Sue Jenkins

{{Infobox person

| name = Sue Jenkins

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1958|7|31}}

| birth_place = Liverpool, England

| nationality = British

| occupation = Actress

| spouse = {{marriage|David Fleeshman|1978}}

| children = Emily Fleeshman
Richard Fleeshman
Rosie Fleeshman

| birthname = Susan Elizabeth Jenkins

| yearsactive = 1975–present

}}

Susan Elizabeth Jenkins (born 31 July 1958){{cn|date=August 2024}} is an English actress. She is most widely known for her roles as Gloria Todd in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (1985–1988) and as Jackie Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside (1991–2001).

Career

Jenkins worked in repertory theatres across the UK for the first 11 years of her career, performing in many productions,{{Cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/showbiz/theatre-preview-vagina-monologues-swansea-1897971|title=Theatre Preview: The Vagina Monologues, Swansea Grand Theatre|last=Administrator|first=walesonline|website=walesonline|date=16 September 2010 |access-date=1 April 2016}} playing everything from works by Alan Ayckbourn{{Cite web|url=http://www.leodis.net/playbills/item.asp?ri=20031021_13050478|title=Leeds Play Bills|website=leodis.net|access-date=1 April 2016}} to those of Shakespeare.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theactorslab.co.uk/who-we-are|title=The Actors Lab – Acting Classes in Manchester and Cheshire|website=The Actors Lab|language=en-US|access-date=1 April 2016}} Alan Bleasdale wrote the lead female role in Having a Ball for Jenkins.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Preview%253B+THE+VAGINA+MONOLOGUES+Crosby+Civic+Hall.-a0240866997|title=Preview; THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES Crosby Civic Hall. – Free Online Library|website=thefreelibrary.com|access-date=1 April 2016}}

She began to work more on television including How We Used To Live and, as the "platinum blonde", in the cult TV programme, The Beiderbecke Affair. In 1985 she joined the cast of top-rated British soap opera, Coronation Street, playing barmaid Gloria Todd in 238 episodes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.corrie.net/profiles/actors/jenkins_sue.html|title=Sue Jenkins|website=corrie.net|access-date=1 April 2016}} She left the show in 1988 after becoming pregnant with her second child, Richard, who played Craig Harris in the soap from 2002 until 2006. She returned to television in the series Coasting with Peter Howitt and from 1991 until 2001 playing the part of Jackie Corkhill in the Liverpool based, and often controversial, Channel 4 soap opera Brookside.{{Cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/brookside-looking-back-11-liverpool-10848754|title=Brookside: Looking back at the Liverpool soap's most memorable couples|last=Hughes|first=Lorna|website=liverpoolecho|date=6 February 2016 |access-date=1 April 2016}} She also appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank in 2001.{{cite episode|series=Lily Savage's Blankety Blank|network=ITV|airdate=11 March 2001}}

Since leaving Brookside, Jenkins has continued to work in theatre and television, making guest appearances on British television, including In Deep, Holby City,Emmerdale,Doctors, Casualty, Merseybeat, Dalziel & Pascoe, Midsomer Murders, Heartbeat, Dr Who, The Responder.

Jenkins also presented Loose Women.

She returned to theatre, playing at the Royal Court Theatre in London in The People Are Friendly,{{Cite web|url=http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/peoplearefriendly02.htm|title=London Theatre Guide Theatre Current Reviews/The People Are Friendly 2002|website=londontheatre.co.uk|access-date=1 April 2016}} Esther in Arthur Miller's The Price at the Library Theatre, Manchester{{Cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/the-price--library-theatre-1088999|title=The Price @ Library Theatre|last=Administrator|first=men|website=men|date=26 October 2005 |access-date=1 April 2016}} and Maybe Tomorrow at the Royal Exchange, Manchester.{{Cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/maybe-tomorrow--royal-exchange-1115156|title=Maybe Tomorrow @ Royal Exchange Studio|last=Administrator|first=men|website=men|date=15 February 2007 |access-date=1 April 2016}}

She appeared in the film, Blue Collars and Buttercups{{Cite web |url=http://film.britishcouncil.org/blue-collars-and-buttercups |title=British Council Film: Blue Collars And Buttercups |last=Film |first=British Council |website=film.britishcouncil.org |access-date=1 April 2016}}

Sue is regularly heard on BBC Radio 4 afternoon dramas.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007vzr2/broadcasts/2008/03|title=Afternoon Reading – Next on – BBC Radio 4|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 April 2016}} She has recorded more than 200 radio plays, short stories and radio adaptations of classic serials over the years, including Middlemarch, Villette and Wuthering Heights with Derek Jacobi.{{Cite web |url=http://www.theactorslab.co.uk/who-we-are |title=The Actors Lab – Acting Classes in Manchester and Cheshire |website=The Actors Lab |language=en-US |access-date=1 April 2016}}

Sue created, produced and directed Night of Stars 1 and 2 at the Palace Theatre, Manchester,{{Cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/stars-serve-up-musical-treats-1038838|title=Stars serve up musical treats|last=Bourne|first=Dianne|website=men|date=15 February 2007 |access-date=1 April 2016}} raising over £70,000 to build an orphanage in Thailand for orphaned children of the 2004 tsunami and to help children's charities in the UK. She has directed many pantomimes across the UK and produced her son, Richard Fleeshman's first concert in 2006 at Tameside Theatre.

In 2013, she played Maureen in the BBC series Being Eileen written by Michael Wynne.

Jenkins was voted 'Woman of the Year' in 2008 for her Charity work{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/the+winners%253B+Woman+of+the+Year.-a0180408183|title=the winners; Woman of the Year. – Free Online Library|website=thefreelibrary.com|access-date=1 April 2016}} and was honoured by This Is Your Life in 2001.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

She performed in Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues at the Empire Theatre, Liverpool and in 2010 starred in the 3-month Autumn National Tour of The Vagina Monologues, playing in 65 theatres across the country.

In 2009, Jenkins appeared in an episode of Doctors starring opposite her own daughter, Emily Fleeshman.

Sue produced and directed an open-air production of As You Like It at Plas Coch in Anglesey, her second production at the venue, having directed A Midsummer Night's Dream there in 2013. Jenkins played Phyllis Feld, mother of Marc Bolan in the highly acclaimed UK national tour of 20th Century Boy until 19 July 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://musicaltheatrereview.com/20th-century-boy-manchester-touring/|title=20th Century Boy – Manchester and Touring – Review|website=musicaltheatrereview.com|language=en-US|access-date=1 April 2016}}

Jenkins has produced and directed five studio productions at The Lowry Theatre.

She directed Build a Bonfire by Trevor Suthers and another Suthers' play, Toil and Trouble, for JB Shorts in April 2016. In 2017 at Salford Arts Theatre, she directed From Heaven to Hell which tells the story of Salford's Pals battalion which fought at the Battle of the Somme in WW1. Jenkins directed Virtuoso by Bill Humble at 3MT Theatre and produced and directed the award-winning Narcissist in the Mirror (written by and starring her daughter Rosie Fleeshman).

She directed the production of Bette & Joan by Anton Burge at Hope Mill Theatre.

She starred in Cuckoo by Michael Wynne at The Royal Court Theatre in London in 2023, which transferred to The Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/narcissist-in-t-home-manchester-15438|title=Theatre review: Narcissist in the Mirror at HOME Manchester|website=britishtheatreguide.info|date=16 January 2018 |access-date=18 January 2018}}

In November 2024, Jenkins directed a new production of Bette & Joan at Park Theatre, London, and received an Off West End nomination for Best Director.

As of April 2024, Jenkins is currently shooting a new series for the BBC.

Personal life

Jenkins is married to the actor David Fleeshman and they have three children, actors Emily, Richard and Rosie. Jenkins and her elder daughter, Emily, are founders of The Actors' Lab Ltd, a drama academy in Manchester.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theactorslab.co.uk/|title=The Actors Lab – Acting Classes in Manchester and Cheshire|website=The Actors Lab|language=en-US|access-date=1 April 2016}}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"\| Notes
2006 \| Dalziel and Pascoe \| Sophie Barron \| Episode: "The Cave Woman"

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable"| Notes

2006

| Dalziel and Pascoe

| Sophie Barron

| Episode: "The Cave Woman"