Jan Ravens

Infobox actor


bgcolour =
name = Jan Ravens
imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Janet Ravens
birthdate = birth date and age|1958|5|14
location = flagicon|UK Bebington, Wirral, England, United Kingdom
deathdate =
deathplace =
height =
othername =
yearsactive =
spouse =
homepage =
notable role =
academyawards =
emmyawards =
tonyawards =

Jan Ravens (born May 14, 1958) is an English actress and impressionist, famous for her voices on "Spitting Image" and "Dead Ringers".

Early life

She grew up in Hoylake on the west side of the Wirral with her father a local government clerk and her mother a nurse.. She attended the West Kirby Grammar School for Girls.She was educated at Homerton College, Cambridge where she studied Drama and was the first female President of Cambridge University Footlights Club in 1979-80.

Career

After Cambridge she became a radio comedy producer. She joined the cast of Jasper Carrott's comedy Carrott's Lib in 1983, and made her name very popular with the BBC. In 1994, she spent a year with the RSC. She has done much voice-over work, being the Cadburys Caramel bunny for several years, and as the seductive voice of a can of apple Tango. She has also appeared on "Just A Minute" on Radio 4, "Whose Line Is It Anyway?", "Alexei Sayle's Stuff" and Dictionary Corner on Channel 4's "Countdown" (one of the shows that "Dead Ringers" parodies).

Repertoire

People who regularly come under her imitative powers are "Newsnight" host Kirsty Wark, Charlotte Green of BBC Radio 4, Ellen MacArthur, Nigella Lawson, Ann Widdecombe, Hyacinth Bucket , Queen Elizabeth, stern-faced Gillian McKeith, a 'dirty' Sophie Raworth and Fiona Bruce of BBC News, Anne Robinson of "The Weakest Link", Lesley Garrett, and the Geordie-accented wife of David Archer, Ruth, from Radio 4 soap, "The Archers".

Other television

In autumn 2006, Jan Ravens appeared on the popular BBC entertainment programme "Strictly Come Dancing" partnered with Anton du Beke. In spring 2007, she appeared on the BBC programme "The Truth About Food", exploring different foods and how they affect behaviour. She is an ambassador for the charity Action Aid. She is currently appearing in Ronni Ancona's new comedy sketch show, "Ronni Ancona & Co".

Jan won the edition of "Celebrity Mastermind" on 1 January 2008. She also appeared as Effy's art teacher in E4 drama "Skins".

Personal life

She married the composer Steve Brown first. Later she married the vice-president of Universal Entertainment. She has three sons.

ee also

* Kate Robbins

External links

*imdb name|0712380
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/deadringers/interviews Dead Ringers]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/contestants/jan_index.shtml Strictly Come Dancing.]
* [http://www.amandahowardassociates.co.uk/Photo.asp?Client=JanRavens Amanda Howard Associates]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2002/12/23/bafthd.xml "Telegraph" December 2002 article]

Audio clips

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/rams/janravens.ram Audio clip describing her work on Dead Ringers]

Video clips

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/deadringers/ram/bb/deadringers_deliaboiling_16x9_bb.ram Delia teaches us how to boil water]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/deadringers/ram/bb/deadringers_s5ep6_16x9_bb.ram Dame Ellen McArthur complains about Sail8]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/deadringers/ram/bb/deadringers_nigella_au_bb.ram Nigella explains how to brush your teeth correctly]