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Joanna Scanlan

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Joanna Scanlan
Scanlan in 2019
Born
Joanna Marion Scanlan

(1961-10-27) 27 October 1961 (age 63)
Alma materQueens' College, Cambridge
Occupations
  • Actress
  • writer
Years active1997–present

Joanna Marion Scanlan (born 27 October 1961) is a British actress and writer. On television, she is known for her roles in The Thick of It (2005–2012),[1] Big School (2013–2014), Puppy Love (2014), No Offence (2015–2018), Requiem (2018), and The Larkins (2021). She was nominated for three BAFTA TV Awards for Getting On (2009–2012), including two for Best Writing.

Scanlan's film appearances include Girl With a Pearl Earring (2003), Notes on a Scandal (2006), The Invisible Woman (2013), and Bridget Jones's Baby (2016).[2] Her performance in the film After Love (2020) won her the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, making her the first performer since 2003 to win such award without being nominated for the corresponding Oscar.[a]

Early life

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Scanlan was born on 27 October 1961 in West Kirby, then in Cheshire, the daughter of hoteliers Michael and Patricia Scanlan.[3] Although born in England, her family comes from North Wales.[4] She moved to North Wales with her parents at the age of three, where she grew up.[5]

She attended Brigidine Convent and Howell's School in Denbigh, as well as New Hall School in Chelmsford, Essex.[6]

She studied history at Queens' College, Cambridge and joined the Cambridge Footlights, where she became friends with Tilda Swinton.[5]

Career

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After graduation, Scanlan joined the academic staff of Leicester Polytechnic lecturing in drama for five years, before she undertook a similar role at the Arts Council of Great Britain for three years.[7] After the Arts Council of Great Britain was split in 1994, at age 34 Scanlan decided to try becoming a professional actor, quickly gaining the role as a nurse in ITV1's Peak Practice. This formed somewhat of a theme in her early career, playing a district nurse called Gillian in the last ever episode of One Foot in the Grave, then playing a midwife in The Other Boleyn Girl with Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, before playing a nurse again alongside Ade Edmondson's doctor in ill-fated Doctors and Nurses, and latterly Dr Diana Dibbs in Doc Martin with Martin Clunes.[8]

Scanlan is known for her portrayal of Terri Coverley, the notoriously useless senior press officer for the Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship in the British comedy television series The Thick of It from 2005 to 2012.

Among her successes is Scanlan's dark satirical NHS drama Getting On, which she starred and co-wrote with Jo Brand and Vicki Pepperdine. The series earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Female Performance in a Comedy and a BAFTA Television Craft nomination for screenwriting in both 2011 and 2013.[9] They were also nominated for Best Comedy Screenwriting at the Royal Television Awards in 2010[10] and Best Comedy at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards in 2011. The comedy series was adapted for an American audience with HBO, with Scanlan on board as an executive producer to closely work on script development. Scanlan was a guest star in the American version, reprising her role as Denise Flixter. The Emmy-nominated show ran for three seasons between 2013 and 2015.

Scanlan and Vicki Pepperdine teamed up again to write and star in their BBC Four comedy series Puppy Love, which follows two women at their dog training classes on the Wirral. Under their production company George and George Co., they are currently adapting Puppy Love with HBO for America and a new sitcom This Land is Ours[11] is in development for US Network IFC.

Scanlan plays lead character DI Inspector 'Viv Deering' in Paul Abbott's BAFTA nominated and RTS award-winning primetime drama, No Offence.

Scanlan appeared as Cathy in the 2016 romantic comedy Bridget Jones's Baby.[12]

Other film credits include Charles Dickens' wife in The Invisible Woman and roles in Get Santa, Testament of Youth, In the Loop, The Bad Education Movie, The Other Boleyn Girl, Stardust, Notes on a Scandal, Girl With A Pearl Earring, Pin Cushion, After Love and Kinky Boots.

Additional television credits include Death Comes To Pemberley, Fungus the Bogeyman, Mapp & Lucia, Heading Out, Stella, Doc Martin, One Foot in the Grave and Spaced.

On stage, Scanlan has worked with Thea Sharrock in her production of Cloud 9 at the Almeida Theatre and Top Girls, with Rufus Norris in Vernon God Little at the Young Vic, and featured in Polly Teale's Madame Bovery.

Scanlan appeared in the first two episodes of McDonald & Dodds in 2020. In 2021, Scanlon played Ma opposite Bradley Walsh’s Pop in The Larkins.

In March 2022, she received the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the film After Love (2020).[13] Scanlan gave thanks in Welsh, "Diolch yn fawr iawn as we say in my country! BAFTA thank you so much...some stories have surprising endings don't they," and also thanked the film’s writer and director and the crew.[14]

Personal life

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Scanlan and her husband Neil live in South Croydon, London.[15][16]

Scanlan learned Welsh during S4C's Iaith ar Daith series.[17][18]

On the 7 June 2023, Joanna became Patron of The David Lean Cinema, a community cinema based in the Clocktower of Croydon Town Hall.[19]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2000 The Announcement Debbie
2003 Girl with a Pearl Earring Tanneke
2005 Butterflies Jane Short film
A Little Trip to Heaven Josie
Kinky Boots Trish
2006 Notes on a Scandal Sue Hodge
2007 The Moon and the Stars Daisy Burke
Buying Porn Mrs. Jack Short film
Grow Your Own Barbara
My Mother Nurse Short film
Stardust Mormo
2008 The Other Boleyn Girl Mary's Midwife
2009 In the Loop Roz
The Calling Sister Kevin
House of Boys Nurse Suzanne
2011 Hot Hot Hot Mary-Ann
2012 Dylan's Room Penny Short film
2013 Poe Friend (voice)
The Invisible Woman Catherine Dickens
2014 Get Santa Ruth
Testament of Youth Aunt Belle
2015 The Bad Education Movie Susan Poulter
2016 The Complete Walk: Macbeth Porter Short film
Bridget Jones's Baby Cathy, Make-up lady
2017 How to Talk to Girls at Parties Marion, Enn's Mum
Brexit Shorts: Burn Carol Short film
Tulip Fever Mrs. Overvalt
Pin Cushion Lyn
2018 Wild Honey Pie! Janet, Ollie's mother
2019 How to Build a Girl Mrs. Belling
2020 After Love Mary
2021 Don vs Lightning Maggie Short film
Ropey Heather Short film
2022 This is Christmas Linda [20]
2023 Wicked Little Letters Ann
2024 The Rising of the Sap Elizabeth Short film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 Jane Eyre Bessie Television film
Peak Practice Midwife Episode: "Eye of the Storm"
1998 Vanity Fair Lady Crawley Mini-series, 2 episodes: #1.1 and #1.2
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Audrey Barker 2 episodes: "Road Rage: Parts One & Two"
A Rather English Marriage Sister Television film
Picking Up the Pieces Gina Episode: #1.6
Casualty Wendy Prescott Episode: "Public Service"
1999 Murder Most Horrid Iris Wood-Newton Episode: "Frozen"
Coming Soon Claudia Television film
The Morwenna Banks Show Episode: "The Morwenna Banks Show Sci-Fi Special"
The Bill Madelaine Tudor Episode: "Trade Off"
How Do You Want Me? Parent Governor / Customer No.2 2 episodes: "I'm Not an Alcoholic" and "The Bad Builders"
2000 Cry Wolf Julie Episode: #1.5
Human Remains Nana Mini-series, Episode: "An English Squeak"
One Foot in the Grave Gillian Episode: "Things Aren't Simple Any More"
EastEnders Cellmate 2 episodes: #1.2040 and #1.2041
2001 My Family Dental Assistant Episode: "'Tis Pity She's a Whore"
Spaced Tina Episode: "Mettle"
Fun at the Funeral Parlour Janet / Joan Jones Episode: "The Heron Incident"
Comedy Lab Joy / Pity Episode: "Daydream Believers: Brand New Beamer"
2003 Murder in Mind Diana Spearman Episode: "Echoes"
Terri McIntyre Moira Bell Episode: "Model"
The Deal Sue Nye Television film
2004 Doctors and Nurses Stumpy Yates 4 episodes
Little Britain Anya Episode: #2.2
Doc Martin Toni Episode: "Gentlemen Prefer"
2005–2012 The Thick of It Terri Coverley Main role, 20 episodes
2007 Maxwell Jennings Television film
Jekyll Nurse Mini-series, Episode: "Hyde"
2009 Runaway Helpline Operator Mini-series, Episode: #1.3
Home Time Mrs. Pitman Episode: #1.1
2009–2012 Getting On Sister Den Flixster 15 episodes. Also written by Scanlan
2010 Trinny & Susannah: From Boom to Bust Potential Agent Television film
2011 Casualty Mary Griffin Episode: "When the Bough Breaks..."
Comedy Showcase Mrs. Snedden Episode: "Chickens"
Doc Martin Dr. Diana Dibbs Episode: "Preserve the Romance"
2012 Stella Nancy 5 episodes
2013 Heading Out Toria 6 episodes
Psychobitches Barbara Woodhouse Mini-series, Episode: "Playhouse Presents: Psychobitches Part Three"
Coming Up Denise's Mum Episode: "Burger Van Champion"
Death Comes to Pemberley Mrs. Reynolds Mini-series, 3 episodes
2013–2014 Big School Mrs. Janine Klebb 10 episodes
2014 Puppy Love Nana V 6 episodes. Also written by Scanlan
Midsomer Murders Clara Trout Episode: "The Killings of Copenhagen"
Rev. Jill Mallory 2 episodes: #3.1 and #3.5
Mapp & Lucia Ursula 'Ursy' Pillson Episode: #1.2
2015 Getting On Sister Den Flixster Guest appearance; Episode: "Am I Still Me?"
Fungus the Bogeyman Mildrew Mini-series, 3 episodes
2015–2018 No Offence DI Vivienne Deering Main role, 21 episodes
2016 Hooten & the Lady Penny McQuinn Episode: "Bhutan"
2017 Requiem Janice Gray Main role. Mini-series, 6 episodes
Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams Su Episode: "Crazy Diamond"
2018 Sally4Ever Stella Episode: #1.4
The Woman in White Mrs. Vesey Mini-series, 3 episodes
I'll Get This Herself Dinner guest; 1 episode
2018–2019 Hold the Sunset Sandra 9 episodes
2019 The Accident Angela Griffiths 4 episodes
2020 Dracula Mother Superior Mini-series, Episode: "The Rules of the Beast"
McDonald & Dodds Kelly Mulcreevy Episode: "A Wilderness of Mirrors"
2021–2022 The Larkins Ma Larkin 13 episodes
2022 Y Golau (The Light in the Hall) Sharon 6 episodes
Gentleman Jack Isabella 'Tib' Norcliffe 2 episodes
Avenue 5 Johanna Episode: "Is It a Good Dot?"
2023 Tabby McTat Pat (voice) Television film[21]
Black Ops Chief Inspector Garner Episode: #1.1
Boat Story Pat Tooh / Madame Béthune 6 episodes
2024 Slow Horses Moira Tregorian Series 4
A Very Royal Scandal Amanda Thirsk Mini-series. 3 episodes[22]
2025 Riot Women Beth Upcoming drama[23]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2010 Writers' Guild of Great Britain Best Television Comedy Getting On Won
Royal Television Society Awards Writer – Comedy Nominated
British Academy Television Awards Best Female Comedy Performance Nominated
2011 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards Writer's Award Nominated
Royal Television Society Awards Writer – Comedy Won
British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer Nominated
2013 Writers' Guild of Great Britain Best Television Comedy Won
Royal Television Society Awards Writer – Comedy Nominated
British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writer: Comedy Nominated
2018 Evening Standard British Film Awards Best Actress Pin Cushion Nominated
2020 Thessaloniki International Film Festival Best Actress After Love Won
2021 Dublin International Film Festival Best Actress Won
British Independent Film Awards Best Performance by an Actress Won
2022 London Film Critics Circle Actress of the Year Nominated
British/Irish Actress of the Year Nominated
British Academy Film Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Won


Notes

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  1. ^ The last person to do so was Scarlett Johansson, who won at the 57th BAFTA Awards for her performance in Lost in Translation (2003).

References

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  1. ^ BBC Comedy Blog: The Thick of It's Joanna Scanlan on playing Terri
  2. ^ FT.com: Joanna Scanlan, one of Britain's great comic actors
  3. ^ Saner, Emine (21 February 2022). "'All that Hollywood glamour doesn't feel like me at all': Joanna Scanlan on self-doubt, sexism and being the red-hot favourite at the Baftas". The Guardian.
  4. ^ "Pobol fel Joanna Scanlan "ydi dyfodol yr iaith"". Lingo360 (in Welsh). 12 October 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b Saner, Emine (27 January 2014). "Joanna Scanlan: 'Depression was like turning around a liner across the ocean'". theguardian.com. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Joanna Scanlan: Who is After Love BAFTA winner? What films has Joanna Scanlan been in?".
  7. ^ Veronica Lee (10 February 2013). "Joanna Scanlan: From bumbling Whitehall press officer in The Thick of It to lifestyle coach in Heading Out". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  8. ^ "BBC - Press Office - The Thick Of It Joanna Scanlan biography". www.bbc.co.uk.
  9. ^ "Television Awards Winners in 2010". BAFTA. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  10. ^ "RTS Programme Awards 2009". Royal Television Society. Archived from the original on 22 June 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  11. ^ "Getting On stars create new American sitcom This Land is Ours". British Comedy Guide. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  12. ^ Lawrence, Ben (28 December 2016). "From the Thick of It to Bridget Jones's Baby: Joanna Scanlan on why it's never too late to become an actor". The Telegraph.
  13. ^ "Baftas 2022: The Power of the Dog wins best picture and director". The Guardian. 13 March 2022.
  14. ^ Colderick, Stephanie (13 March 2022). "Joanna Scanlan thanks BAFTA in Welsh as she accepts award for leading actress". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  15. ^ Mance, Henry (25 November 2015). "interview: Joanna Scanlan, one of Britain's great comic actors". Financial Times. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  16. ^ "Joanna Scanlan: Everything you need to know about The Light in the Hall star". HELLO!. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  17. ^ Colderick, Stephanie (13 March 2022). "Joanna Scanlan thanks BAFTA in Welsh as she accepts award for leading actress". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  18. ^ Peregrine, Chris (1 March 2021). "A new group of celebrities are learning Welsh for popular TV series". WalesOnline. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  19. ^ "BAFTA winner Joanna Scanlon 'thrilled' to become patron of independent cinema". 12 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Kaya Scodelario and Alfred Enoch to star in Sky rom-com This Christmas". Radio Times.
  21. ^ "BBC announces Tabby McTat, a star-studded animation based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  22. ^ Otterson, Joe (20 November 2023). "Michael Sheen, Ruth Wilson to Star in 'A Very Royal Scandal' Amazon Series Based on Prince Andrew Interview With Emily Maitlis". Variety. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Riot Women - cast announced for Sally Wainwright's new drama". bbc.com/mediacentre. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
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