christine Carlton
1997-1998 Casualty Zoe Garrard Semi-regular BBC
1998 Comedy Nation Various Performer/writer BBC
1998 Kiss Me Kate Julia Episode 2: "Mike" BBC
2000 Strangerers Santina Episode 5: "Zap Type Z" Sky TV
2000 The Way It Is Lolly Swain One-off tv special BBC
2000 Rhona Kimbo Episode 4: "The Happy Jeans" BBC
2000 The Bill Helen Jensen "First Impressions" part 1 & 2 Thames Television
2001 The Cow The Narrator Century Films/Channel 4
2001 Starhunter Zelda Episode 16 Starhunter Productions
2001 Happiness Julia Jacob Episode 2: "I'm doing it for me" BBC
2001 Marion and Geoff: A small summer party Marion One-off special BBC
2001-2002 Bob Martin Beverely Jordan Series regular Granada
2000-2003 Lenny Henry In Pieces Female lead Sketch comedy BBC
2002 Big Train Various Female lead and writer Talkback Productions
2003 Harrington Harker Diedra Portland Female lead BBC
2003 Where the Heart Is Sylvia Enwright Episode 8: "Mister and Missus" ITV
2004 The Last Detective Mandy Episode 2 ITV
2004 Doctors Lynne Preston Episode 56: "Two's company" BBC
2004 Murder in Suburbia Chloe Walters Episode 6 ITV
2004-2005 EastEnders Chrissie Watts Series regular BBC
2005 Bromwell High Melanie Dickinson Animation, series regular Channel 4
2006 Sorted Amy Series regular BBC
2006 Doctor Who Yvonne Hartman Season finale two-parter: "Army of Ghosts", "Doomsday" BBC
2008 Summerhill Alice Ford Telemovie BBC
2009 Mistresses Henrietta Episode 5 BBC
2009 Robin Hood Gwyneth Episode: "The Enemy of my Enemy" BBC
2009 Doctors Cathy Harley Episode 113: "The Black Widow" BBC
2010 Tracy Beaker Returns Terrie Fender BBC
2010 M.I. High The Grand Mistress Episode 2 BBC

Film

Year Title Role Director Production
2003 SuperTex Lea Van Gelder Jan Schutte Halebob Films
2003 The Early Days Ursula Chris Stevenson Channel 4 Films/Shine
2009 Girl Number 9 Lyndon James Moran & Dan Turner Baker Coogan Production
2010 The Infidel Julie Cohen Josh Appignanesi Solly Film

Writing

Year Title Format Notes Production
1995-1996 News Review Radio series Writer and performer BBC
1997 Comedy Nation Radio series Writer and performer BBC
1998-2000 Harringham Harker Radio series Writer and performer BBC
2008 Three sisters on Hope Street[24] Theatrical play Writer The Everyman, Liverpool
Hampstead, London

References

  1. ^ England & Wales, Birth Index: 1916-2005, as accessed on Ancestry.co.uk.
  2. ^ a b c d Raphael, Amy (17 June 2006). "EastEnders was just the start". The Daily Telegraph. London, England. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  3. ^ "Den's wife turns up in Albert Square". BBC Press Office. 19 March 2004. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
  4. ^ Powell, Lucy (26 January 2008). "The drama of Tracy-Ann Oberman". The Times. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
  5. ^ McCarthy, Kerry (14 November 2004). "The tragic truth behind my smile". The People. London, England. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
  6. ^ "Tamburlaine". DServe Archive Performance. 14. Retrieved 2010-03-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  7. ^ "Tracy-Ann Oberman profile". MTC Talent. Retrieved 2010-03-02. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  8. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0643322/bio
  9. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a166888/tracy-ann-oberman.html
  10. ^ http://www.canyousaveher.com/
  11. ^ a b "Awards for "EastEnders"". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  12. ^ a b c d e "British Television Soap Awards". thecustard.tv. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  13. ^ "'EastEnders' named best soap at awards". Digital Spy. 27 September 2005. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
  14. ^ "The Tragedy of Macbeth". Royal Shakespeare Company. 2008. Retrieved 2010-2-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  15. ^ Taylor, Paul (26 August 1995). "Review: Love for love". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-2-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  16. ^ "Loot". Albemarle of London. 1998. Retrieved 2010-2-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  17. ^ Billington, Michael (25 June 2001). "School Play". The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-2-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  18. ^ Loveridge, Lizzie (2003). "Edmond, a CurtainUp London review". curtainup.com. Retrieved 2010-2-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  19. ^ Fisher, Philip (2003). "Review: Hello and Goodbye". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2010-2-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  20. ^ "An oak tree - second actors". newsfromnowhere.net. 2007. Retrieved 2010-2-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  21. ^ "BBC Radio 4 plays". web.ukonline.co.uk. 1997. Retrieved 2010-2-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  22. ^ "The Sunday Format". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-2-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  23. ^ Petty, Moira (30 November 2009). "Radio review: Shirleymander". The Stage. Retrieved 2010-2-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  24. ^ Oberman, Tracy Ann (30 January 2008). "Fights, families and food". The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
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