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Jessica Plummer

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Jessica Plummer
Born
Jessica Kate Plummer

London, England
Alma materIdentity School of Acting
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active2013–present
TelevisionEastEnders (2019–2020)
Children1

Jessica Kate Plummer is an English actress and singer. From 2013 to 2015, she was a member of the British girl group Neon Jungle, with whom she released an album that peaked at number eight on the UK Albums Chart. In March 2019, she began portraying the role of Chantelle Atkins in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders, where she became widely recognised for highlighting the issue of domestic violence alongside her on-screen husband, Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith). She left the role in September 2020, when the domestic abuse storyline reached its climax with Chantelle being murdered by Gray.

Early life

Plummer was born in London to a Jamaican father and English mother.[1] She went to Burntwood School and the Hayes School for early education.[2]

Career

In November 2012, music manager David Cooper, began a three-month process of auditions for a new girl group to be signed to RCA Records UK. Amira McCarthy and Plummer herself were scouted separately while shopping in London, while Shereen Cutkelvin and Asami Zdrenka were found via their solo YouTube videos. In February 2013, it was announced that Plummer, alongside Cutkelvin, McCarthy, and Zdrenka made the line-up of new British girl group Neon Jungle and began recording material in the studio.[3][4] They chose the name Neon Jungle, which was derived from their song "Welcome to the Jungle" and to reflect that the members were "all individual and quite different".[5] According to Plummer, "it's like neon is bold, bright, strong individual characters and then the jungle part is the madness".[6] In July 2013, Neon Jungle released their debut single "Trouble", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 12 and reached the top 10 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart.[7]

In October 2013, Plummer, with Neon Jungle, supported Jessie J on select dates of her Alive Tour. The following month, the group performed alongside Taylor Swift at the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.[8][9] Also in October 2013, Plummer made her television debut in British science fantasy television series Wizards vs Aliens as Chloe Martin.[10] She portrayed the role for two episodes. In November 2013, Neon Jungle's second single, "Braveheart", was released in the UK. The song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and at number 19 on the ARIA charts. On 28 July 2014, Neon Jungle released their debut album Welcome to the Jungle, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number eight.[11] The album also entered the ARIA charts, debuting at number 48. On 6 July 2015, Neon Jungle announced via their Facebook page that they were disbanding.[12][13]

In November 2015, it was announced that Plummer has joined the cast of John Cameron Mitchell's directed romantic-comedy film How to Talk to Girls at Parties opposite Ruth Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning and Matt Lucas.[14] It premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival in May 2017.[15][16]

In March 2019, Plummer joined the BBC soap opera EastEnders, portraying the role of Chantelle Atkins.[17] While on the soap, her character was involved in a high-profile domestic abuse storyline, with her on-screen husband Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) abusing Chantelle. In September 2020, it was announced that as part of the storyline, Gray would murder Chantelle, in order to reflect the mortality rates displayed in abusive relationships and highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence.[18] In an interview with Digital Spy, Plummer explained that she "didn't know from the start" how Chantelle's story would end, and that this "hadn't been planned from the start" either. She felt like she had been "in a weird limbo" since finding out how Chantelle's story would end. Originally, her final scenes were meant to be aired in July, but due to Covid-19 (and EastEnders halting filming[19]) this changed - one of the main reasons being how lockdown had affected victims of domestic violence. Plummer explained, "As much as it isn't nice for viewers to see, this is real life and this is sometimes how it ends for people. There needs to be an awareness around that."[20]

Personal life

In June 2016, Plummer announced that she was pregnant with her first child.[21] On 30 July 2016, she gave birth to her daughter, Noa.[22][23]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Wizards vs Aliens Chloe Martin 2 episodes
2013 Reflections Kaitlin Short film
2017 How to Talk to Girls at Parties Celia Feature film
2019–2020 EastEnders Chantelle Atkins Regular role

Discography

Main article: Neon Jungle § Discography

Awards and nominations

See also: Neon Jungle § Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Result
2019 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Newcomer[24] Longlisted
2019 Inside Soap Awards Best Newcomer[25] Shortlisted
2019 The Digital Spy Reader Awards Best Soap Newcomer[26] Second
2020 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress Longlisted
2020 Inside Soap Awards Best Actress[27] Pending

References

  1. ^ "50 Red Hot Neon Jungle Facts!". thehits. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  2. ^ Palmer, Jim (4 February 2014). "Neon Jungle star and ex-Hayes School pupil Jess Plummer talks Valentine's Day, festivals and the Fresh Prince". News Shopper. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Exclusive Interview – Neon Jungle". loudmag.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Neon Jungle Interview". thestudentpocketguide.co.uk.
  5. ^ Corner, Lewis (30 August 2013). "Neon Jungle interview: 'We're shocked people like us'". Digital Spy.
  6. ^ Law, Seb (25 June 2013). "Planet Notion " Introducing: Neon Jungle". planetnotion.com. Attic London Ltd. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  7. ^ Murray, Gordon (19 December 2013). "Donna Summer Returns 'MacArthur Park' To Top of Dance Chart After 35 Years". Billboard. Nielsen Inc. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Neon Jungle Join Jessie J on UK Arena Dates!". metroradio.co.uk. 14 October 2013.
  9. ^ Lansky, Sam (14 November 2013). "What To Expect From The 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (From Someone Who Was There)". idolator.com. SpinMedia.
  10. ^ Episodes cast for "Wizards and Aliens". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  11. ^ "NEON JUNGLE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Neon Jungle Breaks Up: U.K. Girl Group Splits After One Album". Billboard. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Neon Jungle have split up: "This is a heartbreaking reality"". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  14. ^ Jaafar, Ali (3 November 2015). "Jessica Plummer Joins Cast Of 'How To Talk To Girls at Parties' Opposite Nicole Kidman – AFM". Deadline. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  15. ^ "The 2017 Official Selection". Cannes. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  16. ^ "2017 Cannes Film Festival Announces Lineup: Todd Haynes, Sofia Coppola, 'Twin Peaks' and More". IndieWire. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  17. ^ Warner, Sam (5 March 2019). "EastEnders casts former Neon Jungle singer as Chantelle Baker". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  18. ^ Hegarty, Tasha (6 September 2020). "EastEnders' domestic abuse storyline for Chantelle ends in tragedy as she is killed by husband Gray". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  19. ^ "EastEnders to 'take a break' while filming plays catch-up". Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  20. ^ "EastEnders' Jessica Plummer bids farewell to cast and crew in emotional goodbye post". Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  21. ^ Warner, Sam (27 June 2016). "Neon Jungle's Jessica Plummer pregnant with first baby". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  22. ^ [1]
  23. ^ "Jess on Instagram: "Tryna shop, tryna parent... I don't think noa likes these tops 😅"". Instagram. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  24. ^ "TVCA Long List 2019". TV Choice. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  25. ^ Harp, Justin (30 September 2019). "Inside Soap Awards 2019 full shortlist revealed – which stars are up for prizes?". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  26. ^ Robinson, Abby (28 December 2019). "It's (nearly) a clean sweep for Hollyoaks in the Digital Spy Reader Awards for soaps 2019". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  27. ^ "Coronation Street's Shelley King and Emmerdale's Emma Atkins receive Inside Soap Award nominations". Digital Spy. 12 September 2020.
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