Alison Bettles

Infobox actor
name=Alison Bettles

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birthname=
birthdate=birth date and age|1969|04|22
birthplace=Essex, England
occupation=Character actor
gender=Female
status= Married
ethnic=Caucasian
salary=
networth=
credits=Fay Lucas in "Grange Hill"

Alison Bettles (born 22 April 1969) is an English television actress. She is best known for playing Fay Lucas in BBC's "Grange Hill" for six series (1982-1987).

Career

Bettles was recruited into acting at the age of eight by Sylivia Young of the Sylvia Young Theatre School. [" [http://www.grangehillfans.co.uk/history/alison.html THE ALISON BETTLES INTERVIEW] ", "grangehillfans.co.uk". URL last accessed on 2007-10-06.] As a child, Bettles appeared in various television advertisements, which included a "Public Information Film" for the Green Cross Code with Bob Carolgees in 1981." [http://www.grangehill.contactbox.co.uk/starfile/bettles.htm Alison Beetles] ", "www.grangehill.contactbox.co.uk". URL last accessed on 2007-10-06.]

She is most famous for her childhood role in the Children's BBC drama, "Grange Hill". Bettles played the prominent character Fay Lucas between 1982 and 1987, who was most notable for having an affair with one of her teachers, Mr King (David Straun)." [http://www.grangehillgold.co.uk/wherearetheynow5.html WHERE ARE THEY NOW?] ", "GrangeHillGold". URL last accessed on 2007-10-06.] Bettles was one of various "Grange Hill" actors to feature in the UK's Just Say No anti-drug campaign. The cast recorded a song (also entitled "Just Say No"), which was released as a single, and reached number 5 in April 1986. [cite web| last =Malvern| first =Jack| title =Just say no| work =The Daily Summit| publisher =British Council| date =2003-12-12| url =http://www.dailysummit.net/english/archives/2003/12/12/just_say_no.asp] Bettles was also featured on a special music album released by the "Grange Hill" cast, with songs written by Steve Wright, who famously composed the theme tune for Channel 4's "Brookside". [" [http://www.grangehill.contactbox.co.uk/history/collectors3.htm GRANGE HILL: THE ALBUM] ", "www.grangehill.contactbox.co.uk". URL last accessed on 2007-10-06.] Bettles sang a solo track entitled "School Love", which was based on her character's doomed relationship with Mr. King." [http://www.grangehillfans.co.uk/starfile/bettles.php Fay Lucas] ", "www.grangehillfans.co.uk". URL last accessed on 2007-10-06.] In 2005, Bettles was reunited with some of her former "Grange Hill" castmates in Justin Lee Collins's Channel 4 documentary, "Bring Back...Grange Hill", which saw them perform their top ten hit, Just Say No, in front of an audience at the Hammersmith Palais. [" [http://aerialtelly.co.uk/grange-hill.php Bring Back...Grange Hill] ", "AerialTelly". URL last accessed on 2007-10-06.]

Aside from her "Grange Hill" music projects, Bettles also sang on the chrarity single Let It Be, released by Ferry Aid in 1987 to raise money for victims of the Zeebrugge ferry disaster. In 1988 Bettles appeared in a spin-off of the popular BBC soap opera, "EastEnders". The spin-off, entitled "Civvy Street", was set during the second world war, and looked back on the early life of some of "EastEnders"' senior residents. Bettles played a young Ethel Skinner. [" [http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/eastend.htm EastEnders] ", "www.televisionheaven.co.uk". URL last accessed on 2007-10-06.] Among Bettles' other credits are: ITV's police drama "The Bill" (1988); "No Strings" (1989); "Closing Numbers" (1993); "Ostatni Accord" (1994) and "London's Burning" (2001).

Bettles gave up performing for a while in the 1990s to marry and bring up her family. During her time away from acting Bettles qualified as a beauty therapist, and in 2005 she set up a specialist freight forwarding company called Kenvale Recruitment. She has since returned to acting, and in 2006 she appeared in an episode of the Channel 4 sitcom, "The IT Crowd". [" [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/177745?view=credit BETTLES, Alison Filmography] ", "BFI". URL last accessed on 2007-10-06.]

Personal life

Bettles was born in 1969 to mother, June, who worked as a chaperone for the "Grange Hill" series from its inception in 1978 to 2002. She and her two brothers, Mark and Dean, grew up in Essex, where Bettles attended the Aveley Comprehensive.

Bettles is married and has four children—three boys, Harry, Albert and Arthur, and a daughter who was born on New Year's day 2005. Bettles' children have also taken to performing. Her son Albert Valentine has appeared in the "Doctor Who" episodes, "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances", and Arthur has appeared in "EastEnders".

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0079381|name=Alison Bettles