Jackie Clune
Jackie Clune | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jackie Clune 13 December 1965 |
| Occupation(s) | Drama lecturer, Singer, Comedian, Actress, Television presenter |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse | Richard Hannant (2008–present) |
Jackie Clune (born 13 December 1965) [1][2] is a British entertainer and writer. She became established through her Fringe cabaret shows and clone Karen Carpenter tribute act before graduating to mainstream acting. She can have a dry anecdotal approach to comedy material.
Early life
Jackie Clune was the third of four children born in Harlow, Essex,[3] to Irish Roman Catholic parents: her late father Don Clune (died August 2010) was a buyer for a computer firm, her mother a nurse.[4] The writer Maggie Clune is her sister. Jackie Clune graduated with a degree in drama from the University of Kent.[1][2]
Career
On graduation from university, Clune became a full-time drama lecturer at the Royal Holloway College for at least six years and a BBC London radio broadcaster.[3] She started singing in bands part-time, but between sets as a dj she developed a line of patter.[3] This led a friend to suggest that she could create a performance based around a tribute act which promoted the liquid elegance of the late Karen Carpenter's vocals;this she worked on and took to the Edinburgh Festival in 1995, where she was spotted by a West End producer.[1]
Giving up her lecturing career, she co-founded the Red Rag Women’s Theatre Company, and fell into stand-up comedy while working at the Hackney Empire.[3]
Her many credits include the BBC soap drama EastEnders and also ITV's The Bill. Since hosting the Stonewall Society equality shows at the Royal Albert Hall,[1] she has developed a multi-media career.
She has been a TV/radio panellist on many shows, not least QI, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, What the Dickens? and The Staying-in Show and has been invited onto shows like Loose Women.
She had a part in Showstopper(1997), Bryony Lavery's play A Wedding Story(1999)and portrayed Julie Burchill, at the time a columnist for The Guardian, in the one-woman play Julie Burchill Is Away by Tim Fountain at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and in the West End (2003). In 2006-7, she played the lead female role of 'Donna' in the Abba songs-based musical Mamma Mia! international tour until 17 March 2007.[5] On 4 June 2007, she took over the role of the dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson in Billy Elliot the Musical in London. She gave her final performance on 22 November 2008 prior to rejoining the Mamma Mia! International Tour (2009–2011) again as leading role Donna (portrayed by Meryl Streep in the film), and has done the Race For Life.[citation needed]
Jackie Clune sang the Dusty Springfield theme tune, and contributed script to the popular alternative TV show Smack the Pony. After becoming involved in the revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber & Don Black musical Tell Me On A Sunday, she met Denise van Outen with whom she co-wrote the show Blondes in which Ms Outen performed for the Festival Fringe Edinburgh in August 2009 and in the six preview performances at the New End Theatre in Hampstead.[citation needed]
Carpenters fan Jackie Clune promoted an album Love Songs(Dress Circle) courtesy of a show at Soho Theatre in London's West End from 15–17 July 2010; she has also been involved in several musical projects including the 2010 memorial concert for the late Kirsty MacColl who worked with The Pogues and is remembered through Music for Cuba Fund.[citation needed]She sang with Billy Bragg on that occasion but has also worked with many celebrities.
She has also published two books, Man of the Month Club and Extreme Motherhood, diaries relating how her lifestyle changed when she found herself pregnant with triplets little more than a year after having her first child.[6] She is also a freelance journalist.
In 2011 Clune performed as the rambunctious Miss Ogle in the play The Belle's Stratagem, a revival of a script by Hannah Cowley from the Georgian period at the Southwark Playhouse[citation needed]. Jessica Swale, artistic director, says: 'Jackie is fab!'[citation needed]
Over the years Clune has been a regular warm-up act for the Singalonga Sound of Music[citation needed] and the Puppetry of the Penis shows.[citation needed]. She has also worked with Scott Capurro, Rowland Rivron and sung on cruises.
In 2012, she toured nationally in the leading role of Amanda, the troubled teacher, in the cast of a controversial and groundbreaking play about bullying and racism issues for teachers, 'Mogadishu'(14+) which received a nomination for the Olivier Awards 2012.[citation needed]
Jackie intends to be involved in a TV special tribute show to the late Kirsty MacColl.
On 29 June 2012, it was confirmed that Miss Clune will be appearing as Violet Newstead in the first UK tour production of the Broadway musical penned by Dolly Parton, 9 to 5.A photoshoot involving the cast took place in July 2012. The tour will begin at the Manchester Opera House, currently celebrating 100 years, on 12 October 2012.[7] Other principal members of the cast are: Bonnie Langford, Amy Lennox, Natalie Casey and Ben Richards. Jeff Calhoun directs. The '9 to 5' national tour dates have been announced for 2012-2013.
Personal life
During her 20s and 30s, Clune identified as a lesbian.[2]
In 2001 she met actor and stunt performer Richard "Boom Boom"[8] Hannant (Hammant), who was the fire officer at the arts centre where she was performing,[4] and started a relationship with him. 11 months later, she became pregnant with their first child, a daughter. The couple went on to have naturally conceived triplets, and married in 2008.[9]
As of 2012 she identified as a "lesbian who happened to be married to a man."[10] This was in reference to a former lifestyle.
References
- ^ a b c d "20 Questions with...Jackie Clune". Whats On Stage. 10 June 2002. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
- ^ a b c Jackie Clune (25 June 2010). "How I went from committed lesbian to a happily married mother of four | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Jackie Clue". AuthorTrek.com. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ^ a b Penny Wark (4 October 2005). "Love, etc". The Times. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ^ Jackie is set to Abba great time on stage, Edinburgh Evening News, 30 January 2006.
- ^ Experiences of a triplets' mum, Gulf Daily News, 8 April 2007
- ^ "Cast: Bonnie Langford clocks in for 9 to 5: The Musical". Whatsonstage. (Whatsonstage). 29 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ^ "Chigwell Cricket Club:Tour Report - Chardstock". Chigwellcricketclub.typepad.com. 3 July 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ "My crime against the lesbian state". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
- ^ "Radio 4 Programmes - A Straight Question". BBC. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
External links
- Jackie Clune at IMDb