Lyndyann Barrass
{{Short description|English actress (born 1976)}}
{{notability|1=Biographies|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox person|
| name = Lyndyann Barrass
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1976
| birth_place = Newcastle, England
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1989–present
| partner =
| spouse =
| children =
| parents =
| nationality = English
| television = Byker Grove
| website =
}}
Lyndyann Barrass (born 1976 in Newcastle, England) is an English actress best known for playing Kirsty "Spuggie" Campbell in the BBC television series Byker Grove.{{cite web |last1=McGown |first1=Alistair |title=Byker Grove |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/571927/index.html |website=Screen Online |access-date=2 April 2023}}
Career
Lyndyann Barrass began her career playing Kirsty "Spuggie" Campbell, a character who appears in the CBBC television series Byker Grove.{{cite book |last1=North |first1=Zenith |last2=Lynch |first2=Tony |title=The Official Byker Grove Annual |date=1 Jan 1989 |publisher=Grandreams Ltd for BBC Enterprises Ltd. |location=UK |isbn=978-0862278601 |pages=61 |edition=First |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Byker-Grove-Annual/dp/0862278600 |access-date=3 April 2023}}{{cite book |last1=Rose |first1=Adele |title=Byker Grove |date=1 Nov 1989 |publisher=Penguin Character Books Ltd |location=UK |isbn=978-0563208846 |pages=144 |edition=First |url=https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Adele-Rose/dp/0563208848 |access-date=3 April 2023}} The character, appearing from 1989 to 1992, became a fan favourite and one of the most recognisable figures on British children's television.
The character "Spuggie" became one of the most well known characters on British TV.{{cite web |last1=TROY-PRYDE |first1=JADIE |title=Byker Grove cast – where are they now? |url=https://closeronline.co.uk/celebrity/news/byker-grove-child-stars-now/ |website=Closer |access-date=2 April 2023}} Spuggie's name became widely associated with the show, with people referencing the character whenever Byker Grove or Newcastle were mentioned.{{cite web |title=Spuggie |url=https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Spuggy |website=Urbandictionary.com |access-date=2 April 2023}}
Following her time on Byker Grove, Barrass continued to perform in various theatre productions across the UK. She has also worked part-time at a call centre in Sunderland.{{cite web |last1=Speed |first1=Paul |title=Where are the cast of Byker Grove now? |url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/nostalgia/cast-byker-grove-now-horrific-6882210 |website=Derby Telegraph |access-date=2 April 2023}}
Personal life
After leaving Byker Grove in 1993, Barrass studied performing arts at Sunderland College. However, she struggled to find acting work due to typecasting. At 21, she joined a band called Angel, but the group disbanded after a year.{{cite web |last1=CHACKSFIELD |first1=MARC |title=Kids from TV shows of your youth: Where are they now? |url=https://www.shortlist.com/news/kids-from-tv-shows-of-your-youth-where-are-they-now |website=Shortlist |access-date=2 April 2023}}
In an incident three years later, Barrass was attacked by three strangers who recognised her as Spuggie. Though she was not seriously injured, the experience led her to quit show business temporarily.{{cite web |last1=Elliott-Gibbs |first1=Sam |title=Where Byker Grove's Spuggy is now after brutal assault forced her to turn back on acting |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/byker-groves-spuggy-now-after-25805368 |website=Mirror |access-date=16 April 2023}}
In recent years, she has returned to acting and continues to appear in theatre and on British television as a guest on various shows.{{cite web |last1=Duke |first1=Simon |title=Byker Grove Spuggy's Pointless Celebrities appearance delights fans as she makes shock TV comeback |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/spuggy-byker-grove-pointless-celebrities-19788009 |website=Chronicle Live |access-date=2 April 2023}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Pointless Celebrities | Self
|Contestant | |
| 2018 | Top of the Box | Self
|Children's TV Correspondent | |
| 2014 | Celebrity Juice | Self
|Guest | |
| 2011 | This Morning | Self
| Guest | |
| 2008 | The Comedy Map of Britain | Self
|Guest | |
| 1997 | King Leek | Laura
|Main Role | |
| 1993 | Harry | Pauline
|Guest role (1 episodes) | |
| 1992 | Going Live! | Self
|Guest | |
| 1989–1992 | Byker Grove | Spuggie
|Main Role |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1023938}}
- {{Twitter|lyndyann}}
- {{Instagram|lyndyann}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrass, Lyndyann}}
Category:20th-century English actresses