Laura Main

Last updated

Laura Main
Born (1981-03-08) 8 March 1981 (age 43)
Aberdeen, Scotland
EducationUniversity of Aberdeen, MA History of Art, 1998
OccupationActress
Years active2002–present
Notable workCall the Midwife
Height157 cm (5 ft 2 in)
PartnerStephen McGlynn (2012-2017)
Parents
  • Robert Main (father)
  • Lorna (mother)
RelativesRona (sister) Julia (sister)

Laura Main (born 8 March 1981) is a Scottish actress known for her role as Sister Bernadette and, later, Nurse Shelagh Turner in the BBC One drama series Call the Midwife . [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Laura Main was born in Aberdeen in 1977. Her father, Robert, was a fish merchant and her mother, Lorna, was a primary school teacher turned housewife. She has two older sisters, a niece, and two nephews. [2]

Laura Main went to school at the Hazlehead Academy [3] and took dance lessons at the Danscentre in Aberdeen. [4] She then studied history at the University of Aberdeen, gaining an MA History of Art in 1998 before starting drama school at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. [5]

Career

Main started performing in musical theatre at the age of 13 when she landed the role of Annie with Phoenix Youth Theatre. [1] [6] At age 15 she debuted in the role of Louisa von Trapp in a stage production of The Sound of Music. At university she performed as part of the musical society Treading the Boards in Aberdeen. [7] She has performed on stage in several productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2011 she appeared in the Stephen Sondheim musical Company.

In 2011 she was cast as Sister Bernadette in the hit BBC series Call the Midwife . [8] Main features as a soloist in several tracks on the Call the Midwife album released in February 2013. In November 2015 Main won the Children in Need Strictly Come Dancing special with dancer Brendan Cole.

In 2017, Main was cast in the lead role of Princess Fiona, in the second UK tour of Shrek The Musical . Main shared the role with The X Factor contestant Amelia Lily. Main's first performance was on 12 December 2017, at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

From January 2023, Main starred as M'lynn in a production of Steel Magnolias at the Richmond Theatre, London. Main appeared alongside Lucy Speed, Diana Vickers, Caroline Harker and Elizabeth Ayodele. [9] [10] The production, going on to tour the UK, was rated 2/5 stars by What's on Stage. [11]

In February 2024, Main will star in Chris Chibnall’s new play, One Last Push, at Salisbury Playhouse. [12] [13]

Filmography

YearFilm/TVRoleNotes
2002 Is Harry on the Boat? Rival Club RepTV series (1 episode)
2003 The Forsyte Saga: To Let Mary McKenzieTV mini-series (1 episode)
Trevor's World of Sport NurseTV series (2 episodes)
2004 Monarch of the Glen Jaynie CresswellTV series (1 episode: #6.4)
Murder City DC Alison BainTV series (10 episodes, 2004–2006)
2007 Holby City Julia MasonTV series (1 episode: "After the Fall")
2010The Invisible Atomic Monsters from MarsBethFilm
Rob and Valentyna in ScotlandWaitress in PubShort
2011 Holby City Deirdre HunterTV series (1 episode: "What You Mean by Home")
Doctors Amanda LuckhurstTV series (1 episode: "Lasso the Moon")
2012–present Call the Midwife Sister Bernadette (Nun)

Shelagh Turner (Nurse)

TV series (101 episodes)
2013Dead CatEttaFilm
2014 The Mill Rebecca HowlettTV series (Series 2: 6 episodes)
2014 Father Brown Dorothy UnderwoodTV series (1 episode: "The Maddest of All")
2016 Doctors Kate WilkinsonTV series (1 episode: "Living Together")
2022 Roots & Fruits Pak Choi (voice)TV series (26 episodes) Children's animation

Theatre

YearPlay titleRoleNotes
1990 Annie Annie [6] Aberdeen Arts Centre
1992 The Sound of Music Louisa von Trapp [14] His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen
1996 Aberdeen Student Show: The Good, the Bad and the Buttery [15] His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen
1997 Aberdeen Student Show: Scaffie SocietyJudy Free [15] His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen
1998 Aberdeen Student Show: From Rubislaw with LoveShauna Connery [15] His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen
2001 Company Amy
Alice in WonderlandEdith/Eaglet (understudy Alice) [16] Royal Shakespeare Company
2002 As You Like It Phebe, a shepherdess [17] Regents Park Open Air Theatre
Romeo and Juliet Juliet [18] Regents Park Open Air Theatre
2006 Young Woodley MaudeFinborough Theatre
Tea and Sympathy Laura ReynoldsFinborough Theatre
2007All I Want For ChristmasIrina VanevskayaUpstairs at the Gatehouse
2008On the Island of AarsMorag McMacPleasance Islington and Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh
2009 State Fair Margy FrakeFinborough Theatre
Super Alice SmithCarlyTrafalgar Studios
2010 State Fair Margy FrakeTrafalgar Studios
Me and Juliet JeanieFinborough Theatre
2011 Company SusanSouthwark Playhouse
2012Robin HoodMaid MarianQueen's Theatre Barnstaple
2013The Lost DragonHarlow Playhouse
2018 Shrek the Musical Princess Fiona UK tour
2019Cinderella Fairy Godmother His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen
2023Steel Magnolias M'Lynn Eatenton 2023 UK & Ireland Tour
2024One Last PushJenSalisbury Playhouse

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References

  1. 1 2 "Call The Midwife Album Laura Main Interview". Female First. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "The Midwife called and actress answered". Tribune News Service. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2018– via PressReader.
  3. ↑ "Aberdeen actress stars in new BBC TV series". Evening . 14 January 2012. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Past pupils and alumni at danscentre". danscentre. Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  5. ↑ Hendry, Steve (3 February 2013). "Call the Midwife star Laura Main: Playing Sister Bernadette has been the answer to my prayers". Daily Record . Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Aberdeen theatre company celebrates 25 years of top talent - Evening Express". Evening Express. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  7. ↑ "Laura Main". IMDb .
  8. ↑ "My lovestruck nun's been a gift from God, says TV star Laura Main". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Anson, John (23 December 2022). "Diana Vickers back on stage as Steel Magnolias tours the UK". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  10. ↑ Wood, Alex (22 November 2022). "Cast for Steel Magnolias tour announced". What's on Stage. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  11. ↑ Satin, Ella (27 January 2023). "Steel Magnolias at Richmond Theatre and on tour – review". What's on Stage. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  12. ↑ "One Last Push". www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk.
  13. ↑ "Full cast announced for One Last Push at Salisbury Playhouse". www.theatreweekly.com. 4 January 2024.
  14. ↑ "Laura Main". Spotlight . Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  15. 1 2 3 Massey, Paul (2 May 1997). "Theatre Scaffie Society, His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen". The Herald . Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Search | RSC Performances | ALI200112 - Alice in Wonderland | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  17. ↑ "As You Like It". June 2002.
  18. ↑ "Romeo and Juliet (2002) | Our Heritage | Open Air Theatre". openairtheatreheritage.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.


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