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Mika Simmons

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Mika Simmons
Born (1976-03-18) 18 March 1976 (age 48)
Greenwich, London, UK
EducationUniversity of Leeds
Alma materDrama Studio London
Occupations
  • Actress
  • filmaker
  • voice actress
  • writer
  • director
Years active1998 - present
RelativesKeir Simmons (brother)
WebsiteMikaSimmons.com

Mika Simmons is a British actress and film-maker who is known for playing Queen Anora in Dragon Age series,[1][2] the BAFTA winning Falling Apart,[3][4][5] and BBC Showtrial,[6] and the award-winning Rain Stops Play and My Week With Maisy.[7][8]

Simmons is also a campaigner for women's health. In 2013, she started a charity Lady Garden Foundation, which aims to raise awareness of gynaecological cancers and fund research into treatments.[9] She interviews experts and survivors about their experiences with women's health on her podcast The Happy Vagina.[10][11][12][13]

Early life

[edit]

Simmons was born in Greenwich, London. Her brother is journalist Keir Simmons.[14] Aged six, her family moved to Somerset where she attended Wellsway Comprehensive school and joined Bristol Youth Theatre. She then attended University of Leeds to study theatre, graduating with a BA in English Literature and Theatre Studies.[15] Following graduation, Simmons moved to London to train as an actress at the Drama Studio London.[16]

Career

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In 1998, Simmons was cast in the role of "Prudence" in ITV's Frenchman's Creek, a TV film based on the novel of the same name.[17][18] In 2002, she appeared in Channel 4's TV movie, Falling Apart, a period drama, about domestic violence in a middle-class relationship in Britain.[19][20][21][22] In 2011, Simmons played in the play, You Once Said Yes, which won both the Fringe First and Total Theatre awards.[23][failed verification][24]

Simmons has appeared in the ITV drama, Unforgotten.[25][26] In 2016, she appeared in Film London's short Balcony.[27][15] The film went on to win a Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.[11] In 2019 she played a part in Us Among the Stones, directed by D.R. (Dictynna) Hood.[28][29] In 2020, she appeared in the BBC drama Showtrial.[30] In 2023, Simmons played Jill in Disruption at Off West End Park Theatre alongside Nathaniel Curtis.[31][32][33][34]

In 2019, Simmons wrote and directed her first short film, Rain Stops Play, a comedy short about sex and the sexes, featuring Tara Fitzgerald and produced by Jackie Green and Roberta Moore.[35] It won the Silver Remi for Best Comedy Short at the Houston Film Festival.[12][13] The film has been shown at Underwire Festival[36] and Portobello Film Festival[37] and premiered at Fragments Festival, Genesis Cinema, London.[38]

In 2020, Simmons started The Happy Vagina platform "dedicated to opening up the conversation around women's experience and gynaecological health"[39][26] and her podcast, in which she discusses sex and intimacy with well-known women.[40][41][42][43]

Simmons' first book The Happy Vagina was published on 4 August 2022.[44]

Activism

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Simmons is co-founder and co-chair of the Ginsburg Women's Health Board, working with government towards closing the gender health gap.[45][46]

Simmons is one of the six women who in 2013 co-founded the Lady Garden Foundation, a charity which raises awareness and funding for gynaecological health.[47][48][49] The charity has been supported by Topshop,[50] Sarah, Duchess of York,[51] and Princess Beatrice.[52] It has raised over £1,000,000 since 2014 to assist research at the Royal Marsden Hospital into treatments including the use of Olaparib, led by Susana Banerjee who inspired Simmons to start the foundation.[53][54]

In 2017, Simmons was chosen as one of 40 women to front Lancôme's campaign with the strapline "My power is acting" and a brief profile.[55] In 2021, Simmons was chosen as one of five Harper's Bazaar visionaries for the year.[56]

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2000 Without Motive Rosie Episode: A Rattled Man
2003 Casualty Gemma Lynch Episode: Against Protocol
2005 Bad Girls DI Kitson S7. Episode: 1
2017 Unforgotten Chambers S2. Episode: 1 & 2
2021 Showtrial Amanda Wikinson S1. Episode: 1

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Frenchman's Creek Prudence
2000 Happy Birthday Shakespeare Sally
2002 Falling Apart Sally
2005 Ripley Under Ground Sandy
2010 Going Herbal June
2013 Dragon Age Inquisition: A World Unveiled Queen Anora
Magpie Olivia Ball Short
2014 Through the Hawthorn Sam Voice
2015 Westminster Girls Jess Short
Balcony Kate
2019 Us Among the Stones Rose
2020 All My Love Joanna Spector
2021 Birthday Boy Kris

Podcast series

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Year Title Role(s) Notes
2020 The Happy Vagina Herself [10]

Web series

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 Dragon Age: Redemption Queen Anora Episode: Tallis

Video games

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List of voice performances in video games
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Dragon Age: Origins Queen Anora / Isabela / Bella / Dilwyn / Ostagar Nurse / The Warden / Violent Human Female / Pearl Human Female Companion / Hooded Courier / Eamon Estate Maid Xbox 360
2010 Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening Queen Anora / Sorcha PlayStation 3
2014 Dragon Age: Inquisition Queen Anora / Charter / Seanna PlayStation 4 / Xbox 360
2015 Dragon Age: Inquisition – Trespasser Charter PlayStation 4
2024 Dragon Age: The Veilguard Queen Anora PlayStation 5

Writer

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Year Title Role Notes
2019 Rain Stops Play Herself Writer
2020 Breach Herself Writer

Director

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Year Title Role Notes
2019 Rain Stops Play Herself Director
2020 Breach Herself Director
2024 My Week With Maisy Herself Director

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated Work Result Ref.
2019 WorldFest Houston Best Comedy Short Film Rain Stops Play Won [35][13][11]
2019 Underwire Film Festival, UK Editing Award Rain Stops Play Nominated
2019 Milwaukee Short Film Festival Festival Prize Rain Stops Play Nominated
2019 That Film Festival Best of Fest Rain Stops Play Nominated
2019 Portobello Film and Video Festival Golden Trellick Award Rain Stops Play Nominated
2020 Carmarthen Bay Film Festival, UK Best Short Comedy Rain Stops Play Nominated
2020 Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival Jury Prize Rain Stops Play Nominated
2021 Portland Film Festival Best International Director Breach Won [57]
2024 Cleveland International Film Festival Audience Choice Award My Week With Maisy Won [58]
2024 Cleveland International Film Festival Best Women's Short Film My Week With Maisy Won [58]
2024 Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia Diversity Award My Week With Maisy Nominated [59]
2024 Crystal Palace International Film Festival Best Short Film My Week With Maisy Nominated
2024 Brighton Rocks International Film Festival Best Short Film - Drama My Week With Maisy Nominated
2024 Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia Best Short Film My Week With Maisy Won [59]
2024 Women Over 50 Film Festival Best Drama - Commended My Week With Maisy Nominated
2024 Sunderland Shorts Film Festival Honourable Mention My Week With Maisy Won [60]

References

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  1. ^ "10. Queen Anora (Dragon Age) a review of Queen Anora Theirin". www.listal.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Dragon Age: Origins – Non-Playable Characters - Fereldan Nobles / Characters - TV Tropes". www.tvtropes.org. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Falling Apart - Where to Watch and Stream Online – Entertainment.ie". www.entertainment.ie.
  4. ^ "Falling Apart ‹ Century Films". www.centuryfilmsltd.com.
  5. ^ "Television Craft - New Director - Fiction in 2003". www.bafta.org.
  6. ^ "2022 Television Supporting Actress". www.bafta.org.
  7. ^ "Immy Waterhouse - Rain Stops Play short film by Mika Simmons". Tatler. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Joanna Lumley Stars in Chemotherapy Drama 'My Week With Maisy'". www.variety.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Mika Simmons". www.huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  10. ^ a b "The Best Podcasts For Love, Dating, Sex And Relationships". Grazia. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "Prizes & Honours 2016: Youth Jury". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
    "Balcony" (PDF). International Filmfestspiele Berlin. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Remi winners" (PDF). FilmFestivals.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  13. ^ a b c "Rain Stops Play". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Princess Beatrice Gets Behind Fight Against Ovarian Cancer". NBC News. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Mika Simmons: "Lights, Camera, Orgasm"". Vanity Fair. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Rain Stops Play". FilmFreeway. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Mika Simmons". BFI. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Entertainment Dramatic look for ITV's Christmas offering". BBC. 24 November 1998.
  19. ^ "Mika Simmons". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Period dramas win Baftas". BBC News. 12 May 2003. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  21. ^ "BAFTA Awards - Television Craft: New Director - Fiction in 2003". Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  22. ^ "BAFTA Awards - Television Craft: New Writer in 2003". Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  23. ^ Girivan, Andrew (19 August 2011). "Nominees Announced for 2011 Total Theatre Awards". Whats on Stage.
  24. ^ "You Once Said Yes". British Council. Archived from the original on 2 November 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  25. ^ "Man was stabbed to death in Kensington "after refusing to give money to youths"". Joe. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  26. ^ a b Magistretti, Bérénice. ""Lights, Camera, Orgasm": An Interview with Mika Simmons". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  27. ^ "British Council Film: Balcony". transform.britishcouncil.org.br. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  28. ^ "London Film Festival - Us Among The Stones". The Reviews Hub. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  29. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (8 December 2020). "Us Among the Stones review – thoughtful Laurence Fox stars in heartfelt indie drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  30. ^ "BBC Blogs - BBC Writersroom - Showtrial". 27 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  31. ^ "Full cast announced for world premiere of Disruption at Park Theatre". www.theatre-news.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  32. ^ "Full Cast Announced for Disruption at Park Theatre". www.theatreweekly.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  33. ^ "Review: Disruption, at Park Theatre". www.camdennewjournal.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  34. ^ "Disruption Reviews". www.westendtheatre.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  35. ^ a b Freeman, Hadley (18 April 2019). "Tara Fitzgerald: 'I didn't think I was very talented. I didn't have that fight'". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  36. ^ "Hysterical - 2019". Underwire Festival. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  37. ^ "2019 Report". Portobello Film Festival. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  38. ^ "Discover new diverse filmmaking talent at Fragments Festival". Pact. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  39. ^ "Home page". The Happy Vagina. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  40. ^ Simmons, Mika (1 November 2020). "The lesson I learnt from my mum's death could save lives". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  41. ^ Simmons, Mika (3 March 2020). "8 lessons I've learned from interviewing influential women about sex". Red Online. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  42. ^ Anderson, Alana (19 August 2020). "Stars have joined forces to celebrate Gynaecological positivity and self-love". OK! Magazine. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  43. ^ "Gynaecological Awareness Month: How To Have A Happy Vagina". Grazia. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  44. ^ Chappet, Marie-Claire (3 August 2022). "Mika Simmons on the importance of Women's Health". Harpers Bazaar. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  45. ^ "Women's health: Female patients to be asked about 'gender health gap'". BBC News. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  46. ^ "Board". Ginsburg Women's Health Board. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  47. ^ "Founders". Lady Garden Foundation. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  48. ^ Barcelona, El Periódico / (30 September 2017). "Naomi Campbell posa contra el cáncer ginecológico". elperiodico (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  49. ^ "Mika Simmons". Lady Garden Foundation. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  50. ^ "We love Topshop's new Lady Garden campaign fronted by Cara Delevingne | Living North". www.livingnorth.com. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  51. ^ "Sarah Ferguson turns heads in stunning sheer black gown". HELLO!. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  52. ^ "Princess Beatrice Gets Behind Fight Against Ovarian Cancer". MSNBC News. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2021. NBC News' Keir Simmons sits down with Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter, Beatrice and his sister, Mika Simmons to discuss their effort to educate women about the cancer dubbed "the silent killer".
  53. ^ "A 'new era' for women with ovarian cancer". The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  54. ^ Bystander. "6th Annual Lady Garden Foundation lunch at Fortnum and Mason". Tatler. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  55. ^ "Find Your Shade. Find Your Power". www.lancome.co.uk. Lancôme UK. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  56. ^ Lee, Helena (February 2021). "THE CAMPAIGNERS - Mika Simmons & Nimco Ali". Harper's Bazaar. pp. 120–121. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  57. ^ "Joanna Lumley Stars in Chemotherapy Drama 'My Week With Maisy'". www.variety.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  58. ^ a b "Awards & Winners". Cleveland International Film. 2 September 2024.
  59. ^ a b "HollyShorts Film Festival to Launch London Edition (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 7 August 2024.
  60. ^ "'Pay what you can' festival returns with 150 films". BBC News. 7 May 2024.
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