Jessica Harris (actress)

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Jessica Harris
Born1981 (age 4243)
Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
OccupationActress
Years active1980s–present

Jessica Harris (born 1981) is an English actress.

Background

Jessica Harris was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England to Miles and Jo Harris. She grew up in the nearby towns of Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall, and attended Calder High School in Mytholmroyd. She graduated from the Calderdale College in Halifax with a National Diploma in Performing Arts. She later attended the Arts Educational School in London on a scholarship. [1]

Contents

Career

Harris made her television debut in the late 1980s when she appeared in the children's educational series How We Used to Live , produced by Yorkshire Television. She later appeared in other Yorkshire series, such as Heartbeat . [1]

She has had other major television roles in Linda Green (as Katy Green), Burn It (as Kelly) and Thieves Like Us (as Mel). On stage, she has appeared in Bottle Universe (October–November 2005, Bush Theatre), Wuthering Heights (York Theatre Royal, June 2007) and The Pornographer Diaries (Edinburgh, August 2007). In 2009, she played Desdemona in a national tour of Othello , opposite Lenny Henry. [1] [2] Her performance in Othello was praised by Kate Kellaway of The Observer , who described her as "charming". [3]

Harris has appeared in the ITV police drama The Bill three times. She first appeared in 2002 as Karen Best, the sister of cast regular PC Gary Best. The role was a recurring one and she appeared in a number of episodes for a year. She next appeared in 2007 as an inmate who has an affair with a prison officer. Harris's most recent role in the series came in 2009 when she appeared as Kathy Merrill, a sister of murder victim.

Television

YearTitleRoleOther notes
1995 Heartbeat Vicki1 episode: "Sophie's Choice"
1998HeartbeatMaureen Dodds1 episode: "Love Me Do"
The Broker's Man Jane1 episode: "Kith and Kin"
2000 Cold Feet Student Two1 episode: Series 3, Episode 2
Fat Friends Joanne SimpsonRecurring role
2001 Peak Practice Teri1 episode: Series 12, Episode 1
Linda Green Katy GreenRecurring role, 9 episodes, 2001–2002
2002 Holby City Kate McIntyre1 episode: "The Love That Binds"
Sparkhouse Tessa Gillespie
The Bill Karen Best4 episodes, 2002–2003
2003HeartbeatKelley1 episode: "The High Life"
Burn It KellyMain cast member
2004 The Royal Shirley Baird1 episode: "Hold on Tight"
Doctors Jess Simons1 episode: "Run Baby Run"
Conviction Hayley Bryant1 episode: Series 1, Episode 3
2006Holby CityKerry Peters2 episodes: "I Am Not What I Am" and "Conscience"
Wire in the Blood Sally Hayter1 episode: "Time to Murder and Create"
DoctorsKatrina Thompson1 episode: "Year of the Rat"
Strictly Confidential Vicky Melton1 episode: Episode 3
2007The BillEvie Barnes1 episode
Thieves Like Us MelRecurring role
2009 Being Human Becca 1 episode: Series 1, Episode 1
The Inbetweeners Michelle1 episode: "Will's Birthday"
HeartbeatRuthie Abbott1 episode: "Cashing In"
The BillKathy Merrill1 episode: "Twist of Fate"
2012StarlingsKatieRecurring role

Theatre

YearTitleRoleDirectorPerformance history
2005Bottle UniverseLauren Sue Dunderdale Bush Theatre, 12 October–12 November 2005 [4]
2006 Billy Liar Rita Phil Wilmott Made in Liverpool/Liverpool Playhouse, 3–25 February 2006 [5]
2007 Cocoa Girl Chris White Theatre 503, 20 April–5 May 2007 [6]
Wuthering Heights Catherine Earnshaw/LintonSue DunderdaleTheatre Royal, York, 2–23 June 2007 [7]
The Pornographer Diaries Female roles Kate McCarthy Have a Word Productions/C venues, Edinburgh Festival, 1–27 August 2007. [8]
2008 Harper Regan Justine Ross Marianne Elliott National/Cottesloe Theatre, 16 April–9 August 2008
2009 Othello Desdemona Barrie Rutter West Yorkshire Playhouse, national tour, February–December 2009.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Working with Lenny Henry is a serious business". Halifax Courier. 28 January 2009. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  2. Hawkins, Pauline (26 January 2009). "I'm playing Lenny Henry's missus: Hebden Bridge actress gets big Othello break with star". Halifax Courier. Johnston Press. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. Kellaway, Kate (20 September 2009). "The Shawl, The Shawshank Redemption, Othello". The Guardian.
  4. Thaxter, John (17 October 2005). "Bottle Universe". The Stage. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  5. Baldock, Carole (9 February 2006). "Billy Liar. The Stage. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  6. Smith, Alistair (23 April 2007). "Cocoa. The Stage. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  7. Berry, Kevin (6 June 2007). "Wuthering Heights. The Stage. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  8. Austin, Jeremy (7 August 2007). "The Pornographer Diaries. The Stage. Retrieved 26 January 2009.