Kara Tointon

Infobox actor


imagesize = 200px
name = Kara Tointon
Age = 24
birthname = Kara Louise Tointon
birthdate = Birth date and age|1983|8|5|df=yes
location = Basildon, Essex
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
website =

Kara Louise Tointon (born August 5 1983 in Basildon, Essex) is an English actress, best known for playing Dawn Swann in the popular BBC soap opera "EastEnders".

Biography

Tointon was born in Basildon in Essex, but shortly afterwards moved to Southend. Her younger sister Hannah is also an actress best known for her soap work, playing Katy Fox in "Hollyoaks.

She had speech and drama lessons at school. She also took part in LAMDA examinations, entering local musical festivals performing poetry recitals.

Her first proper acting experience came when she played the part of Brigitta in "The Sound of Music" at the Cliffs Pavilion.

Shortly after that, her first paid job was as one of the children in the pantomime "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Her first appearance on television was as an extra in "EastEnders" in 1994 when she played a school friend of Sonia Fowler.

In 2004, Tointon appeared in "Mile High" and in December returned to her former "Dream Team" role as Gina Moliano until May 2005.

Almost a month to the day that her last "Dream Team" episode aired, it was revealed to the press that she would be joining the BBC soap "EastEnders" as a new character, Dawn Swann.

Kara audition for "EastEnders" at the same time as Tiana Benjamin, Matt Di Angelo, Kellie Shirley and Charlie Clements all auditioned for their respective roles. They remain close friends. In 2007, she was nominated for the National Television Award of 'Most Popular Actress', but lost out to fellow "EastEnders" actress Lacey Turner.Fact|date=July 2008 She has won numerous awards for playing on EastEnders,including two Inside Soap Awards.Fact|date=July 2008 She also made appearances in the films "Just My Luck" and "The Football Factory "

Kara won the Sport Relief version of Strictly Come Dancing in March 2008. Her partner was former Strictly Come Dancing champion, Mark Ramprakash.

Personal life

When in "The Sound of Music", she met ex-Busted member James Bourne, who played Kurt. The couple dated on-and-off for seven years. Tointon was rumoured to have dumped Bourne when Busted split up, because Bourne was no longer in a band but both parties have denied this, stating they had split up five months previously due to scheduling conflicts.

On the set of "Dream Team", Tointon met her former boyfriend Terry Kiely, who played Karl Fletcher in the show. The couple announced their split in the summer of 2006.

Tointon also dated her former "EastEnders" co-star, James Alexandrou, but split after realizing that they had drifted apart after spending less time with each other in 2007. [cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a79134/eastenders-lovebirds-decide-to-split.html|title='EastEnders' lovebirds decide to split|publisher=Digital Spy|date=2007-11-04|accessdate=2007-11-04]

Kara Has Dyslexia

Filmography

*"EastEnders" (2005 - present) - Dawn Swann
*"Just My Luck" (2006) Uncredited, along with sister Hannah, most likely to be herself
*"America Or Busted" (2004) - Herself
*"The Fete" (2004) - Lizzie
*"The Football Factory" (2004) - Shie
*"Mile High" (2004) - Geneveve
*"Keen Eddie" (2004) - Sarah Friedman
*"Boudica" (2003) - Poppaea
*"Dinotopia" (2002) - 18 Year Old Le Sage
*"Harry and Cosh" (2002) - Gabby
*"Never Play with the Dead" (2001) - Victoria
*"Teachers" (2001) - Pauline Young
*"Dream Team" (1999, 2004-2005) - Gina Moliano

References

External links

* [http://www.karatointon.net Official Fan Site]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders Eastenders website]

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
before = Samia Smith as Maria Sutherland
title = Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female
as Dawn Swann
years = 2006
after = Roxanne McKee as Louise Summers