Alison Newman

Alison Newman (born January 1968) is a British actress, best known for her role in the hit ITV1 television series "Footballers' Wives" as Hazel Bailey.

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Biography

"'Alison Newman was born in Bournemouth, Dorset. She has one sister called Sarah. Both her parents were school teachers who encouraged her to take up acting as a hobby, but discouraged her from attending stage school when she was younger, a decision she subsequently agreed was probably sensible. Instead she joined the National Youth Theatre when she was 16. Her father died in October 2002, while she was filming the second series of "Footballers' Wives". The producers allowed her leave of absence from filming some of her last scenes in the series finale so she could be with her family.

Despite studying drama at Manchester University, Alison Newman didn't work as an actress for almost ten years after graduating. She says that she hated the experience of being at drama school and lost her confidence. During this time, she worked in a variety of professions, including publishing, catering, barwork and spent a number of years working in the music industry.

She returned to acting when she was almost 30, after being offered a part in a play written by Anthony Neilson, with whom she had previously worked as an assistant director. This was followed by a role playing a psychotic serial killer in "Touching Evil III" with Robson Green (whom she would later appear with in "Rocket Man"), and the film "Butterfly Collectors", alongside Pete Postlethwaite.

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Television

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In 2002, Newman was cast in the role of lesbian football agent Hazel Bailey in "Footballers Wives" on the strength of a two-episode guest appearance in the series "Bad Girls", in which she played Renee Williams who set out to secure revenge on arch nemesis Top Dog Yvonne Atkins (Linda Henry). The part of Hazel Bailey required Newman to have her naturally blonde hair dyed red. During the filming of "Footballers Wives", she struck up a friendship with co-star Zöe Lucker, who played superbitch Tanya Turner.

Other television credits include: "The Bill", "Great Expectations", "Holby City", "Hex", "Open Wide", "Casualty" and "Doctors". She recently appeared in Shed Productions' latest ITV1 drama "Rock Rivals" as Lynette Hopkins. Other notable roles include: "Favouritism: Boy George's Queerest TV Moments", "GMTV", "This Morning", "The Paul O'Grady Show", plus guest appearances on the panel of "Loose Women" for ITV, and "The Wright Stuff" for Five, most recently in March 2008.

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Film

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Newman has appeared in the films: "The Prince and the Pauper", "Ashes and Sand" and "Kidulthood".

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Theatre

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Her theatre career has included: "The Tempest" for the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, "Electronic Dark Age" at the Edinburgh Festival, "The Censor" and "The Lying Kind", both by Anthony Neilson and performed at the Royal Court Theatre London, "Vagina Monologues" (UK Tour and West End), and "Loveplay" by Moira Buffini, "Luminosity" by Nick Stafford, "Night of the Soul" by David Farr and "The Big Lie" by Anthony Neilson for the RSC. She was most recently seen in "The Long Road" by Shelagh Stephenson at the Soho Theatre , London.

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Personal Life

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Alison Newman currently lives in North London with her boyfriend, a graphic designer whom she met in 2003.

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References

"'1. ^"Alison Newman plays Hazel Bailey", [http://www.Footballers' Wives Official Site]

2. ^ www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_ar...

External links

*imdb|0627999