Pooky Quesnel

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Pooky Quesnel
Born
Joanna Gabrielle Quesnel

(1966-04-30) 30 April 1966 (age 57)
Eccles, Lancashire, England
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Actress, screenwriter, singer
Years active1980s–present

Joanna Gabrielle "Pooky" Quesnel (born 30 April 1966) is an English actress, screenwriter and singer.

Early life[edit]

Quesnel was born and raised in Eccles, Lancashire, along with her five siblings.[1] Her father was born in Trinidad. She read English at Oxford University before spending a year at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. In the 1980s, she performed in Humphrey Carpenter's Vile Bodies band at the Ritz Hotel, and performed in a tribute concert to him following his death in 2005.[2] In 2003, she began screenwriting, producing scripts for Doctors and Family Affairs,[1][3] appearing in the latter as Diane Short.

Career[edit]

She played Dr. Monica Broome in the first series of Cardiac Arrest and DC Grace Harris in the first two series of Thief Takers.[4] She had a recurring role in the third series of Cold Feet as Emma Keaton and returned to medical dramas in 2006, playing Dr. Christine Whelan in The Golden Hour. In 2007, she starred as Nita in the BBC One series True Dare Kiss,[1][3][5] and later that year began a recurring role in EastEnders as Rachel Branning, taking over the character from Sukie Smith. In February 2008, she played the spoken title role in a City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra production of Stravinsky's Perséphone, broadcast on BBC Radio 3.[6] In July 2008, she appeared in an episode of the ITV murder mystery series, Midsomer Murders as journalist Julie Benson,[7] and in an episode of George Gently entitled "The Burning Man", playing the character Wanda Lane. In March 2010, she appeared as Maureen in BBC One's second series of Five Days. She also played the spaceship captain in the Doctor Who 2010 Christmas special, "A Christmas Carol".[8] In November 2010, she appeared as Christopher Eccleston's character's wife in Jimmy McGovern's Accused.[9] She has also played a pregnant woman in an episode of Not Going Out.[10] From 2014 to 2015, she played the role of Olga Fitzgerald, Geography teacher and Headteacher Vaughan Fitzgerald's estranged wife in BBC's Waterloo Road. The following year she played Dorothea Ames, Head teacher at Coal Hill Academy, in the BBC3 series Class, and provided the voice of Yuria of Londor in the video game Dark Souls III. She played Louise Wilson in BBC's The A Word, and reprised the role more prominently in its spin-off series Ralph & Katie.

Personal life[edit]

Quesnel practises kickboxing, tai chi, and flamenco dancing. In 2017, Quesnel won bronze at the British Council for Chinese Martial Arts (BCCMA) annual British Tai Chi Championships in the Open Weapon category for her Wudang taijijian routine.[4]

Filmography[edit]

Film and television[edit]

Year Title Role Other notes
1993 The Hawk WPC Clarke Feature film
A Woman's Guide to Adultery Francie 2 episodes
1994 Cardiac Arrest Dr. Monica Broome 6 episodes
Finney Carol All 6 episodes
The Bill Elaine Curtis Episode: "Licensed to Kill"
1996 Thief Takers DC Grace Harris Main role; 16 episodes
1998 The Ambassador Liz Episode: "Nine Tenths of the Law"
1999 A Christmas Carol Maude Television film
2000 The Mrs Bradley Mysteries Delilah Hicks Episode: "The Worsted Viper"
Sunburn Josie Daley Series 2: Episode 7
City Central Zora Episode: "Respect"
Innocents Michaela Willis Television film
Cold Feet Emma Keaton Series 3: Episodes 4, 6, 7 and 8
2001 Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years Eleanor Flood Series 1: Episodes 5 and 6[11]
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Stepha Odell Episode: "A Great Deliverance"
Doctors Angela Crowther Episode: "Bring Me Sunshine"
The Armando Iannucci Shows Unknown Episode: "Imagination"
2001–2002 Family Affairs Diane Short Regular role
Nominated, British Soap Award for Best Actress, 2002
2003 Holby City Melanie Knox Episode: "House of Cards"
The Bill Jo Fox Series 19: Episode 99
2004 Monarch of the Glen Kelly McGee Series 6: Episode 6
2005 Doctors Rebecca Dobson Episode: "When Two Become One"
Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee Bea Miniseries; 2 episodes
The Golden Hour Dr. Christine Whelan Miniseries; all 4 episodes
Walk Away and I Stumble Suzi Television film
2006 Holby City Jill Pearce Episode: "Invasion"
2007 Skins Claire Episode: "Jal"
Recovery Homeowner Television film
Oh Happy Day Fern Feature film
True Dare Kiss Nita McKinnon All 6 episodes
Suburban Shootout Penny Hawthorne Episodes: "Fight Club" and "In it For the Wild Life"
2007–2010 EastEnders Rachel Branning Recurring role; 18 episodes
2008 Midsomer Murders Julia Benson Episode: "Midsomer Life"
Inspector George Gently Wanda Lane Episode: "The Burning Man"[12]
Casualty Pennie Ashton Episode: "Guilt Complex"
2009 Ashes to Ashes Ruth Irvine Series 2: Episode 1
The Bill Maria Walmsley Episode: "Down South"
Criminal Justice Amelia Rose 5 episodes
The Clinic Sue Murdoch Series 7: Episode 3
Enid Theresa Blyton Television film
Paradox D.C.I. Sarah Bower Miniseries; 3 episodes
2010 Five Days Maureen Hardy[13][14] 4 episodes
Doctors Dr. Diana Flaxman 3 episodes
New Tricks Lady Catherine Bryant Episode: "Good Morning Lemmings"
Moving On Lynne Episode: "Sauce for the Goose"[15]
Accused Carmel Houlihan Episode: "Willy's Story"
Law & Order: UK Andrea Raines Episode: "Shaken"
Doctor Who The Captain Episode: "A Christmas Carol"
2011 Shameless Sandra Brown Episode: "Kidnap and Ransom"
Scott & Bailey Siân cook Episode: "Personal"
Ideal Donna Episode: "The Love"
In with the Flynns Rachel Episode: "Whistleblowing"
Casualty Emma Davies Episode: "Starting Out"
The Body Farm Sarah Haines Episode: "You've Got Visitors"
Top Boy Dr. Jenny Northam 3 episodes
Just Henry Mrs Jeffries Television film
2012 The Preston Passion Betty Cleasby
Silent Witness Helen Karamides Episodes: "Paradise Lost": Parts 1 & 2"
Starlings Lynn Series 1: Episode 7
Great Expectations Sarah Pocket Feature film
2013 Not Going Out Pregnant Woman Episode: "Skiing"[10]
The Guilty Ruth Hyde Miniseries; all 3 episodes
Truckers Pauline Series 1: Episode 5
2014 Doctors Wanda Aleksandrov Episode: "Made in Heaven"
Endeavour Muriel Todd Episode: "Trove"[16]
2014–2015 Waterloo Road Olga Fitzgerald Series 10; 12 episodes
2016 Father Brown Ruth Moore Episode: "The Resurrectionists"
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Mrs. Phillips Feature film
2016–2020 The A Word Louise Wilson All 18 episodes
2016 The Living and the Dead Agnes Thatcher 3 episodes
Class Headmistress Dorothea Ames Recurring role; 4 episodes
2017 Tommies Vera Bliss (voice) Episode: "17th April 1917"
W1A Fiona Craig Recurring role; 3 episodes
The Wright Stuff Guest panelist 1 episode
2018 Kiss Me First Marion Miniseries; 2 episodes
The Queen and I Delia Manson Television film
2019 The Victim Mo Buckley Miniseries; all 4 episodes
Ransom Olga Episode: "Prima"
2020 Two Weeks to Live Mandy 3 episodes
2021 Ladhood Maria Pearce Episode: "Mary"
Wolfe Maxine 3 episodes
Riding Liberty Sue Short film
The Trick Stella Acton Television film
2022 The Chelsea Detective Julia Romano Episode: "Mrs. Romano"
Ralph & Katie Louise Wilson All 6 episodes
The Confessions of Frannie Langton Linux
2023 Beyond Paradise Louise Fitzallan Series 1: Episode 3

Stage[edit]

Year Production Role Theatre
1991 Sweet Sessions The Dark Lady Old Fire Station, Oxford[17]
1993 Don't Fool with Love Peasant Girl National tour
A Month in the Country Verochka Salisbury Playhouse
Billy Liar Rita Salisbury Playhouse[18]
1995 Racine's Andromache, adapted by Craig Raine Annette LeSkye Almeida Theatre[19][20]
1997 Jane Eyre Bertha Shared Experience theatre company at the Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, Young Vic Theatre, London, and touring[21]
1998 Anna Karenina Kitty and Seriozha Brooklyn Academy of Music's Majestic Theater,[22] Lyric Hammersmith
2003 Present Laughter Monica Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford,[23] King's Theatre, Glasgow[24]
2004 Loot Fay Bristol Old Vic[25]
2005 Romeo and Juliet Lady Capulet Royal Exchange Theatre[26]
Sitting Pretty Unknown New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich[27]
2008 Perséphone Persephone City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Video games[edit]

Year Title Role Other notes
2015 Bloodborne Arianna Lady of the Night, Yharnamite, Female Protagonist Voice
2016 Dark Souls III Yuria of Londor, Birch Woman(Ashes of Ariandel DLC)
2020 Watch Dogs: Legion Mary Kelley

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Pooky Quesnel plays Nita". True Dare Kiss Press Pack. BBC. 18 June 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Music for a Wizard Whizz". BBC Radio 3. 1 October 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  3. ^ a b Wylie, Ian (12 July 2007). "Pooky's real sister act". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  4. ^ a b Malins, Sue (21 November 1996). "I got a real gun too easily; Pooky Quesnel". The Mirror. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  5. ^ Deacon, Michael (29 June 2007). "Last night on television". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  6. ^ Brown, Geoff (28 February 2008). "CBSO/Oramo at Symphony Hall, Birmingham". The Times. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Midsomer Murders – Midsomer Life". ABC1. ABC Australia. 21 September 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  8. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (19 August 2010). "'Who' Christmas special cast announced". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  9. ^ Wylie, Ian (9 November 2010). "Christopher Eccleston: I owe my career to Jimmy McGovern". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Not Going Out" Skiing (TV Episode 2013) - IMDb, retrieved 11 August 2021
  11. ^ "Pick of the day; Adrian Mole: The Cappucino Years BBC1, 10.40pm". Evening Standard. 9 March 2001. Retrieved 13 January 2011.[dead link]
  12. ^ Watson, Keith (6 July 2008). "George Gently: The Burning Man – BBC1". Metro. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  13. ^ "Batley's the star in new BBC drama". Batley & Birstall News. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  14. ^ "Five Days – Maureen Hardy". BBC One. BBC. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  15. ^ "Moving On – Sauce for the Goose". BBC Press Office. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  16. ^ credits on DVD
  17. ^ London theatre record, Volume 11, Issues 14–26
  18. ^ Plays and players: Volumes 489–492; Volumes 494–500, 1993
  19. ^ Plays international, Volume 11, Chancery Publications Ltd., 1995
  20. ^ Plays and players, Issues 501–510. Hansom Books, 1996
  21. ^ Teale, Polly; Brontė, Charlotte (1998). Jane Eyre (adaptation). Nick Hern Books. p. 5. ISBN 9781854593290.
  22. ^ Marks, Peter (13 November 1998). "Theater review; A Classic Russian Tale of Infidelity, Sparely Told". New York Times. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  23. ^ Koenig, Rhoda (18 March 2003). "Present Laughter, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – The hyper philanderer". The Independent. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  24. ^ Cooper, Neil (27 February 2003). "Theatre – Present Laughter, King's Theatre, Glasgow". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  25. ^ Cavendish, Dominic (11 March 2004). "Orton still on the money". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  26. ^ Walker, Lynne (14 September 2005). "Romeo And Juliet, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 June 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  27. ^ "Preview: Sitting Pretty". BBC Suffolk. February 2005. Retrieved 13 January 2011.

External links[edit]

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