Imogen Stubbs

Last updated

Imogen Stubbs
Born (1961-02-20) 20 February 1961 (age 63)
Education St Paul's Girls' School
Westminster School
Exeter College, Oxford
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1982–present
Spouse
(m. 1994;sep. 2011)
Children2

Imogen Stubbs (born 20 February 1961) is an English actress and writer.

Contents

Her first leading part was in Privileged (1982), followed by A Summer Story (1988).

Her first play, We Happy Few , was produced in 2004. In 2008 she joined Reader's Digest as a contributing editor and writer of fiction.

Early life

Imogen Stubbs was born in Rothbury, [1] Northumberland, lived briefly in Portsmouth, Hampshire, where her father was a naval officer, and then moved with her parents to London, where they lived on a vintage river barge on the Thames. She was educated at Cavendish Primary School, then at two independent schools: St Paul's Girls' School and Westminster School, and then Exeter College, Oxford, [2] gaining a First Class degree. [3]

Her acting career started at Oxford, where she played Irina in a student production of Three Sisters at the Oxford Playhouse. After graduating, she enrolled at RADA, and while there had her first professional work, playing Sally Bowles in Cabaret at the Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich. [4] In 1982 she also appeared in her first film, Privileged .

Stubbs graduated from RADA in the same class as Jane Horrocks [5] and Iain Glen, and later became an Associate Member of RADA.

Career

In the 1980s Stubbs achieved success on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, notably as Desdemona in Othello , which was directed by Trevor Nunn. Other stage work includes Saint Joan at the Strand Theatre and Heartbreak House at the Haymarket, and in 1997 she played in a London production of A Streetcar Named Desire .

In 1988, Stubbs was a notable Ursula Brangwen in a BBC serialization of The Rainbow , and in 1993 and 1994 had the title role in Anna Lee . She played Lucy Steele in Sense and Sensibility (1995).

In July 2004, Stubbs's play We Happy Few , directed by Trevor Nunn and starring Juliet Stevenson and Marcia Warren, opened at the Gielgud Theatre, London, after a try-out in Malvern. [6] In September 2008 Reader's Digest announced that she had joined the magazine as a contributing editor and writer of adventure stories. [7]

Personal life

In 1994, Stubbs married Trevor Nunn. [8] The couple have two children: [9] a son and a daughter, Ellie Nunn, who is also an actress. [10] In April 2011, Stubbs announced that she and her husband were separating. [11] Her partner is Jonathan Guy Lewis. [2] [3]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982 Privileged Imogen
1986 Nanou Nanou
1988 A Summer Story Megan David
1989 Erik the Viking Princess Aud
1991 True Colors Diana Stiles
1991The WandererNarratorVoice
1994 A Pin for the Butterfly Mother
1995 Jack and Sarah Sarah
1995 Sense & Sensibility Lucy Steele
1996 Twelfth Night Viola
2003CollusionMary Dolphin
2004 Dead Cool Henny
2011BabysittingMrs. WollenbergShort
2014InsomniacsAliceShort
2016Stake OutSallyShort
2017Kew GardensIsabellaShort, post-production
2018 London Unplugged Isabella Anthology film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985The Browning VersionMrs. GilbertTV film
1988 The Rainbow Ursula BrangwenTV miniseries
1988 Deadline Lady Romy BurtonTV film
1990Fellow TravellerSarah AtchisonIn the Screen Two series
1990Relatively SpeakingGinny WhittakerTV film
1990PasternakLara / Olga (voice)TV film
1990 Theatre Night Desdemona"Othello"
1992Sandra, c'est la vieMarieTV film
1992 Performance Helen Banner"After the Dance"
1993Anna Lee: HeadcaseAnna LeeTV film
1994 Anna Lee Anna LeeMain role
19961914–1918(voice)"Total War"
1997 Screen Two Suzie"Mothertime"
2000Blind AmbitionAnnie ThomasTV film
2000 Big Kids Sarah SpillerMain role
2001Lee Evans: So What Now?Chloe"Sofa So Good"
2002Township OperaNarratorTV film
2005 Casualty Chloe Greer"Running out of Kisses"
2006 Agatha Christie's Marple Mona Symmington"The Moving Finger"
2006 Brief Encounters Sonia"Semi-Detached"
2009 New Tricks Lotte Davenport"Shadow Show"
2010The Adventures of DanielMrs. WallaceTV film
2011 Injustice Gemma Lawrence"1.4", "1.5"
2012 Doctors Miranda Payne"High-Flyer"
2012 Parents Isabelle Hopkins"1.3"
2012 Switch Esme"1.6"
2017 Holby City Evelyn Chapman"It Has to be Now"
2018 Death in Paradise Valerie O'Toole"7.3"
2021 Midsomer Murders Tamara Deddington "21.3 – The Sting of Death"
2023 The Crown Anne Tennant, Baroness Glenconner Season 6, episode 8: "Ritz"

Theatre

YearTitleRoleCompany
1985 Cabaret Sally Bowles Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
1985 The Boyfriend Polly Browne Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
1986 The Rover Helena Swan Theatre, Stratford
1986 Two Noble Kinsmen Gaoler's daughter The Other Place, Stratford
1987 Richard II Queen IsabelSwan Theatre, Stratford
1989 Othello DesdemonaThe Other Place, Stratford [12]
1992 Heartbreak House Ellie Theatre Royal, Haymarket
1994 Saint Joan Joan Strand Theatre
1994 Uncle Vanya Yelena Chichester Festival
1996 A Streetcar Named Desire StellaTheatre Royal, Haymarket
1998 Closer Anna Lyric Theatre, London
1998 Betrayal Emma National Theatre
2001 The Relapse AmandaNational Theatre
2002 Three Sisters Masha Theatre Royal, Bath (and tour)
2003Mum's the WordLinda Albery Theatre
2004 Hamlet Gertrude The Old Vic
2006 Duchess of Malfi Duchess West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds
2008 Scenes from a Marriage Marianne Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
2009Alphabetical OrderLucy Hampstead Theatre
2010 The Glass Menagerie Amanda Shared Experience
2011 Private Lives Amanda Manchester Royal Exchange
2011 Little Eyolf Rita Jermyn Street Theatre, London
2011Salt, Root and RoeMenna Trafalgar Studios, London [13] [14] [15] [16]
2012 Orpheus Descending Lady Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester [17] [18]
2013Third Finger, Left HandNiamh Trafalgar Studios, London
2013 Strangers on a Train Elsie Gielgud Theatre, London [19]
2014Little RevolutionSarah / various Almeida Theatre, London [20]
2014The HypochondriacBelineTouring, [21]
2015 Communicating Doors Ruella Menier Theatre, London [22]
2016 Things I Know to be True Fran PriceFrantic Assembly
2018The Be All and End AllCharlotte York Theatre Royal [2]
2022 Clybourne Park Bev/Kathy Park Theatre
2023 The Children RoseTheatre Royal Bury St Edmunds [3]
2023Three Acts of LoveDr Fiona McGillLive Theatre, Newcastle [23]

Other projects and contributions

Related Research Articles

Barbara Jane Horrocks is a British actress. She portrayed the roles of Bubble and Katy Grin in the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. She was nominated for the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Actress for the title role in the stage play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, and received Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for the role in the film version of Little Voice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal National Theatre</span> Theatre in London, England

The Royal National Theatre of Great Britain, commonly known as the National Theatre (NT) within the UK and as the National Theatre of Great Britain internationally, is a performing arts venue and associated theatre company located in London, England. The theatre was founded by the actor Laurence Olivier in 1963, and many well-known actors have performed with it since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Shakespeare Company</span> British theatre company

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratford-upon-Avon, and on tour across the UK and internationally.

Sir Trevor Robert Nunn is an English theatre director. He has been the artistic director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal Haymarket. He has directed dramas for the stage, including Macbeth, as well as opera and musicals, such as Cats (1981) and Les Misérables (1985).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiona Shaw</span> Irish actress (born 1958)

Fiona Shaw is an Irish film and theatre actress. She did extensive work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, as well as in film and television. In 2020, she was listed at No. 29 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors. She was made an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peggy Ashcroft</span> English actress (1907–1991)

Dame Edith Margaret Emily Ashcroft, known professionally as Peggy Ashcroft, was an English actress whose career spanned more than 60 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francesca Annis</span> English actress

Francesca Annis is an English actress. She is known for television roles in Reckless (1998), Wives and Daughters (1999), Deceit (2000), and Cranford (2007). A six-time BAFTA TV Award nominee, she won the 1979 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for the ITV serial Lillie. Her film appearances include Krull (1983), Dune (1984), The Debt Collector (1999), and The Libertine (2004).

Claire Skinner is an English actress, known in the United Kingdom for her television career, particularly playing Sue Brockman from the BBC television series Outnumbered. She is also known for her collaboration with director Mike Leigh on two of his films, Life is Sweet (1990) and Naked (1993).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glen Byam Shaw</span> English actor and theatre director

Glencairn Alexander "Glen" Byam Shaw, was an English actor and theatre director, known for his dramatic productions in the 1950s and his operatic productions in the 1960s and later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indira Varma</span> British actress and narrator

Indira Anne Varma is a British actress and narrator. Her film debut and first major role was in Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joyce Redman</span> Actress

Joyce Olivia Redman was an Anglo-Irish actress. She received two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in the 1963 film Tom Jones and the 1965 film Othello.

Lisa Dillon is an English actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Jefford</span> British actress (1930–2020)

Barbara Mary Jefford, OBE was a British actress, best known for her theatrical performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Old Vic and the National Theatre and her role as Molly Bloom in the 1967 film of James Joyce's Ulysses.

Thelma Holt is a British theatre producer and former actress.

We Happy Few is a 2004 play by Imogen Stubbs. It follows a group of female actors touring Shakespeare plays round the United Kingdom during World War II. It is based on Nancy Hewins' touring group, the Osiris Players. Its title quotes the St Crispin's Day Speech from Henry V.

Jonathan Goldstein was an English music composer for film, television, advertising, theatre, and live events. His work encompassed a range of contemporary classical styles with orchestral, jazz, electro-acoustic, and world influences.

Othello is a 1990 film produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, starring Ian McKellen, Willard White, Imogen Stubbs, and Zoë Wanamaker. It is based on a stage production of William Shakespeare's play Othello, directed by Trevor Nunn, and later rethought for TV and filmed in a studio. It was shot in a black box theater, so minimal props or scenery were needed, and aired 23 June 1990 on Theatre Night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siobhan Daly</span> British producer and artistic director

Siobhán Daly is a British producer and artistic director.

Ellie Nunn is an English actress. She is the daughter of director Sir Trevor Nunn and actress Imogen Stubbs.

Margaret Nancy Hewins was a British theatre director and actress. She founded the first all-woman theatre troupe who toured the UK presenting Shakespeare particularly to schools.

References

  1. Edmonds, Mark (31 March 2013), "The world's fastest interview", The Sunday Times Magazine , p. 7
  2. 1 2 3 Weale, Sally (20 April 2018). "Imogen Stubbs laments 'awful treadmill' of UK education system". The Guardian .
  3. 1 2 3 Harvey, Chris; Stubbs, Imogen (25 February 2023). "'It's become less and less acceptable to age' – The Saturday Interview: The actress tells Chris Harvey about her bohemian childhood on a boat, marriage to her former husband director Trevor Nunn and her distaste for plastic surgery". Daily Telegraph .
  4. Barnett, Laura (9 March 2010). "Imogen Stubbs, actor". The Guardian . London. p. G2-23.
  5. Pelley, Rich (30 November 2023). "Jane Horrocks: 'I'd love to be a baddie in a Tarantino movie'". The Guardian .
  6. Taylor, Paul (6 July 2004). "We Happy Few". The Independent . London. Retrieved 15 September 2008.[ dead link ]
  7. Carter, Meg (15 September 2008). "Digest revamped". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  8. Montague-Smith, Patrick (1970). Debrett's Correct Form . Headline. pp. 76–77. ISBN   0-7472-0658-9.
  9. "Nunn, Sir Trevor (Robert)". Who's Who . Oxford, England: A & C Black. 2011.
  10. Taylor, Interviews by Jeremy (10 January 2018). "Relative Values: the actress Imogen Stubbs, and her daughter, Ellie Nunn". The Times. London. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  11. "Imogen Stubbs and Sir Trevor Nunn separate after 21 years". The Daily Telegraph. London. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  12. Dickson, Andrew (11 July 2016). "Willard White on playing Othello: 'I broke down – I considered walking away'". The Guardian .
  13. "Stubbs, Imogen Mary, (Lady Nunn)". Who's Who . Oxford, England: A & C Black. 2011.
  14. Trowbridge, Simon (2008). "Imogen Stubbs". Stratfordians: a biographical dictionary of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Oxford, England: Editions Albert Creed. p. 475. ISBN   978-0-9559830-1-6.
  15. Gardner, Lynn (8 March 2011). "Private Lives – review". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  16. Coveney, Michael (9 May 2011). "Little Eyolf, Jermyn Street Theatre, London". The Independent . Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  17. "The Stage / Listings / Orpheus Descending" . Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  18. "Autumn – the Royal Exchange Theatre". Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  19. "Strangers on a Train, Based on Novel, to Star Laurence Fox and Jack Huston at London's Gielgud Theatre". playbill.com. Playbill. 20 September 2013. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  20. "Cast, Little Revolution, Almeida Theatre". Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  21. "Theatre Royal Bath – What's On". Theatre Royal Bath. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  22. Lawrence, Ben. "Communicating Doors, Menier Chocolate Factory". The Daily Telegraph . London. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  23. Fisher, Mark (8 December 2023). "Three Acts of Love review – pain and pleasure in a trio straight from the heart". The Guardian .