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Samantha Spiro

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Samantha Spiro
Born (1968-06-20) 20 June 1968 (age 56)
Mill Hill, London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1994–present
SpouseMark Leadbetter (m. 2002; 2 children)
AwardsWhatsonstage.com Award for Best Actress in a Musical, 2000, Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical, 2004

Samantha Spiro (born 20 June 1968) is a double Olivier Award-winning English actress. She is best known for portraying Barbara Windsor in the stage play Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick and the television film Cor, Blimey!, DI Vivien Friend in M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team, and Melessa Tarly in the HBO series Game of Thrones.

Background

Born in Whitechapel, London, England,[1] Spiro grew up in Radlett, Hertfordshire.[2] She is Jewish.[3][4] Spiro decided to be an actress at the age of ten, after seeing a production of Androcles and the Lion at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park.[2] She joined the National Youth Theatre, and later trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.[5]

Spiro married the actor Mark Leadbetter, whom she met at drama school, in February 2002.[6] They have two daughters and currently live in Queen's Park, London.[2]

Career

Theatre

Spiro's first acting job after graduating from drama school was with the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, in productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Boys From Syracuse and Macbeth.[2] Her many theatre credits include As You Like It, Teechers, The Tragic Roundabout, Jumpers, On the Piste, Roots, How the Other Half Loves and Glyn and It, opposite Penelope Keith.[7]

Spiro played Barbara Windsor in Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick at the National Theatre, a production she credits as her first big break, which "open[ed] a lot of doors".[5] She has also appeared in the Minerva Theatre production of Funny Girl and the first West End revival of Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce.[1][7]

Spiro played Rachel in Mike Leigh's production of Two Thousand Years at the National Theatre. This was the first Jewish role of her career. She said:

"For English/Jewish artists in this business, we’re English first and the Jewish thing comes down the line. Whereas in the United States, Jewishness is a much celebrated thing. Jewishness is a part of their very being.

"Here, I think, we repress it and, far from celebrating it, almost shy away from it. After Two Thousand Years, I suddenly felt that there is a place for people like me. Until that point I hadn’t had a career playing Jewish people. I had got that stuff out of the way by the time I came to play Fanny Brice [in Funny Girl] who is very much a Jewish character."[3]

In 2009, Spiro played Maria in the Donmar Warehouse production of Twelfth Night at the Wyndham's Theatre, alongside Derek Jacobi, and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing at the Open Air Theatre.[5][8] Most recently, she appeared in the acclaimed Open Air Theatre production of Hello, Dolly!, playing Dolly Levi.[2][5]

In 2013, Spiro played Lady Macbeth in Macbeth at Shakespeare's Globe, alongside Billy Boyd and Joseph Millson.

Discussing whether she prefers acting in the theatre to television or film, Spiro said: "I think theatre prefers me. These days you have to do both, but it never feels as if the TV casting people are beating down my door to offer me work. I just feel that in this business you are lucky if you’re doing something you enjoy."[5]

Television, film and radio

Spiro reprised the role of Barbara Windsor in the television adaptation of Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick, Cor, Blimey!, starring opposite Geoffrey Hutchings.[9]

Her other television credits include The Bill, Cold Feet, Plebs, Coupling, After You've Gone and M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team, in which she played the lead role of DI Vivien Friend. She described the role of Friend as "quite an unusual departure for me...I've done quite a bit of comedy and I've played characters who are light-hearted and characters who are tarts with hearts. In M.I.T. there is no tart or heart!"[10] In order to research the part, Spiro spent time with a female Detective Inspector with the real-life Murder Investigation Team.[10] From 9 August 2010, Spiro starred in the BBC comedy Grandma's House. She plays the part of Simon Amstell's aunt Liz. In 2012 she also appeared in the SkyArts comedy series 'Psychobitches where she played various female icons including Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Mary Whitehouse.

In September 2013, Spiro joined the cast of the BBC Three sitcom Bad Education as Professor Celia Green, the new deputy headmaster and adversary to Jack Whitehall's character.

In 2013 Spiro starred in an episode of the Sky Atlantic series Little Cracker, an autobiographical comedy written by Rebecca Front in which Spiro played Front's mother.

In 2016 she joined the HBO series Game of Thrones in Season 6 as Melessa Tarly, the mother of Samwell Tarly.[11] That year she also joined Tracey Ullman's Show in the recurring role of Birgit, the fictitious fridge-magnet-loving personal assistant and confidante to Tracey Ullman's impression of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She reprised her role in Ullman's Tracey Breaks the News. In 2017 Spiro reprised her role of Barbara Windsor in the BBC1 drama Babs, a biopic based on the life of Windsor.

Spiro has appeared in the films Beyond Bedlam (1994), as WPC Foster, and Tomorrow La Scala! (2002), as Janey. She also played Martha Tabram in From Hell (2001), opposite Johnny Depp. She also appears impersonating many historical female figures in Psychobitches.

Her radio drama credits include The Casebook of Inspector Steine, Gospel According to Mary, Little Cinderellas, Beside the Seaside, Show Boat in which she played Magnolia Hawks, Sarah Kahn in Chicken Soup with Barley and the Guy Meredith play Spring Forward, Fall Back for BBC Radio 7.[12]

In 2018 Spiro played the role of Mrs Erlynne in Kathy Burke's production of Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan at London's Vaudeville Theatre. This production was recorded and shown in cinemas under the "More2Screen" initiative.

Awards

In 2001, Spiro was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the 2000 season Donmar Warehouse production of Merrily We Roll Along. She won a Whatsonstage.com award for Best Actress in a Musical for the same production.[1] In 2010, Spiro was once again awarded the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Hello, Dolly! at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park.

Spiro won a 2004 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical, for the production of A Little Night Music at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater in Chicago, Illinois.[13]

In the 2011 British Comedy Awards she won the Best Female Comedy Breakthrough Artist award for her performance in Grandma's House.[14]

Credits

Television

Year Show Role Notes
1994 The Bill Cherie
- Dealer Wins (1994) 		Police drama
2000 Cor, Blimey! Barbara Windsor Television film
2001 Cold Feet Ruth
- Episode 4.2 (2001)
- Episode 4.4 (2001)
- Episode 4.5 (2001) 		Comedy drama
TV Go Home Sketch show
2003 M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team DI Vivien Friend Police drama
2004 Coupling Jeffina
- Nine and a Half Months (2004) 		Sitcom
2007 After You've Gone Ann Venables
- Stuck in the Middle with You (2007)
- When She Came Back (2007) 		Sitcom
2010–2012 Grandma's House Auntie Liz Sitcom
2011 Rock & Chips Beryl Bird 1 episode
2012 Panto! Di Jenkins Comedy
2013 Bad Education Professor Celia Green Comedy
2013 Little Cracker Sheila Front Comedy drama
2014 The Wrong Mans Maria Black comedy
2016 Tracey Ullman's Show Birgit/Various Sketch show, 3 episodes
Game of Thrones Melessa Tarly Episode: "Blood of My Blood"
2017 Tracey Ullman's Show Birgit Sketch show
Babs Barbara Windsor Television film
Tracey Breaks the News Birgit Television special
Carnage Amelie/Edith Paper Mockumentary
Doctor Who Hazran Episode: "The Doctor Falls"
Doc Martin Tina Episode: "Accidental Hero "
2017–present Tracey Breaks the News Birgit/Various Sketch show

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1994 Beyond Bedlam WPC Foster
2001 From Hell Martha Tabram
2002 Tomorrow La Scala! Janey
2016 Me Before You (film) Josie Clark

Theatre

  • The House They Grew Up In Chichester Minerva (2017)[15]
  • The Taming Of The Shrew d: Toby Frow, Shakespeare's Globe
  • Filumena d: Michael Attenborough, Almeida Theatre
  • Company d: Jonathan Munby, Sheffield Crucible
  • Chicken Soup With Barley d: Dominic Cooke, Royal Court Theatre
  • Hello Dolly (Dolly) d:Tim Sheader, Regents Park
    • Best Actress in a Musical – 2010 Olivier Awards
  • Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice) d: Tim Sheader, Regents Park
  • Twelfth Night (Maria) d: Michael Grandage, Donmar / Wyndhams
  • Funny Girl (Fanny Brice) d: Angus Jackson, Chichester Festival
  • The Family Plays (Mother) d: Joe Hill-Gibbons, Royal Court Theatre
  • Two Thousand Years d: Mike Leigh, Royal National Theatre
  • A Little Night Music (Charlotte) d: Gary Griffin Chicago Shakespeare’s Theatre
    • Winner: Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Joseph Jefferson Awards 2004
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream (Titania/Hippolyta) d: Michael Grandage Crucible, Sheffield
  • Bedroom Farce (Jan) d: Loveday Ingram Michael Codron Plays
  • Merrily We Roll Along (Mary Flynn) d: Michael Grandage Donmar Warehouse
    • Olivier Awards 2001 & Whatsonstage.com Awards 2001 – Best Actress in a Musical
  • As You Like It (Celia) d: Michael Grandage Crucible & Lyric
  • Jumpers (Dorothy Moore) d: Bill Alexander Birmingham Rep
  • Cleo Camping…(Barbara Windsor) d: Terry Johnson Royal National Theatre
  • Roots (Beatie Bryant) d: John Retallack Watford Palace/Oxford
  • As You Like It (Phoebe) d: Polly Irvin W. Yorkshire/Bristol
  • Teechers (Gail Saunders) d: Graham Watts Hull Truck & No 1 Tour
  • On The Piste (Bev Ryan) d: Graham Watts Hull Truck
  • How The Other Half Lovers (Mary) d: Penelope Keith Theatre Royal, Windsor
  • Glyn & ‘It’ (Clara Bow) d: Richard Cottrell Yvonne Arnaud & tour
  • Midsummer Night's Dream (Hermia) d: Delena Kidd London & Middle East
  • Tons Of Money (Simpson) d: David Conville Mercury Th, Colchester
  • Midsummer Night's Dream (First Fairy) d: Ian Talbot Regents Park Open Air
  • As You Like It (Audrey) d: Maria Aitkin Regents Park Open Air
  • Lady Be Good (Daisy) d: Ian Talbot Regents Park Open Air
  • Macbeth (Witch) d: Bill Baunt Regents Park Open Air
  • The Boys From Syracuse (Courtesan) d: Judi Dench Regents Park Open Air

References

  1. ^ a b c Paddock, Terri (8 April 2002). "20 Questions With...Samantha Spiro". What's On Stage. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e "Why Samantha Spiro loves Regent's Park". Times Series. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) [dead link]
  3. ^ a b Nathan, John (4 December 2008). "Interview: Samantha Spiro". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 8 July 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ Logan, Brian (11 March 2013). "Samantha Spiro: 'I was never an ingenue'". The Guardian. London.
  5. ^ a b c d e Smurthwaite, Nick (26 June 2009). "Spiro's inspired roles". The Stage. Retrieved 8 July 2007. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Marlow, Will (7 December 2002). "Go directly to jail". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 8 July 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b Bosanquet, Theo (19 May 2008). "Samantha Spiro On...Playing Funny Girls". What's on Stage. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Open Air Theatre | Much Ado About Nothing
  9. ^ Lockyer, Daphne (2 April 2000). "I became Babs so completely even now I can't stop doing her wiggle". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 8 July 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ a b Interviews with the team from M.I.T. – Samantha Spiro – DI Vivien Friend Archived 21 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Memorable TV. Retrieved on http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a299572/in-full-british-comedy-awards-winners/.
  11. ^ "Meet the Tarlys: Game of Thrones adds three more actors to season 6!". Watchers On The Wall. 16 September 2015.
  12. ^ Chichester Festival Theatre: What's On: Samantha Spiro Archived 8 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 8 July 2009.
  13. ^ Samantha Spiro – Biography IMDB. Retrieved on 8 July 2009.
  14. ^ "In Full: British Comedy Awards - Winners". Digital Spy. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  15. ^ Marlowe, Sam (24 July 2017). "Fixer-upper worth buying". The Times. No. 72283. T2. p. 11. ISSN 0140-0460.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
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