Kiruna Stamell

{{Infobox person

| name = Kiruna Stamell

| image = Kiruna Stamell 2023.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Stamell in 2023

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|03|13|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Sydney, Australia

| citizenship = {{Hlist|Australian|British}}

| education = {{Hlist|University of New South Wales|LAMDA}}

| occupation = Actress

| height = {{height|m=1.06|precision=0}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Gareth Berliner|2012}}

| website = {{URL|http://www.kirunastamell.net}}

}}

Kiruna Stamell (born 13 March 1981) is an Australian-British actress. After appearing in various series and films including Moulin Rouge! (2001), All the Small Things (2009) and Cast Offs (2009), she presented the Australian children's educational series Play School from 2018 to 2020. Since 2023, she has portrayed the role of Kirsty Millar on the British soap opera Doctors.

Early and personal life

Stamell was born in Sydney as the eldest of three children to George and Kerry, both teachers who became information technology professionals. She was named after the Swedish city of Kiruna, where her parents had travelled to see the Northern Lights.{{cite news|title=Kiruna Stamell: 'Not everyone is kind'|work=Australian Women's Weekly|date=1 January 2019|pages=76–79|first=Jenny|last=Brown}} She has dwarfism caused by the rare genetic condition Acromesomelic dysplasia, resulting in a height of {{convert|1.06|m|ftin}}; her younger identical twin sisters also have dwarfism due to the same condition. She first learnt to dance at the age of three, when she learned ballet, contemporary dance and tap. Stamell said it took her until the age of eight to find a teacher who treated her properly as a dancer, rather than as someone with dwarfism.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-06/all-the-worlds-a-stage/9020696|title=All the World's a Stage|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|work=Australian Story|date=6 October 2017|access-date=25 June 2023|archive-date=16 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216020003/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-06/all-the-worlds-a-stage/9020696|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skeletaldysplasiagroup.org.uk/patrons|title=Patrons|publisher=Skeletal Dysplasia Group|access-date=25 June 2023|archive-date=13 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813145438/https://www.skeletaldysplasiagroup.org.uk/patrons|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.spotlight.com/1410-8972-4817|title=Kiruna Stimell|publisher=Spotlight|access-date=25 June 2023|archive-date=8 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808141320/https://www.spotlight.com/1410-8972-4817|url-status=live}} At the age of 14, she won the South Pacific Silver Star Tap Dancing Championships, and in 2000, she tap danced at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics.

Whilst growing up, Stamell believed that she could not have a normal relationship due to her dwarfism. She told off the first boy to try to kiss her as she thought there was a rule that he could not date her; she believed he would be teased. Stamell began a relationship with stand-up comedian Gareth Berliner after meeting him at a comedy club.{{cite news |last1=Meakin |first1=Nione |title='I told off the first boy who kissed me' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jun/09/kiruna-stamell-gareth-berliner-relationship |access-date=25 June 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=9 June 2012 |archive-date=14 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514134744/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jun/09/kiruna-stamell-gareth-berliner-relationship |url-status=live }} They were married in 2012. In 2014, Stamell won a disability discrimination case against the post office on the grounds that its chip and pin machines were too difficult to reach for people with dwarfism and people in wheelchairs.{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30459117|title = Post Office settles disability discrimination case|work = BBC News|date = 13 December 2014|access-date = 24 June 2023|archive-date = 20 December 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221220201116/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30459117|url-status = live}}

Stamell is involved in the disability arts movement and was an original co-founder of Atypical Theatre Company in Australia.{{cite web|publisher=ABC TV – Enough Rope with Andrew Denton|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1428005.htm|title=Show and Tell: Kiruna Stamell and Emma J Cooper|date=1 August 2005|access-date=21 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405001901/https://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1428005.htm|archive-date=5 April 2007}} She was also the co-director of A Little Commitment Ltd, a production company run in conjunction with husband Berliner. Stamell remains based in England and is a British citizen.{{cite web |title=BBC – Ouch! (disability) – Interviews – The Ouch Assessment: Kiruna Stamell |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/interviews/the-ouch-assessment-kiruna-stamell.shtml |publisher=BBC |date=20 February 2007 |access-date=13 May 2009 |archive-date=14 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114102918/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/interviews/the-ouch-assessment-kiruna-stamell.shtml |url-status=live }}

Career

While studying dance, theatre and film at the University of New South Wales, Stamell developed a passion for theatre and acting. She acted in a number of short plays at the university. In the summer holiday of her first year, she got her first major role when she submitted herself for extra work in the film Moulin Rouge!. Her initial casting as an extra led to the part of La Petite Princess being created especially for her. She then auditioned for Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), but was rejected because the institution felt there were not enough roles for people with short stature. As a consequence, she then went to England to study Shakespearean and Jacobean plays during a summer course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).{{cite web|url=https://kirunastamell.net/biography/|title=Biography|work=Kiruna Stamell's official website|access-date=26 June 2023|archive-date=30 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530170133/https://kirunastamell.net/biography/|url-status=live}} Following this, she performed with some of Australia's leading theatre companies, including her role as King Duncan in Macbeth for the Sydney Theatre Company and Cordelia in King Lear for Round Earth. She also appeared in the Australian short film Love Hurts as Cupid. She graduated from the University of New South Wales in 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiruna-stamell-300341200/?originalSubdomain=uk|title=Kiruna Stamell|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=26 June 2023|url-access=registration}}

In 2005, Stamell returned to England after receiving funding from the Australia Council for a three-month secondment with the Graeae Theatre Company.{{cite web|url=http://berlin.ozco.gov.au/arts_resources/publications/annual_report_2004-05/files/3232/02_YIR.pdf|title=2004–05 Annual Report|publisher=Australia Council|archive-url=http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060824194731/http://berlin.ozco.gov.au/arts_resources/publications/annual_report_2004-05/files/3232/02_YIR.pdf|archive-date=24 August 2006|access-date=26 June 2023|url-status=live}} While there, Stamell obtained a number of professional stage roles in the UK, performing with the Quarantine Theatre Company and Graeae Theatre Company and she renewed her interest in dance with a secondment to CandoCo. She was generally well reviewed for her work in Graeae Theatre Company's production of Whiter Than Snow playing a young actress who wanted to break with stereotype and play the role of Snow White. Although otherwise filing a mixed review, Lyn Gardner of The Guardian wrote: "...the show raises interesting questions about humans' constant attempts to improve on nature, and as the diminutive heroine, Frieda, who longs to be Snow White but is always cast as a dwarf, Kiruna Stamell is outstanding."Lyn Gardner [https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2007/mar/28/theatre "Whiter Than Snow"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203172836/https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2007/mar/28/theatre |date=3 February 2017 }}, The Guardian, 28 March 2007 Stamell also toured extensively throughout Europe with Campo, formerly known as Victoria, with their production of For All The Wrong Reasons.

In the late 2000s, Stamell was a frequent guest presenter on the BBC's Ouch! podcast.{{cite web |title=BBC – Ouch! (disability) – Podcast |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/podcast/ |publisher=BBC |access-date=13 May 2009 |archive-date=23 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423004211/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/podcast/ |url-status=live }} Stamell debuted on British television in 2009 when she appeared as Phoebe Tunstall in the six-part BBC drama series All the Small Things,{{cite press release |title=BBC – Press Office – All The Small Things press pack: cast list |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/02_february/27/smallthings8.shtml |publisher=BBC Press Office |date=27 February 2009 |access-date=13 May 2009}} and has made appearances on EastEnders as Sandra Fielding,{{cite news |last1=Eleftheriou-Smith |first1=Louella-Mae |title=EastEnders actress Kiruna Stamell's discrimination case sees Post Office pledge to change 11,000 branches across UK |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/eastenders-actress-discrimination-case-sees-post-office-pledge-to-change-11-000-branches-across-uk-9923024.html |access-date=25 June 2023 |work=The Independent |date=13 December 2014 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805104905/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/eastenders-actress-discrimination-case-sees-post-office-pledge-to-change-11-000-branches-across-uk-9923024.html |url-status=live }} starred in Cast Offs for Channel 4,{{cite web |title=Ouch Talk Show No. 39 – May 2009 (transcript) |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/podcast/transcripts/ouch_20090507-1425a.rtf |publisher=BBC |format=Rich Text Format |date=May 2009 |access-date=13 May 2009 |archive-date=14 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114103003/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/podcast/transcripts/ouch_20090507-1425a.rtf |url-status=live }} and in 2011 as Amy in Life's Too Short for BBC 2. In 2012, she auditioned for the Sky 1 series Got to Dance. She was unanimously voted through the first round, but got no further. In 2013, she appeared in Giuseppe Tornatore's film, The Best Offer, and a year later, starred in a production of Great Britain for the National Theatre.

In 2022, she starred in the Starz series The Serpent Queen.{{cite news |last1=Boone |first1=Keyaira |title=What the cast of 'The Serpent Queen' looks like in real life |url=https://www.insider.com/serpent-queen-cast-starz-photos-in-real-life-2022-8 |access-date=25 June 2023 |work=Insider |date=11 September 2022 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805104907/https://www.insider.com/serpent-queen-cast-starz-photos-in-real-life-2022-8 |url-status=live }} In January 2023, Stamell began appearing as receptionist Kirsty Millar in the BBC soap opera Doctors.{{cite news |last1=Timblick |first1=Simon |title=Doctors spoilers: Meet Kirsty Millar the NEW surgery receptionist! |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/spoilers/doctors-spoilers-meet-kirsty-millar-the-new-surgery-receptionist |access-date=8 January 2023 |work=What to Watch |publisher=(Future plc) |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108132443/https://www.whattowatch.com/spoilers/doctors-spoilers-meet-kirsty-millar-the-new-surgery-receptionist |url-status=live }} Alongside co-stars Richard Atwill and Isaac Benn, Stamell was nominated for the Best Family accolade at the 2023 British Soap Awards.{{cite news |last1=Kilkelly |first1=Daniel |title=British Soap Awards 2023 announces full shortlist and broadcast change |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a43766925/british-soap-awards-2023-shortlist/ |access-date=10 June 2023 |work=Digital Spy |publisher=(Hearst Communications) |date=2 May 2023 |archive-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512225927/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a43766925/british-soap-awards-2023-shortlist/ |url-status=live }}

Filmography

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes{{cite web \|title=Kiruna Stamell \|url=https://www.spotlight.com/1410-8972-4817 \|publisher=Spotlight \|access-date=25 June 2023 \|archive-date=8 August 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808141320/https://www.spotlight.com/1410-8972-4817 \|url-status=live }}
2001 \| Moulin Rouge! \| La Petite Princess \| Film
2001 \| Life Support \| PA \| 1 episode
2005 \| Love Hurts \| Cupid \| Short film
2009 \| All The Small Things \| Phoebe \| Main role
2008–2009 \| EastEnders \| Sandra Fielding \| Guest role
2009 \| Cast Offs \| Carrie \| Main role
2011, 2013 \| Life's Too Short \| Amy \| Recurring role
2013 \| The Best Offer \| Girl in the Bar \| Film
2014 \| Holby City \| Leonie Somers \| Episode: "Estel"
2015 \| Father Brown \| Enid Flay \| Episode: "The Invisible Man"
2018–2020 \| Play School \| Herself \| Presenter
2019 \| Judy & Punch \| Mavis \| Film
2019–2020 \| The New Pope \| Abbess of the Monastery of Saint Therese \| Recurring role
2020 \| Wuthering Heights \| Isabella Linton \| Guest role
2021 \| Brassic \| June \| 1 episode
2022 \| The Serpent Queen \| Mathilde \| Main role
2023 \| Best Interests \| Jane \| 1 episode
2023–2024 \| Doctors \| Kirsty Millar \| Regular role

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes{{cite web |title=Kiruna Stamell |url=https://www.spotlight.com/1410-8972-4817 |publisher=Spotlight |access-date=25 June 2023 |archive-date=8 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808141320/https://www.spotlight.com/1410-8972-4817 |url-status=live }}

2001

| Moulin Rouge!

| La Petite Princess

| Film

2001

| Life Support

| PA

| 1 episode

2005

| Love Hurts

| Cupid

| Short film

2009

| All The Small Things

| Phoebe

| Main role

2008–2009

| EastEnders

| Sandra Fielding

| Guest role

2009

| Cast Offs

| Carrie

| Main role

2011, 2013

| Life's Too Short

| Amy

| Recurring role

2013

| The Best Offer

| Girl in the Bar

| Film

2014

| Holby City

| Leonie Somers

| Episode: "Estel"

2015

| Father Brown

| Enid Flay

| Episode: "The Invisible Man"

2018–2020

| Play School

| Herself

| Presenter

2019

| Judy & Punch

| Mavis

| Film

2019–2020

| The New Pope

| Abbess of the Monastery of Saint Therese

| Recurring role

2020

| Wuthering Heights

| Isabella Linton

| Guest role

2021

| Brassic

| June

| 1 episode

2022

| The Serpent Queen

| Mathilde

| Main role

2023

| Best Interests

| Jane

| 1 episode

2023–2024

| Doctors

| Kirsty Millar

| Regular role

Stage

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! Venue
2002 \| Macbeth \| King Duncan \| Sydney Theatre Company
2003 \| Preserving the Apple \| Rai \| Drill Hall
2005 \| Grace \| Deviser/Performer \| Quarantine
2006 \| The Maids \| Claire \| Atypical Theatre Company
2007, 2009 \| Whiter Than Snow \| Frieda \| Tour
2007 \| King Lear \| Cordelia \| Round Earth
2008 \| For All the Wrong Reasons \| Femme Fatal \| Contact Theatre
2009 \| The Ugly Spirit \| \| Contact Theatre
2010 \| A Midsummer Night's Dream \| Starveling \| Octagon Theatre
2011 \| Peeling \| Beaty \| Forest Forge
2011 \| The Lost Happy Endings \| Sparrow/Witch \| Midlands Arts Centre and Red Earth
2014 \| Parrot and Pirate \| Cutlass Kate \| A Little Commitment and Red Earth
2014 \| Great Britain \| Wendy Klinkard \| Lyttelton Theatre and West End
2015 \| An Oak Tree \| Father \| National Theatre
2015 \| Everyman \| Discrection \| National Theatre
2016 \| The Government Inspector \| Anna \| Birmingham Repertory Theatre
2016 \| Sleeping Beauty \| Good Fairy \| Hackney Empire
2018 \| Jane Eyre \| Bessie Lee/Teacher/Maria Temple \| Octagon Theatre
2018 \| Hamlet \| Guildenstern \| Octagon Theatre
2019 \| Them! \| Host \| National Theatre of Scotland
2020 \| Cyrano de Bergerac \| Marie-Louise \| ATG and Playhouse Theatre
2022 \| The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs \| Fi \| Soho Theatre

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! Venue

2002

| Macbeth

| King Duncan

| Sydney Theatre Company

2003

| Preserving the Apple

| Rai