Jill Baker

Last updated

Jill Baker
Born
Gillian Mary Baker

1952 (age 7071)
OccupationActress
Years active1975–present
Spouse
(m. 1982;died 1999)
Children3

Jill Baker (born 1952) is a British actress who has worked extensively in theatre and television for 50 years.

Contents

Personal life

Baker is a graduate of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

She and actor Bob Peck were married for 17 years, from 1982 until his death, in 1999. They had three children. [1]

Career

She made her debut in the TV movie Savages in 1975 and has worked steadily on television and theatre since. [2] Her theatre work includes Sufficient Carbohydrate by Denis Potter, Goosepimples, Mike Leigh, All My Sons, all in the West End and the premiere of The Secret Rapture in 1988. [3] She has also been working as an actress in British television since 1975. [4] Along with playing a recurring lead character in Rides , Screaming and Fish , she has made cameo appearances in individual episodes of Blore M.P, The Professionals (1980), Only Fools and Horses ( 1981 ), Me and My Girl (1983), "Last Bus to Woodstock" (An Inspector Morse TV-Mystery) (1988), Tales of Sherwood Forest (1989), Prime Suspect (1995), The Girl (1996) as Anne Thornton, The Broker's Man (1997–98) as Claudette Monro-Foster, The Vanishing Man (1998) as Dr. Jeffries, , Perfect Strangers (2001), New Tricks (2003), A Touch of Frost (2004), Secret Smile (2005), Waking the Dead , Holby City , (2007), Spooks (2008) and Wallander , Episode 1 in 2008. [4] [5] She has also appeared as Lady de Lesseps in Shakespeare in Love . [4] In 2009 she appeared in the ITV Drama Whatever It Takes , In 2011 she appeared in the ITV Drama Midsomer Murders "Not in My Back Yard" as Eleanor Swanscombe. [4] [6] In 2014, she appeared in Happy Valley as Helen Gallagher. [7] Baker appeared in Only Fools and Horses in the episode "The Second Time Around", as Del Boy (David Jason)'s ex-fiancée, Pauline Harris. [8]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987 Hope and Glory Faith
1998 Shakespeare in Love Lady De Lesseps
2004That Time of Year...JosephineShort film
2006 Notes on a Scandal Sheba's Mother
2011 Salmon Fishing in the Yemen Betty
2012 John Carter Additional VoiceVoice
2012 Tower Block Violet
2016A Lighthouse in Breaking WavesAliveShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975SavagesAngela SmithTelevision film
1975 Get Some In! AgnesEpisode: "36-Hour Pass"
1977 The Cedar Tree Vendeuse2 episodes
1980 The Gentle Touch ConnieEpisode: "Menaces"
1980 The Professionals AmandaEpisode: "Hijack"
1981 Only Fools and Horses Pauline HarrisEpisode: "The Second Time Around"
1982 We'll Meet Again MavisEpisode: "Up the Smoke"
1982 Arena Actress in PlayEpisode: "Mike Leigh Making Plays"
1983 BBC Television Shakespeare Lady MacduffEpisode: "Macbeth"
1984 Me and My Girl Kim TracyEpisode: "Design for Living"
1984On the ShelfJackieTelevision film
1987Harry's KingdomJilly KingTelevision film
1988 Inspector Morse Jennifer ColebyEpisode: "Last Bus to Woodstock"
1988 Boon Mrs. HainsEpisode: "The Devil You Know"
1989 ScreenPlay Jilly TaylorEpisode: "Testimony of a Child"
1989Tales of Sherwood ForestSarah7 episodes
1989 Screen One Priscilla BloreEpisode: "Blore M.P."
1992 Screaming Rachael8 episodes
1992–1993 Rides Patrice Jenner12 episodes
1994 In Suspicious Circumstances Elizabeth EarleEpisode: "Death Scene"
1994EllenMrs. Thompson (as Gill Baker)Episode: "The Toast"
1995 Prime Suspect Maria HenryEpisode: "Prime Suspect: Inner Circles"
1995 Chandler & Co Edith CothamEpisode: "No Tomorrow"
1996The GirlAnne ThorntonTelevision film
1998March in Windy CityDr. Prudence CoxTelevision film
1997–1998 The Broker's Man Claudette Monro-Foster8 episodes
1998 The Vanishing Man Dr. Jeffries2 episodes
2000 Fish Sarah Cornice6 episodes
2001 The Bill Lisa Sharp2 episodes
2001 Perfect Strangers Esther3 episodes
2003 New Tricks Gaynor WringerEpisode: "The Chinese Job"
2003 Real Men Julie FergusonTelevision film
2003 Jonathan Creek Donna HenryEpisode: "The Tailor's Dummy"
2003 Canterbury Tales Mrs. NormanEpisode: "The Pardoner's Tale"
2004 A Touch of Frost Elizabeth RichfordEpisode: "Dancing in the Dark"
2004BelongingCathyTelevision film
2004 Rosemary & Thyme Val ReevesEpisode: "Swords into Ploughshares"
2005 Secret Smile Marcia Cotton2 episodes
2007 Walking the Dead Dr. Caroline Ritter2 episodes
2007 Sea of Souls Annie Rubenstein2 episodes
2007 Heartbeat Shirley DekinEpisode: "Where There's Smoke"
2008 Wallander Anita CarlmanEpisode: "Sidetracked"
2008 Spooks Rachel BeauchampEpisode: #7.6
2009 Above Suspicion Mrs KenworthEpisode: "Part 1"
2009 Whatever It Takes EstelleTelevision film
2011 Midsomer Murders Eleanor SwanscombeEpisode: "Not in My Back Yard"
2011 Law & Order: UK Margaret RumsfieldEpisode: "Intent"
2007–2011 Holby City Nancy Overbeck

Sister John

2 episodes
2013 Doctors Corinne GoughEpisode: "Heston's Last Testament"
2014–2015 EastEnders Margot Summerhayes2 episodes
2014–2016 Happy Valley Helen Gallagher7 episodes
2016 To Walk Invisible: The Brontë Sisters Aunt BranwellTelevision film
2015, 2020 Casualty Rosie Allen

Theresa Ashby

2 episodes
2022 Doc Martin Professor Judy PhillipsEpisode: "Return to Sender"

Related Research Articles

Anne Gwendolyn "Wendy" Craig is an English actress who is best known for her appearances in the sitcoms Not in Front of the Children, ...And Mother Makes Three, ...And Mother Makes Five and Butterflies. She played the role of Matron in the TV series The Royal (2003–2011).

Philippa Jane Haywood is an English actress. She won the 2005 Rose d'Or Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for Green Wing (2004–2006). Her other television credits include The Brittas Empire (1991–1997), Chimera (1991) Prisoners' Wives (2012–2013) and Scott & Bailey (2012–2016). In 2018, she played the role of Lorraine Craddock in the BBC television series Bodyguard. In 2019 she appeared in series 4 of the BBC Radio 4 Show The Pin.

Michael James, known professionally as Michael Jayston, is an English actor. He played Nicholas II of Russia in the film Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). He has also made many television appearances, which have included playing the Valeyard in all fourteen episodes of the Doctor Who serial The Trial of a Time Lord (1986) and appearing in the Only Fools and Horses episode "Time on Our Hands" (1996) as Raquel's father, James.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Thompson</span> British actress (born 1962)

Sophie Thompson is a British actress. She has worked in film, television and theatre and she won the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the London revival of Into the Woods. She has been nominated for the Olivier Award five other times for Wildest Dreams (1994), Company (1996), Clybourne Park (2011) Guys and Dolls (2016) and Present Laughter (2019).

Gwyneth Strong is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Cassandra, the love interest and, later, wife of Rodney, in Only Fools and Horses (1989-2003), and for playing Geraldine Clough in seven episodes of EastEnders in 2016. She has also appeared in Shadows (1975), Angels (1976), Crown Court and Z-Cars, Play for Today (1980-1984) and Silent Witness (1996).

Louise Elizabeth Goddard professionally known as Liza Goddard, is an English television and stage actress, best known for her work in the 1970s and 1980s.

Kate Ashfield is an English actress and screenwriter, who has appeared in stage, TV and film roles, most famously in her role as Liz in the 2004 zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead. She is the co-writer of the 2017 TV series Born to Kill.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haydn Gwynne</span> British actress (1957–2023)

Haydn Gwynne was an English actress. She was nominated for the 1992 BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance for the comedy series Drop the Dead Donkey (1990–1991), and won the 2009 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical. She was also a four-time Olivier Award nominee. Her other television roles included Peak Practice (1999–2000), Merseybeat (2001–2002), and playing Camilla in The Windsors (2016–2023).

Rita Gemma Craven is an Irish actress. She is best known for her role as Joan Parker, the frigid wife of Arthur, in the BBC TV drama Pennies From Heaven (1978).

Margaret "Maggie" O'Neill is an English actress. She is known for her television roles in Peak Practice (2000–2002), Shameless (2004–2007) and EastEnders (2008) then Two Doors Down as Sandra. In 1986 she appeared in the music video for Simply Red's single "Holding Back The Years". In 1988, she appeared in the film Gorillas in the Mist.

Ella Jane Kenion is an English actress, known primarily for her appearances in comedy shows such as The Catherine Tate Show, Five's sketch shows We Know Where You Live and Swinging, and in BBC Four's Fear of Fanny. However she is best known for her portrayal of Mrs. Cakeworthy in The Green Green Grass between 2005 and 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owen Teale</span> Welsh actor (born 1961)

Owen Teale is a Welsh character actor having appeared in many films, including Robin Hood (1991), The Hawk (1993), King Arthur (2004), The Last Legion (2007), Tolkien (2019), and Dream Horse (2020). On television, he has appeared in Doctor Who (1985), David Copperfield (1986), The Thin Blue Line (1995), Ballykissangel (1999), Line of Duty (2012), Stella (2012–2013), A Discovery of Witches (2018–2022), and The Rig (2023).

Sean Gallagher is a British actor, best known for his role of Paul Connor in Coronation Street.

Robert Daws is an English actor, and crime fiction author. He is best known for his television roles, including Tuppy Glossop in Jeeves and Wooster (1990–93), gruff cricketer Roger Dervish in the comedy Outside Edge (1994–96), mini-cab firm owner Sam in the sitcom Roger Roger (1996–2003), and East Yorkshire GP Dr Gordon Ormerod in the period medical drama The Royal (2003–11).

<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).

Cathryn Bradshaw is an English actress known for her role in Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit.

Fiona Glascott is an Irish actress. She is best known for portraying a young Minerva McGonagall in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, a spin-off of the Harry Potter film series.

Marlene Sidaway is a British television, film and theatre actress best known for playing Brenda Taylor in the long-running soap opera Coronation Street.

References

  1. "Obituary: Bob Peck" . The Independent. 9 April 1999. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022.
  2. "Jill Baker". IMDb.
  3. "CalmView: Overview". catalogue.nationaltheatre.org.uk.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Jill Baker". BFI. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016.
  5. "Jill Baker". www.lifeinlegacy.com.
  6. "Midsomer Murders | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  7. "BBC One - Happy Valley, Series 1, Episode 1, Who lives in a valley like this? - Helen Gallagher". BBC.
  8. "Only Fools and Horses - S1 - Episode 4: The Second Time Around". Radio Times.