Dawn Hope | |
|---|---|
 Hope at the2023 British Soap Awards | |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Television | Waiting for God Hollyoaks |
Dawn Hope is a British actress. She began her career with roles in movies such asMelody (1971) andBlack Joy (1977). From 1983 to 1985, she played Ronnette in the UK stage production ofLittle Shop of Horrors. She played the role of Jenny in all five series of theBritish sitcomWaiting for God, which aired from 1990 to 1994. She received praise for her performance in the 2006 production ofPorgy and Bess and for her singing voice in the 2007 theatre production ofRough Crossings. From 2012 to 2013, Hope played the recurring role ofAlison Soames in the soap operaCoronation Street. From 2017 to 2018, she played Stella Deems in theRoyal National Theatre's production ofFollies and she later playedBetty Currie inDevil with the Blue Dress at theBunker in 2018 and General Cartwright inGuys and Dolls at theCrucible Theatre from 2019 to 2020. Since 2021, she has portrayedPearl Anderson in theChannel 4 soap operaHollyoaks. She has also appeared in various other movies and television series, includingThe Fosters,Play for Today,Midnight Breaks,Hale and Pace,I Live with Models,Casualty,Pointless Celebrities andThe Sorcerer's Apprentice.
Dawn Hope portrayed Maureen in the 1971children'sromanticcomedy-drama filmMelody.[1] She later played Saffra in the 1977 filmBlack Joy.[2][3] She appeared in a 1977 episode of the second series of the British television seriesThe Fosters.[4] She also played Yvonne in thePlay for Today episode "Not for the Likes of Us", which was broadcast on 10 April 1980.[5] Hope then played Ronnette in the UK stage production of the musicalLittle Shop of Horrors, which ran from 1 January 1983 to 5 October 1985 at theHarold Pinter Theatre (then known as "the Comedy Theatre").[6][7] Hope played a leading role in the 1990 movieMidnight Breaks.[8][9] Between 1990 and 1994, Hope portrayed Jenny in all five series of theBritish sitcomWaiting for God.[2][10][11] In 1995, she guest-starred in episode of the eighth series ofHale and Pace.[2] Hope has also appeared in a few episodes of medical dramaCasualty.[7]
In 2006, Hope performed in the operaPorgy and Bess at theSavoy Theatre, playing the widow Serena.[12] She received praise for the role; Philip Fisher fromBritish Theatre Guide opined that Hope andLorraine Velez were the best singers in the production, adding that Hope had a "soulful force",[12] whereasMichael Billington fromThe Guardian praised Hope as part of the supporting cast of the production.[13] Michael Coveney fromWhatsOnStage.com also listed Hope as one of the performers in the play to "stand out".[14] The following year, Hope performed in the theatre production ofRough Crossings, playing Phyllis George.[15][16] Cecily Boys fromBritish Theatre Guide praised Hope's "stunning gospel voice" in the production, writing that it could "inspire anyone to fight for freedom from the depths of despair".[16]
In 2012, it was reported that Hope would debut on the British soap operaCoronation Street asAlison Soames.[17] Alison and her husbandEdwin Soames (David Lonsdale) were introduced as the parents of established characterKirsty Soames (Natalie Gumede).[17] Hope and Lonsdale made their debut in the episode originally airing on 24 May 2012.[17][18] They reprised their roles for another stint later in 2012, and Hope also played Alison again in 2013.[19][20] In 2017, Hope guest-starred in the first episode of the second series of the sitcomI Live with Models, which was originally broadcast on 6 February of that year.[21] Hope played the role of Stella Deems inFollies, which ran at theRoyal National Theatre from 22 August 2017 to 3 January 2018.[22] The production won several awards.[22] Hope also played the role in itsfilmed productionNational Theatre Live: Follies (2017).[23] In 2018, Hope playedBetty Currie inDevil with the Blue Dress, a play about theClinton–Lewinsky scandal, at theBunker.[24][25]
Dawn later played General Cartwright in an adaptation ofGuys and Dolls, which ran from 7 December 2019 to 18 January 2020 at theCrucible Theatre.[26] Speaking of what attracted her to join this production, Hope explained, "I grew up watchingGuys and Dolls. So when I got an invitation to be in this 'Iconic Show', I knew it had to be now or never. Also to come back home to Sheffield, after a twenty four year absence is very special me...and over Christmas".[26] Ron Simpson fromWhatsOnStage.com opined that Hope's character radiated "good will" in the production.[27] Hope has also appeared in various other movies, includingRichard's Things (1980), and other television series such asPickersgill People,Out,Dempsey and Makepeace andEndeavour.[28] Hope has also appeared as herself in the 1988 concertHey, Mr. Producer! and an episode of thequiz showPointless Celebrities which was originally broadcast on 6 January 2024.[28][29]
In 2021, Hope had a role in the online streamed musicalThe Sorcerer's Apprentice.[30] In August of that year, it was announced that Hope had been cast as regular characterPearl Anderson on the British soap operaHollyoaks.[7] Pearl was introduced as the family friend of established characterWalter Deveraux (Trevor A. Toussaint).[7] Speaking about joining the soap opera, Hope said she was "absolutely thrilled to be introducing the fun-loving Pearl, with her vibrant and stylish energy, as I join the warm and welcomingHollyoaks team".[7] Hope made her first appearance as Pearl inEpisode 5675, which was originally broadcast on 10 September 2021.[7] The special episode featured an entirely Black cast as part ofChannel 4's "Black to Front" project to highlight Black talent behind and in front of camera.[31] Since Hope joined the soap, Pearl's storylines have included her attempts to integrate herself into the Deveraux family, the introduction of her daughterSharon Bailey (Jamelia) and granddaughterZoe Anderson (Garcia Brown),[32][33] being arrested for hidingDeMarcus Westwood (Tomi Ade) from the police,[34] developing a romance withJack Osborne (Jimmy McKenna),[35] and confiding about the abuse that her sister faced by their brother.[36][37] Hope enjoyed working with McKenna and revealed that the pair had mutual friends going back 40 years, and she believed that her scenes with McKenna were similar toimprov.[38]
Hope has a brother and a sister in law.[39] Hope considers herself to be a "bit of a romantic".[26]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref(s). |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/a | Casualty | N/a | Guest role(s) | [7] |
| 1971 | Melody | Maureen | Children's film | [1] |
| 1977 | Black Joy | Saffra | Film | [3] |
| 1977 | The Fosters | Celia | 1 episode ("That's My Boy" – Season 2, Episode 11) | [4] |
| 1980 | Play for Today | Yvonne | 1 episode ("Not for the Likes of Us") | [5] |
| 1980 | Richard's Things | Movie | N/a | [28] |
| 1990 | Midnight Breaks | Cassie/Sarah | Movie | [8] |
| 1990–94 | Waiting for God | Jenny | All 5 series | [2] |
| 1995 | Hale and Pace | Ensemble Actor | 1 episode (Series 8, Episode 5) | [2] |
| 2012–13 | Coronation Street | Alison Soames | Recurring role | [17] |
| 2017 | I Live with Models | Carrie | 1 episode ("New York" – Series 2, Episode 1) | [21] |
| 2017 | National Theatre Live: Follies | Stella Deems | Musical filmed live on stage | [23] |
| 2021 | The Sorcerer's Apprentice | N/a | Online streamed musical | [30] |
| 2021–present | Hollyoaks | Pearl Anderson | Regular role | [7] |
| 2024 | Pointless Celebrities | Herself | 1 episode (Series 16, Episode 9) | [29] |
| Year | Production | Theatre | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–85 | Little Shop of Horrors | Harold Pinter Theatre (then known as "The Comedy Theatre") | Ronmette | [6] |
| 2006 | Porgy and Bess | Savoy Theatre | Serena | [12] |
| 2007 | Rough Crossings | Various | Phyllis George | [15] |
| 2017–18 | Follies | Royal National Theatre | Stella Deems | [22] |
| 2018 | Devil with the Blue Dress | The Bunker | Betty Currie | [25] |
| 2019–20 | Guys and Dolls | Crucible Theatre | General Cartwright | [26] |