Jemima Rooper
{{short description|British actress}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Jemima Rooper
|image =
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|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|10|24|df=y}}
|birth_place = Hammersmith, London, England
|death_date =
|death_place =
|othername =
|occupation = Actress
|yearsactive = 1993–present
|spouse =
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|website =
|awards =
}}
Jemima Rooper (born 24 October 1981) is an English actress. Having started as a child actress in television series, she has appeared in numerous film and theatre roles.
Early life
Born in Hammersmith, London, Rooper is the daughter of TV journalist Alison Rooper. She attended Redcliffe Gardens School in Chelsea and the Godolphin and Latymer School. While working on The Famous Five, she passed eight GCSEs with A* and A grades. From there she went to MPW sixth form college where she got three A-grade A levels. Rooper bought her first home at the age of 19.{{cn|date=April 2020}}
Career
Rooper expressed a wish to be an actress at the age of nine and contacted an agent.{{cite web|author=Williams, Andrew|title=60 Seconds: Jemima Rooper|publisher=Metro|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=1200&in_page_id=11|date=8 September 2005|access-date=8 October 2008|archive-date=15 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815055236/http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=1200&in_page_id=11|url-status=live}} Her first professional roles were in the 1993 film The Higher Mortals and the 1994 film Willie's War. In 1996, she appeared in all episodes as George in Enid Blyton's The Famous Five.
She said:
{{cquote|I remember writing "I want to act" on my bed in lipstick. I think I told my mum I wanted to be an actress and she said I needed an agent to do that. I must have said: "Well, I'm going to get one"—and I think that's why. She was devastated. She said: "Please don't be an actress, be a doctor or lawyer." But I was very tunnel-visioned about it all. I'm an only child and I spent a lot of time alone. I played a lot of imaginary games. I just wanted to dress up and be weird, I suppose.| |}}
After several small roles in British TV series, Jemima took the role of Nicki Sutton in the popular Channel 4 teenage series As If, which successfully ran for three years. Her next appearance was in the supernatural drama Hex where she played a lovable lesbian ghost named Thelma. Hex aired on Sky One and ran for two series between 2004 and 2005.{{Cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0740383/ |title=IMDb |website=IMDb |access-date=28 June 2018 |archive-date=9 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409102903/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0740383/ |url-status=live }}
Rooper made her Hollywood debut in The Black Dahlia. In 2008 she starred in the TV series Lost in Austen. In 2013 she played a role as Medusa in Atlantis. Also guest starred in Agatha Christie's Poirot. She also played a lead role in Her Naked Skin, a new play at the National Theatre. In December 2010, Rooper was cast in the musical Me and My Girl at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, alongside Miriam Margolyes.{{cite web |url=http://www.westendtheatre.com/tag/jemima-rooper/ |title=Jemima Rooper | London Theatre |publisher=Westendtheatre.com |access-date=28 September 2013 |archive-date=9 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309085840/http://www.westendtheatre.com/tag/jemima-rooper/ |url-status=live }} Having been featured in films including The Railway Children, A Sound of Thunder, Kinky Boots, One Chance and The F Word (as the on-screen sister of Daniel Radcliffe's character) since 2003, she has since appeared in numerous guest roles on British series including Father Brown. As a voice actress, Rooper voiced companion Izzy Sinclair in Doctor Who, in Big Finish Productions audio dramas.
In September 2023, Rooper starred in the Channel 5 drama series The Inheritance, appearing alongside Samantha Bond, Rob James-Collier, Gaynor Faye and Adil Ray.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/the-inheritance-cast-channel-5/|title=The Inheritance cast: Meet the characters in Channel 5 drama|website=Radio Times|last=Robinson|first=Abby|date=4 September 2023|access-date=8 September 2023}}
Stage
Rooper was seen on stage in One Man, Two Guvnors, which was favourably reviewed. She has since appeared in Blithe Spirit and Breeders in the West End.[https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/may/25/one-man-two-guvnors-review "One Man, Two Guvnors – review"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614121509/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/may/25/one-man-two-guvnors-review |date=14 June 2018 }}. The Guardian, 25 May 2011.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! class="unsortable" |Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1993
| Vicky | |
| 1994
| Annabel | |
| 1998
| Owd Bob | Maggie Moore | |
| 2002
| Snapshots | Narma (20 years old) | |
| rowspan="2" | 2005
| Jenny Krase | |
| Kinky Boots
| Nicola | |
| 2006
| Lorna Mertz | |
| 2011
| Hotel Caledonia | Casey Wright | |
| rowspan="2" | 2013
| Hydrangea | |
| The F Word
| Ellie | |
| rowspan="2" | 2022
| Laura | |
| The People We Hate at the Wedding
| Mimzy | |
| 2024
| Here | Virginia | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! class="unsortable" |Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1996–1997
| George | Series regular |
| 1998
| Rachel Farmer | Episode; "Guinea Pig in the Garage" |
| rowspan="4" | 1999
| Junk | Gemma Brogan | TV film |
| The Passion
| Alice | TV series |
| Shockers: Dance
| Anne | TV film |
| Wives and Daughters
| Lizzie Goodenough | Miniseries |
| rowspan="4" | 2000
| Summer in the Suburbs | Judie Lyle | TV film |
| The Railway Children
| Bobbie | TV film |
| Life Force
| Siren | Episode: "Siren Song" |
| Urban Gothic
| Nik | Episode: "Dead Meat" |
| 2001
| Jassy | Miniseries |
| 2001–2004
| As If | Nicki Sutton | Series regular |
| 2004
| Jo Clifford | Episode: "The Straw Woman" |
| 2005
| Mia Ottway | Episode 2.2 |
| 2004–2005
| Hex | Thelma Bates | Series regular |
| rowspan="5" | 2006
| Montana | Episode 2.5 |
| Silent Witness
| Claire Ashen | 2 episodes; "Schism: Part 1", "Schism: Part 2" |
| Sinchronicity
| Fi | Series regular |
| Perfect Day: The Millennium
| Amber | TV film |
| Random Quest
| Gerry | TV film |
| rowspan="2" | 2007
| Life Line | Catt | TV film |
| The Time of Your Life
| Emma | Series regular |
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| Norma Restarick | Episode: "Third Girl" |
| Lost in Austen
| Amanda Price | Miniseries, 4 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2010
| Reunited | Sophie | TV movie |
| Bouquet of Barbed Wire
| Sarah Francis | Miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 2011
| Justine Mortiz | Television film |
| 2013–2015
| Atlantis | Medusa | Main role |
| 2014
| Lesley Drabble | Episode: "Hallo to All This" |
| 2017
| Fearless | Maggie | 3 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| Karen Marston | Episode: "Murder From Above" |
| Trauma
| Nora Baker | 3 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 2019
| Lilith Crowe | Episode: "The Whistle in the Dark“ |
| Silent Witness
| Amy Marlow | Episode: "Two Spirits" Part 1 & 2 |
| Gold Digger
| Della Day | Miniseries, 6 episodes |
| 2021
| Leanne | Season 3; 7 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2022
| India | Series 3 |
| Flowers in the Attic: The Origin
| Olivia Winfield |
| rowspan="3"| 2023
| Verity Martin | Episode: "The It Girl" |
| Grantchester
| Josephine Hanlan | Season 8; Episode 3 |
| The Inheritance
| Chloe | 4 episodes |
| rowspan="2"| 2024
| Annabel Manners | Main role |
| The Famous Five
| Angela Clutterbuck |
=Video games=
Theatre
- Where Do We Live – Royal Court Theatre, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, May 2002 (playing Lily)
- Us and Them – Hampstead Theatre, June 2003 (playing Izzie)
- A Respectable Wedding (part of The Big Brecht Fest) – Young Vic, April 2007 (playing Bride)
- Her Naked Skin – National Theatre, July 2008 (playing Eve Douglas)
- The Great Game: Afghanistan – Tricycle Theatre, April – June 2009{{Cite web |url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Acting_Company_Announced_for_Tricyle_Theatres_THE_GREAT_GAME_AFGHANISTAN_20090223 |title=Acting Company Announced for Tricycle Theatre's 'The Great Game: Afghanistan' |access-date=20 March 2009 |archive-date=8 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208090927/https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Acting-Company-Announced-for-Tricyle-Theatres-THE-GREAT-GAME-AFGHANISTAN-20090223 |url-status=live }}
- The Power of Yes – National Theatre October 2009{{cite web|url=http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=50093&dspl=castcreds|title=The Power of Yes Cast Credits|publisher=Royal National Theatre|access-date=23 October 2009|archive-date=10 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610220759/http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=50093&dspl=castcreds|url-status=live}}
- All My Sons – Apollo Theatre, May – October 2010 (playing Ann Deever){{cite web|title=All My Sons Extends At The Apollo Theatre Through Oct 2|url=http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/ALL_MY_SONS_Extends_At_The_Apollo_Theatre_Through_Oct_2_20100618|publisher=Broadway World|date=18 June 2010|access-date=3 July 2010|archive-date=8 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708095832/http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/ALL_MY_SONS_Extends_At_The_Apollo_Theatre_Through_Oct_2_20100618|url-status=live}}
- Me and My Girl – Jan 2011 (playing Sally)
- One Man, Two Guvnors- National Theatre June 2011 (playing Rachel Crabbe){{cite web|url=http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=64476&dspl=castcreds|title=One Man, Two Guvnors Cast Credits|publisher=Royal National Theatre|access-date=10 June 2011|archive-date=10 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610215350/http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/?lid=64476&dspl=castcreds|url-status=live}}
- Blithe Spirit – Gielgud Theatre, March 2014 (playing Elvira){{cite web|url=http://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/Tickets/BlitheSpirit/BlitheSpirit.asp|title=Blithe Spirit, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres|publisher=Delfont Mackintosh Theatres|access-date=16 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515182020/http://www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/Tickets/BlitheSpirit/BlitheSpirit.asp|archive-date=15 May 2014}}
- Breeders by Ben Ockrent – St James Theatre, September 2014
- Blithe Spirit – Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles, December 2014 – January 2015 (playing Elvira)
- Hand to God – Vaudeville Theatre, London, February 2016
- Little Shop of Horrors – Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London, August – September 2018 (playing Audrey)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0740383|name=Jemima Rooper}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110616021749/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/theatre/article4304535.ece Jemima Rooper's Naked Skin], Stephen Armstrong, The Times, 13 July 2008
- {{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/sunday-review/regulars/how-we-met-jemima-rooper--ralf-little-904864.html|title=How We Met: Jemima Rooper & Ralf Little|work=The Independent on Sunday|date=24 August 2008}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rooper, Jemima}}
Category:English film actresses
Category:English stage actresses
Category:English television actresses
Category:English voice actresses
Category:People educated at Godolphin and Latymer School
Category:Actresses from London
Category:People from Hammersmith
Category:20th-century English actresses
Category:21st-century English actresses