Emma Cunniffe

Last updated

Emma Cunniffe
Born (1973-07-03) 3 July 1973 (age 50)
Chester, England
OccupationActress
Spouse
Rufus Jones
(m. 2008)

Emma Cunniffe (born 3 July 1973) is an English film, stage and television actress.

Contents

Early life

Cunniffe was raised in Frodsham, Cheshire and attended Frodsham High School. [1] She was in the local Frodsham panto group whilst growing up and was once in a pantomime with Gary Barlow. Originally it was dance she was into, until she went to theatre school at the age of 13 and fell in love with drama. [2]

Career

Her television credits include Hetty Wainthrop Investigates (Chrissy in 'Safe as Houses', 1996), The Lakes (BBC 1997, 1999), "Biddy" in a TV adaptation of Great Expectations , All the King's Men , Clash of the Santas , alongside Robson Green and Mark Benton, Clocking Off (BBC), and Flesh and Blood with Christopher Eccleston. [3] She played DS Tina Murray in New Tricks (S3:E4 Diamond Geezers, 2006.). She also appeared in the sixth series Doctor Who episode "Night Terrors", alongside the Eleventh Doctor played by Matt Smith. She appeared in the BBC documentary The Genius of Mozart as Constanze, Wolfgang's wife. In 2009, she played Carol Boynton in the ITV adaptation of Appointment with Death , in series 11 of Agatha Christie's Poirot . In mid-2014, she played DS Hawthorn in Coronation Street , investigating the circumstances of the attack on and subsequent death of Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) and on 5 January 2015, she played Kenzie Calhoun's mother, Ailsa in Waterloo Road

On stage, she won the UK Theatre Awards for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in The Master Builder in 2000. [4] Her other stage work includes Tales from Hollywood, Losing Louis at the Trafalgar Studios in London and in 2006 Women Beware Women for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. [3] She was nominated for "what's on stage" award in 2011 for her role as Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible at Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park.

In 2015 she appeared as Mabel Grayson in the BBC TV series Father Brown episode 3.9 "The Truth in the Wine". The same year, she appeared as the eponymous monarch in the RSC's production of Helen Edmundson's Queen Anne . [5] In September 2019, she appeared in four episodes of Doctors as Dr Janet Fielding.

Personal life

Cunniffe lives in London with her husband, Rufus Jones, whom she married in 2008. [6]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996CutsKarenTV film
1997The Ruby RingNoreen/NellieTV film
1998 Among Giants Barmaid
1999 Great Expectations BiddyTV film
UndergroundCazTV film
Dreaming of Joseph Lees Red-Haired Girl
Tube Tales Drained Young WomanTV film
All the King's Men Peggy BatterbeeTV film
2000 Blue Murder VanessaTV film
Innocents Sharon PeacockTV film
2001 The Whistle-Blower Kathy EnfieldTV film
Love or MoneySamanthaTV film
2002 The Cry Christine ReardenTV film
Plain JaneJaneTV film
Flesh and BloodCath BroughtonTV film
2004Rabbit on the MoonTania Bower
UndoneLauraShort film
2005 Cherished Claire ConnollyTV film
2008 Clash of the Santas AliceTV film
2014MOTH (Man of the House)RuthShort film
2016 Their Finest EttieUncredited
2020 Miss Marx Laura Marx
2021 The Mezzotint Mrs. FilcherTV film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Woof! Minicab GirlEpisode: "Get Me to the Church"
Cracker Sarah JenningsEpisode: "The Big Crunch"
1995 The Upper Hand NurseEpisode: "Second Thoughts"
Dangerfield Penny NoakesEpisode: "The Norfolk Holiday"
The Bill Annie BarlowEpisode: "A Quiet Night In"
1996 The 10%ers VanessaSeries 2
A Touch of Frost Michelle RobinsEpisode: "Paying the Price"
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates ChrissieEpisode: "Safe as Horses"
Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's... AvrilEpisode: "Don't Dilly Dally on the Way"
Life After BirthAlisonSeries regular, 6 episodes
1997 Dalziel and Pascoe Karen SpillingsEpisode: "Exit Lanes"
1997–1999 The Lakes Emma KavanaghSeries regular, 13 episodes
1998 Maisie Raine Cheryl SlayburnEpisode: "A Blast from the Past"
2002 Clocking Off Kim AndersonRecurring role, 3 episodes
2004The Genius of Mozart Constanze Mozart Mini-series, 3 episodes
Silent Witness Rosa ChristieEpisode: "Body 21"
2006 New Tricks D.S. Tina MurrayEpisode: "Diamond Geezers"
Holby City Hazel KeelEpisode: "Just Another Day"
2007John and KarenKarenTV short
2008 Banged Up Abroad CamillaEpisode: "Nightmare in Chechnya"
Agatha Christie's Poirot Carol BoyntonEpisode: "Appointment with Death"
Place of Execution Ruth HawkinMini-series, 3 episodes
Casualty Karen ClarksonEpisode: "Someone's Lucky Night"
Midsomer Murders Sally FieldingEpisode: "Blood Wedding"
2009 The Bill Maggie ReaneyEpisode: "Fall Out"
2011 Casualty Detective Inspector Joanne CollinsEpisode: "Boys Will Be Boys"
Doctor Who ClaireEpisode: "Night Terrors"
2012 Good Cop Eva BaysMini-series, 1 episode
2013 The Other Child Emma BeckettMini-series, 2 episodes
Jo AnabelleEpisode: "Place Vendôme"
Southcliffe Annie GouldMini-series, 3 episodes
Moving On LouiseEpisode: "Hush Little Baby"
2014 Coronation Street D.S. HawthornRecurring role, 13 episodes
2015 Father Brown Mrs. Mabel GraysonEpisode: "The Truth in the Wine"
Waterloo Road Ailsa CalhounRecurring role, 2 episodes
Inspector George Gently Anita MagathEpisode: "Gently Among Friends"
Holby City Elaine OwenEpisode: "Spiral Staircases"
Lewis Bryony WilletEpisode: "One for Sorrow"
2016 Midsomer Murders Reverend Melissa AckersEpisode: "Habeas Corpus"
2017 Unforgotten JanetRecurring role, 4 episodes
2019 Doctors Dr. Janet FieldingRecurring role, 4 episodes
2020 Silent Witness Jess FisherEpisode: "Deadhead"
Endeavour Rosemary PrinceEpisode: "Raga"
Roadkill SydneyMini-series, 4 episodes
2021 The Irregulars Laura MachinEpisode: "The Ghosts of 221B"
Agatha Raisin Fran TamworthyEpisode: "Kissing Christmas Goodbye"
The Mezzotint Mrs FilcherTelevision film
2023Doctors Christine Barker-Smith Episode: "A Matter of a Moment" [7]

Theatre credits

YearTitleRoleVenueRef
1996 Hamlet Ophelia UK Tour [8]
1997 Caravan Kelly Bush Theatre, London [9]
1999 The Master Builder UK Tour [10]
2001 Tales from Hollywood Donmar Warehouse, London [11]
2002A Buyer's MarketRosie Delaware Bush Theatre, London [12]
2003 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Madame de Tourvel Bristol Old Vic, Bristol [13]
Twelfth Night Viola Royal Exchange, Manchester [14]
2004 Major Barbara Major Barbara Undershaft Royal Exchange, Manchester [15]
2005 As You Like It Rosalind Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh [16]
Losing Louis Bobbie Ellis Hampstead Theatre, London & Trafalgar Theatre, London [17]
2006 Women Beware Women Isabella Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon [18]
The Glass Room Tara Hampstead Theatre, London [19]
2007 The Entertainer Jean The Old Vic, London [20]
2008 Three Sisters Masha Royal Exchange, Manchester [21] [22]
2009 Educating Rita Rita Citizens Theatre, Glasgow [23]
Amongst Friends Caitlin Hampstead Theatre, London [24]
2010 The Crucible Elizabeth Proctor Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London [25]
Dumb Show Liz Rose Theatre Kingston, Kingston upon Thames [26]
2011 Edward II Isabella of France Royal Exchange, Manchester [27]
A Doll's House Nora Helmer The Lowry, Salford [28]
2012 The Conquest of the South Pole La Braukmann Arcola Theatre, London [29]
2013 Proof Claire Menier Chocolate Factory, London [30]
Wendy & Peter Pan Mrs. Darling Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon [31]
2017 Queen Anne Anne, Queen of Great Britain Theatre Royal Haymarket, London [32] [33]
2018 The Art of Success Louisa Rose Theatre Kingston, Kingston upon Thames [34]
The Taste of the Town Mrs. Bascombe Rose Theatre Kingston, Kingston upon Thames [35]
2021 Romeo and Juliet Nurse Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London [36]

Related Research Articles

Samantha Jane Bond is an English actress. She played Miss Moneypenny in four James Bond films during the Pierce Brosnan era, and appeared in Downton Abbey as the wealthy widow Lady Rosamund Painswick, sister of Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham. On television, she played "Auntie Angela" in the sitcom Outnumbered and the villain Mrs Wormwood in the CBBC Doctor Who spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures. She also originated the role of "Miz Liz" Probert in the Rumpole of the Bailey series. She is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxine Peake</span> British actress (born 1974)

Maxine Peake is an English actress and narrator. She is known for her roles as Twinkle in dinnerladies, a sitcom on BBC One (1998–2000), as Veronica Ball in Shameless, the comedy drama from Channel 4 (2004–2007), Martha Costello in the BBC One legal drama Silk (2011–2014), and Grace Middleton in the BBC One drama series The Village (2013–2014). In 2017, she starred in the Black Mirror episode "Metalhead". She has also played the title role in Hamlet, as well as the notorious serial killer Myra Hindley in See No Evil: The Moors Murders, the critically acclaimed 2006 dramatisation by ITV of the Moors murders.

Helen Christine Blatch was a British actress on stage and screen, best remembered on screen for her roles in Doctor Who and The Practice, and on stage for her casting as "Cerimon, a lord of Ephesus", in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 1989–1990 performance of Pericles.

William Gaminara is a Rhodesian-born British actor, screenwriter and playwright, probably best known for playing pathologist Professor Leo Dalton on the television series Silent Witness, from 2002 to 2013. His plays include According to Hoyle, The Three Lions and The Nightingales.

Doña Croll is a Jamaican-born British actress. She is best known for her roles in soap operas playing Pearl McHugh in Channel 5's Family Affairs, Vera Corrigan in Doctors, and Emerald Fox in EastEnders, both on the BBC. She also played the regular role of nurse Adele Beckford in series 8 of Casualty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miranda Raison</span> English stage, film actress and narrator

Miranda Caroline Raison is a British and French actress. She is best known for playing Jo Portman in five seasons of Spooks (MI5) and Nellie Davenport in HBO's Warrior. She originated the title role in Howard Brenton's Anne Boleyn at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and played Hermione in Kenneth Branagh's production of The Winter's Tale, both to critical acclaim. She is also a prolific voice artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl Collins</span> English actor

Karl Collins is a British actor. He is known for his television roles as Danny Glaze in The Bill, Louis Loveday in Hollyoaks, and Shaun Temple in Doctor Who. He played Noah in the Apple TV series Trying, and Lennox in the BBC Series Champion, and also Jack Whiteley in Magpie Murders.

Andrew Havill is an English actor. With an extensive career on screen and stage beginning in the late 1980s, Havill has appeared in more than 40 films and 50 plays. After training in Oxford and London, he began his career in repertory theatre in 1989 and made his screen debut in 1993. As a character actor, Havill has appeared extensively in British costume dramas.

Tanika Gupta is a British playwright. Apart from her work for the theatre, she has also written scripts for television, film and radio plays.

Bryan Dick is an English TV, stage and film actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Ernie Wise in the BBC's BAFTA-winning biopic of Morecambe and Wise, Eric and Ernie.

Bríd Brennan is an Irish actress who is known for her film, TV and theatre work. She originated the role of Agnes in the Brian Friel play Dancing at Lughnasa, for which she won the 1992 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She is also a three-time Olivier Award nominee; for Rutherford and Son (1995), The Little Foxes (2002) and The Ferryman (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josie Rourke</span> English theatre and film director

Josie Rourke is an English theatre and film director. She is a Vice-President of the London Library and was the artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse theatre from 2012 to 2019. In 2018, she made her feature film debut with the Academy Award and BAFTA-nominated historical drama Mary Queen of Scots, starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie.

Siân Brooke is an English actress. Her television work includes Cape Wrath (2007), Sherlock (2017), Doctor Foster (2017), Good Omens (2019), Guilt (2019), Trying (2020–), House of the Dragon (2022) and Blue Lights (2023-).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zawe Ashton</span> British actress (born 1984)

Zawedde Emma Ashton is a British actress and playwright. She is best known for her roles in the comedy dramas Fresh Meat and Not Safe for Work, the Netflix horror thriller film Velvet Buzzsaw and for her portrayal of Joyce Carol Vincent in Dreams of a Life (2011). She also portrayed Dar-Benn in The Marvels (2023).

Shane Zaza is a British actor.

Madeleine Worrall is a Scottish actress. She has worked extensively on stage, in London and across Britain.

Lucy Bailey is a British theatre director, known for productions such as Baby Doll at Britain's National Theatre and a notorious Titus Andronicus, described by a critic as "all eye-catchingly visceral but there’s little depth". Bailey founded the Gogmagogs theatre-music group (1995–2006) and was Artistic Director and joint founder of the Print Room theatre in West London (2010-2012). She has worked extensively with Bunny Christie and other leading stage designers, including her husband William Dudley.

Natalie Abrahami is a British theatre, film and opera director. She was Associate Director and Genesis Fellow at the Young Vic in London 2013-16 and Associate Artist at Hull Truck Theatre. From 2007–12 she was joint Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre with Carrie Cracknell.

Pippa Nixon is an English actress. She trained at Manchester School of Theatre.

Michael Buffong is an English theatre director and the Artistic Director of Talawa Theatre Company. His work is characterised by reworking stage classics delivered to high degree of detail. Buffong has been described as "one of the most influential directors of classic plays over the last two decades", in addition to being named one of Creative Review's 50 Creative Leaders. In Spring 2019, Buffong was one of the judges of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.

References

  1. Flint, Rachel (23 July 2013). "Frodsham born Emma Cunniffe will be performing in Ibsen's ground-breaking play A Doll's House this February". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  2. "Frodsham's Emma Cunniffe - Playing in a Doll's House". Great British Life. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Emma Cunniffe". Drama Faces. BBC. Archived from the original on 23 June 2006.
  4. "UK Theatre Awards Previous Winners". 1999. UK Theatre Association. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  5. "Cast and creative | Royal Shakespeare Company". Archived from the original on 2 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  6. Taylor, Sarah (6 June 2010). "Emma Cunniffe: In the closet". Express. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  7. Timblick, Simon. "Doctors spoilers: Sid Vere makes a SURPRISE discovery!". What to Watch . Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  8. "Emma Cunniffe". Conway Van Gelder Grant. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  9. Butler, Robert (16 November 1997). "THEATRE: FUN AND LOSSES ON OUR SUMMER HOLIDAYS". Independent.com. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  10. Gardner, Lyn (12 October 1999). "The Master Builder". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  11. "TALES FROM HOLLYWOOD". Free Library. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  12. Koenig, Rhoda (10 April 2002). "A Buyer's Market, Bush Theatre, London". Independent.com. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  13. "What's on in March". BBC. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  14. Gardner, Lyn (19 September 2003). "Twelfth Night". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  15. Hickling, Alfred (19 May 2004). "Major Barbara". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  16. Gardner, Lyn (21 September 2005). "As You Like It". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  17. Nightingale, Benedict (26 January 2005). "Losing Louis". The Times. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  18. McMillan, Peter (2 March 2006). "Women Beware Women - Swan, Stratford". Worcester News. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  19. Billington, Michael (29 November 2006). "The Glass Room". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  20. "The Entertainer at the Old Vic". London SE1. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  21. "Emma Cunniffe in Chekhov's Three Sisters". North Wales Live. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  22. "I've been lucky'". Manchester Evening News . 19 April 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2019. UPDATED January 13, 2013
  23. "Performing in Educating Rita is like going back to school for me, says star Emma Cunniffe". Daily Record. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  24. Gardner, Lyn (28 May 2009). "Amongst Friends". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  25. "Emma Cunniffe". Open Air Theatre. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  26. Gardner, Lyn (11 April 2010). "Dumb Show". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  27. Hickling, Alfred (13 September 2011). "Manchester". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  28. Bowen, Rick (28 February 2011). "Review: A Doll's House @ Lowry, Salford". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  29. Gardner, Lyn (1 May 2012). "The Conquest of the South Pole – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  30. Barnett, Laura (24 March 2013). "Proof – review". The Guardian. The Observer. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  31. Peterson, Tyler (15 October 2013). "Full Cast Announced for Royal Shakespeare Company's Fiona Button & Sam Swann-Led WENDY & PETER PAN". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  32. Mountford, Fiona (11 July 2017). "Queen Anne, theatre review: A real summer treat all round". Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  33. Billington, Michael (1 December 2015). "Queen Anne review – pain and passion of a monarch's fight to rule with grace". The Guardian .
  34. "HOGARTH'S PROGRESS: THE ART OF SUCCESS". Rose Theatre. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  35. "First Look: Hogarth's Progress The Taste of The Town". Theatre Weekly. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  36. Macdonald, Brendan (29 June 2021). "Review: Romeo and Juliet at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre". Exeunt Magazine. Retrieved 5 February 2022.