Tracie Bennett
{{short description|British actress (b. 1961)}}
{{For|the puzzle editor|Tracy Bennett}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tracie Bennett
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|06|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Leigh, Lancashire, England
| occupation = Actress
| alma_mater = Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
| years_active = 1981–present
| notable_works = Coronation Street {{small|(1982–1984, 1999, 2021)}}
}}
Tracie Bennett (born 17 June 1961) is an English singer and stage and television actress. She trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in Clapham, London. She played the role of Sharon Gaskell in Coronation Street from 1982 to 1984, returning to the role in 1999 and again in 2021.
Best known for her roles in theatre, both dramatic and musical, Bennett has received two Olivier Awards for Best Supporting Role in a Musical for her performances in the musicals She Loves Me and Hairspray with additional nominations for her work in High Society and Follies. Bennett was also nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Mrs Henderson Presents while her performance as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow earned her an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Play and a Tony Award nomination in the same category when the production transferred to Broadway.
Career
Bennett's first major television role was in Coronation Street between 1982 and 1984 as Sharon Gaskell, the Faircloughs' foster daughter. She returned to the role in 1999. She played dim-witted blonde Tracy Glazebrook in the pilot of Steven Moffat's sitcom Joking Apart (1991),[http://www.jokingapart.co.uk/pre_and_re/pilot.htm "'Joking Apart' Pilot Listing"], jokingapart.co.uk, accessed 4 April 2012 a role which she reprised for the subsequent two full-length series in 1993 and 1995.[http://www.jokingapart.co.uk/pre_and_re/16.htm "'Joking Apart' Episode Six Listing, 11th February 1993"] jokingapart.co.uk, accessed 4 April 2012 She played Shirley's rebellious daughter Millandra in the film version of Shirley Valentine (1989).James, Caryn. [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=950DE7D61F3AF933A0575BC0A96F948260 "Review. 'Shirley Valentine'"] The New York Times, 30 August 1989 She appeared in She Loves Me at the Savoy Theatre in 1994,[http://www.kent.ac.uk/library/specialcollections/theatre/r.php/32771/show.html "Programme for 'She Loves Me', Savoy Theatre"], kent.ac.uk; accessed 4 April 2012. for which she won the Laurence Olivier Award as Best Supporting Performance in a Musical.[http://www.olivierawards.com/about/previous-winners/view/item98529/olivier-winners-1995/ "Olivier Winners 1995"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201423/http://www.olivierawards.com/about/previous-winners/view/item98529/olivier-winners-1995/ |date=29 October 2013 }} olivierawards.com, accessed 4 April 2012 She played Ida in Honk!, which won the 2000 Olivier Award for Best Musical.[http://www.aord.co.uk/honk/gallery.htm Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011118203726/http://aord.co.uk/honk/gallery.htm |date=18 November 2001 }}, aord.co.uk; accessed 2 May 2015.
In 2003, she was praised[http://www.albemarle-london.com/Archive/ArchiveShow.php?Show_Name=High%20Society%20(Open%20Air) " 'High Society' Archives"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213054608/http://albemarle-london.com/Archive/ArchiveShow.php?Show_Name=High%20Society%20%28Open%20Air%29 |date=13 December 2010 }} albemarle-london.com, accessed 3 April 2012 for her role in the London production of High Society, for which she was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2004. She appeared in Sex, Chips and Rock 'n' Roll at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester in 2005,Meads, Glenn. [http://www.whatsonstage.com/reviews/theatre/london/E8821120641738/Sex+Chips+%26+Rock+'n'+Roll+(Manchester).html "Review. 'Sex, Chips & Rock 'n' Roll'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729001952/http://www.whatsonstage.com/reviews/theatre/london/E8821120641738/Sex+Chips+%26+Rock+%27n%27+Roll+%28Manchester%29.html |date=29 July 2010 }} whatsonstage.com, 6 July 2005 for which she won a TMA Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical. In January 2006, Bennett joined the West End production of Les Misérables in the role of Madame Thénardier at the Queen's Theatre, which she continued to play to July 2007.{{cite news|url=http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/latest_news/uk_les_mis.html|
publisher=Ticketmaster|title=TV and stage actress Tracie Bennett joins the cast of Les Misérables from 17 January|date=13 January 2006}} In October 2007, she began her run in the role of Velma Von Tussle in the London premiere of the musical Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre.[http://www.albemarle-london.com/Reviews.php?Show_No=10266 "Reviews. 'Hairspray' "] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205044452/http://www.albemarle-london.com/Reviews.php?Show_No=10266 |date=5 December 2010 }} albemarle-london.com, accessed 3 April 2012 She mentioned on a televised interview Alan Titchmarsh that it was a "great show" and that she enjoyed doing it, but also said it was exhausting, pointing out that to begin with, the wiring under her wig weighs 10 lbs, making some of the dancing difficult. In spite of this, her efforts were rewarded in March 2008, when she received her second Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for her performance.{{cite news|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/theatre/news/story/0,,2253419,00.html|work=The Guardian|location=London, UK|title=Olivier awards 2008: nominations in full|date=7 February 2008|access-date=25 May 2010}}
In February 2010, Bennett took on the role of Judy Garland in the first London production of Peter Quilter's play End of the Rainbow. The production premiered with at Northampton's Royal Theatre, and subsequently transferred to London's West End. Bennett received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance.{{cite web|url=http://www.olivierawards.com/nominations/view/item114038/Best-Actress|publisher=Olivier Awards|title=Best Actress 2011|access-date=23 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110714235353/http://www.olivierawards.com/nominations/view/item114038/Best-Actress/|archive-date=14 July 2011}} The production transferred to Broadway in March 2012, with Bennett reprising her role.Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/160827-Stormy-Weather-End-of-the-Rainbow-Begins-Broadway-Run-March-19-at-the-Belasco-Theatre "Stormy Weather": 'End of the Rainbow' Begins Broadway Run 19 March at the Belasco Theatre"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320185632/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/160827-Stormy-Weather-End-of-the-Rainbow-Begins-Broadway-Run-March-19-at-the-Belasco-Theatre|date=20 March 2012}}, playbill.com, 19 March 2012 For her performance in the Broadway production, Bennett received a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Play,Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/166878-Broadways-Big-Night-Neil-Patrick-Harris-Hosts-66th-Annual-Tony-Awards-June-10 Broadway's Big Night! Neil Patrick Harris Hosts 66th Annual Tony Awards June 10"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611095518/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/166878-Broadways-Big-Night-Neil-Patrick-Harris-Hosts-66th-Annual-Tony-Awards-June-10|date=11 June 2012}}, playbill.com, 10 June 2012 and won the Outer Critics Circle AwardGans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/165909-Outer-Critics-Circle-Winners-Announced-Once-and-One-Man-Two-Guvnors-Are-Top-Winners "Outer Critics Circle Winners Announced; Once and One Man, Two Guvnors Are Top Winners"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516182759/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/165909-Outer-Critics-Circle-Winners-Announced-Once-and-One-Man-Two-Guvnors-Are-Top-Winners |date=16 May 2012 }}, Playbill.com, 14 May 2012. and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/166621-Once-Tribes-Follies-Salesman-Audra-McDonald-Danny-Burstein-and-More-Are-Drama-Desk-Winners "'Once', 'Tribes', 'Follies', 'Salesman', Audra McDonald, Danny Burstein and More Are Drama Desk Winners"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606195208/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/166621-Once-Tribes-Follies-Salesman-Audra-McDonald-Danny-Burstein-and-More-Are-Drama-Desk-Winners |date=6 June 2012 }}, playbill.com, 3 June 2012. In 2013, she joined the cast of detective series Scott & Bailey as Sharon, the estranged mother of DC Bailey.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a439228/spooks-star-nicola-walker-tracie-bennett-for-scott--bailey.html|title='Spooks' star Nicola Walker, Tracie Bennett for 'Scott & Bailey'|publisher=Digital Spy|last=Jeffrey|first=Morgan|date=19 November 2012|access-date=29 January 2013}} In 2015 and 2016, she played Laura Henderson in the musical Mrs Henderson Presents and received a nomination for the Olivier Awards 2016 in the category Best Actress in a Musical.[http://www.olivierawards.com/nominations/view/item274592/best-actress-in-a-musical/ Nominations by category 2016] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505005501/http://www.olivierawards.com/nominations/view/item274592/best-actress-in-a-musical |date=5 May 2016 }}, olivierawards.com, Retrieved 28 April 2016.
Between 2014 and 2017 she played patient Molly Drover in the BBC medical drama, Casualty.[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08md9c0] bbc.co.uk In 2017, she played the role of Carlotta in the National Theatre production of Follies by Stephen Sondheim, singing the song "I'm Still Here".Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/national-theatres-follies-casts-its-carlotta# "National Theatre's 'Follies' Casts Its Carlotta"] Playbill, 23 December 2016 In March 2021, it was announced that Bennett would be returning to Coronation Street reprising her role as Sharon Bentley after 22 years away.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a35790881/coronation-street-tracie-bennett-sharon-bentley-return/|title=Coronation Street star Tracie Bennett is returning as Sharon Bentley after 22 years|last=Lee|first=Jess|publisher=Digital Spy|date=10 March 2021|accessdate=11 March 2021|archive-date=20 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320110551/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a35790881/coronation-street-tracie-bennett-sharon-bentley-return/|url-status=live}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1986
| Tina | |
| 1989
| Millandra | |
| 2002
| f2point8 | Kika | Short film |
| 2004
| French Fries on the Golden Front | Princess | Short film |
| rowspan="2"|2017
| Gholam | Mrs. X | |
| National Theatre Live: Follies
| Carlotta Campion | |
| 2019
| Lita Encore | |
| 2021
| The Extinction of Fireflies | Charlotte | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes |
| 1981
| Going Out | Quacky | Episode: "Sixth Week" |
| 1982–1984, 1999, 2021 | Sharon Bentley (née Gaskell) | Series regular, 145 episodes |
| 1984
| Kid from Shame | Episode: "Shame" |
| rowspan="2"|1985
| Lorraine | Episode: "Series 1, Episode 6" |
| Black Silk
| Trish | Episode: "Open and Shut" |
| rowspan="2"|1986
| Boon | Patsy | Episode: "Glasshouse People" |
| Unnatural Causes
| Cheryl | Episode: "Partners" |
| rowspan="3"|1987
| The Ritz | Angie | Recurring role, 3 episodes |
| Brush Strokes
| Miss Wilson | Episode: "Series 2, Episode 6" |
| The Bretts
| Connie | Episode: "Forbidden Fruit" |
| 1989–1991
| Norma | Series regular, 24 episodes |
| 1990
| Marilyn Thompson | Episode: "The Best Man to Die" |
| 1991
| Rich Tea and Sympathy | Nikki | Series regular, 6 episodes |
| 1991–1995
| Tracy Glazebrook | Series regular, 13 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|1992
| Michelle | Episode: "To Let or Not to Let" |
| Casualty
| Sally | Episode: "Rates of Exchange" |
| rowspan="2"|1993
| The Gingerbread Girl | Stella | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| The Bill
| Lisa Brooks | Episode: "Bare Faced Lies" |
| 1995–1996
| Liz | Recurring role, 13 episodes |
| 1997
| Lieutenant | Episode: "Substitute" |
| rowspan="2"|1998
| Rita | Episodes: "Toenails" & "Frustration" |
| Verdict
| Sally Taylor | Episode: "Be My Valentine" |
| 1999
| Annette | Episode: "A Matter of Life and Death" |
| rowspan="2"|2002
| Julie Sparke | Episode: "No Turning Back" |
| Merseybeat
| Jacqui McHale | Episode: "Endgame" |
| rowspan="5"|2003
| Yvonne | Episode: "Heroes and Villains" |
| Burn It
| Bev | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| The Bill
| Shirley Fielding | Episode: "Rose-Coloured Glasses" |
| Murder Investigation Team
| Celia Seagrove | Episode: "Daddy's Little Girl" |
| Keen Eddie
| Charlotte | Episode: "Horse Heir" |
| rowspan="3"|2004
| Diane Eaton | Episode: "Beloved Daughter" |
| The Long Firm
| Judy Garland | Episode: "Ruby's Story" |
| Casualty
| Gina Driscoll | Episodes: "I Love You, I Hate You" & "Forget Me Not" |
| rowspan="3"|2005
| Sylvia | Episode: "Sins of the Father" |
| Vincent
| Deborah Finnigan | Episode: "Series 1, Episode 3" |
| Doctors
| Julie Bolton | Episode: "Little Lies" |
| 2006
| Maureen | Episode: "Series 1, Episode 2" |
| rowspan="3"|2007
| Doctors | Jean Hobbs | Episode: "Off the Edge" |
| Dalziel and Pascoe
| Grace Beck | Episode: "Project Aphrodite" |
| Casualty
| Linda Riley | Episode: "The Fires Within" |
| 2010
| Doctors | Laura Wakefield | Episode: "Hanging On" |
| rowspan="2"|2011
| Barb | Episode: "Series 1, Episode 2" |
| Casualty
| Seonaidh Lucas | Episode: "Mea Culpa" |
| rowspan="2"|2013
| Angela Gold | Episode: "Cry Me a River" |
| Doctors
| Claire Cheeseman | Episode: "Mom" |
| 2013–2014
| Sharon Bailey | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| 2014–2017
| Casualty | Molly Drover | Recurring role, 4 episodes |
| 2019
| The Bay | Margaret Foley | Series regular, 6 episodes |
=Theatre=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Venue ! Notes ! Ref |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|1984
|Mary Flynn | rowspan="2"|Royal Exchange, Manchester | |
| Carousel
|Carrie Pipperidge | | |
| 1994
|Ilona Ritter | |
| rowspan="2"|1996
| Dead Funny | Lisa | Also UK tour | |
| Cash on Delivery
| Linda Swan | |
| rowspan="3"|1997
| Bedevilled | Florence Bravo | |
| Saturday Night
| Celeste | rowspan="2" | Bridewell Theatre, London | |
| Lucky Stiff
| Rita LaPorta | |
| 1999
| Honk! | Ida | Royal National Theatre, London | |
| 2000
| Miss Adelaide | |
| 2001
| Last Song of the Nightingale | Martha | |
| 2003
| Liz Imbrie | Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London | |
| 2004
| Mother | Also England tour |
| 2005
| Irma Brookes | |
| 2006
| Madame Thénardier | |
| 2007
| Velma Von Tussle | |
| 2008
| Jacqueline | |
| 2010
| rowspan="2"|End of the Rainbow | rowspan="2"|Judy Garland | Royal & Derngate, Northampton & Trafalgar Theatre, London | |
| 2012
| Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis & Belasco Theatre, New York City | |
| 2014
| Toinette | Theatre Royal, Bath | Also UK tour |
| 2015
| Theatre Royal, Bath & Noël Coward Theatre, London & Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto | |
| 2017; 2019 | Follies | Carlotta Campion | Royal National Theatre, London | |
| 2018
| Lita Encore | |
| 2019
| Mame | Mame Dennis | Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester | |
| 2020; 2022 | Hangmen | Alice | John Golden Theatre, New York City | |
| 2022
|Rose Hovick |Alexandra Palace Theatre, London | |
| rowspan="2"|2023
|How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying |J. B. Biggley | |{{Cite news |last=Culwell-Block |first=Logan |date=March 21, 2023 |title=Tracie Bennett to Lead London Revival of How to Succeed... in Gender-Swapped Role |pages=1–2 |work=Playbill |url=https://playbill.com/article/tracie-bennett-to-lead-london-revival-of-how-to-succeed-in-gender-swapped-role |access-date=June 13, 2023}} |
| rowspan="2"|Here We Are
| rowspan="2"|Woman | |
| 2025
| | |
Awards and nominations
= Stage =
| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"
!Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !Ref |
| 1984
|Manchester Evening News Theatre Award |Best Actress |Carousel and Merrily We Roll Along |{{won}} |
| 1995
|Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical | {{won}} |
| 2004
|Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical | {{nominated}} |
| 2005
|Best Supporting Performance in a Musical |Sex, Chips and Rock 'n' Roll | {{won}} |
| rowspan="2" |2008
|Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical | rowspan="2" |Hairspray | {{won}} |
| WhatsOnStage Award
|Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | {{won}} |
| 2009
|Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | {{won}} |
| rowspan="2" |2011
| rowspan="6" |End of the Rainbow | {{nominated}} |
| WhatsOnStage Award
|Best Actress in a Play| Best Actress in a Play | {{nominated}} |
| rowspan="4" |2012
|Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play |{{nom}} |
| Drama Desk Award
|Outstanding Actress in a Play | {{won}} |
| Drama League Award
| Distinguished Performance | Distinguished Performance | {{nom}} |
| Outer Critics Circle Award
|Outstanding Actress in a Play | {{won}} |
| 2016
| {{nominated}} |
| rowspan="2" |2018
|Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical | rowspan="2" |Follies | {{nominated}} |
| WhatsOnStage Award
|Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | {{nominated}} |
| 2020
|Best Actress in a Musical |Mame | {{nominated}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs artist}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060112052705/http://www.lesmis.com/pages/about/cast.php Les Misérables] Extensive list of credits
- {{cite news| url=http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/broadcasters21.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050228144325/http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/broadcasters21.html| url-status=usurped| archive-date=28 February 2005|
publisher=Manchester UK|title=Manchester Celebrities: Television, Film, Media & Broadcasting (21)|date=12 November 2005}}
- [http://www.westendtheatre.com/7936/news/star-interview-tracie-bennett Interview with Tracie Bennett], westendtheatre.com; accessed 2 May 2015.
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for Tracie Bennett
| list =
{{DramaDesk PlayOutstandingActress 2001-2025}}
{{OlivierAward MusicalSupportingPerformance 1991–2000}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Tracie}}
Category:English television actresses
Category:English stage actresses
Category:English musical theatre actresses
Category:Alumni of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Category:People from Leigh, Greater Manchester