Debbie Arnold
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Debbie Arnold | |
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Born | June 14, 1957 Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England |
Official website |
Jeanette Debbie Arnold (born 14 June 1957 in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear) is an English actress and voice artiste. She is best known for her work on British television, although she is also a veteran stage actress. She is one of the top voiceover artistes in England.[1]
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[edit] Career
Arnold was born into showbusiness. Her father was the impressionist Eddie Arnold and her mother, Mary Arnold, was a theatrical agent. She began her career with bit parts on television, such as the BBC comedy The Liver Birds. She inherited her father's mimicry talents and when she was 18 years old she was given a job impersonating Marilyn Monroe on Now Who Do You Do? (1979).[2] She then focused on acting but she has continued to use her vocal talents and is considered to be one of Britain's top voice over artistes. She has spearheaded many advertising campaigns for well known brands and she specialises in British and American dialects.[1]
She has had roles in many successful television programmes, including: Shoestring (1980); Terry and June (1982); Minder (1985); The Two Ronnies (1986); C.A.T.S. Eyes (1986); Rockliffe's Babies (1988); The Bill (1989); The Russ Abbott Show; The Jim Davidson Show; Miss Marple; All Creatures Great and Small (1990); Virtual Murder (1992); Birds of a Feather (1997); Jonathan Creek (1999); M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team (2003); Holby City (2004); Footballers' Wives: Extra Time (2005) among many others.
Arnold has also played regular characters in all the major British soap operas. She played Sylvie Hicks in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (1981-1982); Debbie Wilson in Emmerdale (1990); April Branning in EastEnders (1995-1996); Janice Bolton in Hollyoaks (1996-1997) and she also appeared in its spin off Hollyoaks: In the City (2006) playing a different role (Yvonne).
Her theatre credits include The Sleeping Prince at the Haymarket Theatre in London, playing opposite Omar Sharif, for which she won many awards and accolades. Other West End appearances include Woman Behind Bars, Four in a Million and Last of the Red Hot Lovers at the Strand. She has appeared in many fringe productions and numerous national and international tours.
Arnold has now formed her own production company, Debbie Arnold Productions, and has been the face of the clothing companies Etam and Goldwell. Debbie is also co-founder and face of Looking Gorgeous [http//:www.lookinggorgeous.co.uk] - creating events and on-line information to help women and men look and feel gorgeous.
[edit] Personal life
Arnold has been married twice. In 1980 she married the actor John Challis, best known for playing Boycie in the hit BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses.[3] They divorced in 1982.
In 1989 she married the actor David Janson (best known for playing Herr Otto Flick in the 9th series of 'Allo 'Allo! They have two children together, one of whom is the actress Ciara Janson — who plays Nicole Owen in Hollyoaks — and a younger daughter named Talia. They both acted in the BBC English language-teaching series A Weekend Away and A Week By The Sea.
Arnold and Janson divorced in 2002.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Debbie Arnold voice work", Debbiearnold.com. URL last accessed on 2007-01-25.
- ^ "Debbie Arnold Bio", Debbiearnold.com. URL last accessed on 2007-01-25.
- ^ a b "Debbie Arnold", Corrie.net. URL last accessed on 2007-01-25.