Gemma Craven

Infobox actor
name = Gemma Craven

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imagesize = 200px
caption = Gemma Craven
birthname = Gemma Craven
birthdate = birth date and age|1950|6|1|df=yes
birthplace = Dublin, Ireland
occupation = Actress, Performer, Singer, Musician
yearsactive = 1972-present
spouse = Frazer Hines (1981-1984)
David Beamish (1990-1996)
laurenceolivierawards = Best Actress - Musical
1980 "They're Playing Our Song"

Gemma Craven (born 1 June 1950) is an award-winning Irish actress.

Craven is possibly best known for her role in the Irish TV drama "The Clinic" as Dr. Julia Brady.

Biography

Craven's family moved away from Dublin when she was 10 years old, and she attended the same school as Helen Mirren, St Bernard's Convent High School for Girls in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex.

She appeared as "Cinderella" in the film "The Slipper and the Rose" opposite Richard Chamberlain. [imdb.com] Cast as an unknown, she was spotted by one of the producers while doing a stage play. The local press touted the event as her own "Cinderella" story. The musical gave Gemma an opportunity to shine with her impressive singing talents.

In London's West End, she starred opposite Tom Conti in the musical "They're Playing Our Song" [British Theatre Guide 1980] [Theatre of Comedy productions 1980] and starred in Noël Coward's "Private Lives", opposite Marc Sinden, Tony Anholt and his wife Tracey Childs, which toured throughout 1991 and into 1992. [British Theatre Guide 2001] She also played Josie in Boy George's "Taboo" and features on the OCR singing Independent Woman. [British Theatre Guide 2006] [Dress Circle Records]

She also appeared on television, including making guest appearances on "Robin of Sherwood", "The Bill", "The Morecambe and Wise Show" and "Father Ted" (episode "And God Created Woman"). She also appeared alongside Bob Hoskins in the acclaimed TV version of Dennis Potter's "Pennies From Heaven" and in the popular English drama "Midsomer Murders" episode, "Shot at Dawn" as Judy Hicks, the wife of Dave Hicks ("Brian Capron", "Coronation Street").

On radio, she plays the part of Helen in the BBC Radio 4 comedy "Clare in the Community".

She currently appears on Irish television in the popular medical drama series "The Clinic" which runs weekly on RTÉ One.

She is to join the cast of Hollyoaks at the end of 2008, playing the role of 'Ma Fisher', Kris & Malachy's mother.

External links

*imdb name|id=0186603|name=Gemma Craven