Morwenna Banks

Morwenna Banks
Born Tamsin Morwenna Banks
20 September 1961
Redruth, Cornwall, England
Occupation Actress, writer, producer

Tamsin Morwenna Banks (born 20 September 1961) is an English comedy actress, writer and producer known for her role as Mummy Pig, Madame Gazelle and Dr Hamster in the toddler series Peppa Pig.

Career

Banks first started performing while a student as a member of the Cambridge Footlights. One of her early major television roles was as part of the team on the comedy sketch show Absolutely, broadcast on Channel 4 between 1989 and 1993.[1] Her other television appearances include the BBC series The Thick of It, Ruddy Hell! It's Harry and Paul and the Steve Coogan comedy Saxondale, in which she played receptionist Vicky. She also appeared as Anthea Stonem in the E4 Teen drama Skins and was a cast member on NBC's Saturday Night Live, for four episodes of the show's twentieth season.[2]

Her voice roles include: Clare Feeble in Stressed Eric; Mumma Pig in Peppa Pig; Queen Marigold in Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom; the ship's computer in the BBC TV series Hyperdrive; the titular witches in Meg and Mog, an animated children's series for CITV (2003); Ping Pong in Rupert Bear (Channel 5); Guinevere in King Arthur's Disasters (CITV); and Betty and Sonia in the 2008 film version of Tales of the Riverbank.[3]

She wrote, produced and appeared in the British ensemble film The Announcement in 2001.

In 2009, Banks made a series of web videos for BBC Comedy called Celebrities STFU, each video featuring her in costume impersonating Lady Gaga, Noel Gallagher, Susan Boyle, Pixie Lott, Jools Holland and Duffy.[4]

On 19 October 2013, BBC Radio 4 broadcast Banks' play Goodbye, about a woman diagnosed with breast cancer, an account of the path from first diagnosis to death (for Lizzie, played by Olivia Colman), for the family, but foremost about her relationship with her best friend (Jen, played by Natascha McElhone). The cast included Darren Boyd, John Simm, Alison Steadman, Ezra Banks-Baddiel and the voice of Dolly Banks-Baddiel; it was produced by Heather Larmour.[5][6][7][8][9]

Personal life

She attended Truro High School for Girls and the University of Cambridge and was a member of the Footlights from 1981 to 1983. [10] She also acted with the Marlowe Society, notably in a brief but dominant comic cameo as the Widow in Ben Jonson's The Alchemist, alongside Tilda Swinton.

Her partner is David Baddiel; they have two children.[11][12]

References

  1. ↑ Whitelaw, Paul. "Banks, Morwenna (1964–)". BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Virtel, Louis. "Saturday Night Live's 10 Greatest One-Season Wonders". Movieline. PMC. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Morwenna Banks". Another Tongue Animation Website. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Celebrities STFU". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
  5. ↑ Radio Times, 19-25 October 2013,p. 135
  6. ↑ BBC Radio 4 - Saturday Drama - Goodbye
  7. ↑ BBC Radio 4 - Feedback - Moving and poignant: Goodbye by Morwenna Banks, starring Olivia Coleman
  8. ↑ http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/cpg5mw/goodbye
  9. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/oct/24/goodbye-olivia-colman-radio-review
  10. ↑ http://footlights.org/alumni
  11. ↑ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/most-people-still-see-me-as-a-bit-of-a-lad-david-baddiel-returns-to-standup-comedy-8730945.html
  12. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/10203069/The-world-of-David-Baddiel-comedian-and-writer.html

External links