| Gillian Wright | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gillian Hambidge 5 May 1960 Bermondsey, South London, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1994–present |
Gillian Wright, (born Gillian Hambidge; 5 May 1960)[1] is an English actress who is best known for portraying the role of Jean Slater on the long running BBC soap opera EastEnders. She is a graduate in Drama, English and Dance and was a teacher and theatre director before occupying acting roles.
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She was originally only signed for one episode on EastEnders in December 2004, but bosses brought her back into the show a year later for four more episodes. She then guest starred on and off until her character finally moved into Albert Square in November 2007. In 2006 she collected a Mental Health Media award for her portrayal of Jean Slater, a bipolar disorder sufferer. Her departure from the show was announced in 2010, along with her on-screen daughter Stacey Slater, played by Lacey Turner[2] but it was later confirmed that she would return in spring 2011.[3]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | ChuckleVision | Mrs. Stone |
| 1997 | Spice World (film) | |
| 1998 | Casualty | Amber Stevens |
| 2001 | Holby City | |
| 2002 | Sir Gadabout: The Worst Knight in the Land | |
| 2002 | Doctors | |
| 2003 | Calendar Girls (film) | Eddie's Girl |
| 2003 | Heartbeat | |
| 2004— | EastEnders | Jean Slater |
| 2005 | Dalziel and Pascoe | |
| 2005 | Silent Witness | |
| 2005 | The Bill | |
| 2005 | Coronation Street | Yvonne |
| 2007 | Spooks |
She is an established theatre actress, she is also a visiting director and workshop leader at drama schools, universities and with young people with special needs. Gillian is a co-founder of Pilot Theatre, currently in residence at York’s Theatre Royal.
Ex-EastEnders actress Jill Halfpenny played her daughter in comedy ‘Jumping the Waves’, which opened the award-winning Arc Theatre.
In December 2011 she played the Fairy Godmother in the panto Dick Whittington at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, starring alongside Jonathan Wilkes.