Tracy Brabin
Tracy Brabin | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen | |
| Assumed office 20 October 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Jo Cox |
| Majority | 16,537 (81%)[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 May 1961 Batley, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | Loughborough University University of the Arts London |
Tracy Lynn Brabin (born 9 May 1961) is a British politician, actress, and television writer. She was elected as the Labour Party MP for Batley and Spen at a by-election in October 2016 following the murder of Jo Cox.
Education
Brabin was born in Batley in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and educated at Heckmondwike Grammar School. She studied drama at Loughborough University and gained a Master of Arts degree in screenwriting from the London College of Communication of the University of the Arts London in 2001.[2]
Career
Television
Brabin is known for her roles as clumsy waitress Sandra playing opposite David Jason in A Bit of a Do, Tricia Armstrong in Coronation Street from 1994 to 1997, and as Ginny in three series of Richard Harris's Outside Edge. She appeared in EastEnders as Roxy Drake, The Ghost Hunter as Mrs Oliver, Love + Hate as Gaynor, and in an episode of Midsomer Murders ("Dead Letters", 2006). In 2008, she appeared in a series of commercials for supermarket chain Sainsbury's playing "Sarah", a mother-of-two and Sainsbury's employee who does her weekly shopping at the store.[3] In 2014, she appeared as Lyndsey Bernstein in Law and Order UK, Pam in Undeniable, and as Carole in Emmerdale.[4][5]
Film
In 2012, she played Maggie, a mother who comes to realise she is one of a race of aliens, in artist Shezad Dawood's first feature, the sci-fi art-house film Piercing Brightness.
Theatre
Brabin played Linda, Sharon and Annie in Simon Beaufoy's play The Full Monty,[6] an adaptation of his screenplay for the film, directed by Sheffield Theatre's Daniel Evans. The play opened at the Sheffield Lyceum to excellent reviews, followed by a national tour and a West End run at the Noël Coward Theatre. The production was nominated for the Best New Comedy at the Laurence Olivier Awards in 2014. Brabin's previous theatre performances include the lead role in Shelagh Stevenson's The Long Road at Curve in Leicester directed by Adel Al Salloum and Joy in Meat written by Jimmy Osbourne for London's 503 Theatre.
Writing
Brabin has written for Heartbeat, Family Affairs, Crossroads, The Story of Tracy Beaker, and Hollyoaks, on which she worked for two years. She has written material for Shameless for Company Pictures and for three series of Seacht – nominated for Best Youth Programme Irish Film and Television Awards in 2011. With her mentor Elizabeth Karlsen, the producer of Made in Dagenham, she was involved on the romantic comedy feature Father August for the prestigious She Writes programme, with Minkie Spiro attached to direct. Brabin wrote an episode of Doctors which was screened in December 2012.
Political activity
Brabin, a Labour Party member, said in August 2016 that she was considering standing in the Batley and Spen by-election, caused by the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.[7] On 19 September, she was shortlisted along with Labour activist Jane Thomas.[8] Brabin was selected at a meeting on 23 September.[9] The Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, Green Party and UKIP did not field candidates as a mark of respect to Cox.[10] On 20 October 2016, Brabin was elected with an increased majority of around 10,000.[11] She was then sworn in on 24 October.[12] Brabin made her maiden speech in the House of Commons on 2 November, paying tribute to her predecessor, who she described as "inspirational". The speech won applause from fellow MPs.[13]
Filmography
Television credits
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | A Bit of a Do | Sandra Pickersgill |
| 1989 | Hale and Pace | Various characters |
| 1991 | Riff-Raff | Singer |
| 1992 | El C.I.D. | Fran |
| 1992 | Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After | Sarah, Duchess of York |
| 1994 | Peak Practice | Lou Clarke |
| 1994–1997 | Coronation Street | Tricia Armstrong |
| 1994–1995 | Outside Edge | Ginnie Willis |
| 1995 | Mayday Mayday | Sylvia Redpath |
| 1999 | Sunburn | Sheila Adams |
| 2000 | The Ghost Hunter | Mrs. Oliver |
| 2000 | Where the Heart Is | Stella Taylor |
| 2000 | The Bill | Stella Taylor |
| 2000 | Doctors | Lucy Carlton |
| 2001 | Eastenders | Roxy Drake |
| 2001 | Holby City | Lucy Gartside |
| 2002 | Nice Guy Eddie | Stephanie |
| 2002 | Silent Witness | Nina Palmer |
| 2002 | The Bill | Pam |
| 2003 | Is Harry on the Boat? | Isobel |
| 2004 | Bodies | Karen Taylor |
| 2004 | Heartbeat | Sandra Tetley |
| 2005 | Coronation Street: The Duckworth Family Album | Herself |
| 2005 | Love + Hate | Gaynor |
| 2005 | Holby City | Stella Howard |
| 2006 | An Audience with Coronation Street | Herself |
| 2006 | Rosemary & Thyme | Herself |
| 2006 | Midsomer Murders | Ruth Chalk |
| 2006 | Strictly Confidential | Tina Roebottom |
| 2006 | Doctors | Tina Machin |
| 2007 | Casualty | Veek Kitching |
| 2007 | The Real Extras | Herself |
| 2007 | The Good Samaritan | Gloria |
| 2008 | Doctors | Amanda Webster |
| 2008 | The Bill | Isabel Edgar |
| 2009 | Casualty | April |
| 2014 | Emmerdale | Carole |
| 2014 | Law & Order: UK | Lindsey Bernstein |
| 2014 | Casualty | Roz Conlon |
Writing credits
- Crossroads (2001)
- The Story of Tracy Beaker (2003–2005)
- Tracy Beaker Parties with Pudsey (2004)
- Heartbeat (2005)
- Family Affairs (2005)
- Hollyoaks (2008–2010)
- Shameless (2009)
- Seacht (2011)
- Doctors (2012)
References
- ^ "Jo Cox obituary: Proud Yorkshire lass who became local MP". BBC News. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ^ Perraudin, Frances (30 September 2016). "Tracy Brabin: 'I hope I can build on Jo Cox's legacy'". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- ^ "Sainsbury's ad for former Coronation Street star Tracy Brabin". Daily Mirror. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
- ^ "Emmerdale spoilers: ex-Coronation Street actress Tracy Brabin to play Ashley's new love interest". Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ "Casting news: Tracy Brabin joins Emmerdale". Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ "Tracy's West End dream will be fulfilled at last". Spenborough Guardian. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "Jo Cox MP death: Actress Tracy Brabin may stand in Batley & Spen by-election". BBC News. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^ Halliday, Josh (19 September 2016). "Former actor Tracy Brabin is frontrunner to win Jo Cox's seat". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^ "Soap star Tracy Brabin to stand in Jo Cox by-election". BBC News. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ^ Halliday, Josh (19 September 2016). "Former actor Tracy Brabin is frontrunner to win Jo Cox's seat". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ^ "Batley and Spen by-election: Tracy Brabin victory for 'hope and unity'". BBC News. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
- ^ "Tracy Brabin and Robert Courts sworn in as MPs". BBC News. 24 October 2016.
- ^ "Tracy Brabin pays tribute to Jo Cox in maiden speech". BBC News. BBC. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
External links
- Tracy Brabin at IMDb