Jean Fennell is a British actress.
Jean Fennell was a British actress and much loved Sanford Meisner acting teacher. After leaving Drama Centre, London, Jean made a successful start to her career as a stage actress. In 1984 she was chosen to act in the then new BBC series called EastEnders. She had rehearsed and started shooting when Julia Smith (the creator-producer) took her into her office one lunchtime and suddenly dismissed her. Jean, shocked and completely devastated, was driven away to her home. Matthew Robinson (the director) pleaded with Julia to reconsider but her mind was made up. Julia later explained that Anita Dobson had just become available to play the role and she fitted Julia's image of the part she was creating. The 'dismissal affair' was taken up by the media and Jean, to her dismay, found herself catapulted into the public's awareness for all the wrong reasons. She resisted media attempts to make a sour story, and upheld her dignity. She went on to work in film including the 1988 Channel 4 production “Further Particular” directed by Steven Dwoskin.
In 1994 Jean discovered the Meisner Acting technique. Her teacher Tom Radcliffe, Meisner's protégé in the UK, asked her to take over his class when he left in 1997. Coaching Meisner actors became Jean's passion and her students say that she inspired and nurtured them both in their talent and as human beings.
For the last ten years of her life Jean battled with chronic pain and finally cancer. Against tremendous odds she would carry on teaching, even up to a few weeks before her death. A courageous soul, she died peacefully and with dignity at her home, surrounded by the love of her dear ones. She was 59.
Jean created a memorable funeral service at St Paul’s (the Actors Church, Covent Garden) where her message “heal thyself- heal the world” was passed on through her favourite songs and tribute for friends.
Jean Fennell died in May 2011 after battling illness for 10 years. Her funeral was at St Paul's "The Actors' Church" Covent Garden and was attended by family and friends.
Born in east London, in 1952 she was due to play Angie Watts in EastEnders but in December 1984, with only one short scene in the can and four days before main shooting began, the show's creators, Julia Smith and Tony Holland, declared she did not have sufficient impact to be Angie. She was replaced by Anita Dobson, the actress Julia had originally coveted for the key part. Anita had not been available during official casting (August to November 1984) but, with time running out, her agent informed Julia Smith that, now, she was in fact available.
Smith terminated Fennell in a fraught 10-minute session in her office on a Friday lunchtime when few were around to hear.
The casting of Dobson was a success and EastEnders' almost instant success depended to a large degree on the electric screen chemistry between Angie and her husband Den (Leslie Grantham). [1]
Fennell went on to play a role in the 1988 film Further and Particular. She became a much loved and highly respected Sanford Meisner Coach.