Ruth Madeley
{{short description|British actress (born 1987)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ruth Madeley
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| other_names =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|8|04|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Westhoughton, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = Edge Hill University
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 2009-present
| known_for = Years and Years
The Rook
Doctor Who
| notable_works =
}}
Ruth Madeley (born 4 August 1987) is a British actress known for her roles in Years and Years, The Rook and Doctor Who. She was born with spina bifida and has worked with the charity Whizz-Kidz for much of her life. She was nominated for a television BAFTA in 2016 for her work in Don't Take My Baby.
Early life
Madeley was born in Westhoughton, and was diagnosed with spina bifida six weeks before she was born.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/people/years-and-years-star-ruth-madeley-spina-bifida-disabilities/263855|title=Years & Years star Ruth Madeley talks about spina bifida|date=2019-05-14|website=Stylist|language=en|access-date=2020-02-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/17649528.bolton-actress-ruth-madeley-has-lead-role-in-hit-tv-drama-years-and-years/|title=Bolton actress Ruth Madeley tells of her new role in hit TV drama Years and Years|last=Brandwood|first=Neil|date=May 20, 2019|website=The Bolton News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}} She has an older sister named Liz. Her father worked in customer services and her mother was a nurse.{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Georgia |date=2022-03-27 |title=Ruth Madeley: 'I never saw a body like mine on screen' |url=https://www.you.co.uk/ruth-madeley-interview-2022/ |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=YOU Magazine |language=en-US}} When Madeley was 5 years old, the charity Whizz-Kidz provided funding for a custom wheelchair for her.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/11036884.westhoughton-dads-thanks-after-daughters-life-changing-pink-wheelchair-gift/|title=Westhoughton dad's thanks after daughter's life-changing pink wheelchair gift|last=Wallwork|first=Melanie|date=February 26, 2014|website=The Bolton News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-11}} Madeley actively volunteered for Whizz-Kidz throughout her childhood and was part of the Kidz Board youth panel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6122754.health-matters-ruth-12-is-a-campaigning-whizz-kid/|title=HEALTH MATTERS: Ruth, 12, is a campaigning Whizz Kid!|last=|first=|date=May 25, 1999|website=The Bolton News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/about-us/news/years-and-years-actress-ruth-madeley-becomes-a-whizz-kidz-patron|title=Years and Years actress Ruth Madeley becomes Whizz-Kidz patron|date=July 16, 2019|website=Whizz-Kidz|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13|last3=Portl|last4=House|last5=Place|first5=Bressenden|last6=London|last7=Sw1e 5bh}} As part of her work with Whizz-Kidz, at age 13, she visited Cherie Blair at 10 Downing Street to discuss fundraising and awareness.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6089028.ruths-top-level-board-meeting/|title=Ruth's top level board meeting|last=|first=|date=March 20, 2000|website=The Bolton News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}} At age 14, she received another wheelchair from the charity.
At age 13, while a student at Mount St. Joseph, Farnworth, she was awarded the Princess Diana Memorial Award for young people.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6089767.disabled-schoolgirls-princess-di-honour/|title=Disabled schoolgirl's Princess Di honour|last=|first=|date=March 13, 2000|website=The Bolton News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-11}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6086525.doctors-tonic-for-disabled-children/|title=Doctor's tonic for disabled children|last=|first=|date=April 13, 2000|website=The Bolton News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.msj.bolton.sch.uk/news/?pid=12&nid=2&storyid=51|title=Mount St Joseph Alumni - Ruth Madeley|website=Mount St Joseph|access-date=2020-02-14}} In 2004, at age 17, she was awarded the first Bolton Wanderers' Community Hero award.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/5855783.brave-ruth-is-just-champion/|title=Brave Ruth is just champion!|last=|first=|date=February 20, 2004|website=The Bolton News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-11}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/5855783.brave-ruth-is-just-champion/|title=Brave Ruth is just champion!|last=|first=|date=February 20, 2004|website=The Bolton News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}
Madeley attended Thornleigh Salesian College and later studied English and creative writing with a focus on scriptwriting at Edge Hill University, and graduated with a First Class Honours degree.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/3550595.student-ruth-proves-herself-better-by-degree/|title=Student Ruth proves herself better by degree|last=Chaudhari|first=Saiqa|date=July 27, 2008|website=The Bolton News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-11}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/5855257.little-ruth-is-a-good-role-model/|title=Little Ruth is a good role model|last=|first=|date=February 5, 2004|website=The Bolton News|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-ca/2019/08/241811/ruth-madeley-years-and-years-disability-diversity-acting|title=Ruth Madeley Wants To Be The First Avenger In A Wheelchair|last=Nicolaou|first=Kelly|date=August 29, 2019|editor-last=Dawson|editor-first=Elena|website=www.refinery29.com|language=en-CA|access-date=2020-02-13}}
Career
In 2012, Madeley wrote and starred in the Lime Pictures TV movie Scrims.{{cite web |title=2016 BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, in partnership with Burberry |url=https://www.bafta.org/sites/default/files/uploads/btbbiographies2016.pdf |website=BAFTA |access-date=25 December 2020}} She has had several supporting roles in television, including Fresh Meat and The Level.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/supporting-talent/breakthrough-brits/ruth-madeley-actress|title=Ruth Madeley {{!}} Actress|date=2016-10-19|website=www.bafta.org|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}
She starred as Anna in the 2015 TV movie Don't Take My Baby, chronicling a disabled couple's fight to prevent their baby from being taken away, and was nominated for a Best Actress TV BAFTA for her performance.{{Cite news|last=Masters|first=Tim|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-37728802|title=Bafta unveils its 'Breakthrough Brits'|date=2016-10-26|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-02-13|language=en-GB}} The following year, she was listed as one of BAFTA's 18 Breakthrough Brits.{{Cite web|url=http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/about-us/news/ruth-madeley-makes-baftas-breakthrough-brits-2016-list|title=Ruth Madeley makes BAFTA's Breakthrough Brits 2016 list|date=October 27, 2016|website=Whizz-Kidz|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13|last3=Portl|last4=House|last5=Place|first5=Bressenden|last6=London|last7=Sw1e 5bh}} At the time of filming, Madeley was working in fundraising at WhizzKids. She returned to the job after her BAFTA win, thinking there would not be enough roles for disabled actresses for her to make a career in acting.{{Cite web |last=Segalov |first=Michael |date=2022-03-19 |title='These stories change how people think': actor Ruth Madeley on disability, activism and sex scenes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/mar/19/ruth-madeley-actor-on-disability-activism-sex-scenes-and-stories-to-change-how-people-think |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}
In Russell T Davies' 2019 BBC/HBO miniseries, Years and Years, Madeley played Rosie Lyons. The role of Rosie was not originally written for a wheelchair user, but after her audition, Davies decided to work with Madeley to reshape the role around her spina bifida. Madeley took a six-month sabbatical from her job at WhizzKids to film the role. When she attempted to return to the job, she found she had landed another acting role. Madeley asked her boss if she could extend the sabbatical but her boss assured her that the sabbatical did not make sense as she was "an actress now".
Also in 2019, she played Ingrid Woodhouse in the television adaptation of Daniel O'Malley's The Rook.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/07/the-rook-review-starz/593056/|title=A Supernatural Spy Story Goes Dark in 'The Rook'|last=Gilbert|first=Sophie|date=2019-07-02|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://fangirlish.com/2019/06/28/5-reasons-why-you-should-watch-starzs-the-rook/|title=5 Reasons Why You Should Watch Starz's "The Rook" -|last=|first=|date=2019-06-28|website=fangirlish.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}
In 2019, Madeley signed an open letter urging Hollywood executives to normalise disability by casting disabled actors to play disabled characters.{{Cite web|last=Harrison|first=Ellie|date=2019-12-20|title=Bryan Cranston and Danny DeVito call out Hollywood for ignoring disabled actors|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/bryan-cranston-danny-devito-hollywood-open-letter-disability-a9254541.html|access-date=2021-01-31|website=The Independent|language=en}} In 2020, she appeared in the Christmas special episode of Would I Lie to You?{{Cite web|last=Warner|first=Matt|date=2020-11-24|title=Here's our pick of the Top Ten Christmas specials on the BBC this Christmas|url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18894800.pick-christmas-specials-bbc-christmas/|access-date=2020-12-06|website=The Leader|language=en}} and appeared in Mat Fraser's CripTales, a collection of disability monologues.{{Cite news|last=Donaldson|first=Brian|date=2020-11-02|title=Crip Tales|url=https://www.list.co.uk/article/120676-crip-tales/|access-date=2021-06-30|website=The List|language=en-GB}} In 2021, she competed on Celebrity Best Home Cook{{Cite web|last=Hopkins|first=Daniel|date=2021-01-28|title=Bolton's Ruth Madeley cooking up a storm on Celebrity Best Home Cook|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19042155.boltons-ruth-madeley-starring-celebrity-best-home-cook/|access-date=2021-02-01|website=The Bolton News|language=en}} and played Throat in the television adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel, The Watch.{{Cite web|last=Bowman|first=Jamie|date=2020-12-14|title=Bolton actor Ruth Madeley continues to be one to watch in 2021|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/18941897.actor-one-watch-2021/|access-date=2021-06-30|website=The Bolton News|language=en}}
In 2021, she was cast in the BBC One comedy series, The Cleaner{{Cite web|last=Carr|first=Flora|date=2021-03-02|title=The Cleaner release date: Guide to BBC One crime scene comedy starring Greg Davies|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/the-cleaner-release-date/|access-date=2021-06-30|website=Radio Times|language=en}} and starred as Barbara Lisicki in the 2022 BBC Two drama, Then Barbara Met Alan.{{Cite web|last=|date=2021-06-30|title=Ruth Madeley to star in disability rights factual drama for BBC2|url=https://www.televisual.com/news/ruth-madeley-to-star-in-disability-rights-factual-drama-for-bbc2/|access-date=2021-06-30|website=Televisual}}{{Cite web|last=Bownass|first=Helen|date=2021-06-30|title=BBC drama exclusive: Ruth Madeley on new TV show on disability|url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/entertainment/tv/bbc-drama-ruth-madeley-barbara-lisicki-how-disabled-rights-won/537956|access-date=2021-06-30|website=Stylist|language=en}} She also appeared in Tom Stern and Celyn Jones' film, The Almond and The Seahorse, inspired by Kaite O'Reilly's play of the same name.{{Cite web|last=Brew|first=Simon|date=2021-04-07|title=Rebel Wilson's new film starts shooting in the UK|url=https://www.filmstories.co.uk/news/rebel-wilsons-new-film-starts-shooting-in-the-uk/|access-date=2021-06-30|website=Film Stories|language=en}}{{cite Box Office Mojo |title=The Almond and the Seahorse (2022) |access-date=30 December 2023}}
Madeley's first theatre role was in The Greatest Wealth at The Old Vic in 2018. The Greatest Wealth consisted of seven monologues and was put together in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the NHS. Madeley's monologue, "Choice & Control" was written by Matilda Ibini.{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/theatre/ruth-madeley-interview-teenage-dick-donmar-a4309581.html|title=Ruth Madeley: 'It's exciting if a disabled character is horrible too'|last=Curtis|first=Nick|date=2019-12-10|website=Evening Standard|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}} In late 2019 and early 2020, she played Barbara 'Buck' Buckingham in Teenage Dick at the Donmar Warehouse directed by Michael Longhurst. The play, written by Mike Lew, was inspired by Shakespeare's Richard III. The character of Buck was based on the character of the Duke of Buckingham and was explicitly written to be played by a disabled actor.{{Cite web|url=https://britishtheatre.com/review-teenage-dick-donmar-warehouse/|title=REVIEW: Teenage Dick, Donmar Warehouse ✭✭✭✭|last=Davies|first=Paul T|date=2019-12-15|website=British Theatre|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-13}}
In September 2021, it was announced that she would star alongside Colin Baker and Bonnie Langford in the Big Finish Doctor Who audio dramas as a new companion of the Sixth Doctor, marine biologist Hebe Harrison.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-14|title=Ruth Madeley joins the cast of The Sixth Doctor Adventures|url=https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/ruth-madeley-joins-the-cast-of-the-sixth-doctor-adventures|website=Big Finish}} The boxset, The Sixth Doctor Adventures: Water Worlds, was released in May 2022. She was cast as Shirley Anne Bingham in the television series' 2023 specials, which were written by Davies, who has returned as showrunner.{{cite news |last1=Iorizzo |first1=Ellie |title=Doctor Who fans receive festive treat as teaser clip lands |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/doctor-who-trailer-david-tennant-ruth-madeley-russell-t-davies-catherine-tate-ncuti-gatwa-b1049394.html |access-date=25 December 2022 |work=Evening Standard |date=25 December 2022 |language=en}}
Madeley and Ruben Reuter appeared in a documentary from Channel 4 on disability and abortion titled Disability and Abortion: The Hardest Choice. The documentary aired in August 2022.{{Cite web |last=Cook |first=Sam |date=2022-08-22 |title=Actress learns mum had 'blunt' advice about her pregnancy |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/channel-4s-disability--abortion-24824797 |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Tracy |first=Andrew |date=2022-08-09 |title=Extra: C4 slates "Disability & Abortion" doc; Mediaset sells "Back to School" to Germany |url=https://realscreen.com/2022/08/09/extra-c4-slates-disability-mediaset-sells-back-to-school-to-germany/ |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=RealScreen}}
Personal life
Madeley continues her work with Whizz-Kidz as a fundraiser and, in 2019, was recognised as a patron of the charity.{{Cite web|url=http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/about-us/news/bafta-ruth-madeley-role-model|title=BAFTA Nominee Ruth Madeley a 'role model' for disabled youth|date=May 9, 2016|website=Whizz-Kidz|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13|last3=Portl|last4=House|last5=Place|first5=Bressenden|last6=London|last7=Sw1e 5bh}}
She has been with her partner, Joe, since 2012{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.it/fotografia/article/ruth-madeley-interview|title=Ruth Madeley|last=Glaviano|first=Di Alesssia|date=November 26, 2019|website=Vogue Italia|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}} and they married in 2024.{{Cite Instagram |postid=C_sbuNto1aF |user=ruthmadely |title=07.09.24. Forever & Ever, Amen. 🤍 @theboy_888 [ID: Ruth & Joe happy on their wedding day!] |first=Ruth |last=Madeley |date=9 September 2024}} The two have known each other since they were young.
She is a supporter of Bolton Wanderers F.C.{{Cite web |title=Ruth Madeley & the Toughsheet Community Stadium – Bolton Wanderers |url=https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/2a318cd0-baf0-4bd8-b296-e6efe4de4a7b/episodes/4e6bbcba-65ca-416d-9aeb-c7c6bd1453b5/the-ground-jewels-ruth-madeley-the-toughsheet-community-stadium---bolton-wanderers |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=music.amazon.co.uk}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2018
| rowspan="3" | Short films |
| 2020
| The Uncertain Kingdom: Verisimilitude{{Cite web|url=http://film-directory.britishcouncil.org/verisimilitude|title=British Council Film: Verisimilitude|website=film-directory.britishcouncil.org|access-date=2020-02-13}}{{Cite web |title=The Uncertain Kingdom |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/5ea8aa990e229 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924180046/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/5ea8aa990e229 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2020 |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=BFI |language=en}} | Bella |
| 2021
| Canvas 5 | Ruth Betteridge |
| 2022
| |
=Television=
=Theatre=
- 2018: Performed "Choice & Control" monologue in The Greatest Wealth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/The-Old-Vic-Announces-Casting-for-THE-GREATEST-WEALTH-20180613|title=The Old Vic Announces Casting for THE GREATEST WEALTH|author=BWW News Desk|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.oughttobeclowns.com/2018/07/review-the-greatest-wealth-old-vic.html/|title=Review: The Greatest Wealth, Old Vic|last=Ian|date=2018-07-01|website=There Ought To Be Clowns|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}{{Cite web|url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/casting-greatest-wealth-announced-111410174/|title=Casting for The Greatest Wealth announced|last=Clements|first=Carry-Anne|date=June 13, 2018|website=Official London Theatre|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-13}}
- 2019–2020: Barbara 'Buck' Buckingham in Teenage Dick.{{Cite news|last=Billington|first=Michael|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/dec/13/teenage-dick-review-donmar-warehouse-london|title=Teenage Dick review – Daniel Monks is a dazzling high-school Richard III|date=2019-12-13|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-02-13|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}
Awards
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|3978118}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Madeley, Ruth}}
Category:British film actresses
Category:English film actresses
Category:British television actresses
Category:English television actresses
Category:People with spina bifida
Category:British actors with disabilities
Category:British stage actresses
Category:English stage actresses
Category:Alumni of Edge Hill University
Category:People educated at Thornleigh Salesian College
Category:People from Westhoughton
Category:Actors from the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton
Category:British wheelchair users
Category:20th-century English actresses