Lucy Punch

Last updated

Lucy Punch
Lucy Punch 2011 Shankbone.JPG
Punch in April 2011
Born
Lucy Alice T. Punch [1]

(1977-12-30) 30 December 1977 (age 47)
Hammersmith, London, England
Education
OccupationActress
Years active1998–present
Children1

Lucy Alice T. Punch (born 30 December 1977) [1] [2] is an English actress. She has appeared in the films Ella Enchanted (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger , Dinner for Schmucks, (both 2010) and Into the Woods (2014). She is also known for her role as Amy in Bad Teacher (2011), Amanda in the BBC sitcom Motherland and Esmé Squalor in the Netflix black comedy drama series A Series of Unfortunate Events .

Contents

Early life and education

Punch was born on 30 December 1977 in Hammersmith, London, the daughter of Johanna (née Lowe) and Michael Punch, who ran a market research company. [3] She was educated privately at Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith, London. [4] She performed with the National Youth Theatre from 1993 to 1997, and began a course at University College London before dropping out to become an actress. [5]

Career

Punch (left) with the cast of You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger in 2010 Bel et sombre Cannes 2010.jpg
Punch (left) with the cast of You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger in 2010

Punch made her acting debut in a 1998 episode of The New Adventures of Robin Hood . [6] Her other TV credits include the naive daughter of Alison Steadman's character in the short-lived series Let Them Eat Cake which starred French and Saunders. She starred as a football player in the children's TV show Renford Rejects , and played the role of the victim Melissa Townsend in the 19th episode of Midsomer Murders .

In 2000, Punch appeared in the film Greenfingers. She made her stage debut as Elaine in Terry Johnson's West End adaptation of The Graduate (1967). [7] She has worked at the Royal Court and Bush theatres, both in London. [8]

In 2004, Punch played the receptionist Elaine Denham in Doc Martin . She left the television show The Class after appearing in 11 of the first 12 episodes. [9]

In 2006, she won the Best Actress award at the Monaco International Film Festival for her performance in Are You Ready for Love? [10] She played the murder victim and actress Eve Draper in Edgar Wright's film Hot Fuzz (2007).

Punch starred in Woody Allen's film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010). [11] In August 2010, she appeared in BBC Two's three part police comedy-drama Vexed . In 2011, Punch appeared in Bad Teacher , portraying the sanctimonious school teacher Amy Squirrel. [12]

Punch was cast as Deena Pilgrim, the female lead in the TV pilot Powers , [13] but the role was recast.

From 2016, Punch played Amanda, leader of the "Alpha mums", in the BBC comedy series Motherland . In May 2024, it was announced that Punch will reprise her role as Amanda in the spin-off Amandaland, with Philippa Dunne and Joanna Lumley reprising their roles of Anne and Amanda's mother Felicity respectively. [14]

In 2017, Punch was cast in the role of Esmé Squalor in the second season of the Netflix comedy drama series A Series of Unfortunate Events , [15] a role that continued through the show's third and final season.

In 2020, Punch starred in the short film "Leap," which was part of the anthology film, With/In . Sanaa Lathan directed and co-starred in "Leap", which was written by Margaret Nagle. It debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021 [16] and was nominated for the Humanitas Prize as Best Short Film in 2022. It was the best reviewed film in the anthology, with Punch being singled out for her work. [17]

In December 2022, Punch reprised her role of Amanda in the Motherland Christmas special. [18] [19]

Personal life

Punch dated James D’Arcy for about three years after they met during filming of the TV movie Come Together in 2002. [20] She gave birth to her first child, a son, in July 2015. [21]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000 Greenfingers Holly
2001It's Not Me, It's YouRose
2004 Ella Enchanted Hattie
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers Lead stewardess
Being Julia Avice Crichton
2005 Festival Nicky Romanowski
2006 Are You Ready for Love? Melanie Monaco International Film Festival – Angel Award for Best Actress
StingrayLucy
2007 Hot Fuzz Eve Draper
Grindhouse Blonde in Don't trailerUncredited
St Trinian's Verity Thwaites
2009Big BreaksAlexis
(Untitled) The Clarinet
2010 Elektra Luxx Dolores
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Charmaine
Dinner for Schmucks Darla
2011 A Little Bit of Heaven Sarah Walker
Take Me Home Tonight Shelly
Bad Teacher Amy Squirrel
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy Kate
2012 The Giant Mechanical Man Pauline
The Wedding Video Saskia
Yellow Amanda
Stars in Shorts Julie
Stand Up Guys Wendy
2013 Cottage Country Masha
2014 Someone Marry Barry Melanie Miller
Into the Woods Lucinda
She's Funny That Way Prostitute
Cake Nurse Gayle
2016 The Meddler Emily
2017 The Female Brain Lexi
2018 You, Me and Him Olivia
2019 How to Build a Girl Sylvia Plath
2021 With/In: Volume 1 LucySegment: "Leap"
Silent Night Bella
2022 Book of Love Jen Spencer
Confess, Fletch Tatiana Tasserly

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998 The New Adventures of Robin Hood Queen StephanieEpisode: "Orphans"
1999 Renford Rejects Sue WhiteMain role (series 2)
Days Like These Helen Foreman3 episodes
Let Them Eat Cake Eveline4 episodes
1999–2001Big Bad WorldMelissa4 episodes
2000 Cinderella ReganTelevision film
The 10th Kingdom Sally Peep3 episodes
2001 People Like Us KateEpisode: "The Actor"
Midsomer Murders Melissa TownsendEpisode: "Tainted Fruit"
Goodbye, Mr SteadmanLinda MortimerTelevision film
2002Come TogetherAmyTelevision film
I Saw YouEstherEpisode: "Episode 1.1"
2003 Second Nature Car Rental GirlTelevision film
Dinotopia ShaynaEpisode: "Night of the Wartosa"
2004 My Family SarahEpisode: "Luck Be a Lady Tonight"
Doc Martin Elaine DenhamMain role (series 1)
2005SurvivorsJuliet SavageEpisode: "In Deep Water"
2006 Agatha Christie's Poirot Susannah HendersonEpisode: "After the Funeral"
2007 The Class Holly EllenbogenMain role
Comedy Showcase: Ladies and Gentlemen AlicePilot
The Sarah Silverman Program SallyEpisode: "Ah, Men"
The Omid Djalili Show Miss Fanny DashettEpisode 1.2
Two FamiliesIreneTelevision film
2008 Fairy Tales Fenola GayEpisode: "Cinderella"
Wainy Days AngelEpisode: "Angel"
1%CandaceTelevision film
2010 Vexed DI Kate Bishop3 episodes
2012–2013 Ben and Kate Beatrice Joan "BJ" HarrisonMain role
2013 Hello Ladies MotherEpisode: "The Wedding"
2014 Kroll Show VioletEpisode: "Cake Train"
Robot Chicken Daenerys Targaryen/Arya Stark/Janice Rand (voice)Episode: "Rebel Appliance"
2016 New Girl Genevieve2 episodes
2016–2022 Motherland Amanda20 episodes
2018–2019 A Series of Unfortunate Events Esmé SqualorMain role
2019 The Conners Kyle's momEpisode: "Preemies, Weed and Infidelity"
2020 What We Do in the Shadows LilithEpisode: "Witches"
2021 The Prince Kate Middleton (voice)Main role
Gossip Girl Saskia BatesEpisode: "Once Upon a Time in the Upper West"
2021–2022 Bloods JoMain role
2022 Avenue 5 Dawn Djopi2 Episodes
2024 No Good Deed Trish1 episode "Letters of Intent"
2025 Animal Control Fiona HolcombEpisode "Giraffes, Gorillas, and Penguins"
TBA Amandaland AmandaUpcoming series [22]

Stage

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000 The Graduate ElaineGielgud Theatre
2001Boy Gets GirlHarrietRoyal Court Theatre [23]
2002A Carpet, A Pony and A MonkeyKateBush Theatre [24]
2014 Great Britain Paige Britain Theatre Royal Haymarket [25]

Awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Tapping</span> English-Canadian actress and director (born 1965)

Amanda Tapping is a British-Canadian actress and director. She is best known for portraying Samantha Carter in the Canadian–American military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1,Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe. She also starred as Helen Magnus in the science fiction-fantasy television series Sanctuary.

Katherine Lucy Bridget Burke is an English actress and comedian. She appeared in sketch shows such as French and Saunders (1988–1999), played a recurring role as Magda on the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012), and performed frequent collaborations with fellow comedian Harry Enfield. From 1999 to 2001, she starred as Linda La Hughes on the BBC sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme, for which she received a British Comedy Award and two BAFTA nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pauline Collins</span> British actress (born 1940)

Pauline Collins is a British actress who first came to prominence portraying Sarah Moffat in Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1973) and its spin-off Thomas & Sarah (1979). In 1992, she published her autobiography Letter to Louise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Baxendale</span> English actress

Helen Victoria Baxendale is an English actress of stage and television. She is known for her roles as Rachel Bradley in the British comedy drama Cold Feet (1997–2003) and Emily Waltham in the American sitcom Friends (1998–1999).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Seyfried</span> American actress (born 1985)

Amanda Michelle Seyfried is an American actress. She began acting at 15, with recurring roles as Lucy Montgomery in the CBS soap opera As the World Turns (1999–2001) and Joni Stafford in the ABC soap opera All My Children (2003). She came to prominence for her feature film debut in the teen comedy Mean Girls (2004), and for her roles as Lilly Kane in the UPN mystery drama series Veronica Mars (2004–2006) and Sarah Henrickson in the HBO drama series Big Love (2006–2011).

Amanda Donohoe is an English actress. She first came to public attention at age 16 for her relationship with pop singer Adam Ant, appearing in the music videos for the Adam and the Ants singles "Antmusic" (1980) and "Stand and Deliver" (1981) during their four-year relationship. After making her film debut in Foreign Body (1986), she co-starred in Castaway with Oliver Reed and starred in two films by Ken Russell: The Lair of the White Worm (1988) and The Rainbow (1989).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Rue</span> American actress (born 1979)

Sara Rue is an American actress. She is best known for her performances as Carmen Ferrara on Popular, as Claude Casey on Less than Perfect, and as the Attorney General in Idiocracy. In 2011, she hosted The CW reality series Shedding for the Wedding. She had a recurring role in the comedy Rules of Engagement, as Brenda, the softball teammate and good friend of Jeff Bingham. She had a regular role as Kim on the short-lived ABC sitcom Malibu Country, and appeared in the main cast of the TV Land comedy series Impastor. She is also known for her role as Olivia Caliban in the second season of the Netflix series A Series of Unfortunate Events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanya Franks</span> English actress (born 1967)

Tanya Christine Franks is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Rainie Cross in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kellie Shirley</span> British actress

Kelly Jane Shirley is an English actress who works in film, television, theatre and radio. She is known for her roles as Kirsty De La Croix in Sky One comedy series In the Long Run and Carly Wicks in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Shirley has also portrayed Kym in The Office and Sophia Peters in the BBC medical drama series Casualty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Maxwell Martin</span> British actress (born 1977)

Anna Maxwell Martin, sometimes credited as Anna Maxwell-Martin, is an English actress. She won two British Academy Television Awards, for her portrayals of Esther Summerson in the BBC adaptation of Bleak House (2005) and N in the Channel 4 adaptation of Poppy Shakespeare (2008). She is also known for her roles as DCS Patricia Carmichael in BBC One crime drama Line of Duty (2019–2021) and Kelly Major in Code 404 (2020–2022). From 2016-2022, Martin starred in the BBC comedy Motherland, for which she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Female Comedy Performance.

Lucy Renee Speed is an English actress best known for her television roles as Natalie Evans in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders appearing in 526 episodes between 1994 and 2004, and as DS Stevie Moss in the ITV police drama series The Bill from 2008 to 2010. She has also starred in the BBC One sitcom Cradle to Grave (2015) and ITV dramas Marcella (2018) and Unforgotten (2021). Speed is also a prolific stage performer, appearing in numerous theatrical productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sally Bretton</span> British actress

Sally Davis, known professionally as Sally Bretton, is an English actress. She is best known for appearing as Lucy Adams in the long-running BBC television sitcom Not Going Out since 2007 and as Martha Lloyd in the BBC crime drama Death in Paradise between 2016 and 2017, a role she has reprised in the spin-off, Beyond Paradise, since 2023. Other roles include Donna in The Office in 2001, Cat Durnford in Absolute Power in 2003 and Kim Alabaster in Green Wing between 2004 and 2006. She has worked with Dame Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Harry Enfield, Armstrong and Miller, Caroline Quentin, Dawn French and Catherine Tate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharon Horgan</span> Irish actress (born 1970)

Sharon Lorencia Horgan is an Irish actress, writer, director, producer, and comedian. She is best known for creating and starring in the comedy series Pulling (2006–2009), Catastrophe (2015–2019), and Bad Sisters (2022–present). She also created the comedy series Divorce (2016–2019), Motherland (2016–2022), and Shining Vale (2022–2023).

Barunka Sarah G. O'Shaughnessy is a British actress, writer and producer. She is best known for playing Sacha Merrion on Bo! in the USA and for her appearances in The Mighty Boosh.

Ellie Haddington is a Scottish actress with a career in both TV and film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Browning</span> Australian actress

Emily Jane Browning is an Australian actress. She made her film debut in the television film The Echo of Thunder (1998), and subsequently appeared in television shows such as High Flyers (1999), Something in the Air (2000–2001), and Blue Heelers (2000–2002). Her breakthrough role was in the 2002 horror film Ghost Ship, which introduced her to a wider audience. In 2005, Browning won the Australian Film Institute International Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Violet Baudelaire in the film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004).

Diane Morgan is an English actress, comedian and writer. She has portrayed Philomena Cunk on the review programme Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe (2013–2020), the mockumentary series Cunk on Britain (2018), Cunk on Earth (2022), and the extended special Cunk on Life (2024). She also played Liz on the BBC Two sitcom Motherland (2016–2022) and Kath in the Netflix dark comedy series After Life (2019–2022), as well as writing and starring in the BBC Two comedy series Mandy (2019–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanya Moodie</span> Canadian-born British actress (born 1972)

Tanya Moodie is a Canadian actress and producer, best known for her work on Motherland, The Clinic, and her many stage credits, which include productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court Theatre, the National Theatre and the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord.

Motherland is a British sitcom set in Queen's Park, London, which explores the trials of middle-class motherhood. A pilot episode, written by Graham Linehan, Sharon Horgan, Helen Serafinowicz and Holly Walsh was first broadcast on BBC Two on 6 September 2016 as part of its "Sitcom Season". The BBC subsequently ordered a full series of six episodes, the first of which aired on 7 November 2017.

Amandaland is a 2025 British comedy series. It is a spin-off from British comedy series Motherland with Lucy Punch reprising the role of Amanda. The series is also starring Joanna Lumley as her mother Felicity.

References

  1. 1 2 "Lucy Punch - Birth Name: Lucy Alice T. Punch". tvguide.com. TV Guide, a Fandom company. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  2. "Lucy Punch, celebrity". TV Guide . Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  3. Goodman, Jillian (22 June 2011). "Bad Teacher's Lucy Punch on her 'Über-Goddess' Co-star Cameron Diaz, Playing the Slut, and Women in Comedy". Vulture.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  4. White, Adam (29 April 2022). "Lucy Punch: 'I moved to the States because I kept getting cast as posh idiots'". independent.co.uk. The Independent . Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  5. Smiley, Tavis (16 June 2011). "Actress Lucy Punch". PBS. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  6. "Lucy Punch". Hollywood . Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  7. Eyre, Hermione (3 December 2010). "Lucy Punch is making a mark on Hollywood". This is London. Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  8. Clapp, Susannah (11 November 2001). "Eric and Ernie for ever". The Observer. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
    - Koenig, Rhoda (27 May 2002). "A Carpet, a Pony and a Monkey, Bush Theatre, London". The Independent. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  9. Adalian, Joseph (11 January 2007). "'Class' to air on Net first". Variety. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  10. 1 2 "ANGEL FILM AWARDS". Monaco International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  11. Jay A. Fernandez (29 May 2009). "Woody Allen welcomes Brit Lucy Punch". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  12. "Lucy Punch cast in Bad Teacher". Reuters. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  13. "'Powers' TV Series Casts Deena Pilgrim" Archived 24 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine , 21 June 2011, MTV
  14. "BBC Comedy Motherland spin-off Amandaland announced for BBC One and iPlayer". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  15. Petski, Denise (9 June 2017). "'Series of Unfortunate Events': Nathan Fillion, Tony Hale, Sara Rue, Lucy Punch & Roger Bart Join Season 2 Cast". Deadline. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  16. Appler, Michael (5 March 2022). "'With/In' Anthology Filmed During Early Days of Pandemic: 'Creativity Can Overcome Hurdles'" . Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  17. Coates, Tyler (27 June 2022). "'Abbott Elementary,' 'Pachinko,' 'Women of the Movement' and 'Maid' Among 2022 Humanitas Prizes Nominees" . Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  18. Seale, Jack (23 December 2022). "Motherland Christmas special review – you'll laugh, gasp in shock ... then punch the air". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  19. Sigee, Rachael (23 December 2022). "Motherland, BBC One, review: As chaotic and emotional as a family Christmas". iNews. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  20. Fear, Helen (16 March 2022). "Lucy Punch: From Motherland's Amanda to Bloods' Jo". entertainmentdailyuk.com. Digitalbox Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  21. "Lucy Punch on How She Named Her Baby Boy". TeamCoco. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  22. "BBC Comedy Motherland spin-off Amandaland announced for BBC One and iPlayer". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  23. Boy Gets Girl review by Timothy Ramsden, 24 November Archived 10 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine , at reviewsgate.com
  24. A Carpet, A Pony and A Monkey, "Lucy Punch in a bravura performance of comic verve" by Amanda Hodges at londontheatre.co.uk
  25. "Lucy Punch stars in West End Great Britain". Whats on Stage. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.