Gemma Atkinson

Gemma Atkinson

Gemma Atkinson in 2006
Born Gemma Louise Atkinson
16 November 1984 (1984-11-16) (age 27)[1]
Bury, Greater Manchester, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Hair colour Brunette (often Blonde)
Eye colour Green
Measurements 36E-24-36 [1]
Dress size 10 (UK)
Website
http://www.gemmaatkinson.tv/

Gemma Louise Atkinson (born 16 November 1984 in Bury, Greater Manchester) is an English actress, television personality and glamour and lingerie model.

Contents

Personal life

Originally from Bury, Greater Manchester, Atkinson took her GCSEs at Castlebrook High School before becoming a commercial and photographic model.

Atkinson was engaged to Marcus Bent but they have since split up.[2]

Acting career

Atkinson rose to fame playing Lisa Hunter on the Channel 4 teenage soap opera Hollyoaks. Atkinson and Marcus Patric (who played the character Ben Davies) subsequently appeared in a "spin-off" series called Hollyoaks: Let Loose for E4, in which their characters started a new life together in Chester. This was followed by Hollyoaks: In the City, also screened on E4.

Atkinson made her debut video game appearance in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (2008) in the role of Lt. Eva McKenna,[3] which she reprised in Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising (2009). She also took part in EA's "Be The One" event in Trafalgar Square on 29 October 2008, which forms part of the London Games Festival.[4]

Atkinson has also played Goldie Lookin Chain's love interest in the music video for the single "R'n'B" and featured on the cover of the CD single release.[5]

In theatre, Atkinson appeared in Peter Pan at the Manchester Opera House in December 2008. She took the title role alongside John Thomson who played Captain Hook.[6]

Other TV roles included appearing as herself in the pilot for Plus One, part of the pilot series Comedy Showcase in October 2009. In early April 2009 she finished filming for an episode of The Bill. She plays Ria Crossley the girlfriend of a drug dealer.

In film, Atkinson has appeared in the British independent film Boogie Woogie,[7] which premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2009.[8] She has done filming for a forthcoming horror film called 13Hrs[9] in February 2009 and a new UK gangster film called Baseline[10] in March 2009.

Gemma appeared in the West End production of Tim Firth's Calendar Girls at the Noel Coward Theatre, from July 28 to October 17 where she played the character of Elaine.[11]

Gemma also went on tour with Calendar Girls, she played Celia aka Miss September in the production. The January to April 2010 tour of Calendar Girls starred Lynda Bellingham, Gemma Atkinson, Judith Barker, Debbie Chazen, Letitia Dean and Jan Harvey.

Gemma played the lead female role, Belinda, in Neil LaBute's play This is How it Goes at The King's Head Theatre in Islington, London from Sept 7th - Oct 3rd 2010.

In 2010 she appeared in the film The Sweet Shop, a romantic comedy about a Hollywood superstar and a small town sweetshop owner.[12]

She finished filming in Dec 2010 on the romantic comedy How to Stop Being A Loser with Richard E. Grant, Jill Halfpenny and Pamela Anderson produced by 'Press On Features Ltd'.The film is due out in October 2011.[13]

She started her next movie Airborne the week beginning 7 February 2011. The film was recently doing the rounds at The Cannes Film Festival.[14]

At the beginning of May 2011 Gemma started filming for her part in BBC 1's Casualty medical programme. She plays the part of Tamzin, a paramedic. Gemma will appear on screen from Sat 13 August 2011. She confirmed on twitter that she was only there for 10 weeks (10 episodes)[15]

The premiere of Gemmas last film How to Stop being a Loser took place on 14th Nov 2011. For interview go here.[16]

Gemma started filming her next project on 2nd Dec 2011. It is a remake of Night of the Living Dead, which is to be shot in a 3-D format. She plays Barbara the female lead.

TV personality

Gemma Atkinson has appeared as a contestant on reality TV series such as I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrity Weakest Link (with Marcus Patric) in December 2006, Celebrity MasterChef and ITV1's Soapstar Superstar in January 2007. She reached the last four stage of Soapstar Superstar].[17]

Songs performed on Soapstar Superstar:

In November 2007, she appeared on ITV1 in I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in Australia, coming fifth in the competition.

In January 2008, Atkinson appeared on Celebrity Mastermind, with Marcus Patric.

On 15/16 March 2008, Atkinson co-presented the Play.com Live gaming expo at Wembley Stadium with Virgin Radio presenter Iain Lee.

Gemma and her family appeared on All Star Family Fortunes on 20 September 2008, competing against Antony Cotton and his family. The Atkinsons did not win the show; however, Gemma was given £1,000 for her chosen charity.

On 12 November 2008, she appeared in Jack Osbourne's ITV2 show Adrenaline Junkie filmed in South Africa. She did a bungee jump, a skydive, a glider flight and swam with great white sharks.

Glamour modelling

In early 2006, Atkinson underwent breast enlargement surgery, which took her bra size to a 34E.[18] She said in an interview that she lost weight due to a fitness regime and her bust size declined and that the surgery then gave them the original shape they once had.[19]

Since launching her parallel career as a glamour model, Atkinson has appeared in provocative photoshoots in lingerie and swimwear, for men's magazines such as Arena, FHM, Loaded, Maxim, Zoo and Nuts. In October 2006, she appeared in three of the aforementioned magazines in one month, becoming one of the most prolific celebrity glamour models in the UK. She has also released calendars yearly since 2006, with the 2008 and 2009 being shot in Thailand .[20]

Since 2006, she has appeared in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women list, debuting at number 32 in 2006;[21] following her appearance on the cover of FHM, she moved up to 23 in 2007;[21] rising again to 18 in 2008[21] and falling to 81 in 2009.[22] She ranked number 46 in AskMen.com's 99 Sexiest Women of 2008.[23]

Promotional work

Atkinson has undertaken a wide range of promotional work; she was the female face of the 2007 British Grand Prix[24] and worked for the Orange promotion "On Yer Bike London" prior to the Tour De France.[25]

She has also modelled for lingerie brands, including being the face of La Senza[26] and Ultimo's D-G range.[27] She opened Ultimo stores within Debenhams branches in London,[28] Belfast and Glasgow.

Charity work

In September 2007, Atkinson did a 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) charity run for breast cancer awareness.

She embarked upon a 228 kilometres (142 mi) walk along the Great Wall of China in April 2008, as part of a charity event organised by Olivia Newton-John's breast cancer awareness charity. She was joined on her section of the walk by celebrities Marcus Patric and Ant and Dec amongst others. The walk was intended to symbolise the steps cancer patients must take on their road to recovery.[29]

Atkinson visited The Home and Garden Show at Chester Racecourse on 5 June 2008 to unveil the room she designed with furniture store owner Arighi Bianchi which would be suitable for teenagers in conjunction with the Teenage Cancer Trust charity. Her room design later won first prize and she collected a trophy for her efforts. It was created in association with Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT), the Home and Garden Show's official charity, and the design will now be incorporated into the TCT unit at Christie Hospital, Manchester. Atkinson has also been asked to become a full ambassador for the TCT charity.

On 8 January 2009, Atkinson was at Spinningfields in Manchester helping to launch The Great Manchester Run, a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) run for charity that took place on 17 May 2009. At the launch, she was joined by singer Russell Watson, and actors Anthony Cotton and Britt Ekland. Atkinson ran to raise funds for the New Children's Hospital appeal.[30] She finished the 10k run on 17 May 2009 with a time of 1 hour 6 mins.

In May 2010 Gemma again took part in the Great Manchester Run, she was competing on behalf of Manchester's The Christie hospital. She hoped to beat her time from the previous year's run of 1 hour 6 mins. She ran a time of 57 minutes, beating her 2009 time by 9 minutes.

In May 2011 Gemma again took part in the Great Manchester Run, she was competing on behalf of Manchester's The Christie hospital. She again beat her previous years time. She did the run in 53 minutes.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Boogie Woogie Charlotte Bailey
2010 Baseline Karen
13Hrs Emily
Sweet Shop, TheThe Sweet Shop Katie Powell
2011 How to Stop Being a Loser Hannah
2012 Airborne Harriet
Night Wolf Emily
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2001–2005 Hollyoaks Lisa Hunter 631 episodes
2004 Hollyoaks: After Hours Lisa Hunter 5 episodes
2005 Hollyoaks: Let Loose Lisa Hunter 13 episodes
2006 Hollyoaks: In the City Lisa Hunter 20 episodes
2007 I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! Herself Contestant
5th place
2009 Bill, TheThe Bill Ria Crossley 1 episode
2010 Waterloo Road Mandy 1 episode
2011 Casualty Tamzin Bayle 10 episodes
Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 Lieutenant Eva McKenna
2009 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising Lieutenant Eva McKenna

See also

References

  1. ^ a b IMDb - Gemma Atkinson
  2. ^ "Gemma Atkinson splits up with footballer fiance!!!". Entertainment OneIndia. 2008-12-22. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/hollywood/top-stories/scoop/2008/gemma-atkinson-split-marcus-221208.html. Retrieved 2008-12-31. 
  3. ^ "UK actress the latest to join C&C: Red Alert 3 cast". 5 August 2008. http://news.bigdownload.com/2008/08/05/uk-actress-the-latest-to-join-candc-red-alert-3-cast/. Retrieved 2008-08-05. 
  4. ^ "Gemma Atkinson to star in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3". Electronic Arts. 5 August 2008. http://www.ea.com/redalert/news-detail.jsp?id=42. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
  5. ^ "UKMIX - Reviews - Goldie Lookin Chain - R'n'B". www.ukmix.org. http://www.ukmix.org/reviews/release.php?release_id=8729. Retrieved 2009-08-23. 
  6. ^ "Gemma's Peter Pan role". Manchester Evening News. 4 August 2008. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/lifestyle/health_and_beauty/style/s/1061109_gemmas_peter_pan_role. Retrieved 2008-08-04. 
  7. ^ "Atkinson gets role in movie". Showbizspy.com. 2007-11-01. http://www.showbizspy.com/article/54789/gemma-atkinson-gets-role-in-movie.html. Retrieved 2011-09-29. 
  8. ^ Ali Jaafar (6 May 2009). "Edinburgh lines up 23 world premiers". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003247.html. Retrieved 26 May 2009. 
  9. ^ "13Hrs (2009)". www.imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1411232/. Retrieved 2009-08-23. 
  10. ^ "Baseline (2009)". www.imdb.com. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1390397/. Retrieved 2009-08-23. 
  11. ^ "Playbill News: Jerry Hall, Anita Dobson, Gemma Atkinson and More to Join London's Calendar Girls". Playbill.com. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/129671-Jerry_Hall_Anita_Dobson_Gemma_Atkinson_and_More_to_Join_London's_Calendar_Girls. Retrieved 2011-09-29. 
  12. ^ "The Sweet Shop movie website". 21 March 2010. http://www.sweetshopmovie.com/. Retrieved 2010-03-21. 
  13. ^ "Gemma in How to Stop being a Loser". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1727506. 
  14. ^ "Gemma in Airborne". http://www.imdb.com/news/ni8129424. 
  15. ^ "Gemma to appear in BBC 1's Casualty". http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/tv/2011/05/17/gemma-atkinson-joining-casualty-as-a-glamorous-paramedic-115875-23135560. 
  16. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7dROAZ-OaaA. 
  17. ^ "Gemma Atkinson Leaves Soapstar Superstar 2007". Unrealitytv.co.uk. 2007-01-11. http://www.unrealitytv.co.uk/soapstar-superstar/gemma-atkinson-leaves-soapstar-superstar-2007/. Retrieved 2011-09-29. 
  18. ^ "Gemma Atkinson Gallery - Girls and Celebrities Pictures - Maxim Magazine UK". www.maxim.co.uk. http://www.maxim.co.uk/girls/celebrity/16076/gemma_atkinson.html. Retrieved 2009-08-24. 
  19. ^ "In Bed With Gemma". Maxim. 2006-10-31. http://www.maxim.co.uk/girls/celebrity/5267/gemma_atkinson.html. Retrieved 2006-11-06. 
  20. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Gemma Atkinson reveals her 2008 calendar". Now Magazine. 2007-10-12. http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/243657/exclusive-gemma-atkinson-reveals-her-2008-calendar/1/. Retrieved 2000-08-23. 
  21. ^ a b c "Gemma Atkinson at FHM.com". www.fhm.com. http://www.fhm.com/girls/covergirls/Gemma-Atkinson. Retrieved 2011-02-04. 
  22. ^ "Freida Pinto – FHM 100 Sexiest Women 2009". www.fhm.com. http://www.fhm.com/100-sexiest-2009/Freida-pinto/. Retrieved 2009-08-24. 
  23. ^ "Gemma Atkinson - AskMen.com UK". Uk.askmen.com. 1984-11-16. http://uk.askmen.com/celebs/women/models_300/377_gemma_atkinson.html. Retrieved 2011-09-29. 
  24. ^ "Gemma Atkinson named the face of Formula 1". Now Magazine'. 2007-05-25. http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/237872/gemma-atkinson-named-the-face-of-formula-1/1/. Retrieved 2009-08-23. 
  25. ^ "Gemma Atkinson launches On Yer Bike London". Now Magazine'. 2007-06-25. http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/celebrity-news/239106/gemma-atkinson-launches-on-yer-bike-london/1/. Retrieved 2009-08-23. 
  26. ^ "Gemma Atkinson models sexy La Senza underwear". Now Magazine'. 2007-04-27. http://www.nowmagazine.co.uk/star-style/fashion-news/236268/gemma-atkinson-models-sexy-la-senza-underwear/1/. Retrieved 2009-08-23. 
  27. ^ Atkinson signed up to be Ultimo's ‘angel’
  28. ^ "Gemma Atkinson at the Ultimo Store Opening at Debenhams - The Lingerie Post". www.the-lingerie-post.com. http://www.the-lingerie-post.com/2007/12/gemma-atkinson-at-the-ultimo-store-opening-at-debenhams/. Retrieved 2009-08-23. 
  29. ^ here "The Great Walk To Beijing". http://www.greatwalktobeijing.com here. 
  30. ^ "Actress on her marks for charity". The Bolton News. 8 January 2009. http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/4033724.Actress_on_her_marks_for_charity/. Retrieved 30 January 2009. 

External links