Laurie Brett
| Laurie Brett | |
|---|---|
| Born |
28 March 1969 (age 44)[1] Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Known for |
EastEnders (2004–2012, 2014) Waterloo Road (2012–) |
| Television |
Jane Beale in EastEnders Christine Mulgrew in Waterloo Road |
| Partner(s) |
Dave Evans (2001–07) John Milroy (2009–)[2][3] |
| Children | Erin Anne Millie Brett (b. 2011) |
Laurie Brett (born 28 March 1969[1]) is a Scottish actress, best known for her roles as Jane Beale in EastEnders and Christine Mulgrew, the current headmistress, in Waterloo Road.
Personal life
Brett was born in Hamilton, Scotland,[4] and studied at the London Studio Centre. She is fluent in Spanish. She has participated in various charity events.
Brett was in a relationship with a musician named Dave Evans for six years. The couple met on a blind date in 2001 and got engaged; however, they split in 2007 before the wedding. Laurie told the Sunday Mirror, "It's an amicable split and we remain good friends."[5]
Brett speaks with a Scottish accent; however, on moving to London, she adopted a London accent – fitting for her EastEnders role.[4] She says she has always had a "knack" with accents[6] and has admitted that speaking with a Scottish accent becomes handy when people ask if she is Jane from EastEnders. She has admitted that when asked that question she speaks with a Scottish accent and people then assume they are mistaken.[7]
Brett has admitted to being a bit of a wild child in her youth, drinking heavily for 20 years.[8]
Brett revealed in January 2011 that she is pregnant with her first child.[3] In June it was announced that she had given birth to a baby girl, Erin Anne Millie Brett.[9]
Career
Brett has admitted that she was a self-starter in the entertainment business. As a child she had ballet lessons but was later forced to give this up due to a knee injury. At age 17 she left Scotland to attend drama school in London, whilst at drama school she earned a living working as a bouncer at a club, an usherette and also as a stage technician.[6] However Brett wished to act full-time and for this an Equity Card was required.[6] The Stage newspaper offered one to actors signing up with Circo Magico Italiano so Brett signed to join.[4]
She has toured with Circo Magico Italiano, a travelling circus, in Mexico and Central America, played a prostitute in the London production of the musical Les Misérables (her singing and dancing skills have made her a regular in the musical theatre), starred in fringe theatre productions and she has appeared in the UK Tour of The Rocky Horror Show as Magenta, starring alongside Jason Donovan as Frank.[6] She has appeared in the musical Smokey Joe's Cafe.
Brett made her television debut in London's Burning (as an office girl) in 1992. She has appeared in several television advertisements, including most notably Learn Direct Scotland commercials.
Brett has made appearances on The Bill, My Hero, and Family Affairs. It was when she was performing in Les Misérables that she was spotted by EastEnders casting director Kat Collins.[4]
She made her first appearance in EastEnders in June 2004, at which time the character was known as Jane Collins. She initially signed a three-year contract, and in 2010 she signed a further one-year contract.[6] She also appears as Jane in the 2010 spin-off series EastEnders: E20. In May 2011 Brett left the soap briefly on maternity leave. It was revealed that she would return to her role in November 2011. In January 2012 her character Jane departed from EastEnders.
Brett has made various television appearances in aid of charity. She participated in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 telethon appeals for Children in Need where she sang alongside the rest of the EastEnders cast. In the 2008 appeal, she was cast as Mary Poppins. She also participated in the 2010 telethon appeal for Children in Need where she appeared as Jane in the EastEnders and Coronation Street crossover episode "East Street". On 19 February 2010 Brett appeared on The Weakest Link alongside her co-stars and former co-stars Adam Woodyatt, Laila Morse, Larry Lamb, Todd Carty, Ricky Groves, John Partridge, John Altman and Charlie G. Hawkins. She won and donated her winnings to Breast Cancer campaign and Alzheimers Research.
On 15 March 2012, it was announced Brett would be joining the BBC's ongoing drama Waterloo Road as Christine Mulgrew, a new English teacher hired by headmaster Michael Byrne. Brett then took over as acting head teacher in series 9 of Waterloo Road. For the first time in Brett's career, she spoke in her native accent as the show had relocated to Scotland.[10]
Brett briefly reprised her role of Jane in EastEnders, in January 2014.[11]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Type | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2012, 2014 | EastEnders | TV | Jane Beale | Series Regular, 756 episodes |
| 2012–present | Waterloo Road | TV | Christine Mulgrew | Series Regular, 45+ episodes |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Researcha.co.uk - UK Company and Company Director Reports
- ↑ "EastEnders star Laurie Brett is expecting her first baby". Mail Online. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kilkelly, Daniel (9 January 2011). "Soaps - News - 'EastEnders' star Brett expecting baby - Digital Spy". Digital Spy. Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Brown, Allan (28 May 2006). "Well, would you just Adam and Eve it?". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ Grant Hodgson (February 11, 2007). Laurie: it's the ender for me and my lover. Sunday Mirror.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Booth, Samantha (15 February 2010). "EastEnders star Laurie Brett: People still don't realise I'm Scottish". Daily Record. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- ↑ Millar, Paul (16 February 2010). "'Enders star Brett fools public with accent". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- ↑ Barber, Richard (2005-07-31). "I Just Loved A Wild Drunkard". United Kingdom: Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
- ↑ "Laurie Brett's calm birth". Holy Soap. Five (channel). Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ↑ "EastEnders star Laurie Brett joins Waterloo Road after Jane Beale exit". Metro. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (6 January 2014). "EastEnders: Jane Beale makes surprise return to show". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 January 2014.