Abigail Cruttenden

Last updated

Abigail Cruttenden
Born
Abigail Lucy Cruttenden

(1968-03-23) 23 March 1968 (age 56)
OccupationActress
Years active1980–present
Spouses
  • (m. 1997;div. 2000)
  • Jonathan R. Fraser
    (m. 2003)
Children2
Relatives Hal Cruttenden (brother)

Abigail Lucy Cruttenden (born 23 March 1968) is an English actress. After beginning her career as a child, she went on to play opposite Sean Bean as his character Richard Sharpe's wife Jane in several episodes of the TV series Sharpe. She has since become known for her roles in sitcoms, which include Kate Weedon in the ITV comedy series Benidorm (2007–2009), and Anna in the BBC sitcom Not Going Out (2014–present).

Contents

Early life

Cruttenden was born on 23 March 1968 in Richmond, London to a family with history in the acting industry. [1] Her grandmother, Cynthia Coatts (1915–2013) founded the Rosslyn School of Dance and Drama in London, [1] while her mother, Julia Cruttenden (1938–2013), ran the stage make-up school Greasepaint in London. [2] Her father Neville (1940-1990) was an advertising executive who also indulged in amateur theatrics before deciding to become a professional actor at 49. [3] [4] Her brother is Hal Cruttenden, a stand-up comedian, and she has an older sister Hannah, who works in journalism. [5]

Career

Cruttenden started her acting career when she was 12, appearing in the BBC2 Playhouse episode Elizabeth Alone in 1981. She gained significant notice in only her second screen role in the critically acclaimed TV film P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang , playing the object of affection to a lovesick schoolboy in the coming of age drama, which was written by Jack Rosenthal. As she recalled in a newspaper interview in 1996, she did not realize she would have to kiss costar John Albasiny towards the film's climax. "I was 14 and painfully shy, like my character. I vividly remember them saying we had to kiss at the end. I was completely thrown because it wasn't in the script. Tears welled in my eyes and I mumbled 'All right then.' But I had never kissed anyone before, ever. It was all rather traumatic." [6]

She continued to have regular acting work throughout her teenage years, including a regular role in the TV sitcom Mog (1985-86), the TV Aids drama Intimate Contact (1987) and The StoryTeller episode "Hans My Hedgehog" in 1987. Despite coming from a family involved in the acting industry, her parents were keen for her to concentrate more on her schooling. By this point, Cruttenden was thoroughly committed to acting, and when she was offered the stage role in Romeo and Juliet halfway through sitting for the last two of her four A levels, she took the role. [7]

Cruttenden immersed herself in her acting work, taking roles in TV shows TECX, Coasting and Centrepoint (all 1990), and appearing in the detective series Van der Valk and The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes in 1991.

After a break from TV to do more theatre work, she appeared on screen for the first time in three years in the TV period comedy drama Love on a Branch Line in 1994, a role which required her to appear nude. Then in 1996 she was cast as Jane Gibbons in the TV series Sharpe as the love interest and eventual wife of Richard Sharpe, played by Sean Bean.

She continued to find regular work in the theatre and on television, with roles in Doctors and Nurses (2004) and The Robinsons (2005), but it was not until she was cast in the TV sitcom Benidorm in 2007 that she gained another hit show. She appeared in the first three series until she left the show in 2009.

There was a dearth of screen roles for the next 5 years, with only an appearance in an episode of the sitcom The Royal Bodyguard in 2012 during this time. Since 2014, she has been a regular on the sitcom Not Going Out , playing the role of Anna, Hugh Dennis' wife and snobby neighbour to Lee and Lucy.

Personal life

In 1990 her father Neville died suddenly of a stomach haemorrhage, aged 50. He had left his job as an advertising executive the year before to become a professional actor, and had had two TV roles in the pipeline before his sudden death. [8]

In 2013 Cruttenden suffered a double family bereavement. On 16 March she lost her grandmother Cynthia Coatts, who died at the age of 97. Then on 14 December she lost her mother Julia after a long battle with a brain tumour.

During the filming of Sharpe, Cruttenden met actor Sean Bean. They married on 22 November 1997. [9] Their daughter was born in November 1998. They divorced in July 2000. [10] In 2003, she married Jonathan R. Fraser. They have a daughter. [11]

Cruttenden lives in East Sheen, south-west London. [12]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981 BBC2 Playhouse Young ElizabethEpisode: Elizabeth Alone
1983 Storyboard EmmaEpisode: Lytton's Diary
1985-1986 Mog Miranda
1987 The Storyteller The PrincessEpisode: "Hans My Hedgehog"
Intimate Contact Nell Gregory
1988The Bell-RunGudrun GloverTV movie
1989 Agatha Christie's Poirot Geraldine Oglander
1990CoastingEmma ConwayEpisode: "Illuminations"
Centrepoint SaskiaTV Mini Series
TECXMarijke Van Der BroekeEpisode: Rock a Buy Baby
1991 Van der Valk ElseEpisode: A Sudden Silence
The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes Miss Violet MervilleEpisode: The Illustrious Client
1994 Performance Clara BrowningEpisode: A Message for Posterity
Love on a Branch Line Belinda Flamborough
1996 Sharpe's Regiment Jane Gibbons
Sharpe's Siege Jane Sharpe née Gibbons
Sharpe's Mission Jane Sharpe
1997 Jane Eyre Blanche IngramTV film adaptation
Sharpe's Revenge Jane Sharpe
Sharpe's Justice
Sharpe's Waterloo
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Annabel LynesEpisode: Bribery & Corruption
Into the BlueHeather Mallender
1998The Canterbury TalesEmilyVoice
2000 Anna Karenina Betsy"Part 1", "Part 3"
Monarch of the Glen Lizzie MacDonaldEpisodes "1.5", "1.8"
2002 Helen West Emily EliotEpisode: A Clear Conscience
2003 Rosemary & Thyme Patsy ConnollyEpisode: "Arabica and the Early Spider"
2004 Doctors and Nurses Lucy Potter6 episodes
2005 The Robinsons Vicky RobinsonEpisode: "1.6"
2007–2009 Benidorm Kate Weedon Regular role, 17 episodes (series 1–3)
2007 Foyle's War Evelyn RichardsEpisode: "Casualties of War"
The Commander Judy ThorntonEpisode: The Devil You Know
Sex, the City and MeAliTV movie
2008 Teenage Kicks KateEpisode: "Sex"
2009 The Green Green Grass DoctorEpisode: "I Done It My Way"
2012 The Royal Bodyguard Mary Town-JonesEpisode: The Perils of Attraction
2014–present Not Going Out AnnaRegular role
2015 The Outcast Anne RawlinsTV Mini Series
Citizen Khan VirginiaEpisode: "Farley Manor"
2016 Fresh Meat Oregon's MotherEpisode: "4.6"
2017 Midsomer Murders Nell FryerEpisode: "Death by Persuasion"
Casualty Sadie HolmEpisode: "32.11"
2020HouseboundAbigailEpisode: "1.10"
2021Face ItAbbeyTV Mini Series

Film

YearTitleRole
1982 P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang Ann Lawton [13]
1998 Hideous Kinky Charlotte
2001 Charlotte Gray Daisy
Sword of Honour [14] Kerstie Kilbannock
2014 The Theory of Everything Isobel Hawking
2015The Batsman and the BallerinaJane
2016 Denial Janine Stone
2018 Await Further Instructions Beth
2020That Girl, PeugeotSandra
2021 Munich – The Edge of War Anne Chamberlain

Radio

YearsTitleRole
2017 - 2022 Alone Ellie

Theatre

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Bean</span> English actor (born 1959)

Sean Bean is an English actor. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Bean made his professional debut in a production of Romeo and Juliet in 1983 at The Watermill Theatre. Retaining his Yorkshire accent, he first found mainstream success for his portrayal of Richard Sharpe in the ITV series Sharpe, which originally ran from 1993 to 1997.

<i>Sharpe</i> (TV series) British television historical drama series (1993–2008)

Sharpe is a British television drama series starring Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe, a fictional British soldier in the Napoleonic Wars, with Irish actor Daragh O'Malley playing his second in command, Patrick Harper. Sharpe and Harper are the heroes of the Sharpe series of novels by Bernard Cornwell; most, though not all, of the episodes are based on the books. Produced by Celtic Films and Picture Palace Films for the ITV network, the series was filmed mainly in Crimea, with recordings of other episodes in Turkey, England, Portugal and Spain. The two final episodes were filmed in Jaipur, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abi Titmuss</span> English actress, television personality, poker player, and former glamour model

Abigail Evelyn Titmuss is an English actress, television personality and poker player. She is also a former glamour model and nurse.

Selina Jane Griffiths is a British actress mostly known for her performances in sitcoms. She played Pauline Maltby in the ITV comedy series Benidorm. She is the daughter of Annette Crosbie.

Frances Ruffelle is an English musical theatre actress and singer. She won a Tony Award in 1987, and represented the United Kingdom in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Lonely Symphony ", finishing 10th. The song became a UK Top 30 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Lancashire</span> English actress (born 1964)

Sarah-Jane Abigail Lancashire is an English actress. Known for her work in television and theatre, she has received numerous accolades over a career spanning four decades, including two British Academy Television Awards and a nomination for an Olivier Award. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2017 for services to drama.

Nicholas Burns is an English actor, best known for his comic performance as the title character in Nathan Barley. He played Martin Weedon in Benidorm and Alex in No Heroics. His other credits include The Mighty Boosh, The IT Crowd, Strike, Doctor Who, The Crown, The Serpent Queen, Manhunt, A Small Light and Black Mirror.

Gwen Taylor is an English actress who has appeared in many British television programmes. She is known for her roles as Amy Pearce in the sitcom Duty Free (1984–1986); Barbara Liversidge in the sitcom Barbara (1999–2003); Peggy Armstrong in the drama series Heartbeat (2005–2009), Anne Foster in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2011–2012), and Vi Highway in BBC One soap opera EastEnders (2021–2023). She was nominated for the 1990 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for her role as Rita Simcock in the comedy series A Bit of a Do (1989). Her film appearances include Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) and The Lady in the Van (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alison Steadman</span> British actress (born 1946)

Alison Steadman is an English actress. She received the 1991 National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress for the Mike Leigh film Life Is Sweet and the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Actress for her role as Mari in the original production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice. In a 2007 Channel 4 poll, the ‘50 Greatest Actors’ voted for by other actors, she was ranked 42.

Janine Duvitski is a British actress, known for her roles in the BBC television sitcom series Waiting for God, One Foot in the Grave and Benidorm. Duvitski first came to national attention in the play Abigail's Party, written and directed in 1977 by Mike Leigh.

Sharpe's Revenge is a British television drama, the 12th of a series that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. The adaptation is based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Bernard Cornwell.

Sharpe's Mission is a British television drama, the 11th of a series that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. Unlike most of the other installments of the series, this episode was not based on a novel by Bernard Cornwell.

Sharpe's Regiment is a British television drama, the ninth of a series that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. This episode is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Bernard Cornwell.

Sharpe's Waterloo is a British television drama, the 14th part of a series that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a fictional British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. The adaptation is based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Bernard Cornwell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Knutt</span> English actor and comedian (1945–2017)

Robert Andrew Wass, known professionally as Bobby Knutt, was an English actor and comedian. He was known throughout his acting career for appearing as Albert Dingle in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale and in Coast to Coast, a film with Lenny Henry, and in his final years for the role of Eddie Dawson in the ITV sitcom Benidorm. Before making his name in British television, he had appeared in another ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, from 1980 to 1983 portraying Ron Sykes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siobhan Finneran</span> Irish actress born in England (born 1966)

Siobhan Margaret Finneran is an English actress. She made her screen debut in the 1987 independent film Rita, Sue and Bob Too, and subsequently worked consistently in television drama including roles in Coronation Street (1989–1990), Clocking Off (2000–2002) and The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006). In 2005, Finneran originated the lead female role in the stage play On the Shore of the Wide World and was awarded the Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Also a comedy performer, Finneran appeared as Janice Garvey, a leading character in the first seven series of ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheila Reid</span> British actress (born 1937)

Sheila Reid is a Scottish actress, known for playing Madge Harvey in the ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2018). An original member of the Royal National Theatre in 1963, she played Bianca in the National's 1965 film version of Othello, with Laurence Olivier in the title role. Her other film appearances include Brazil (1985), The Winter Guest (1997) and Containment (2015).

<i>Ptang, Yang, Kipperbang</i> 1982 British television film directed by Michael Apted

P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang, also released as Kipperbang, is a British television film first shown on Channel 4 on its second night, 3 November 1982.

Christine Murray, known professionally as Crissy Rock, is an English award-winning actress, stand-up comedian, and best-selling author, most notable for her role as Maggie Conlan in the 1994 film Ladybird, Ladybird, and as Janey York in Benidorm whom she played from 2007, until 2011 when she left the show, although she returned in Episode 6 of Series 5 for a cameo role, and then again for two episodes of Series 7 in 2015.

<i>Benidorm</i> (British TV series) British TV sitcom (2007–2018)

Benidorm is a British sitcom written and created by Derren Litten and produced by Tiger Aspect for ITV that aired for ten series from 1 February 2007 until 2 May 2018. The series features an ensemble cast of holiday makers and staff at the Solana all-inclusive hotel in Benidorm, Spain over the course of a week each year.

References

  1. 1 2 "Tribute to Coulson Great Grandmother who founded Rosslyn School of Dance and Drama - Croydon Advertiser (2013)".
  2. "Greasepaint Makeup School - What Happened Next (2017)". 3 January 2017.
  3. "In Tribute - The Questors Theatre Archive".
  4. "Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996)".
  5. "They Pay Me to Kiss Sean Bean - The Mirror (London) (1996)".
  6. "Recalling P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang Kiss - The Sunday Mirror (1996)".
  7. "Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996)".
  8. "Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996)".
  9. "Sharpe work as Sean marries - Mailon Sunday".
  10. Billen, Andrew. "Sean Bean: Another baby? Yes. That would be nice". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  11. "Merle Fraser". www.myheritage.com. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  12. "Conflict of the heart". Richmond and Twickenham Times . 31 May 2013. p. 35.
  13. "Abigail Cruttenden". Curtis Brown . Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  14. Tv movie
  15. "The Seagull". Theatre Royal Bath. 8 June 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  16. "Her Naked Skin". Wiltshire Creative. 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2022.