Jessica Martin

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Jessica Martin
Jessica Martin, holding a copy of her book Life Drawing: A Life Under Lights
Martin in 2022
Born (1962-08-25) 25 August 1962 (age 61)
Fulham, London, England
Alma mater
Occupation
Actress
Years active1983–present
Websitejessicamartinofficial.com

Jessica Cecelia Anna Maria Martin (born 25 August 1962) is an English actress, singer, and illustrator. Specializing as an impressionist, her television roles have included Spitting Image, Copy Cats and two series with Bobby Davro. She featured as the werewolf Mags in the 1988 Doctor Who serial The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, and provided the voice of the Queen in the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas special, "Voyage of the Damned".

On stage, Martin starred with Gary Wilmot in the West End show Me and My Girl for two years at the Adelphi Theatre and then on a national tour. She went on to play leading musical roles including Mabel in the 1996 production of Mack and Mabel at the Piccadilly Theatre, Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard and the Lady of the Lake in the national tour of Spamalot. Her autobiography, as a graphic novel, Life Drawing: A Life Under Lights, was published in 2019.

Life and career[edit]

Early life[edit]

Jessica Cecelia Anna Maria Martin was born on 25 August 1962.[1] She graduated with a degree in English and Drama from Westfield College, London University and also studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama.[2] Her first job, in 1983 when she was 21, was as a resident singer at St James's Hotel and Club. Her father, Placido Martin, was a cocktail pianist there.[1][2] Speaking about her father in a 2019 interview, Martin said that he "was a complex character and much as I loved him, I wanted to give an honest portrayal [in my book] of how self-centred and destructive a 'creative' person can be."[3]

Performance roles[edit]

Martin became an impressionist on the fringe circuit in 1983.[4] In a 1984 review of her lunchtime show at the Palace Theatre, London bar, Roy Robert Smith of The Stage wrote that Martin was "armed with guts, determination, and talent [and] must surely soon gain the public recognition she deserves."[4] He noted that she refined her material and renewed her material between shows, and particularly praised her impressions of Gloria Hunniford and Judy Garland.[4] After seeing Martin perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Rory Bremner persuaded her to focus on impressions,[5] and the pair appeared on radio together.[6] In 1985, Martin was quoted as saying that she had only started doing impressions in public at the fringe for relaxation after appearing in performances Women of Troy there.[7]

She auditioned for several roles, and became a regular voice cast member for the satirical puppet show Spitting Image.[5][6] where her roles included Barbra Streisand,[7] and members of the British royal family.[8] She was then invited to audition for London Weekend Television's Copy Cats.[6] Fellow team members included Bobby Davro, with whom she partnered for three series of his weekly show Bobby Davro's TV Weekly.[9] In 1985 she joined Jimmy Cricket on the Central TV production And There's More. In the Nottingham Evening Post, a staff writer commented that Martin "is proving herself to be an accomplished actress, singer, dancer and mickey-taker – definitely a name to watch out for in the future."[7] Martin and Bremner both quit Central TV in September 1985; Bremner had been offered his own BBC2 series, while Martin was due to join Davro in shows for TVS.[10] Bremner and Martin toured UK theatres together in 1987, with a show of impressions.[11]

In 1988, Milton Shulman of The Evening Standard described Martin performing "The Lady Is a Tramp" in Babes in Arms at the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre as "pert and saucy".[12] Martin played the lead role of Dorothy in a touring production of The Wizard of Oz.[13] Charles Barron of the Aberdeen Evening Express praised Martin's "exuberance" in the role, and wrote that she sang "with great charm".[14]

From 1989, Martin and Gary Wilmot starred in the West End show Me and My Girl for two years at the Adelphi Theatre and then on a national tour.[9][15] Martin went on to play leading musical roles including Mabel in the 1996 production of Mack and Mabel at the Piccadilly Theatre,[16] Nellie Forbush in South Pacific,[17] Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd,[18] and Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.[19] She also guest-starred in the 1988 Doctor Who serial The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, starring Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor, in which she played a punk werewolf called Mags. Many years later, she provided the voice of the Queen in "Voyage of the Damned", the 2007 Christmas special, which starred David Tennant as the Doctor.[20]

She played the Lady of the Lake in the national tour of Spamalot in 2011,[21] Lottie Ames in Mack and Mabel,[22] and Lottie Lacey in the revival of William Inge's The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (both 2012).[23][24] In October 2015, Martin joined the cast of Elf: The Musical, playing the role of Emily Hobbs at the Dominion Theatre.[25] In September 2016, she was featured in Robert J. Sherman's Bumblescratch playing the dual roles of Bethesda Bumblescratch and the Widow MacGregor at the Adelphi Theatre. She was named a Variety Club Celebrity Ambassador for her work in Bumblescratch and her other works.[26][27][28]

Martin played role of Dame Shirley Porter in Shirleymander by Greg Evans at the Playground Theatre, London in 2018,[29] for which she was nominated for the Best Female Performance in the Off West End Awards 2018.[30] In the Daily Telegraph, Ben Lawrence wrote that Martin "best known for her impersonations .. does a terrific impression, but it is hard to reach inside the soul of this Rottweiler in a pussycat bow".[31] She also received an Off West End Awards nomination for Lead Performance in a Musical for portraying Mrs. Blitzstein in Blitz! at the Union Theatre, London in 2020.[32][33]

Martin is a patron of the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America, and performed at the 50th anniversary Memorial Service for Lupino Lane at St Paul's, Covent Garden in 2009.[34]

Audio work[edit]

Martin appeared on The Impressionists on BBC Radio 2 in 1985.[35] She starred in a 1987 special for the same channel, Jessica Martin's Variety: The Gossip Column Murders.[36] She was a voice actor for the PlayStation 2 game Dragon Quest VIII, and has also performed as a voice over artist for a range of animations and commercials.[23] She has also recorded audio books including Vindication of the Rights of Men written by Mary Wollstonecraft.[23] Martin has appeared in several Doctor Who audio dramas from Big Finish Productions.[37]

Graphic novels[edit]

In 2010, Martin took up sketching for the first time since studying A-level art.[38] The following year, whilst touring in Spamalot with Phill Jupitus, she showed him one of her sketches.[38] Jupitus praised the sketch and suggested that Martin should do a graphic novel. Martin has referred to this as a "lightbulb moment."[38] In 2012, Martin showed her work to established comics artist Mark Buckingham, who supported and encouraged her.[37] Her first comic written and drawn by herself was It Girl about silent film actress Clara Bow.[39] It was self-published in November 2013 and was selected in the "Ten Must Own Small-Press Comics 2013" by Broken Frontier.[40]

Elsie Harris Picture Palace, which is set in the 1930s British film industry, was her first full-length graphic novel. It was shortlisted for the Myriad First Graphic Novel Prize 2014.[41] In 2018, Martin illustrated a Doctor Who story, "Hill of Beans", that featured her character Mags from the television series.[37][39] Life Drawing: A Life Under Lights, a graphic novel memoir about her life as an actress, singer and artist was published by Unbound in Spring 2019.[3][42]

Filmography[edit]

Theatre[edit]

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
1984 Mad Max's Cabaret performer Crazy Larry's, London [43]
1984 Jessica Martin performer Palace Theatre bar, London [4]
1985 Conkers Cabaret performer Bush Hotel, London [44]
1985–86 Cinderella (pantomime) Cinderella De Montfort Hall [45][46]
1986–87 Aladdin (pantomime) Aladdin Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton [47]
1986 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (pantomime) Plymouth [48]
1987–88 Cinderella (pantomime) Cinderella Palace Theatre, Manchester [49]
1988 Babes in Arms Bunny Byron Maynardville Open-Air Theatre [50]
1988–89 The Wizard of Oz Dorothy Theatre Royal, Plymouth, and national tour [13][14]
1989–91 Me and My Girl Sally Smith Adelphi Theatre; national tour [15]
1994 The Court Jester Alice Perrers Warehouse Theatre [51][52]
1996 Mack and Mabel Mabel Normand Piccadilly Theatre [16]
1996–97 Peter Pan (pantomime) Peter Pan Wycombe Swan [53]
1997 South Pacific Nellie Forbush national tour [17]
2001 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Mrs Lovett Bridewell Theatre [18]
2004 Exclusive Yarns New Wimbledon Studio [54]
2005–06 Cinderella (pantomime) Fairy Godmother Churchill Theatre, Bromley [55]
2006 Tracey Beaker Gets Real Louise/Tracey's mum national tour [56]
2009 Sunset Boulevard Norma Desmond Comedy Theatre [19]
2010 Sunset Bitch numerous roles (one-woman show) Waterloo East Theatre, London [19]
2011 Spamalot Lady of the Lake national tour [21]
2012 Mack and Mabel Lottie Ames Southwark Playhouse [22]
2012 The Dark at the Top of the Stairs Lottie Lacey Belgrade Theatre [23][24]
2014, 2015 Elf Emily Hobbs Theatre Royal, Plymouth; Dominion Theatre [57][58]
2016 Bumblescratch Bethesda Bumblescratch/Widow MacGregor Adelphi Theatre [28]
2016 Big the Musical Mrs. Baskin Theatre Royal Plymouth [59]
2017 Elf Emily Hobbs The Lowry [60]
2018 Shirleymander Dame Shirley Porter Playground Theatre, London [29]
2020 Blitz! Mrs. Blitzstein Union Theatre, London [32]
2022 Goldilocks and the Three Bears (pantomime) Countess von Vinklebottom Richmond Theatre [61]

Television[edit]

Year(s) Programme Role Ref.
1985–86 Bobby Davro on the Box cast member [62]
1985 And There's More cast member [62]
1985 Wogan guest [63]
1985 Live from Her Majesty's performer [64]
1985–86 Copy Cats cast member [62]
1986 Lift Off! cast member [65]
1986 Tarby and Friends guest [66]
1986 Good Morning Britain guest [67]
1986 Les and Dustin's Laughter Show performer [68]
1986 Summertime Special guest [69]
1986 We Love TV guest [70]
1986 Laugh Attack cast member [62]
1986 3-2-1 guest [71]
1986 Des O'Connor Tonight guest [72]
1986–87 Spitting Image voice performer [62]
1987–88 Bobby Davro's TV Weekly cast member [62]
1987 Tom O'Connor guest [73]
1987 Royal Variety Show performer [74]
1988 Catchphrase Celebrity Special celebrity contestant [62]
1988 PC Pinkerton voice performer [62]
1988 Doctor Who (serial The Greatest Show in the Galaxy) Mags [75]
1993 The Art Sutter Show guest [62]
1995 You Bet guest panelist [62]
1995 Live from the Lilydrome guest panelist [62]
2007 Doctor Who (episode "Voyage of the Damned") The Queen (voice) [76]

Radio[edit]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1985 The Impressionists performer BBC Radio Two [35]
1992 The Gossip Column Murders Cybil Liberty Directed by Dirk Maggs [36]
1996 Ned Sherrin's Review of Revue performer [77]
1996 In the Grip of the Glossies reader [78]
1999 I Can Do That Radio 4 [79]
2002 Stage Mother, Sequinned Daughter Alma Cogan Directed by Marilyn Imrie [80]
2006 Jack Rosenthal's Last Act Barbra Streisand Directed by Maureen Lipman [81]

Film[edit]

Year Title Notes Ref.
1990 The Garden Directed by Derek Jarman [62]

Video games[edit]

Year Title Notes Ref.
2014 Dragon Quest VIII [23]

Publications[edit]

Year Title Publisher ISBN
2015 Elsie Harris Picture Palace Miwk Publishing ISBN 978-1908630384
2019 Life Drawing: A Life Under Lights Unbound ISBN 978-1783527588

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2014 Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition Elsie Harris Picture Palace Nominated [41]
2018 Off West End Awards Best Female Performance Shirleymander Nominated [30]
2020 Off West End Awards Full Run: Musicals: Lead Performance Blitz! Nominated [33]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Hayward, Anthony (1996). Who's Who on Television. London: Boxtree Ltd. p. 172. ISBN 075221067X.
  2. ^ a b "Jessica Martin". The Stage. London. 14 November 2019. p. 25.
  3. ^ a b Jamieson, Teddy (24 July 2019). "Graphic Content: Bobby Davro, the Bay City Rollers and Me – Jessica Martin on her life in light entertainment". The Herald. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d Smith, Roy Robert (8 November 1984). "Seen at: Palace. Jessica Martin". The Stage. p. 7.
  5. ^ a b Robins, Derek (28 February 1987). "Her royal request". Staffordshire Sentinel. p. 10.
  6. ^ a b c Burke, Michael (8 April 1986). "Jessica's face makes a great impression". Birmingham Mail. p. 14.
  7. ^ a b c "There's more to Jessica". Nottingham Evening Post. 22 June 1985. p. WP1, WP9.
  8. ^ Riley, Joe (5 September 1997). "Jessica on song in the South Pacific". Liverpool Echo. p. 33.
  9. ^ a b Gent, Jay (23 January 2017). "Cult Q & A: Jessica Martin". We Are Cult. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Rory and Jessica quit Central". Sunday Mercury. 29 September 1985. p. 3.
  11. ^ "Madonna – well almost". Staines & Ashford News. 25 June 1987. p. 23.
  12. ^ Shulman, Milton (4 August 1988). "Fairy tale treat". Evening Standard. p. 35.
  13. ^ a b "Christmas greetings". The Stage. 15 December 1988. p. 34.
  14. ^ a b Barron, Charles (1 February 1989). "What's on". Aberdeen Evening Express. p. 9.
  15. ^ a b Benson, Anne (13 April 1993). "Jessica makes a different impression". Liverpool Echo. p. 22.
  16. ^ a b "Production news". The Stage. 25 April 1996. p. 47.
  17. ^ a b "Bali Ha'i is calling our lucky winners". Wirral Globe. 4 September 1997.
  18. ^ a b Martland, Lisa (15 June 2000). "Bridewell: Sweeney Todd". The Stage. p. 12.
  19. ^ a b c Smurthwaite, Nick (2 September 2010). "Showpeople: Jessica Martin". The Stage. p. 27.
  20. ^ Voyage of the Damned – Fact File Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2019
  21. ^ a b Chadderton, David. "Monty Python's Spamalot". British Theatre Guide. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020.
  22. ^ a b Shelton, Mark (12 July 2012). "Mack and Mabel". The Stage. p. 17.
  23. ^ a b c d e Reischel, Jennifer (15 September 2015). "Jessica Martin – Spitting Image Impressionist, West End Theatre Actor and Graphic Novelist". WeAreTheCity. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020.
  24. ^ a b Marlowe, Sam (25 October 2012). "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs". The Times. p. 10S.
  25. ^ "Full casting announced for Elf at Dominion". Whats on Stage. 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  26. ^ "Variety Awards Darren Day, Michael Xavier and Jessica Martin Ambassador Status". 5 September 2016. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  27. ^ "Review: Bumblescratch (Adelphi Theatre) ★★★★". West End Wilma. 12 September 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  28. ^ a b "Variety Honours Five West End Actors and Musical Directors". variety.org.uk. 26 September 2016. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  29. ^ a b Billington, Michael (27 May 2018). "Shirleymander review – timely retelling of chilling Tory scandal". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  30. ^ a b The Offies Archived 15 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine offwestend.com Retrieved 21 June 2019
  31. ^ Lawrence, Ben (25 May 2018). "Shirleymander review, Playground Theatre, London W10: memorable encounter with a dubious force of nature". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  32. ^ a b Herman, Judi (25 February 2020). "In conversation: Blitz! cast Daniella Schindler & Jessica Martin". Jewish Renaissance. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  33. ^ a b "2020: Full Run: Musicals: Lead Performance – Jessica Martin – Blitz!". The Offies. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  34. ^ The Music Hall Guild – News Archived 18 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 21 June 2019
  35. ^ a b "Radio". Liverpool Echo. 6 March 1985. p. 18.
  36. ^ a b Jessica Martin's Variety Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine BBC Radio 2, 9 May 1992. genome.ch.bbc.co.uk Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  37. ^ a b c Adams, Matt (May 2018). "Return of the Werewolf". Doctor Who Magazine. No. 526. pp. 45–49.
  38. ^ a b c Actress Jessica Martin: a life in three acts Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine Matt Adams, hertfordshirelife.co.uk, 18 July 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2019
  39. ^ a b Simpson, Paul (18 October 2018). "Interview: Jessica Martin". Sci-Fi Bulletin. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  40. ^ Oliver, Andy (2 January 2014). "Celebrating 2013: Ten UK Small Press Comics You Need to Own". Broken Frontier. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  41. ^ a b Who Made the Final Six on the Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition Shortlist? Find Out Here! Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine Andy Oliver, www.brokenfrontier.com, 6 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2019
  42. ^ Martin, Jessica (July 2019). Life Drawing: A Life Under Lights. ISBN 9781783527588. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  43. ^ Smith, Roy Robert (7 June 1984). "Seen at". The Stage. p. 8.
  44. ^ "Theatre". Hammersmith & Shepherds Bush Gazette. 6 December 1985. p. 22.
  45. ^ "Panto news". The Stage. 17 October 1985. p. 3.
  46. ^ Davies, Mike (17 October 1985). "Christmas shows: Leicester". The Stage. p. 3.
  47. ^ "Polishing up lamp magic!". Sandwell Evening Mail. 20 December 1986. p. 5.
  48. ^ "Plymouth". pantoarchive.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  49. ^ Patrick, Tony (30 November 1987). "Shows for Christmas". The Times. London. p. 22.
  50. ^ Osborne, Charles (6 August 1988). "Babes in the Park". The Daily Telegraph. p. A.XI.
  51. ^ P.H.S. (25 November 1994). "Rising Vamp". The Times. London. p. 20.
  52. ^ "Theatre". The Times. London. 9 December 1994. p. 42.
  53. ^ Dewey, Mike (4 December 2021). "Pagers, clockwork cats and gramophones – looking back at BFP adverts for Christmas gifts". Bucks Free Press.
  54. ^ Rutherford, Nick (25 August 2004). "Look back in angora". Harrow Times. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  55. ^ "Bromley". pantoarchive.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  56. ^ "Stage: Tracey Beaker, Blue On Blue and The Nutcracker". Bracknell Forest Standard. 19 October 2006.
  57. ^ "It certainly sounds like Jessica Martin has been there, done that and played her, her and her". Plymouth Evening Herald. 5 December 2014. pp. 8–9.
  58. ^ Shuttleworth, Ian (8 November 2015). "Elf, Dominion Theatre, London – "Infectious enjoyment"". Financial Times.
  59. ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (6 October 2016). "Denise Van Outen pulls out of Big the Musical". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  60. ^ "Christmas pantomimes and shows in and around Manchester in 2017". Rochdale Observer. 22 December 2017.
  61. ^ "Goldilocks and the Three Bears". Sardines Magazine. 11 December 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  62. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Jessica Martin". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  63. ^ "BBC1". Reading Evening Post. 14 August 1985. p. 2.
  64. ^ "ITV London". Reading Evening Post. 2 November 1985. p. 22.
  65. ^ "Lift Off!". BBC Programme Index. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  66. ^ "LWT". Staines & Ashford News. 15 May 1986. p. 28.
  67. ^ "Today's television and radio programmes". The Times. 19 June 1986. p. 47.
  68. ^ "Last night's TV". Dundee Courier. 11 July 1986. p. 4.
  69. ^ "HTV". Enniscorthy Guardian. 1 August 1986. p. 28.
  70. ^ "LWT". Kingston Informer. 8 August 1986. p. 16.
  71. ^ "Central". Sandwell Evening Mail. 6 September 1986. p. 17.
  72. ^ Thomas, Norman (31 October 1986). "Des is a real disaster". Liverpool Echo. p. 28.
  73. ^ "BBC1". Sandwell Evening Mail. 20 January 1987. p. 16.
  74. ^ Louis Barfe (1 March 2012). The Trials and Triumphs of Les Dawson. Atlantic Books. p. 268. ISBN 978-0-85789-670-4. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  75. ^ "BBC – Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – The Greatest Show in the Galaxy – Details". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  76. ^ "Doctor Who – Fact File – Voyage of the Damned". BBC. 25 December 2007. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  77. ^ "Ned Sherrin's Review of Revue". BBC Programme Index. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  78. ^ "In the Grip of the Glossies". BBC Programme Index. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  79. ^ Barnard, Peter (1 July 1999). "Radio Choice". The Times. London. p. 54.
  80. ^ "Cogan court action fails". BBC. 26 July 2002. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  81. ^ "Jack Rosenthal's Last Act". BBC. July 2006. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.

External links[edit]

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