| Jan Graveson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Janice Margaret Graveson[1] Easington, County Durham[1] |
| Occupation | Actress, Singer |
| Years active | 1972–present |
Janice Margaret "Jan" Graveson (born in Easington, County Durham) is a British actress and singer.
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Born in Easington, County Durham. Childhood: Horden & Peterlee, County Durham Durham New College: Drama & Theatre Arts / Art A level, Music A level.
Born into a mining family, Graveson began performing on the club circuit at the age of six, but made her television debut in White Peak Farm in 1988. She went on to play the pregnant runaway Disa O'Brien in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 1990-1991. She has also appeared in episodes of Spender (1991), Heartbeat (2001; 2007), Casualty (1989;1992), Wycliff (1998) and A Touch of Frost (1996). Graveson appeared in the BBC children's television show Byker Grove from 2004-2006 as Heather, the mother of Hayley Robinson (Heather Garrett). Graveson was seen in an episode of the BBC hospital drama Holby City in 2006, and in 2007 she appeared in the ITV sitcom Benidorm. She guest starred in the ITV police drama, The Bill, in 2008.
In 2004 she starred alongside Ray Winstone in Richard Hawkins' BAFTA nominated psychological thriller, Everything. Graveson played Naomi, a Soho prostitute, who was hired by Winstone's character, Richard. Instead of having sex with Naomi, Richard pays her just to talk. The film is largely a succession of dialogues between the two, intermittently broken up by events such as Richard hiding in the wardrobe to watch Naomi at work, or a backstory involving his wife and daughter, which gradually becomes more and more important. The film had a budget of just £47,500 and was filmed in nine days. Graveson received much critical acclaim for her performance in the film.[2]
On stage she has played Catherine Cookson in Tom and Catherine at the Customs House in South Shields. She has also appeared in Hard Times at the Piccadilly Theatre in London's West End, and in Raving Beauties with John McArdle at the Liverpool Playhouse (1991–1992). She played Stella in Stairway to Heaven No.1 National Tour, and Helen in And a Nightingale Sang at the Octagon Theatre.
Graveson sang in bands as a teenager and later had a brief spell as a pop singer in the early 90s. In 1991 she released a cover version of the 1964 Cilla Black song "Anyone Who Had a Heart".She promoted it on a number of Radio stations including Wear FM in Sunderland where she joined Sunday Breakfast show host Barry Wilson. His claim to fame - he went to school with Jan. Barry moved on to live in Nottingham to be part of a publishing Company and has a regular slot on BBC Radio Nottingham. Graveson has also appeared in many stage plays as well as in the musical Blood Brothers playing Linda. She starred in both the West End and New York Broadway production of the show.
In 1993 Graveson earned a Tony Award nomination in the "Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical" category, for her role as Linda in Blood Brothers N.Y.C.. Graveson has continued to perform musically. She played at the British Acoustic Festival with her band Disco Indians in July 2007.
Jan started her stage career at LIVE THEATRE NEWCASTLE in 1983 alongside Robson Green. Jan also runs her own school for acting, singing and dance for adults. www.oldschool.org.uk