Ruth Gemmell

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Ruth Gemmell
Gemmell in 2018
Born
Ruth Katrin Gemmell

October 1967 (age 56)
Bristol, England
Alma materWebber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
Years active1991–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1997; div. 2005)​

Ruth Katrin Gemmell (born October 1967) is an English actress. She starred in the film Fever Pitch in 1997 which was followed by supporting roles in television series EastEnders, Casualty, Home Fires and Penny Dreadful.[1] She has played Carly Beaker, the mother of the title character in the Tracy Beaker franchise since 2004. In 2020, she began playing Violet, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton in the Netflix series Bridgerton.[2][3]

Early life and education[edit]

Ruth Katrin Gemmell was born in October 1967 in Bristol and grew up in County Durham, first in Barnard Castle before moving to Darlington with her mother upon her parents' divorce. She has three older brothers and a sister. She attended Polam Hall School.[4][5] Gemmell later moved to London, where her father lived, to pursue acting.[6] She trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.[7]

Career[edit]

Gemmell has played roles in both theatre and TV dramas. She played the leading female role in Fever Pitch, based on Nick Hornby's memoir of the same name, starring opposite Colin Firth[8] and had another leading role in the comedy/drama 2 January (2006). She played the recurring character of Detective Constable Kerry Cox in the first series of the BBC police procedural Silent Witness, which premiered in 1996. She returned to the series as different characters in 2006 and 2014.

In 2004, she starred in Tracy Beaker's Movie of Me as the mother of the title character. From January 2009 she became a recurring character in EastEnders as Debra Dean, the absentee mother of Whitney Dean. In August 2009, she starred as Rebecca Sands in two episodes of The Bill.[9]

Gemmell appeared three times in the BBC's police drama Waking the Dead, playing different characters. Her first appearance was in 2002 in the episode "Special Relationships" as DI Jess Worral, a former lover of DSI Boyd. She next appeared on the show in 2008, as Linda Cummings, an exceptionally intelligent serial killer. She reprised the role of Cummings in "Endgame", the finale of the eighth series.[10]

Gemmell starred in Episode 8 of Jimmy McGovern's BBC drama Moving On as Joanne, in November 2010.[11] In November 2011, Gemmell played Lady Shonagon in the adaptation for BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour of The Pillow Book, by Robert Forrest. She appeared as Jen, the wife of an adulterous civil servant, in Channel 4 drama Utopia, in early 2013.

In 2015, Gemmell appeared in five episodes of the television series Penny Dreadful as Octavia Putney. In 2020, she began playing Lady Violet Bridgerton in the Netflix series Bridgerton.[12][13]

In 2021, Gemmell reprised her role of Carly Beaker for My Mum Tracy Beaker.[14]

Personal life[edit]

Gemmell was married in Westminster, London, in 1997 to the actor Ray Stevenson (1964–2023), whom she met in 1995 during the filming of TV drama Band of Gold. The couple divorced in 2005.[15]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role
1991 Who Needs a Heart Abigail
1996 A Stiff Drink Woman Short film
1997 Fever Pitch Sarah Hughes
2006 January 2nd Claire
Love for Sale Lonely Lady Short film
2007 Ela Ela's Mum
The Imaginary Girl Mother
2008 Gone Fishing Imogen
2008 Good Elisabeth
2010 F Sarah Balham
2012 Storage 24 Sarah
Offender Cassie
2013 Chrysanthemum Janet Short film
2019 Cliffs of Freedom Varvara Vakrinos

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1995 The Bill Sue Latham Episode: "Woman of Substance"
Band of Gold Gina Dickson Episode: "Sold"
1996 Kavanagh QC Jenny Norris Episode: "Men of Substance"
Short Sharp Shocks Kate Episode: "Everywhere"
Silent Witness Kerry Cox Recurring role (series 1)
1997 Peak Practice Christine Higson Episode: "Home Truths"
The Perfect Blue Jo Television film
1998 Macbeth Lady Macduff Television film
1999 The Bill Jane Joyce Episode: "Sex, Lies and Videotape"
The Alchemists Julia Bannerman Television film
Four Fathers Nicola Yallop 3 episodes
2001 Holby City Diana Calder Episode: "Extra Time"
2002 Dalziel and Pascoe Rachel Waller Episode: "For Love Nor Money"
Waking the Dead DI Jess Worrall 2 episodes
2003 The Bill Carol Evans 3 episodes
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Jeannie Waring "Playing for the Ashes"
Murder in Mind Liz Willis Episode: "Landlord"
Spooks Miranda 1 episode
2004 Tracy Beaker: The Movie of Me Carly Beaker Television film
Blue Dove Jenny Page Miniseries
2005 Midsomer Murders Anne Merrick Episode: "The House in the Woods"
2006 The Afternoon Play Rachel Episode: "Are You Jim's Wife?"
A Touch of Frost Christine Harris Episode: "Endangered Species"
Silent Witness DI Beth Ashdown Episode: "Terminus: Part 2"
2007 Five Days Dr Tobolska 3 episodes
2008 Agatha Christie's Poirot Miss Sweetiman Episode: "Mrs. McGinty's Dead"
Summerhill Rose Television film
2008–2009 Waking the Dead Linda Cummings Guest role (series 7–8)
2009 Trial & Retribution Kay Satchell Episode: "Shooter: Part 1"
Primeval Katherine Kavanagh 2 episodes
EastEnders Debra Dean 11 episodes
The Bill Rebecca Sands 2 episodes
2010 Lewis Robyn Strong Episode: "Your Sudden Death Question"
Casualty Kate Margolin Episode: "No Place Like Home"
Law & Order: UK Mel Garvey Episode: "Confession"
Moving On Joanne Episode: "Losing My Religion"
2011 The Fades Alice TV mini-series
2012 Inside Men Rebecca TV mini-series
2013 Father Brown Martha Quinton Episode: "The Wrong Shape"
Dancing on the Edge Lady Winnet 1 episode
Holby City Amanda Layton 2 episodes
Coming Up Lynn Episode: "Big Girl"
2013–2014 Utopia Jen Dugdale Recurring role (9 episodes)
2014 Silent Witness Ellie Brooke Episode: "Undertone: Parts 1 & 2"
Inspector George Gently Irene Seddon Episode: "Gently Between the Lines"
Casualty DC Monica Darling Episode: "Deadfall"
2015 Midsomer Murders Diana Carnarvon Episode: "A Vintage Murder"
Penny Dreadful Octavia Putney Guest role (series 2)
2015–2016 Home Fires Sarah Collingborne Main role
2017 Ransom Laurie Episode: "Girl on a Train"
2018 Doctors DCI Gail Hargreaves 2 episodes
2020–present Bridgerton Lady Violet Bridgerton Main role
2021 My Mum Tracy Beaker Carly Beaker
2023 Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Lady Violet Bridgerton Main role

Theatre[edit]

Title Role Director Venue Notes Ref
A Tale of Two Cities Seamstress Phillip Prowse Glasglow Citizens [16]
The Country Wife Alethia Ian Forrest Lancaster Playhouse [16]
Tis Pity She's a Whore Annabella [16]
The Importance of Being Earnest Cecily Hugh Hogart Edinburgh Lyceum [16]
The Winter's Tale Perdita Debbie Paige Salisbury Playhouse [16]
An Ideal Husband Mabel Chilton Hugh Hodgart Edinburgh Lyceum [16]
Uncle Vanya Yelena [16]
Measure for Measure Isabella Ian Forrest Chester Gateway [16]
1991 The Second Mrs. Tanqueray Ellen Debbie Page Salisbury Playhouse [16][17]
1994 Othello Desdemona Oliver Godfrey The Railway Tavern Fast Intent Theatre Company [18]
1997 Turn of the Screw Governess Julian Woolford Hornchurch Queen's Theatre [19][16]
1998 Nabokov's Gloves Mary Duggan Ian Brown Hampstead Theatre [20][16]
1999 The Weir Valerie Ian Rickson Royal Court Theatre [21]
2000-2001 Ancient Lights Iona Ian Brown Hampstead Theatre [22]
2002 Kick for Touch Eileen Josie Rourke Crucible Theatre [23]
Trips' Cinch Lucy Parks Thea Sharrock Southwark Playhouse [24]
2004 Midwinter Maude Zinny Harris Royal Shakespeare Company [25]
2004-2005 Macbeth Lady Macduff / Witch Dominic Cooke Royal Shakespeare Theatre [26]
King Lear Regan Bill Alexander [27]
2005 Coram Boy Mrs Lynch Melly Still National Theatre [28]
2008 Helter Skelter / Land of the Dead Woman Patricia Benecke Bush Theatre [29]
Riflemind Cindy Philip Seymour Hoffman Trafalgar Studios [30]
2010 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Merteuil Toby Frow Salisbury Playhouse [31]
2011 Zephaniah: In the Night, A Promise — Charlotte Westenra Bush Theatre Apart of: "Sixty Six Books" [32]
Death and the Maiden Paulina Patricia Benecke Salisbury Playhouse [33][34]
2012 Betrayal Emma Nick Bagnall Sheffield Theatres [35]
2014 The Ant and the Cicada Selina Erica Whyman The Other Place Royal Shakespeare Company - Midsummer Mischief Plays [36]
Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. — [36]
I Can Hear You Ruth Jo McInnes [36]
This is Not an Exit Nora [36]
2017 No Places for a Woman Annie Kate Budgen Theatre503 [37]
2018 The Whale Liz Laurence Boswell Theatre Royal Bath [38]
Still Alice Self David Grindley West Yorkshire Playhouse [39]

Radio dramas[edit]

Year Title Role Station Notes Ref.
The Woman of Juda Vivien Davies [40]
Maestro Various characters [40]
The Cloths of Heaven Rachel [40]
1994 Teen Lurve Nickie BBC Radio 5 [40][41]
The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes Violet de Merville BBC Radio 4 Episode: "The Illustrious Client" [42][43]
1996 The Candlemass Road Lady Saturday Night Theatre [40][44]
The House Polly Bannister Series 6 [45][40]
1999 Fireworks Maid [46]
2001 Ancient Lights Iona BBC Radio 3 [47]
2003 Parade's End Sylvia [48]
After Scarborough Sandy BBC Radio 4 [49]
The Spaceman Mother [50]
2008 - 2018 The Pillow Book Sei Shōnagon Woman's Hour Drama; Series 1-11 [51]
2009 Classic Serial: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Liz Episodes: 1, 3 [52][53]
2010 The Vanishing Lieneke Saturday Play [54]
Classic Serial: The Secret Pilgrim Stephanie Episode: 1 [55][56]
2011 The Spy Who Came in from the Cold Liz Gold [57]
2013 The Corrupted Gracie Braden [58]
The Man in the Lift Angie [59]
2013-2014 The Cazalets Villy Series: "Casting Off," "All Change" [60]
2014 Old Times Kate BBC Radio 3 [61]
Alison Moore: The Pre-War House and Other Stories Narrator BBC Radio 4 Extra 5 episodes [40][62]
Time BBC Radio 4 Episode: "A Bagful of Stories" [63]
The Mysterious Death of Jane Austen Anne 15 Minute Drama: 5 episodes [64]
The Time Being: Spells for Love Melissa [40][65]
2015 The Left Hand of Darkness Ashe 2 episodes [66][67]
Clown Shoes Narrator BBC Radio 4 Extra 5 episodes [68]
2017 The Essex Serpent BBC Radio 4 10 episodes [69]
A Perfect Spy Mary [70]

Audio dramas[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2020 The Archers Victoria Episode: "1.19335"

Awards and nominations[edit]

Award Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2021 Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Bridgerton Nominated [71]

References[edit]

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  2. ^ "Ruth Gemmell – aka Lady Violet Bridgerton – talks family, feminism and fabulous fashion in Season 2 of the Netflix hit". Tatler. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  3. ^ Baty, Emma (5 April 2022). "Ruth Gemmell Responds to 'Bridgerton' Season 2 Fans' Sex Scene Complaints: "There's Agency in the Slow Burn"". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  4. ^ Gibb, Bill (7 April 2016). "Home Fires star Ruth Gemmell shares an embarrassing encounter". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  5. ^ Hardwick, Viv (14 October 2004). "Magic MacBeth". thenorthernecho.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  6. ^ Macbeth 2004 interview with Ruth Gemmell – dead link
  7. ^ "'Bridgerton's Ruth Gemmell On The Truth Behind *That* Scene With Jonathan Bailey". Bustle. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  8. ^ Fever Pitch Cast discuss film
  9. ^ Ruth Gemmell to guest in The Bill
  10. ^ Percival, Daniel (27 September 2009), End Game: Part 1, Waking the Dead, Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston, Tara Fitzgerald, retrieved 23 May 2023
  11. ^ BBC Press Office Week 45
  12. ^ "Bridgerton star Ruth Gemmell shares exciting details about the plot of season two". 3 February 2021.
  13. ^ Norris, Susanne (25 March 2022). "Bridgerton's Ruth Gemmell opens up about season two of the show". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  14. ^ My Mum Tracy Beaker (TV Series 2021– ) - IMDb, retrieved 23 May 2023
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  17. ^ "Production of The Second Mrs Tanqueray | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  18. ^ Bayley, Clare (16 March 1994). "Othello (1994)". Times Out. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
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  30. ^ Billington, Michael (19 September 2008). "Riflemind". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
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  34. ^ Smith, Ellie (23 March 2022). "Ruth Gemmell on Bridgerton Season Two". Country and Town House. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
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  39. ^ "Still Alice: a delicately moving portrayal of living with early onset Alzheimer's". The State Of The Arts. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
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  47. ^ "Sunday Play: Ancient Lights". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 29 April 2001. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  48. ^ "Drama on 3: Parade's End". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 14 September 2003. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  49. ^ "Afternoon Play: After Scarborough". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 15 April 2003. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
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  53. ^ "Classic Serial:The Complete Smiley: The Spy Who Came In from the Cold". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 19 July 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
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  56. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Classic Serial, The Complete Smiley - The Secret Pilgrim, Episode 1". BBC. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  57. ^ BBC – The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
  58. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - GF Newman's The Corrupted, Series 1, Episode 1". BBC. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  59. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, The Man in the Lift". BBC. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
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  63. ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - Time, A Bagful of Stories". BBC. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  64. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - 15 Minute Drama, Lindsay Ashford - The Mysterious Death of Jane Austen". BBC. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  65. ^ "The Time Being". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  66. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Ursula Le Guin - The Left Hand of Darkness, Episode 1". BBC. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  67. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Ursula Le Guin - The Left Hand of Darkness, Episode 2". BBC. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  68. ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - Rebecca F John - Clown's Shoes - Episode guide". BBC. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  69. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry - Episode guide". BBC. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
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  71. ^ Oganesyan, Natalie; Moreau, Jordan (4 February 2021). "2021 SAG Awards: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.

External links[edit]

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