Fenella Woolgar
| Fenella Woolgar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 August 1969 London, England, UK |
| Alma mater | Mayfield Convent Durham University RADA |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Known for | You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Cheerful Weather for the Wedding (film) |
| Television | Home Fires Spies of Warsaw |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Robert Harland (m. 2006) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Michael Woolgar Maureen McCann |
| Relatives | Dermot Woolgar (brother) Claudia Woolgar (sister) |
Fenella Woolgar (born 4 August 1969) is an English actress. Woolgar is best known for her role in the 2010 film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger as Jane, Woolgar is also known for her role in Doctor Who as Agatha Christie.
Woolgar has also appeared in the TV Series "Spies of Warsaw" based on the book by the same name The Spies of Warsaw. Woolgar has also featured as a guest star in a variety of prominent TV Shows, this the most prominent being the Doctor Who Series 4 episode "The Unicorn and the Wasp" as Agatha Christie, the episode Woolgar starred in rated at 7.7 Million Views. Woolgar is also known for her guest roles in Agatha Christie's Poirot as Ellis and later Elizabeth Whittaker.
Alongside her many appearances in cinema and television Woolgar has appeared in numerous Threatre shows most notably in Circle Mirror Transformation and Handbagged. In Handbagged Woolgar appears as Margaret Thatcher nicknamed Mags, Woolgar appeared in the production first in 2013 and then for a second time in 2014. In Circle Mirror Transformation Woolgar featured as Theresa in 2013.
Woolgar currently stars on The ITV show Home Fires as Alison Scotlock, in the show Alison faces problems after previous bad choices and the war taking its toll on her life. Alison faces trouble in Series 1 when she has illegal dealings and secrets resurfacing, Alison returns in Series 2 with a difficult decision. Woolgar is a main character in the show and has appeared in all of the episodes so far in the show. Home Fires began in 2015 May and gained successful acclaim from high ratings with an average of 6.2 million views from the first series, the show was renewed for a second series and began on 3 April 2016. The premiere episode gained 5.2 Million views and a 23.7% share.[1]
Contents
Biography
Early Life
Woolgar is the youngest daughter of Maureen (née McCann) and Michael Woolgar. Her brother Dermot is a barrister and her sister Claudia works in the arts in the Netherlands. Her early years were spent in New Canaan, Connecticut, before the family returned to the United Kingdom in 1976. Her father worked as an economist for many years and the family travelled to Kuwait and Sharjah. Her mother is of Irish heritage. She was educated at Mayfield Convent, Durham University, and then Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). At university, she directed Murder in the Cathedral in Durham Cathedral, acted and was a member of the Durham Revue.
1999 - 2013: Theatre and Radio
She graduated from RADA in 1999 and on leaving did mostly theatre, particularly at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester until she got her break in 2002 playing Agatha in Stephen Fry’s film Bright Young Things. Also in 2002 Woolgar appeared as Helene in the widely known play of A Midsummer Night's Dream. She has subsequently gone on to work with Mike Leigh, Conor McPherson and Woody Allen. During 2006, Woolgar appeared in Mortortown as Helena. She played Agatha Christie in Doctor Who in 2008. She has recently worked in theatre at the National Theatre and the Old Vic. She won the Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting Actress in the West End in 2013 and the Sunday Times Culture Award for Stage Performance of the Year 2014. She is regularly heard on the radio and was nominated for Best Actress on the radio in 2013 for An American Rose in which she played Rosemary Kennedy. She played the title role in Mrs Dalloway for BBC Radio 4 and Edith Wharton in both The Jinx Element and Ethan Frome. She stars in the BBC Radio 4 comedy Dot. She has narrated several audiobooks and was nominated for Audio Book of the Year 2013.[2]
2013 - 2014: Television, Handbagged and Circle Mirror Transformation
in 2011 Woolgar appeared as Nancy Dakin in Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, the film was released on 20th April 2012 and 7th December 2012. During 2013, Woolgar appeared in the stage show of Circle Mirror Transformation as Theresa. Woolgar appeared as Lady Angela Hope in the TV Series The Spies of Warsaw, Woolgar starred alongside David Tennant. The series premiered on 9th November 2013 in the United Kingdom. The show was also internationally broadcast to countries listing as Poland, Germany and The United Sates of America. In 2014, Woolgar starred in the theatre production Handbagged as Margaret Thatcher nicknamed Mags for a second time with her time on the production's cast list beginning in 2013.
2015 - Present: War and Peace and Home Fires
Woolgar appeared in 2015 as the bookkeeper Mrs Alison Scotlock in Home Fires, Woolgar is a main character in the show. In the first series, Scotlock faces troubles when she is cornered and bullied into working for profiteers, alongside this work Woolgar's character must make a difficult decision on whether or not to keep her friend's secrets. The first series premiered in May 2015 and gained a successful ratings chart with an average of 6.2 million viewers; this earned the show a second series with Woolgar reprising her role as Alison Scotlock. In the second series, Scotlock must face the change of war while helping her friends come to terms with much worse changes. The premiere episode gained a successful rating of 5.2 million views with the second gaining 4.7 million views. in 2016, Woolgar also made a guest appearance in the widely acclaimed series of "War and Peace" as Catiche. Also during 2016, Woolgar is set to appear in Swallows and Amazons as Miss Crummock; alongside this film, Woolgar will also feature in Whiskey Galore in which Woolgar will appear as Dolly.
She married Dr Robert Harland in 2006. The couple have three children: Kit, born 2007, and Tristan and Gabriel, born 2009. She paints and speaks Italian.
Awards and award nominations
Stage Performance of the Year – The Sunday Times Culture Awards 2014.[3]
Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting Actress in the West End 2013.[4]
Woolgar has been nominated for several awards, including:
- Best Supporting Actress – What’s On Stage Awards 2013
- Best Actress – BBC Radio Drama Awards 2013
- Best Audio Book of the Year (for Life After Life) 2013
- Best Supporting Actress – British Independent Film Awards 2003
- Best Supporting Actress – Empire Film Awards 2003
- Best Supporting Actress – London Critics Circle 2003
- Best Newcomer – Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2003
- Best Supporting Actress – Manchester Evening News Awards 2000 and 2001
Filmography
| Year | Title | Director | Character | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Ellis | TV series | Episode: "Lord Edgware Dies" | |
| 2001 | The Way We Live Now | Lady Julia Monogram | TV serial | Episodes: 1 and 2 | |
| 2002 | AKA | Sarah | Feature film | ||
| 2003 | Bright Young Things | Stephen Fry | Hon. Agatha Runcible | Feature film | Nominated – British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer Nominated – Empire Award for Best Newcomer Nominated – London Film Critics Circle Award for British Supporting Actress of the Year |
| Eroica | Princess Lobkowitz | TV film | |||
| 2004 | He Knew He Was Right | Arabella French | TV mini-series | ||
| Stage Beauty | Richard Eyre | Lady Meresvale | Feature film | ||
| Vera Drake | Mike Leigh | Susan's Confidante | Feature film | ||
| 2005 | Wah-Wah | Richard E Grant | June Broughton | Feature film | |
| 2006 | Scoop | Woody Allen | Jane Cook | Feature film | |
| 2007 | Jekyll | Min | TV series | ||
| St. Trinian's | Miss Cleaver | Feature film | |||
| 2008 | Doctor Who | Agatha Christie | TV series | Episode: "The Unicorn and the Wasp" | |
| How to Lose Friends & Alienate People | Bob Weide | Post Modern Review Staff No. 3 | Feature film | ||
| 2009 | St. Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold | Miss Cleaver | Feature film | ||
| 2010 | BioShock 2[6] | Sofia Lamb | Video game | Voice only | |
| 2010 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Elizabeth Whittaker | TV series | Episode: "Hallowe'en Party | |
| 2010 | You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger | Woody Allen | Jane | Feature film | |
| 2011 | Case Histories | Amelia Land | TV series | Episode: 1.1 | |
| 2011 | Cheerful Weather for the Wedding | Donald Rice | Nancy Dakin | Feature film | |
| 2013 | Spies of Warsaw | Coky Giedroyc | Lady Angela Hope | TV Mini-series[7] | |
| 2014 | Mr.Turner | Mike Leigh | Lady Elizabeth Eastlake | Feature film | |
| 2015 | Home Fires | Alison Scotlock | TV Series | ||
| 2016 | War and Peace | Catiche | TV series | ||
| 2016 | Swallows and Amazons | Miss Crummock | Feature film | ||
| 2016 | Whiskey Galore | Gillies MacKinnon | Dolly | Feature film |
Theatre
- 2016: Valerie, Welcome Home Captain Fox, Donmar Warehouse, London
- 2014: Margaret Thatcher (Mags) in "Handbagged", Vaudeville Theatre, London
- 2013: Margaret Thatcher (Mags) in Handbagged by Moira Buffini, Tricycle Theatre, London[8]
- 2013: Theresa in Circle Mirror Transformation, Royal Court Local Theatre, Rose Lipman Building, Haggerston, London
- 2012: Thea Elvsted in Brian Friel's adaptation of Hedda Gabler, Old Vic, London
- 2011: Madeleine, The Veil by Conor McPherson, National Theatre, London, directed by Conor McPherson
- 2010: Charlotte, The Real Thing at the Old Vic, London
- 2009: Madge, Time and the Conways, National Theatre, London directed by Rupert Goold
- 2006: Helen, Motortown, Royal Court, London
- 2005: Charlotte Brontë, Brontë, Shared Experience Theatre Company
- 2004: Adela, Passage to India, Shared Experience Theatre Company
- 2002: Helena, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
- 2002: Emma, Way Upstream, Derby Playhouse
- 2001: Teresa, How the Other Half Loves, Watford Palace Theatre
- 2001: Eleanor, The Miser, Salisbury Playhouse
- 2000: Celia, As You Like It, Royal Exchange, Manchester
- 2000: Kitty Verdun, Charley's Aunt, Sheffield Crucible
- 2000: Lucy, Bring Me Sunshine, Royal Exchange, Manchester
- 1999: Varya, The Cherry Orchard, York Theatre Royal
- 1994: Nelly, Playboy of the Western World, Bristol Old Vic
See also
References
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- ↑ "Fenella Woolgar and Paul Chahidi win Clarence Derwent awards". Retrieved 17 April 2014.
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- ↑ http://www.2kgames.com/cultofrapture/podcasts
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External links
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- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1969 births
- Living people
- Audio book narrators
- Actresses from London
- Alumni of Durham University
- Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
- English film actresses
- English television actresses
- English people of Irish descent
- English radio actresses
- English stage actresses
- 21st-century English actresses
- 20th-century English actresses
