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Victoria Hamilton

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Victoria Hamilton
Born
Victoria Sharp

(1971-04-05) 5 April 1971 (age 53)
Wimbledon, London, England
EducationLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
SpouseMark Bazeley
Children2
AwardsEvening Standard Theatre Award (2004)
Critics' Circle Theatre Award (2000, 2004, 2017)

Victoria Hamilton (born 5 April 1971) is an English actress.

After training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Hamilton began her career in classical theatre, appearing in productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. In 2002, she appeared in the London stage play A Day in the Death of Joe Egg alongside Clive Owen and later Eddie Izzard. She made her Broadway debut in 2003 when the production moved to New York, where she earned a Tony Award nomination.

She won the Critics' Circle Theatre Award and Evening Standard Theatre Award for her performance in the play Suddenly, Last Summer, held in 2004 at the Lyceum Theatre.

Hamilton has often worked in the costume drama genre. During the 1990s, she had supporting roles in three Jane Austen adaptations: the 1995 serial Pride and Prejudice, the 1995 film Persuasion, and the 1999 film Mansfield Park.

Hamilton won the role of Queen Victoria in the 2001 television production, Victoria & Albert, portraying the monarch in her early years. From 2008 to 2011, Hamilton was a cast member in the BBC1 series Lark Rise to Candleford. In 2016–17, she portrayed Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in the Netflix historical drama series The Crown.

Early life and education

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Hamilton was born on 5 April 1971 in Wimbledon, London to a non-theatrical family.[1][2] She attended St Hilary's School, a public school in Surrey, from 1974 to 1982, then Prior's Field School, Godalming, until 1987.[3]

She initially intended to read English at Bristol University, before opting to train at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[4][2]

Career

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She began her acting career in classical theatre, spending the first five years appearing in productions by companies such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.[5] She stayed with the Royal Shakespeare Company for eighteen months.[6] She commented in 2001 that it was "very unfashionable" to begin a career in classical theatre, but she had sought to emulate the careers of actors like Judi Dench and Ian Holm who "started in rep and slowly built themselves into the position where they could juggle theatre and film".[2]

Stage

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In 1995, Hamilton appeared in Ibsen's The Master Builder directed by Peter Hall, starring Alan Bates and Gemma Jones and performed at the Haymarket Theatre in the West End of London. The Independent described Hamilton as a "formidable talent" despite being a newcomer, and noted that she had previously appeared in two performances held at the Orange Tree Theatre in London, one of them being an adaptation of a play by James Saunders.[7] The Master Builder earned Hamilton the London Critics Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 2000 she received the Critics' Circle Theatre Award for her performance in As You Like It, Crucible Theatre.[1]

She made her Broadway debut in the 2003 play A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, co-starring alongside the comedian Eddie Izzard.[8] She had starred with Clive Owen, and later Izzard, in a successful London production of the play the previous year, in which she and Izzard portray the parents of a girl with severe brain damage who attempt to save their marriage through jokes and black comedy.[5][9][2] For her performance in the Broadway adaptation, Hamilton received a nomination for Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.[10]

The following year she appeared in Suddenly, Last Summer (2004), an adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play, performed at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield.[11] For her performance, she was honoured as Best Actress by winning the Critics' Circle Theatre Award and Evening Standard Theatre Award.[12][13] Her success led some of the media to brand her as "the next Judi Dench".[2][14]

Hamilton took a three-year break from the stage before returning as Viola in the Shakespearean comedy Twelfth Night (2008), staged at Wyndham's Theatre in the West End of London.[14][15]

Television and film

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Hamilton is known for working in the costume drama genre.[16][17] In 2001, she joked that she had been in corsets for the preceding seven years.[18]

During the 1990s, she had supporting roles in three adaptations of Jane Austen's novels. These include the 1995 serial Pride and Prejudice as Mrs Forster,[19] the 1995 film Persuasion as Henrietta Musgrove,[20] and the 1999 film Mansfield Park as Maria Bertram.[21]

She won the role of Queen Victoria in the 2001 BBC TV production Victoria & Albert, despite facing strong competition and being relatively unknown at the time. She auditioned with the director John Erman in a London hotel suite, and after reading lines from several more scenes at his prompting, was offered the part immediately.[22] Noting that the monarch is typically depicted as stern and stout, Hamilton desired to show a younger version who "loved parties and balls and theatre and opera and new dresses" after a childhood spent in a "forbidding environment".[23]

In 2005, she appeared in the three-part miniseries To the Ends of the Earth alongside Benedict Cumberbatch and Jared Harris. The production, an adaptation of the novels of the same name by William Golding, featured various self-absorbed characters who are forced to remain in close quarters while sailing on a ship to Australia during the Napoleonic Wars.[24] Hamilton described the production as having "some of the most beautiful scripts I've seen", and called her character Miss Granham "one of the strongest people on the boat".[6]

From 2008 to 2011, she appeared in the BBC1 series Lark Rise to Candleford as Ruby Pratt, one of two spinster sisters who run a high fashion shop in a small 19th-century town.[25] The Guardian deemed Ruby's rivalry with her sister Pearl (played by Matilda Ziegler) as a highlight of the series, believing both actresses portrayed their characters with "infectious relish".[26] In 2013, Hamilton played Peggy in the BBC drama series What Remains.[27]

In 2015, she appeared in the BBC1 drama, Doctor Foster, playing Anna Baker, a woman who lived across the road from the central characters, Gemma and Simon Foster. She reprised her role in the second series of the drama in 2017. By the final episode, her character had moved away.[citation needed]

In 2016 and 2017, she appeared in the first two seasons of the Netflix series The Crown as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The drama series, which is scheduled to span six seasons, depicts the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh from 1947 to the present.[28]

Since 2020, she has starred in the Sky drama Cobra as Anna Marshall, the Downing Street Chief of Staff.[29]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes Ref
1995 Persuasion Henrietta Musgrove
1996 The Merchant of Venice Nerissa TV film [30]
1999 Mansfield Park Maria Bertram [30]
2002 A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Sheila TV film [30]
Before You Go Catherine [30]
Goodbye, Mr. Chips Kathie TV film [30]
2003 In Search of the Brontës Charlotte Brontë TV film [1]
2005 A Very Social Secretary Kimberly Quinn TV film [1]
2006 Scoop Jan [30]
Wide Sargasso Sea Aunt Cora TV film [30]
2008 French Film Cheryl [30]
2010 Toast Mum TV film [30]
2016 The Circuit Helene TV film [31]
Our Ex-Wife Hillary TV film
2019 The Vanishing Princess Narrator Short film
2020 Albion Audrey Walters TV film
2021 The Trick Ruth Jones TV film

Television

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Year Film Role Notes
1995 Screen Two Henrietta Musgrove Episode: "Persuasion" [30]
Pride and Prejudice Mrs. Forster Miniseries; 3 episodes [30]
1995–1996 Cone Zone Zandra Regular role; 10 episodes [1]
1998 Performance Cordelia Episode: "King Lear" [30]
2000 Midsomer Murders Hilary Inkpen Episode: "Garden of Death" [1]
2001 Victoria & Albert Queen Victoria Miniseries; 2 episodes [30]
The Savages Jessica Savage Regular role; 6 episodes [1]
2001–2002 Babyfather Lucy Fry Recurring role; 5 episodes [30]
2005 Twisted Tales Jessie Vasquez Episode: "The Magister" [1]
To the Ends of the Earth Miss Granham Miniseries; 3 episodes [1]
Jericho Miss Greenaway Episode: "To Murder and Create" [1]
2006 The Shell Seekers Nancy Miniseries; 2 episodes [1]
2007 Trial & Retribution Suzy MacDonald Episode: "Curriculum Vitae" [30]
The Time of Your Life Esther Regular role; 6 episodes [30]
2008–2011 Lark Rise to Candleford Ruby Pratt Regular role; 31 episodes [30]
2013 What Remains Peggy Scott Miniseries; 4 episodes [30]
2014 The Game Sarah Montag Regular role; 6 episodes [30]
2015 Call the Midwife Iris Willens Episode: "Christmas Special 2015" [30]
2015–2017 Doctor Foster Anna Baker Regular role; 8 episodes [32]
2016–2017 The Crown Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Main role (Seasons 1–2)
17 episodes 		[28]
2019 Urban Myths Joan Collins / Alexis Episode: "The Trial of Joan Collins"
Deep State Senator Meaghan Sullivan Regular role; 8 episodes
2020 Life Belle Stone Regular role; 6 episodes [33]
2020–Present COBRA Anna Marshall Regular role; 12 episodes [33]
2024 McDonald & Dodds Dora Lang Guest Role

Selected theatre credits

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Year Title Role Venue
2003 Sweet Panic Clare Duke of York's Theatre, London
2004 Suddenly Last Summer Catharine Holly UK Tour
2005 Once in a Lifetime May Daniels Olivier Theatre, London
2008 Twelfth Night Viola Wyndham's Theatre, London
2012 Love, Love, Love Sandra Royal Court Theatre, London
2017 Albion Audrey Walters Almeida Theatre, London
2020 Albion Audrey Walters Almeida Theatre, London

Awards and nominations

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Television

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Year Award Category Work Result
2016 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Crown Nominated
2017 Nominated

Theatre

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2000 Critics’ Circle Theatre Award Best Actress As You Like It Won [34]
2002 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Nominated [35]
2003 Tony Award Best Actress in a Play Nominated [36]
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated [37]
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Nominated [38]
Theatre World Award Honoree [39]
2004 Evening Standard Theatre Award Best Actress Suddenly Last Summer Won [40]
Critics’ Circle Theatre Award Best Actress Won [41]
2005 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress Nominated [42]
2017 Evening Standard Theatre Award Best Actress Albion Nominated [43]
Critics’ Circle Theatre Award Best Actress Won [44]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Victoria Hamilton profile at". Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. 1 January 2007. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Spencer, Charles (4 December 2001). "Victoria's values". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  3. ^ "St Hilary's Association". St Hilary's School. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Their awards". London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b Kuchwara, Michael (30 May 2003). "Izzard and Hamilton: A British dynamic duo enchant Broadway". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  6. ^ a b "To the Ends of the Earth: Interviews with the Cast". PBS. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  7. ^ Taylor, Paul (15 October 1995). "Reviews: Theatre The Master Builder Haymarket Theatre Royal, London". The Independent. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  8. ^ Isherwood, Charles (4 April 2003). "Putting it together: Matt Wolf charts the road traveled to get Austen actors to the table". Daily Variety. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Comedian Izzard to debut on Broadway". Associated Press. 5 November 2002. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  10. ^ Wolf, Matt (1 January 2003). "Putting it together: Matt Wolf charts the road traveled to get Austen actors to the table". Persuasions: The Jane Austen Journal. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  11. ^ Wolf, Matt (3 June 2004). "Suddenly Last Summer". Daily Variety. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Mel Brooks's the Producers scoops top theatre award". Liverpool Daily Post. 2 February 2005. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  13. ^ Singh, Anita (13 December 2004). "Judi Dench honoured for 'doing job I adore'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  14. ^ a b Amer, Matthew (3 December 2008). "Victoria Hamilton". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  15. ^ Billing, Christian M. (22 September 2009). "Twelfth Night". Shakespeare Bulletin. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  16. ^ "What Remains". BBC. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  17. ^ Adamson, Judy (27 January 2008). "To The Ends Of The Earth". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  18. ^ Wolf, Matt (16 October 2001). "One Victoria plays another in movie". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Pride and Prejudice". BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  20. ^ Hinson, Hal (20 October 1995). "Persuasion: Austen found". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  21. ^ Ivry, Bob (17 November 1999). "Taking a clue from Austen". The Record. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  22. ^ Convey, Olivia (18 August 2001). "Victoria picked for plum role as queen". The News Letter. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  23. ^ Wolf, Matt (23 October 2001). "Victoria Hamilton, queen share more than a name". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  24. ^ Parrill 2009, p. 298.
  25. ^ "Lark Rise To Candleford" (Press release). BBC. 17 December 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  26. ^ Groskop, Viv (11 February 2011). "Lark Rise to Candleford: The end is nigh". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  27. ^ Frost, Caroline (9 January 2013). "'What Remains' Episode 2 Review – David Threlfall Stars In Intriguing BBC Murder Mystery". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  28. ^ a b Vincent, Alice; Singh, Anita (11 April 2016). "The Crown: Everything you need to know about Netflix's £100 million series about the Queen's reign". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  29. ^ "COBRA season 2 Cyberwar release date: Cast, plot and latest news for the Sky drama". Radio Times.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Victoria Hamilton". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  31. ^ "Channel 4 announces new comedy pilot The Circuit". Channel 4. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  32. ^ "Doctor Foster Characters". BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  33. ^ a b "Cobra the new TV Series | Sky.com". Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  34. ^ "2000 Results | Critics' Circle Theatre Awards". 28 November 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Olivier Winners 2002". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  36. ^ "The Tony Award Nominations". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  37. ^ "The Drama League Awards: 2003". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  38. ^ Gans, Andrew (5 May 2003). "Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; Hairspray Leads the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  39. ^ "Theatre World Awards - Theatre World Awards". www.theatreworldawards.org. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  40. ^ "Evening Standard Theatre Award Winners 2004". London Theatre Guide. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  41. ^ "2004 Results | Critics' Circle Theatre Awards". 28 November 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  42. ^ "Olivier Winners 2005". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  43. ^ Thompson, Jessie (4 December 2017). "These are the winners of the 2017 Evening Standard Theatre Awards". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  44. ^ "2017 Results | Critics' Circle Theatre Awards". 31 January 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2020.

Works cited

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