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Gemma Craven | |
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| Born | Rita Gemma Gabriel (1950-06-01)1 June 1950 (age 74) Dublin,County Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation(s) | Actress,performer, singer, musician |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Spouses | |
| Awards | Society of West End Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical 1980They're Playing Our Song |
Rita Gemma Craven (born 1 June 1950) is an Irish actress.She is best known for her role as Joan Parker, thefrigid wife of Arthur (Bob Hoskins), in the BBC TVdramaPennies From Heaven (1978).
Craven's family moved fromDublin to Britain in 1960, and she attended the same school asHelen Mirren, St Bernard's Convent High School for Girls inWestcliff-on-Sea inEssex.[1][2]
She appeared asCinderella in the filmThe Slipper and the Rose (1976) oppositeRichard Chamberlain.[3] She was cast as an unknown, having been spotted by one of the producers while performing at theBristol Old Vic in a production ofThe Threepenny Opera. The local press touted the event as her own "Cinderella" story.
In London'sWest End, she starred oppositeTom Conti in the musicalThey're Playing Our Song for which she won aLaurence Olivier Award (at the time known as the Society of West End Theatre Awards SWET) for her performance,[4] the lead role inSouth Pacific, and inNoël Coward'sPrivate Lives oppositeMarc Sinden,Tony Anholt and Anholt's wifeTracey Childs which toured throughout 1991 and into 1992.[5] She also played Josie inBoy George'sTaboo and features on theOCR singing "Independent Woman".[6][7]
She appeared as Joan Parker, the frigid wife of Arthur (Bob Hoskins), in the original television version ofDennis Potter'sPennies From Heaven (1978); she has since talked about the difficulty the role presented in undertaking a nude scene, which was seen as counter to her public image.[8] She also made guest appearances onRobin of Sherwood (1985),The Bill,The Morecambe and Wise Show,The Two Ronnies,Father Ted (episode "And God Created Woman") and in the popular British dramaMidsomer Murders episode, "Shot at Dawn" as Judy Hicks, the wife of Dave Hicks (Brian Capron). She co-starred in the acclaimed 1982 British TV version ofEast Lynne. On the same Victorian theme she also appeared on BBC TV's long running old time music hall showThe Good Old Days.
Her most substantial film role was asMinna Wagner oppositeRichard Burton'sRichard Wagner, in the 1983 filmWagner. She also appeared inWhy Not Stay for Breakfast? (1979),Double X: The Name of the Game (1992),The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1993),Words Upon the Window Pane (1994) andThe Hole (2001).
On radio, she played the part of Helen in theBBC Radio 4 comedyClare in the Community.
She appeared on Irish television in the popularmedical drama seriesThe Clinic which ran weekly onRTÉ One.
In November/December 2008, Craven appeared inHollyoaks Later as Erin "Ma" Fisher – Mother toMalachy,Kris and Bernadette.
Craven was married from 1981 to 1984 to actorFrazer Hines, and from 1990 to 1996 to financier David Beamish.
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