Jessica Plummer

Last updated

Jessica Plummer
Jessica Plummer 2019.jpg
Plummer in 2019
Born
Jessica Kate Plummer

(1992-09-16) 16 September 1992 (age 32)
London, England
Alma mater Identity School of Acting
Occupations
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • actress
Years active2012–present
Children1

Jessica Kate Plummer (born 16 September 1992) [1] is an English actress and singer. From 2013 to 2015, she was a member of the British girl group Neon Jungle, with whom she released an album that peaked at number eight on the UK Albums Chart. She is also known for her roles as Chantelle Atkins in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2019–2020) and as Emma in the BBC drama series The Girl Before (2021) for which she was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Contents

Aside from her singing and acting career, Plummer has also ventured into reality television; she appeared in the twentieth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2020.

Early life

Plummer was born in London on 16 September 1992 to a Jamaican father and English mother. [2] She went to Burntwood School [3] and the Hayes School for secondary education. [4]

Career

In November 2012, music manager David Cooper began a three-month process of auditions for a new girl group to be signed to RCA Records UK. Plummer, as well as Amira McCarthy, were separately scouted while shopping in London, while Shereen Cutkelvin and Asami Zdrenka were found via their solo YouTube videos. In February 2013, it was announced that Plummer, alongside Cutkelvin, McCarthy, and Zdrenka made the line-up of new British girl group Neon Jungle. [5] [6] They chose the name Neon Jungle, which was derived from their song "Welcome to the Jungle", to reflect that the members were "all individual and quite different". [7] According to Plummer, "it's like neon is bold, bright, strong individual characters and then the jungle part is the madness". [8] In July 2013, Neon Jungle released their debut single "Trouble", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 12 and reached the top 10 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart. [9]

In October 2013, Plummer, with Neon Jungle, supported Jessie J on select dates of her Alive Tour. The following month, the group performed at the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. [10] [11] Also in October 2013, Plummer made her television debut in British science fantasy television series Wizards vs Aliens as Chloe Martin. [12] She portrayed the role for two episodes. In November 2013, Neon Jungle's second single, "Braveheart", was released in the UK. The song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and at number 19 on the ARIA charts. On 28 July 2014, Neon Jungle released their debut album Welcome to the Jungle , which entered the UK Albums Chart at number eight. [13] The album also entered the ARIA charts, debuting at number 48. On 6 July 2015, Neon Jungle announced via their Facebook page that they were disbanding. [14] [15]

In November 2015, it was announced that Plummer has joined the cast of John Cameron Mitchell's directed romantic-comedy film How to Talk to Girls at Parties opposite Ruth Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning and Matt Lucas. [16] It premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival in May 2017. [17] [18] In March 2019, Plummer joined the BBC soap opera EastEnders , portraying the role of Chantelle Atkins. [19] While on the soap, her character was involved in a high-profile domestic abuse storyline, with her on-screen husband Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) abusing Chantelle. In September 2020, it was announced that as part of the storyline, Gray would murder Chantelle, in order to reflect the mortality rates displayed in abusive relationships and highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence. [20]

In November 2020, Plummer began competing in the twentieth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here . [1] She became the sixth celebrity to be eliminated alongside Russell Watson on 1 December 2020. [21] Plummer starred as Emma in the 2021 miniseries The Girl Before , which earned her nominations for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress and for Drama Performance at the 27th National Television Awards. [22] [23]

Personal life

In July 2016, Plummer gave birth to a daughter. [1]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013 Wizards vs Aliens Chloe Martin2 episodes
ReflectionsKaitlinShort film
2017 How to Talk to Girls at Parties CeliaFilm
2019–2020 EastEnders Chantelle Atkins Series regular; 127 episodes
2020 EastEnders: Secrets from the Square HerselfEpisode: "Karen, Chantelle and Gray"
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! Series 20 contestant
2021 The Girl Before Emma MatthewsMain role
2023 The After AmandaShort film; main role
2024 The Decameron FilomenaTV series
2025 Missing You Stacey EmbaloTV series; main role

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2019 TV Choice Awards Best Soap NewcomerEastEndersNominated [24]
2019 Inside Soap Awards Best NewcomerEastEndersShortlisted [25]
2019I Talk Telly AwardsBest Soap NewcomerEastEndersNominated [26]
2019 Digital Spy Reader Awards Best Soap NewcomerEastEndersSecond [27]
2020TV Choice AwardsBest Soap ActressEastEndersNominated [28]
2020I Talk Telly AwardsBest Soap Partnership (shared with Toby-Alexander Smith)EastEndersNominated [29]
2020Inside Soap AwardsBest ActressEastEndersWon [30]
2020Digital Spy Reader AwardsBest Soap Female ActorEastEndersWon [31]
2022 British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actress The Girl BeforeNominated [22]
2022 27th National Television Awards Drama PerformanceThe Girl BeforeNominated [32]
2022 National Film Awards UK Best Supporting Actress in a TV SeriesThe Girl BeforeNominated [33]

See also

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References

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