Gillian Wright
{{short description|English actress (born 1959)}}
{{for|the Scottish astronomer|Gillian Wright (astronomer)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Gillian Wright
| image = Gillian Wright – Stevenage Christmas Lights Switch-on 2013 (11353766486) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Wright in 2013
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|12|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bermondsey, London, England
| occupation = Actress
| television = ChuckleVision
Sir Gadabout: The Worst Knight in the Land
EastEnders
| years_active = 1993–present
}}
Gillian Wright (born 7 December 1959){{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BFCGsAFMalK/|title=So on Wikipedia it says it's Gillian Wright's birthday today. Our company manager did all this, and We all signed a card . Gillian then revealed her real birthday to be in December. So we sang happy birthday and all had cake. Each cake has the name of someone who REALLY has a birthday today. Some lovely people who do not share their birthday with Gill. #gilliansfakebirthday|date=5 May 2016|last=Outhwaite|first=Tamzin|authorlink=Tamzin Outhwaite|publisher=Instagram|access-date=24 July 2023|archive-date=3 April 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250403163823/https://www.instagram.com/p/BFCGsAFMalK/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/o4OkdgLjsU5yoX8QMU5iNRpo1pw/appointments|title=Gillian WRIGHT|publisher=Gov.uk|access-date=24 July 2023|archive-date=24 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724125200/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/o4OkdgLjsU5yoX8QMU5iNRpo1pw/appointments|url-status=live}} is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Jean Slater on the BBC soap opera EastEnders since 2004, for which she has won numerous awards.{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a26800655/eastenders-recap-gillian-wright-praised-jean-slater-found-by-family/|title=EastEnders' Gillian Wright earns huge praise for Jean Slater's breakdown scenes|last=Harp|first=Justin|date=12 March 2019|work=Digital Spy|language=en|access-date=15 January 2020|archive-date=4 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704114136/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a26800655/eastenders-recap-gillian-wright-praised-jean-slater-found-by-family/|url-status=live}} She previously worked as a drama teacher and a theatre director before occupying acting roles.{{cite web |title=BBC EastEnders: Gillian Wright's life from forgotten role on Coronation Street to short-lived marriage with famous musician and why she doesn't 'regret' not having children |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/tv/bbc-eastenders-gillian-wrights-life-23097440.amp |website=MyLondon |date=14 February 2022 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724140140/https://www.mylondon.news/news/tv/bbc-eastenders-gillian-wrights-life-23097440.amp |url-status=live }}
Career
Wright's first television role was in an episode of ChuckleVision as Mrs. Stone in 1994.{{cite web |title=BBC EastEnders' star you probably didn't know became famous after appearing on ChuckleVision |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/tv/bbc-eastenders-star-you-probably-20503983 |website=MyLondon |date=30 April 2021 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=3 April 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250403163536/https://www.mylondon.news/news/tv/bbc-eastenders-star-you-probably-20503983 |url-status=live }} She went on to portray guest roles in Casualty and Holby City, before portraying the nanny in the CITV children's comedy Sir Gadabout: The Worst Knight in the Land for two series between 2002 and 2003.{{cite web |title=Gillian Wright – Credits |url=https://www.gillianwright.co.uk/credits |website=GillianWright.co.uk |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724140151/https://www.gillianwright.co.uk/credits |url-status=live }} She also appeared in episodes of Doctors, Calendar Girls and Heartbeat, before taking on her prestigious role of Jean Slater in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Wright was originally signed for one episode in December 2004, but bosses brought her back into the series a year later for four more episodes.{{cite web |title=Jean Slater – BBC EastEnders |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3bkKJvMFk1wlg0n8wsH5hcw/jean-slater |website=BBC |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401062754/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3bkKJvMFk1wlg0n8wsH5hcw/jean-slater |url-status=live }} After guest starring in two episodes of rival soap opera Coronation Street, she then returned to EastEnders on a recurring basis until her character moved into Albert Square in November 2007. In 2006, she collected a Mental Health Media Award for her portrayal of Jean, a person living with bipolar disorder.{{cite web |title=EastEnders scoops mental health media award |url=https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/eastenders-scoops-mental-health-media-award/ |website=Disability News Service |date=November 2009 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724140141/https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/eastenders-scoops-mental-health-media-award/ |url-status=live }}
File: Gillian Wright.JPG in the BBC soap opera EastEnders since 2004]]
Wright's departure from the series was announced in 2010, along with her on-screen daughter Stacey Slater, played by Lacey Turner,{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a217182/stacey-and-jean-to-leave-eastenders.html|title=Stacey and Jean to leave 'EastEnders'|last=Green|first=Kris|date=29 April 2010|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=28 April 2010|archive-date=30 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430173218/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a217182/stacey-and-jean-to-leave-eastenders.html|url-status=live}} but it was later confirmed that she would return in spring 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a289920/jean-slater-to-stay-on-eastenders.html|title=Jean Slater to stay on 'EastEnders'|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=25 November 2010|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hachette Filipacchi UK|access-date=25 November 2010}} In 2012, she won the 'Best Actress' award at the Inside Soap Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.insidesoap.co.uk/2012-winners |title=2012 Winners « Inside Soap Magazine |access-date=25 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731122706/http://www.insidesoap.co.uk/2012-winners |archive-date=31 July 2013 }} Wright departed EastEnders again in 2013 and returned for a short stint in August 2014. She also guest starred in one episode of hospital drama, Holby City in early 2015. After making numerous guest appearances from 2015 to 2017, the character of Jean was reintroduced in 2018 by former executive consultant John Yorke.{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/12/19/from-the-return-of-the-slaters-to-the-knife-crime-story-how-eastenders-boss-john-yorke-saved-the-show-8259035/|title=From big returns to huge issues, how boss John Yorke has saved EastEnders|last=Patterson|first=Stephen|date=19 December 2018|website=Metro|language=en-US|access-date=3 April 2019|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403162324/https://metro.co.uk/2018/12/19/from-the-return-of-the-slaters-to-the-knife-crime-story-how-eastenders-boss-john-yorke-saved-the-show-8259035/|url-status=live}} In 2019, Wright won the award for Best Dramatic Performance at that year's British Soap Awards.{{cite web |title=Gillian Wright has won Best Female Dramatic Performance in the Soap Awards 2019 |url=https://internationalartistsmanagement.co.uk/gillian-wright-has-won-best-female-dramatic-performance-in-the-soap-awards-2019/ |website=National Artists Management |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724140141/https://internationalartistsmanagement.co.uk/gillian-wright-has-won-best-female-dramatic-performance-in-the-soap-awards-2019/ |url-status=live }}
=Theatre=
Wright is also an established theatre actress, and is a visiting director and workshop leader at drama schools, universities and with young people with special needs. She is a co-founder of Pilot Theatre, at York's Theatre Royal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.berkhamstedtoday.co.uk/whats-on/let-s-talk-about-walford-and-lots-more-besides-as-gillian-wright-comes-to-berkhamsted-to-chat-about-her-career-1-5954923|title=Let's talk about Walford and lots more besides as Gillian Wright comes to Berkhamsted to chat about her career|website=www.berkhamstedtoday.co.uk|language=en|access-date=3 April 2019}}
In December 2011, she played the Fairy godmother in the pantomime Dick Whittington and His Cat at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, starring alongside Jonathan Wilkes.{{cite web |title=EastEnders Jean Slater actress Gillian Wright's very impressive career revealed |url=https://www.ok.co.uk/lifestyle/eastenders-jean-slater-actress-gillian-14428667 |website=OK! |access-date=24 July 2023 |date=15 March 2018 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027070750/https://www.ok.co.uk/lifestyle/eastenders-jean-slater-actress-gillian-14428667 |url-status=live }}
In September 2013, she appeared in the world premiere of five visceral new short plays, under the collective title Religion and Anarchy, at the Jermyn Street Theatre. From December 2013 to January 2014, she appeared as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella at the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage.{{cite news|url=http://www.thecomet.net/what-s-on/theatre-arts/panto_round_up_eastenders_star_comes_to_town_1_3031829|title=Panto round-up: EastEnders star comes to town|last=Dunne|first=Martin|date=23 November 2013|work=The Comet|publisher=Archant Community Media|accessdate=3 December 2013|archive-date=27 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127092951/http://www.thecomet.net/what-s-on/theatre-arts/panto_round_up_eastenders_star_comes_to_town_1_3031829|url-status=live}} She also performed at the Theatre Royal, Norwich during a production of Sleeping Beauty in 2017.{{cite web |title=Who plays Jean Slater in EastEnders and what else has she starred in? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/04/04/who-plays-jean-slater-in-eastenders-and-what-else-has-she-starred-in-18553660/ |website=Metro |access-date=24 July 2023 |date=4 April 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724140140/https://metro.co.uk/2023/04/04/who-plays-jean-slater-in-eastenders-and-what-else-has-she-starred-in-18553660/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=EastEnders stars in Snow White at Pavilion |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/13372468.amp/ |website=Daily Echo |access-date=24 July 2023 |date=6 July 2015 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724140140/https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/13372468.amp/ |url-status=live }}
Filmography
| class=wikitable
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes | |||
| 1994 | ChuckleVision | Mrs. Stone | Episode: "Mind over Marrow" |
| 1998 | Casualty | Amber Stevens | Episode: "The Ties That Bind" |
| 2003 | Holby City | Candice Holloway | Episode: "Can't Always Get What You Want" |
| 2002–2003 | Sir Gadabout: The Worst Knight in the Land | Nanny | 2 series; main cast; 19 episodes |
| rowspan="2"| 2003 | Calendar Girls | Eddie's woman | Film |
| Doctors | Carol | Episode: "The Time Is Right" | |
| 2004 | Heartbeat | Barbara Simner | Episode: "Scent of a Kill" |
| 2004–present | EastEnders | Jean Slater | Series regular |
| 2005 | Coronation Street | Yvonne | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="3"| 2006 | | Dalziel and Pascoe | Pat Richardson | Episodes: "A Death in the Family: Parts 1 & 2" |
| Silent Witness | Dr. Angeline Parry | Episode: "Terminus: Part 1" | |
| The Bill | Sharon Little | 3 episodes | |
| 2007 | Spooks | Karen Dugan | Episode: "The Virus: Part 2" |
| 2013 | Tamwar Tales – The Life of an Assistant Market Inspector | Jean Slater | Episode: "Jean" |
| 2015 | Holby City | Lydia Rathbone | Episode: "Tug of Love" |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Gillian Wright}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{Official website|https://www.gillianwright.co.uk/}}
{{British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Gillian}}
Category:Actors from the London Borough of Southwark
Category:Actresses from London
Category:Alumni of Bretton Hall College
Category:English soap opera actresses