Suranne Jones | |
|---|---|
 Jones in 2023 | |
| Born | Sarah Ann Jones (1978-08-27)27 August 1978 (age 47) Chadderton, Greater Manchester, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, producer |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Known for | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Sarah Ann Akers[1][2] (néeJones; born 27 August 1978), known professionally asSuranne Jones, is an English actress and producer. Known for her numerous collaborations with screenwriterSally Wainwright,[3] she rose to prominence playingKaren McDonald onITV'sCoronation Street between 2000 and 2004. Upon leaving, she furthered her television career in drama series such asVincent (2005–2006),Strictly Confidential (2006),Harley Street (2008),Unforgiven (2009), andHostage (2025).
Jones starred as DetectiveRachel Bailey in the police proceduralScott & Bailey (2011–2016), and garnered further attention with headline roles inSingle Father,Five Days (both 2010),A Touch of Cloth (2012–2014), andThe Crimson Field (2014). For her portrayal of Gemma Foster—aGP who suffers personal betrayal—inDoctor Foster (2015–2017), Jones received several awards, including the 2016British Academy Television Award for Best Actress. Subsequent credits includeSave Me (2018),Vigil (2021–present), andGentleman Jack (2019–2022). For the latter, on which she served as executive producer, Jones was again nominated for theBAFTA TV Award for Best Actress.
On stage, Jones has appeared in productions ofA Few Good Men (2005),Blithe Spirit (2009),Top Girls (2011),Beautiful Thing (2013),Orlando (2014), andFrozen (2018).
Jones was born Sarah Ann Jones inChadderton, Greater Manchester,[4][5] on 27 August 1978.[1] She has an older brother named Gary, born in 1975.[6] Jones was raisedCatholic; her priest suggested to her father she be christened Sarah Ann(e) instead of Suranne, her great-grandmother's name, as Suranne was not "a proper name".[7]
She grew up in a house on Foxdenton Lane,[8] surrounded by two farms and their fields and commented that one of her earliest memories is of "cows looking in the window as we ate our tea". As a child she was talkative, and later recounted that her priest would tell her, "I'm praying you can concentrate just a bit more".[7]
Jones was educated atCardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School inMiddleton.[8] Talking of her childhood, she commented, "I think I always wanted to be different and felt very stifled at school".[7] She also said, "I was bullied at school and I let that get hold of me and withdrew into myself — I regret letting that happen."[9] She became a member of theOldham Theatre Workshop[10] and completed aBTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts, which she felt "[wasn't] quite the same as drama school".[11]
Jones began acting professionally aged 16.[12] Andrew Billen ofThe Times, acknowledging her professional career beginnings at 16, wrote that "she took to the stage at 8".[13] Jones later said that her first role was at the age of 8, inWait Until Dark as Gloria.[14]
Upon joining the trade unionEquity, Jones took on the stage name "Suranne Jones", as her birth name was already taken, and union rules dictate that each union member must have a different name. Having obtained anagent at 15, she began to act in the theatre.[13] Jones's television career began in 1997, with a small role inCoronation Street in April 1997 as Mandy Phillips, a girlfriend ofChris Collins (Matthew Marsden). She was then cast in a television advert forMaltesers, guest starred in episodes of series such asCity Central and had a small role inMy Wonderful Life. She auditioned for the role ofCharity Dingle on the soap operaEmmerdale, becoming one of the final four actresses considered for the part,[6] although the role was eventually given toEmma Atkins. She also auditioned for the part ofGeena Gregory onCoronation Street, although she felt she knewJennifer James would win the role — which she did — upon seeing her at the auditions.[6]
In 2000, some weeks after her unsuccessful audition for Geena Gregory, Jones was contacted byCoronation Street bosses, who offered her the part of a new character.[6] Jones took on the role of Karen Phillips (no relation to Mandy), making her first appearance on 21 June. The character, after marryingSteve McDonald (Simon Gregson), took on his surname, and becameKaren McDonald. Described as "a bulldog in hoop earrings"[9] and a "Victoria Beckham wannabe",[15] the role garnered Jones public attention, with episodes involving feuds between her and rivalTracy Barlow (Kate Ford) receiving high viewing ratings.[citation needed] Jones also began modelling for men's magazines such asFHM andLoaded, saying: "I was 21, and within three weeks of me joining Corrie I was in Barbados doing a bikini shoot [...] I was quite impressionable and I'd just say yes to everything because I wanted to keep my job. The press officer is saying: 'Do this and you'll be the new young funky sexy girl.' We were all doing it at that time, but I realised quite quickly that I needed to concentrate on what I was doing".[16]
In May 2004, it was announced that Jones was to leaveCoronation Street after four years of playing Karen. She described working on a soap opera as "exhausting", remarking, "I was living and breathing Karen McDonald".[12] She made her last appearance as Karen onBoxing Day 2004. Of her tenure as Karen McDonald onCoronation Street, Jones later remarked: "I just thought, while she's brilliant and I'm enjoying her, I've got to get out".[15]
"You have to believe you can have a life after a soap."
Jones stated that upon her departure fromCoronation Street, she received numerous offers to appear in reality TV programmes, which she declined, quipping: "lots of money to go off andeat a crocodile's knob, or whatever".[17] Ignoring reality TV offers, in autumn 2005, Jones starred in anITV's detective drama seriesVincent,[18] withRay Winstone in the title role; this was Jones's first television role since leavingCoronation Street the previous year. In the same year, she starred on theWest End stage inA Few Good Men oppositeRob Lowe andJohn Barrowman, which earned her theTheatregoers' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress.[19] She also appeared in the musical specialCelebrate Oliver! which was screened onBBC1. In 2006, she starred asSnow White in the pantomimeSnow White and the Seven Dwarves at theManchester Opera House alongsideJustin Moorhouse and fellowCoronation Street actorJohn Savident. She also appeared inKay Mellor'sStrictly Confidential, in which she played abisexual sex therapist.[20]
On New Year's Day 2007, Jones starred in a Yorkshire- and London-basedblack comedy,Dead Clever withHelen Baxendale andDean Lennox Kelly on ITV1. In autumn 2007, Jones undertook a national tour in the stage run of the filmTerms of Endearment, where she played Emma, oppositeLinda Gray andJohn Bowe.[21] In 2008 she played Martha, one of the female leads, in the ITV medical seriesHarley Street. Her performance drew mixed reviews, with one critic commenting on her character's "ludicrous"received pronunciation accent;[22] the programme's tepid critical reception, combined with poor viewer ratings, signalled its end after just one series.[23]
In January 2009, Jones appeared inUnforgiven, a three-part drama onITV1, where she plays Ruth Slater, a woman released from prison after serving a 15-year prison sentence for the murder of two policemen.[24] Naturally brown-haired, Jones dyed her hair "tobacco yellow" with "big roots";[25] Jones joked that whilst not filming she "really should have worn a wig".[25] Additionally, the character of Ruth wore no make-up throughout, with Jones stating she was left feeling "quite exposed", but nonetheless saying "Ruth wouldn't have worn any make-up, I don't think".[25] Jones received favourable reviews for her portrayal, with Brian Viner ofThe Independent writing: "a stunning performance, the stuff ofBafta nominations if ever I saw it. Heck, on the back of it she might even get propelled into the movies, and bring a bit of North Country sense to theGolden Globes".[26] Viner summarised his review ofUnforgiven by stating, "Five stars all round, and six for Jones".[26] Jones later stated, "I loved that role. They don't come along that often. It was seen by thebroadsheets as well as thetabloids. It gave me a little bit of credibility, I suppose".[15]
Later in the year, in November, she played the role of theMona Lisa in the two-part episode "Mona Lisa's Revenge" inThe Sarah Jane Adventures. In December, Jones starred in theManchester Royal Exchange's production ofBlithe Spirit, byNoël Coward, which ran until late January 2010.[27] Jones was nominated for the Times Breakthrough Award at the 2010South Bank Show Awards, the last ever ceremony, but lost toDavid Blandy.[28] When discussing her nomination she said, "You do question 'What am I breaking through?' Am I breaking through the perception of people who just thought I was a screamingbanshee inCoronation Street? Is it that I've worked hard and I've got better? Is it that now it's alright to say that I'm alright? I don't know what I was breaking through, but I knew that it was nice to feel included and patted on the back for a lot of hard work".[29] Jones was described byAndrew Billen ofThe Times as being in a category of "those brave, talented few who earn their wings on a soap and then fly gloriously beyond it".[13] In March 2010 Jones starred inFive Days, a non-connected sequel to the2007 series of the same name, as the female lead DC Laurie Franklin. Later in the year, she starred as Sarah inSingle Father on BBC1, a character who falls in love with a widower, Dave (David Tennant), who was married to her best friend before her death.
On 18 December 2010, a cover ofCyndi Lauper's "True Colors" featuring Jones, by the Manchester Show Choir, was released.[citation needed]
In May 2011, Jones played the character of Idris in theDoctor Who episode "The Doctor's Wife"; when the 'soul' of the Doctor'sTARDIS is extracted from the ship, Idris becomes its new host, allowing the TARDIS to talk with the Doctor through Idris. Jones was cast due to writerNeil Gaiman wanting an actress, in the words of Jones, who is "odd; beautiful but strange-looking, and quite funny" to play the role of Idris.[30] Dan Martin, the reviewer forThe Guardian, noted that "Suranne Jones arguably sets the standard by which all guest stars must now be judged here [...] Jones was electrifying throughout".[31] Also in May, Jones played DCRachel Bailey in ITV's detective series,Scott & Bailey, oppositeLesley Sharp, who plays DC Janet Scott. The series is based upon an original idea by Jones andSally Lindsay, her formerCoronation Street co-star.[32] After strong viewing figures and moderate critical successScott & Bailey returned for a further four series between 2012 and 2016, with Jones serving as an executive producer on series five.[33][34]
In July 2011, Jones starred as Marlene, a career woman living inThatcher's Britain, in theMinerva Theatre's production ofTop Girls byCaryl Churchill inChichester.Michael Billington, reviewing it forThe Guardian, remarked that "Suranne Jones captures excellently the hidden regrets of the go-getting Marlene".[35] The production was later transferred to theWest End'sTrafalgar Studios.[36] In August 2011, it was announced that Jones would star alongsideJohn Hannah in a spoof detective drama written byCharlie Brooker andDaniel Maier calledA Touch of Cloth.[37] The programme aired in August 2012 onSky1.[37] Jones plays DC Anne Oldman,[38] the "plucky, no-nonsense sidekick" of DCI Jack Cloth (Hannah).[37] In March 2012, Jones began filmingThe Secret of Crickley Hall, a BBC1 dramatisation of the2006 best-selling novel byJames Herbert. She plays the lead role of Eve Caleigh, a woman who moves to Crickley Hall in an attempt to move on from the loss of her son, only to be haunted by supernatural occurrences. Jones described the series as a "classic haunted house spine-chiller with an emotional family story at its heart."[39] Jones returned to the London stage in 2013 in a 20th-anniversary revival ofJonathan Harvey's play,Beautiful Thing. The play ran between 13 April and 25 May at theArts Theatre, London, before a short national tour.[40]
In April 2013, Jones starred as herself inPlayhouse Presents: "Stage Door Johnnies", a comedymockumentary about obsessive theatre fans airing onSky Arts.[41] Later that year, Jones played a young judge "battling to keep her head above water in the murky depths of the justice system" inLawless, a television pilot, broadcast onSky1 as part of its Drama Matters strand.[42] In August 2013, it was announced that Jones was cast oppositeHermione Norris andOona Chaplin inThe Crimson Field, a BBC drama set in a field hospital in France during theFirst World War.[43] The drama, which was broadcast in April 2014, marked Jones's first acting appearance in aperiod drama.[43] In February 2014, Jones starred inSarah Ruhl's stage adaptation ofVirginia Woolf'sOrlando at theRoyal Exchange in Manchester. The play received generally positive reviews from critics, with Jones's performance being described as "superb" by Matt Trueman inThe Guardian.[44]
In September 2015, Jones starred as the title character in theBBC One thrillerDoctor Foster, as a GP whose life begins to unravel when she suspects her husband of infidelity.[45] The programme earned widespread critical acclaim, withRadio Times noting that "a career-best Suranne Jones was unstoppably brilliant";[46] the magazine placedDoctor Foster second in a roundup of the Top 40 best television shows of 2015.[46] For her performance, Jones received theNational Television Award for Best Drama Performance,[47] theBroadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actress,[48] theRoyal Television Society Award for Best Actor (female)[49] and theBritish Academy Television Award for Best Actress at the respective 2016 ceremonies.[50]
In September 2017, the second series ofDoctor Foster premiered, garnering positive critical reception.[51][52] Jones, originally hesitant to film another series, was persuaded after hearing writerMike Bartlett's plans for the script.[53] She also served as associate producer for the programme's second series,[53] which was filmed in autumn 2016.[54]
The same month, shooting began for an ensemble cast production ofVanity Fair, based on the 1848 novelof the same name.[55] Airing the following September, Jones played the role of Miss Pinkerton, the haughty former headmistress of protagonistBecky Sharp (Olivia Cooke).[56] In February 2018, Jones starred in theSky Atlantic dramaSave Me, playing the mother of a missing teen. Jones's performance received positive reviews, with Rebecca Nicholson ofThe Guardian writing: "you get the impression that Jones could act grief in her sleep, but she is impressively subtle here".[57]
From February to May 2018, Jones returned to the West End in a revival ofBryony Lavery's stage playFrozen at theTheatre Royal Haymarket. Jones portrayed Nancy, the grieving mother of an abducted child oppositeJason Watkins.[58][59] While the production received mixed reviews, Jones's performance was well received, described as "unflinchingly truthful and spontaneous" byThe Independent.[60] Jones missed the last four performances of the show's three-month run due to illness, citing the play's "deeply affecting" subject matter as a contributing factor.[61][62]
Later in May, Jones began filming BBC andHBO co-productionGentleman Jack, written, produced and directed bySally Wainwright. Jones had signed on in July 2017 to play the lead role ofAnne Lister, a lesbian Yorkshire industrialist in the 1830s.[63] Described byThe Independent as "a core member of Wainwright's unofficial repertory company",[64] the series marks Jones's fourth collaboration with Wainwright. Premiering in April 2019 in the US and a month later in the UK,James Poniewozik ofThe New York Times wrote: "Jones's performance is a marvel, exuding vitality, charisma and sexual confidence. But she also brings Anne an empathy, humanity and glimpses of vulnerability that make her more than simply a flawless Regency-eraMary Sue."[65] Jones's performance was also praised by Matthew Gilbert ofThe Boston Globe, who wrote: "Jones is a gale force wind on the show, driving it forward with her confidence and cool. She gives us a dynamic woman living out gender fluidity and attraction to women at a time of ignorance and intolerance. Her Anne rejects social convention—and has the money to do it—as she fervently and undauntedly pursues her desires. But then Jones adds in a hidden vulnerability that can be heartbreaking. It's the best, most faceted performance of the year, though few seem to know that."[66]Gentleman Jack returned to BBC One for a second series on 10 April 2022.[67]
In July 2019, Jones received the script for the second series ofSave Me, titledSave Me Too,[68] with a 14-week shoot commencing the following month.[69]Save Me Too was released on 1 April 2020, and a third season was expected in 2022.[70][needs update]
On 1 November 2019, a collaborative cover of "Symphony" by Jones and theHalf Moon Theatre was released as a part of theBBC Children In Need albumGot It Covered. Jones also provided uncredited vocals on the album's cover track "It Must Be Love".[citation needed]
On 5 August 2021, Jones appeared in the title role of "I Am Victoria", the first in a second series of one-off dramas created byBAFTA winnerDominic Savage, focussing on various women's issues, in this case, mental health challenges.[71]
Jones subsequently took the lead role of DCI Amy Silva in the six-episode BBC seriesVigil, which aired weekly in the UK from 29 August 2021, and streamed all episodes on 23 December in the US. The submarine thriller with an underlying lesbian love story drew an initial audience of 13.4 million viewers, becoming the BBC's most successful drama in years.[72]
In March 2022, the first project from TeamAkers, the production company formed by Jones and her husband Laurence Akers, was announced asMaryland, a three-part drama set on theIsle of Man.[73]
It was announced in January 2025 that Jones andJodie Whittaker would star inFrauds, a 6-part ITV heist series about two confidence women.[74]
In August 2025, Jones starred as fictional UK prime minister Abigail Dalton inNetflix miniseriesHostage, for which she also served as executive producer.
Jones lives in north London,[75] with her husband, freelance scriptwriter and former magazine editor Laurence Akers.[76] They met on 14 December 2013 at the wedding of Jones's long-term friend, actressSally Lindsay, to musicianSteve White.[76][77] The couple were engaged on 23 May 2014 and married on 4 August 2015.[2][78] They have one child.[79]
Jones has been involved with various charitable organisations. When she was a teenager, her mother Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer, with Jones saying, "At the time we did a breast cancer campaign together. I still do a lot of charity runs." Jones also has worked withChristian Aid, travelling to Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo to help with projects concerning HIV,women's rights andchild soldiers.[80]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Punch | Judy | Short film | |
| 2015 | A Christmas Star | Miss Darcy | ||
| 2018 | Gone | Karen | Short film | [81] |
| † | Denotes series/miniseries that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Coronation Street | Mandy Phillips | 1 episode |
| 1998 | City Central | Emma | Episode: "A Quiet Evening In" |
| The Grand | Liz | 1 episode | |
| 1999 | My Wonderful Life | Linda | 5 episodes |
| 2000–2004 | Coronation Street | Karen McDonald | Series regular, 494 episodes |
| 2002–04 | Bo' Selecta! | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Celebrate "Oliver!" | Nancy | Television film |
| 2005–06 | Vincent | Beth Goddard | 8 episodes |
| 2006 | Strictly Confidential | Linda Nelson | 6 episodes |
| 2007 | Dead Clever: The Life and Crimes of Julie Bottomley | Julie Bottomley | Television film |
| 2008 | Harley Street | Martha Elliot | 6 episodes |
| 2009 | Unforgiven | Ruth Slater | 3 episodes |
| The Sarah Jane Adventures | Mona Lisa | 2 episodes | |
| 2010 | Five Days | DC Laurie Franklin | 5 episodes |
| Single Father | Sarah | 4 episodes | |
| 2011 | Doctor Who | Idris | Episode: "The Doctor's Wife" |
| 2011–16 | Scott & Bailey | Sergeant Rachel Bailey | Series 1–5 33 episodes (executive producer: series 5) |
| 2012–14 | A Touch of Cloth | DC Anne Oldman | 6 episodes |
| 2012 | The Secret of Crickley Hall | Eve Caleigh | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Playhouse Presents | Herself | Episode: "Stage Door Johnnies" |
| Lawless | Lila Pettitt | Pilot | |
| 2014 | The Crimson Field | Sister Joan Livesey | 6 episodes |
| 2015–2017 | Doctor Foster | Gemma Foster | 10 episodes (associate producer: series 2) |
| 2016 | Brian Pern: 45 Years of Prog and Roll | Astrid Maddox Pern | 1 episode |
| 2018–20 | Save Me | Claire McGory | 2 series |
| 2018 | Vanity Fair | Miss Pinkerton | 2 episodes |
| 2019–2022 | Gentleman Jack | Anne Lister | 2 series (executive producer: series 2) |
| 2021 | I Am Victoria | Victoria | Television film |
| Celebrity Gogglebox for Su2c | Herself | Stand Up to Cancer special | |
| 2021–present | Vigil | DCI Amy Silva | 2 series 12 episodes |
| 2022 | Christmas Carole | Carole Mackay | Also executive producer[82] |
| 2023 | Maryland | Becca | Also executive producer[83] |
| RuPaul's Drag Race UK | Herself; Guest judge | Series 5 | |
| 2024 | Suranne Jones: Investigating Witch Trials | Herself | Two-part documentary series[84] |
| 2025 | Hostage | PM Abigail Dalton | Lead role and executive producer[85] |
| Frauds | Bert | Also executive producer[86] | |
| Film Club | Suz | 6 episodes[87] |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | A Few Good Men | Joanne Galloway | Theatre Royal Haymarket |
| 2006 | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Snow White | Manchester Opera House |
| 2007 | Terms of Endearment | Emma Greenway Horton | York Theatre Royal |
| 2009 | Blithe Spirit | Ruth Condomine | Manchester Royal Exchange |
| 2011 | Top Girls | Marlene | Minerva Theatre |
| 2013 | Beautiful Thing | Sandra | Arts Theatre |
| 2014 | Orlando | Orlando | Manchester Royal Exchange |
| 2018 | Frozen | Nancy | Theatre Royal Haymarket |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
