Laurie Brett
| Laurie Brett | |
|---|---|
| Born |
28 March 1969 (age 47) [1]Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Known for |
EastEnders (2004–12, 2014–) Waterloo Road (2012–15) |
| Television |
Jane Beale in EastEnders Christine Mulgrew in Waterloo Road |
| Partner(s) |
Dave Evans (2001–07) John Milroy (2009–14)[2][3] |
| Children | Erin Anne Millie Brett (b. 2011) |
Laurie Brett (born 28 March 1969[1]) is a Scottish actress, best known for her roles as Jane Beale in EastEnders and Christine Mulgrew in Waterloo Road. In 1993, Brett also appeared in London's Burning.
Early and personal life
Brett was born in Hamilton, Scotland,[4] and studied at the London Studio Centre. She is fluent in Spanish. Brett has admitted to being a bit of a wild child in her youth, drinking heavily for 20 years.[5]
Brett speaks with a Scottish accent; however, on moving to London, she adopted a London accent – fitting for her EastEnders role.[4] She says she has always had a "knack" with accents[6] and has admitted that speaking with a Scottish accent becomes handy when people ask if she is Jane from EastEnders. She has admitted that when asked that question she speaks with a Scottish accent and people then assume they are mistaken.[7]
Brett was in a relationship with a musician Dave Evans for six years. The couple met on a blind date in 2001 and got engaged; however, they split in 2007 before the wedding.[8] Brett revealed in January 2011 that she was pregnant with her first child.[3] She gave birth to Erin Anne Millie Brett in June 2011.[9]
Career
Needing an Equity Card to be a paid professional actress in the UK,[6] she replied to an advert in The Stage and joined Circo Magico Italiano, a travelling circus, in Mexico and Central America.[4] On her return she appeared in various productions on London's West End Stage, including playing a prostitute in Les Misérables, appeared in the UK Tour of The Rocky Horror Show as Magenta, starring alongside Jason Donovan as Frank,[6] and appeared in the musical Smokey Joe's Cafe.
After being spotted in Les Misérables by EastEnders casting director Kat Collins.[4] she made her first appearance in June 2004, at which time the character was known as Jane Collins. She initially signed a three-year contract, and in 2010 she signed a further one-year contract.[6] She also appears as Jane in the 2010 spin-off series EastEnders: E20. In May 2011 Brett left the soap briefly on maternity leave. It was revealed that she would return to her role in November 2011. In January 2012 her character Jane departed from EastEnders. Brett briefly reprised her role in January 2014.[10] Brett returned permanently to EastEnders later in 2014.
On 15 March 2012, it was announced Brett would be joining the BBC's ongoing drama Waterloo Road as Christine Mulgrew, a new English teacher hired by headmaster Michael Byrne (Alec Newman). For the first time in Brett's career, she spoke in her native accent as the show had relocated to Scotland.[11] Brett's character then took over as acting headteacher at the end of the eighth series and was appointed as permanent headteacher at the beginning of series 9. Brett continued to appear in Waterloo Road in the second half of series 9, despite her return to EastEnders. Brett confirmed via Twitter that she will continue filming on Waterloo Road in late Spring 2014 and stayed in the role until the show ended.
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2012, 2014–present | EastEnders | Jane Beale | Series Regular |
| 2012–2015 | Waterloo Road | Christine Mulgrew |
Charity
Brett has made various television appearances in aid of charity. She participated in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 telethon appeals for Children in Need where she sang alongside the rest of the EastEnders cast. In the 2008 appeal, she was cast as Mary Poppins. She also participated in the 2010 telethon appeal for Children in Need where she appeared as Jane in the EastEnders and Coronation Street crossover episode "East Street". On 19 February 2010 Brett appeared on The Weakest Link alongside her co-stars and former co-stars Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale), Laila Morse (Mo Harris), Larry Lamb (Archie Mitchell), Todd Carty (Mark Fowler), Ricky Groves (Garry Hobbs), John Partridge (Christian Clarke), John Altman (Nick Cotton) and Charlie G. Hawkins (Darren Miller). She won and donated her winnings to Breast Cancer campaign and Alzheimer's disease Research.
References
- 1 2 Researcha.co.uk - UK Company and Company Director Reports
- ↑ "EastEnders star Laurie Brett is expecting her first baby". Mail Online. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel (9 January 2011). "Soaps - News - 'EastEnders' star Brett expecting baby - Digital Spy". Digital Spy. Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 Brown, Allan (28 May 2006). "Well, would you just Adam and Eve it?". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ Barber, Richard (2005-07-31). "I Just Loved A Wild Drunkard". United Kingdom: Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
- 1 2 3 4 Booth, Samantha (15 February 2010). "EastEnders star Laurie Brett: People still don't realise I'm Scottish". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- ↑ Millar, Paul (16 February 2010). "'Enders star Brett fools public with accent". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- ↑ Grant Hodgson (11 February 2007). Laurie: it's the ender for me and my lover. Sunday Mirror.
- ↑ "Laurie Brett's calm birth". Holy Soap. Five (channel). Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (6 January 2014). "EastEnders: Jane Beale makes surprise return to show". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ↑ "EastEnders star Laurie Brett joins Waterloo Road after Jane Beale exit". Metro. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
