Ronni Ancona

Ancona was born in Louth, Lincolnshire in 1966, but moved to Scotland when she was a few days old and was brought up in Troon. She is of Italian Jewish descent.{{cite news|last=Ellen|first=Barbara|date=19 December 2004|title='They don't think I'm the thinking man's crumpet'|work=The Guardian|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/arts/features/story/0,,1376637,00.html|access-date=5 April 2016}} Her father was a commander in the Royal Navy and her mother was an artist who painted the sets at the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr and the Theatre Royal in Glasgow.{{cite news|date=29 May 2009|title=Interview: A fresh wave of success beckons for Ronni Ancona|work=The Scotsman|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/interview-a-fresh-wave-of-success-beckons-for-ronni-ancona-1-1040274}} Ancona is the youngest of three children, with two older brothers, one of whom continued their father's tradition of serving in the Navy: Simon Ancona is a former Admiral.{{Cite web |last=Tyler |first=Richard |date=2024-06-07 |title=The little-known organisation that sheds light on Whitehall |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/the-little-known-club-that-sheds-light-on-whitehall-r553pswb0 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=The Times|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Dominic |date=2024-06-07 |title=City People: the feuds, the faces and the farcical |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/city-people-the-feuds-the-faces-and-the-farcical-6hhl3pxvn28 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=The Times|language=en}} In the BBC television programme Comedy Map of Britain she returned to her old school, Marr College in Troon, and talked about her earliest comedy performing experience as part of an improvisation group called Pots People.{{cite web|title=Episode 6 Belfast to Glasgow|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedymap/episode6.shtml|work=The Comedy Map of Britain|publisher=BBC}}{{dead link|date=November 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}{{cite news |url =https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/17426246.scotlands-insider-guide-troon/|first =Marianne |last =Taylor |date =17 February 2019 |newspaper =The Herald, Scotland|title =Scotland's Insider Guide: Troon}}

She attended the University of Kent at Canterbury to study film and then did a degree in theatre and TV design at Saint Martin's School of Art.{{Cite book|last=Dafydd|first=Gwenno|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IHDpDwAAQBAJ&q=ronni+ancona+university+of+kent&pg=PT85|title=Stand Up and Sock It To them Sister|date=1 August 2016|publisher=Parthian Books|isbn=978-1-910901-86-1}} At the age of 19, while she was studying at St Martin's College, the BBC's Blue Peter reported on a play about Brecht at the Riverside Studios in which she was involved as a designer and performer: her appearance was later covered on the BBC show Before They Were Famous.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/3648006/Dont-get-the-wrong-impression-about-her.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Don't get the wrong impression about her|first=Jasper|last=Rees|date=16 November 2005|access-date=25 February 2021}}{{subscription required}} Ancona then attended the Institute of Education, University College London and qualified as a teacher in art, design & technology, and drama.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/ronni-ancona-sometimes-appearances-can-be-deceptive-327869.html|work=The Independent|title=Ronni Ancona: Sometimes appearances can be deceptive|first=Nick|last=Duerden|date=19 November 2005|access-date=29 July 2021}} Whilst working as a teacher, Ancona started a comedy career on the live circuit. She won the Time Out Hackney Empire New Act of the Year in 1993.

For many years, Ancona worked extensively in radio and on television shows such as Fist of Fun,{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/fistoffun|publisher=BBC|title=Fist of Fun|access-date=29 July 2021}} as well as performing stand-up comedy. She co-wrote and performed in shows such as Comedy Nation, Pulp Video, and The Sketch Show alongside Lee Mack.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/ronni-ancona-kevin-whately-still-8552775|work=Daily Record|location=Glasgow|title=Ronni Ancona and Kevin Whately are Still Game for laughs|first=Mary|last=Palmer|date=3 August 2016|access-date=29 July 2021}} In 2000, she teamed up with Alistair McGowan, with whom she had previously worked on The Staggering Stories of Ferdinand De Bargos and Standing Room Only,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/sunday-review/regulars/how-we-met-ronni-ancona-alistair-mcgowan-870519.html|work=The Independent|title=How We Met: Ronni Ancona & Alistair McGowan|first=Simon|last=Usborne|date=20 October 2011|access-date=29 July 2021}} to create The Big Impression. The show was one of BBC One's top-rating comedy programmes for four years, and won both a Variety Club Comedy Award and a BAFTA.{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/02_february/12/varietywinners.shtml|publisher=BBC Press Office|title=Stars honoured at Variety Club Annual Showbusiness Awards 2002|date=2 February 2002|access-date=29 July 2021}} In 2003, she won "Best Actress" at the British Comedy Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/2003.aspx|work=British Comedy Awards|title=PAST WINNERS 2003|access-date=29 July 2021}} From 1996 to 2000, she also voiced Pennyghent on the CITV children's comedy series "Roger and the Rottentrolls", who was the smartest of the titular Rottentrolls.

In 2003, she starred in the BBC One historical drama The Key.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2587903.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Switching on in 2003|first=William|last=Gallagher|date=3 January 2003|access-date=29 July 2021}}

In 2005, she played Barbara in Stephen Poliakoff's Gideon's Daughter on BBC One.{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/01_january/05/gideon_ancona.shtml|publisher=BBC Press Office|title=Gideon's Daughter|date=5 January 2006|access-date=29 July 2021}}

She has appeared several times on the BBC celebrity panel show QI.{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/qi/episodes/4/4|work=British Comedy Guide|title=QI Series D, Episode 4 – Dictionaries|access-date=29 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/qi/episodes/6/1|work=British Comedy Guide|title=Series F – Families|access-date=29 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/qi/episodes/7/7|work=British Comedy Guide|title=QI Series G, Episode 7 – Girls And Boys|access-date=29 July 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/qi/episodes/14/13|work=British Comedy Guide|title=QI Series N, Episode 13 – Naval Navigation|access-date=29 July 2021}} In November 2006, she was a guest presenter on Have I Got News For You.{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/hignfy/episodes/32/6|work=British Comedy Guide|title=Have I Got News For You Series 32, Episode 6|access-date=29 July 2021}} She also appeared on the Channel 4 comedy show TV Heaven, Telly Hell discussing her preferences in television shows.

In 2007, her three-episode comedy sketch series Ronni Ancona & Co was broadcast on BBC One.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/03_march/29/ancona.shtml|publisher=BBC Press Office|title=Ronni Ancona & Co – brand new sketch show coming to BBC One|date=29 May 2007|access-date=29 July 2021}}

She appeared as the mother of Katie and Emily Fitch in the third (2009) and fourth (2010) series of Skins.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a202492/skins-insider-reveals-next-episode|publisher=Digital Spy|title='Skins' insider reveals next episode|first=Dan|last=French|date=2 November 2010|access-date=29 July 2021}}

In 2009, she had a leading role in the BBC comedy drama Hope Springs.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/07_july/16/hope_springs.shtml|publisher=BBC Press Office|title=Hope Springs: Ronni Ancona & Sian Reeves all set for Scots drama|date=16 July 2008|access-date=29 July 2021}}

As part of the BBC's The Big Read, she promoted The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/bookchampions.shtml|publisher=BBC|title=The Big Read|date=25 October 2003|access-date=29 July 2021}}

In April 2010, she appeared on A Comedy Roast, celebrating Sharon Osbourne's life.{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/comedy_roast/episodes/1/2|work=British Comedy Guide|title=A Comedy Roast Series 1, Episode 2 – Sharon Osbourne|access-date=29 July 2021}} She appeared on the 2010 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special where she was paired with Anton Du Beke.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/2010/11/christmas-special-line-up-is-u.shtml|publisher=BBC Blogs|title=Strictly Christmas Special line-up unveiled!|date=17 November 2010|access-date=29 July 2021}}

Ancona also took part in Comic Relief's Desert Trek 2011 alongside Craig David, Olly Murs, Dermot O'Leary, Scott Mills and Lorraine Kelly.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-12379852|publisher=BBC News|title=Dermot O'Leary leads Comic Relief desert trek|date=7 February 2011|access-date=29 July 2021}}

In 2012, she appeared in Last Tango in Halifax.

In January 2015, she was a guest on Room 101.{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/room_101_2012/episodes/4/1|publisher=BBC Comedy Guide|title=Room 101 Series 4, Episode 1 – Len Goodman, Ronni Ancona, Tim Vine|access-date=29 July 2021}}

In 2016, she played the role of Mrs Fletcher, the manager of a local care home, in the seventh series of the Scottish comedy Still Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/still_game/episodes/7|work=British Comedy Guide|title=Still Game Series 7 episode guide|access-date=29 July 2021}} Later that year she made a guest appearance in an episode of the BBC television series Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, partnering with antiques expert James Braxton.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b083j4tb|publisher=BBC iPlayer|title=Celebrity Antiques Road Trip – series 6, episode 10|access-date=29 July 2021}}

In April 2017, Ancona appeared as a guest on ITV's The Nightly Show, presented by Jason Manford, in which they each performed impersonations of famous people which the other had to identify.{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_nightly_show/episodes/1/40|work=British Comedy Guide|title=The Nightly Show Series 1, Episode 34|access-date=29 July 2021}}

On 27 December 2020, Ancona appeared as a contestant on the Christmas special of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Celebrity Special.{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep2week53/who-wants-be-millionaire-celebrity-special|publisher=ITV Press Centre|title=Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Celebrity Special Episode 2|access-date=16 December 2020}}{{dead link|date=July 2021}}

She won Pointless Celebrities in January 2021 with Jan Ravens.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000rhfx|publisher=BBC iPlayer|title=Pointless Celebrities – Series 13, Impressionists|date=16 January 2021|access-date=29 July 2021}}

Ancona's first feature role was in 1999 when she appeared in The Debt Collector alongside Billy Connolly.

In 2004, she played the role of Pat Connelly in The Calcium Kid.{{cite web|title=The Calcium Kid|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/film/the_calcium_kid|work=British Comedy Guide|access-date=29 July 2021}}

In the same year, she appeared in Stella Street: The Movie, playing numerous female celebrities including Madonna and Victoria Beckham.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/film/j7fx2/URL|work=Radio Times|title=Stella Street review|first=David|last=Parkinson|access-date=29 July 2021}}

In 2005, Ancona played the role of Anita in Michael Winterbottom's A Cock and Bull Story.{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/film/a_cock_and_bull_story/cast_crew|work=British Comedy Guide|title=A Cock and Bull Story|access-date=29 July 2021}}

She had a cameo role in the 2006 fantasy romantic comedy Penelope.{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/movies/penelope-2|work=Time Out|title=Penelope|date=29 January 2008 |access-date=29 July 2021}}

In 2013, Ancona was cast as Mrs Spencer in The Devil Went Down to Islington, a horror film following two hapless Londoners who sell their souls to Satan.{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1885411/fullcredits|publisher=IMDb|title=The Devil Went Down to Islington (2019)|access-date=29 July 2021}}

She played Donna, Rob Brydon's agent, in the 2014 film The Trip to Italy.{{cite news|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/2014-08-29/the-trip-to-italy|work=The Austin Chronicle|title=The Trip to Italy review|first=Steve|last=Davis|date=29 August 2014|access-date=29 July 2021}}

In 2018, she had a small role in the US comedy film Show Dogs{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} and starred in Surviving Christmas with the Relatives.{{cite web|url=https://studiosohodistribution.com/surviving-christmas|work=Studio Soho|title=Surviving Christmas with the Relatives|date=16 July 2020 |access-date=29 July 2021}}

Ancona's first Edinburgh Festival appearance was in 1992, during which she performed in two shows: The Inexplicable World of Lionel Nimrod with Stewart Lee and Richard Herring, and a stand-up show with Alistair McGowan.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Her first theatre role was in Miss Conceptions in 1996, a comedy play she co-wrote with Alan Francis, directed by Anthony Nielson.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

In 2004, Ancona was cast in Singin' in the Rain, the first production with Adam Cooper. Ancona played the role of Lina Lamont, the silent-movie starlet, in the Sadler's Wells production.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/breakfast/3915787.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Singin' in the Rain|date=22 July 2004|access-date=30 July 2021}}

She then played the gold-digging temptress Belline in Richard Bean's 2005 production of Molière's The Hypochondriac, alongside Carey Mulligan and Henry Goodman. The play received favourable reviews, with Michael Billington for The Guardian giving it four stars out of five and describing it as a "hilarious new version".{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2005/nov/18/theatre|work=The Guardian|title=The Hypochondriac|first=Michael|last=Billingdon|date=18 November 2005|access-date=30 July 2021}}

Ancona returned to the Almeida to perform in Little Revolution, set during and after the 2011 London riots, alongside Lucian Msamati and Imogen Stubbs.{{cite web|url=https://almeida.co.uk/whats-on/little-revolution/26-aug-2014-4-oct-2014|work=Almeida Theatre|title=Little Revolution|access-date=30 July 2021}}

In June 2015, Ancona was cast to play the role of Paula in the musical adaptation of Bend It Like Beckham at the West End's Phoenix Theatre. However, she had to pull out of the play for personal reasons before the premier.{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/sophie-louise-dann-bend-it-like-beckham_37570.html|work=WhatsOnStage.com|title=Sophie-Louise Dann replaces Ronni Ancona in Bend It Like Beckham|first=Rosie|last=Bannister|date=13 April 2015|access-date=30 July 2021}} Later that year she appeared alongside Justin Fletcher in The Tale of Mr Tumble during the Manchester International Festival.{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/jul/13/the-tale-of-mr-tumble-review-cbeebies-justin-fletcher|work=The Guardian|title=The Tale of Mr Tumble review – a nose-honking good time|first=Alfred|last=Hickling|date=13 July 2015|access-date=30 July 2021}}

In 2019, she performed in the Edinburgh Fringe show Just Checking In, which she co-wrote with Kim Fuller and fellow cast member Lewis MacLeod.{{cite web|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2019/08/19/44068/ronni_ancona_and_lewis_macleod:_just_checking_in|work=Chortle|title=Ronni Ancona and Lewis MacLeod: Just Checking In|first=Steve|last=Bennett|date=19 August 2019|access-date=30 July 2021}}

In 2009, A Matter of Life and Death: How to Wean a Man Off Football, by Ancona and Alistair McGowan, was published by Faber & Faber.{{cite book|title=A Matter of Life and Death: How to Wean a Man Off Football|first1=Ronni|last1=Ancona|first2=Alistair|last2=McGowan|publisher=Faber & Faber|date=1 October 2009|isbn=978-0571250547}}

Ancona co-wrote The Big Impression, which won numerous awards including a BAFTA in 2003. She was nominated for Best Comedy Newcomer in 2000{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/1072776.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Welsh actor wins comedy award|date=17 December 2000|access-date=30 July 2021}} and Best Comedy actress in 2002,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2492895.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=In brief: Office duo fight for prize|date= 19 November 2002|access-date=30 July 2021}} as well as winning The Best TV comedy Actress in 2003. Ancona and McGowan also received The Variety Club Comedy Award in 2002.

Nominee – Best Comedy Newcomer – Big Impression – 2000

Winner – Broadcast Award – 2001{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Nominee – Best Comedy Actress – 2002 – Big Impression

Winner – Variety Club Comedy Award – 2002

Winner – New TV Talent of the Year – Television and Radio Industries Club – 2002{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/mar/12/broadcasting3|work=The Guardian|title=Ant and Dec are triple winners at TV awards|first=Jason|last=Deans|date=12 March 2002|access-date=30 July 2021}}

Winner – Comedy Actress – Maxim Women of the Year Awards – 2002{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Winner – Best TV Comedy Actress – Big Impression – 2003

Winner – Funny Woman of the Year – Glamour Women of the Year Awards – 2004{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Winner – BAFTA – The Sketch Show

Winner – BAFTA – The Big Impression

Ancona had a seven-year relationship with Alistair McGowan which ended shortly before they started working together professionally.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} Ancona is married to Gerard Hall, a consultant rheumatologist{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/ronni-ancona-how-my-heart-still-1099723|work=Daily Record|title=Ronni Ancona: How my heart still aches over stillborn Seth|first=Ben|last=Spencer|date=8 April 2011|access-date=30 July 2021}} with whom she has two daughters. They live in west London.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/sunday-review/regulars/how-we-met-ronni-ancona--alistair-mcgowan-870519.html|work=The Independent|title=How We Met: Ronni Ancona & Alistair McGowan|first=Simon|last=Usborne|date=20 October 2011|access-date=30 July 2021}}

Ancona is an ambassador to the Environmental Investigation Agency,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rqgyv|publisher=BBC Radio 4|title=Radio 4 Appeal|date=11 April 2013|access-date=30 July 2021}} Marie Curie{{cite web|url=https://www.charitytoday.co.uk/cookalong-tv-launches-with-a-mission-to-support-charities-in-need|work=Charity Today|title=Cookalong TV launches with a mission to support charities in need|date=30 June 2020|access-date=30 July 2021}} and Sightsavers.{{cite web|url=https://www.sightsavers.org/media-centre/celebrity-supporters|work=Sightsavers|title=Our celebrity supporters|date=18 April 2019 |access-date=30 July 2021}}

{{BLP sources section|date=July 2021}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Notelist}}

• {{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/a/ancona_ronni.shtml | publisher = BBC | work = Comedy guide | title = Ronni Ancona }}
• {{IMDb name | id = 0025852 | name = Ronni Ancona }}
• {{Twitter}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Scottish impressionists (entertainers)

Category:Scottish film actresses

Category:Scottish radio actresses

Category:Scottish stage actresses

Category:Scottish television actresses

Category:Scottish voice actresses

Category:People from Louth, Lincolnshire

Category:People from Troon

Category:Scottish Jews

Category:Scottish people of English descent

Category:Scottish people of Italian descent

Category:British people of Italian-Jewish descent

Category:British Sephardi Jews

Category:People educated at Marr College

Category:20th-century Scottish actresses

Category:21st-century Scottish actresses

Category:20th-century Scottish comedians

Category:21st-century Scottish comedians

Category:Scottish people of Jewish descent

Category:Alumni of Saint Martin's School of Art

Category:Scottish women comedians

Category:Jewish Scottish comedians

Category:Actresses from Lincolnshire

Category:Comedians from Lincolnshire

Category:Scottish sketch comedians

Category:Jewish women comedians

Category:1966 births

Category:Actresses from South Ayrshire

Category:Actors from East Lindsey District