Dawn Steele
Encyclopedia
Dawn Anne Steele is a Scottish
actress best known for her roles in the TV series Monarch of the Glen, Sea of Souls
& Wild at Heart
.
, moved to Milton of Campsie
in 1982, attended Kilsyth
Academy from around 1987-1993 and studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
in Glasgow from 1994–1998, supporting her early career as a waitress in the Rogano Restaurant. She graduated with First Class Honours in July 1998, and was the winner of the Silver Medal at the RSAMD in 1998.
She is perhaps best known as Alexandra "Lexie" MacDonald
from the hit BBC drama Monarch of the Glen, a part which she played for series 1 - 6 of the show, 1999-2004 . In January 2005, she appeared as new character Justine McManus in the second series of the BBC
's paranormal drama show Sea of Souls
with Iain Robertson
and Bill Paterson. Before she teamed up with Iain Robertson to work on Sea of Souls
they had previously worked together on The Slab Boys and The Debt Collector
. Shortly after, she appeared as a student on the BBC reality show Fame Academy
in a second all-celebrity series in aid of the charity Comic Relief does Fame Academy
.
In January 2006, Steele returned in the third series of Sea of Souls
. In April 2007 she played Shazza in Simon Farquhar
's powerful Aberdonian drama Rainbow Kiss at the Royal Court Theatre
in London's West End
. Reviews praised her performance as a promiscuous beautician who becomes the object of a lethal obsession. In 2002 Steele was voted the Most Eligible Woman in Scotland and followed this up in 2003 when she was voted the second most eligible woman in Scotland by readers of a Sunday newspaper.
Steele starred in a one-off BBC One
comedy, Magnolia, which aired on 22 September 2006. In November 2007 she made her pantomime
debut as the Wicked Witch Carrion in Sleeping Beauty
at the King's Theatre, Glasgow
. In 2009 she returned to TV screens in the 4th series of ITV
's Wild at Heart
, playing a new character as replacement for Amanda Holden
who left the show after the third series. In 2010 she returned once more as Alice for a 10-episode run in the fifth series of the popular show. She has returned again for another 10-episode run in the sixth series of "Wild at Heart" but as Alice Trevanion; Alice and Danny got engaged at the end of series five and they are now having a baby. Steele is currently filming the seventh series of "Wild at Heart" which will be screened in 2012. In the summer of 2009, She guest presented STV's daily lifestyle show The Hour for a week, alongside main anchor Stephen Jardine
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
actress best known for her roles in the TV series Monarch of the Glen, Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls is a BBC paranormal drama series, based around the fictional activities of a group of investigators into psychic and other paranormal events. Produced in-house by BBC Scotland, initially in association with Sony Pictures Television International, the series debuted on BBC One in the UK...
& Wild at Heart
Wild at Heart
Wild at Heart: The Story of Sailor and Lula is a 1990 pulp, "neo-noir" novel by Barry Gifford which was adapted to film in 1990.The novel begins the adventures of two sex-driven, star crossed protagonists on the road, Sailor and Lula...
.
Career
Dawn Steele was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, moved to Milton of Campsie
Milton of Campsie
Milton of Campsie is a small village situated in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland roughly 10 miles north of Glasgow. Nestling at the foot of the Campsie Fells, it is neighboured by Kirkintilloch and Lennoxtown...
in 1982, attended Kilsyth
Kilsyth
Kilsyth is a town of 10,100 roughly halfway between Glasgow and Stirling in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.-Location:...
Academy from around 1987-1993 and studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
in Glasgow from 1994–1998, supporting her early career as a waitress in the Rogano Restaurant. She graduated with First Class Honours in July 1998, and was the winner of the Silver Medal at the RSAMD in 1998.
She is perhaps best known as Alexandra "Lexie" MacDonald
Lexie MacDonald
Alexandra 'Lexie' MacDonald is a fictional character in the BBC TV series Monarch of the Glen. Lexie is played by Scottish actress Dawn Steele....
from the hit BBC drama Monarch of the Glen, a part which she played for series 1 - 6 of the show, 1999-2004 . In January 2005, she appeared as new character Justine McManus in the second series of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's paranormal drama show Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls is a BBC paranormal drama series, based around the fictional activities of a group of investigators into psychic and other paranormal events. Produced in-house by BBC Scotland, initially in association with Sony Pictures Television International, the series debuted on BBC One in the UK...
with Iain Robertson
Iain Robertson
Iain Robertson is a BAFTA winning Scottish actor. He was once described by Barry Norman as "the best thing to come out of Scotland since whisky"....
and Bill Paterson. Before she teamed up with Iain Robertson to work on Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls is a BBC paranormal drama series, based around the fictional activities of a group of investigators into psychic and other paranormal events. Produced in-house by BBC Scotland, initially in association with Sony Pictures Television International, the series debuted on BBC One in the UK...
they had previously worked together on The Slab Boys and The Debt Collector
The Debt Collector
The Debt Collector is a 1999 thriller, written and directed by Scottish dramatist Anthony Neilson and starring Billy Connolly, Ken Stott and Francesca Annis....
. Shortly after, she appeared as a student on the BBC reality show Fame Academy
Fame Academy
Fame Academy is a televised competition to search for and educate new musical talents. The winner received a chance to become a successful music artist. The prize consisted of a £1m recording contract with a major record company, plus the use of a luxury apartment in London and a sports car for one...
in a second all-celebrity series in aid of the charity Comic Relief does Fame Academy
Comic Relief Does Fame Academy
Comic Relief Does Fame Academy is a spin-off of the original Fame Academy show where celebrities sing as students of the Academy. The programme was launched in 2003 to help raise money for the charities supported by Comic Relief, with the final of the show occurring on Red Nose Day...
.
In January 2006, Steele returned in the third series of Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls
Sea of Souls is a BBC paranormal drama series, based around the fictional activities of a group of investigators into psychic and other paranormal events. Produced in-house by BBC Scotland, initially in association with Sony Pictures Television International, the series debuted on BBC One in the UK...
. In April 2007 she played Shazza in Simon Farquhar
Simon Farquhar
Simon Farquhar is a Scottish playwright.During his time at the University of Aberdeen he was an active writer and performer in the university's drama group, Centre Stage. His early one-act plays were staged at the Aberdeen Arts Centre, until a radio script set in Cullen, Candy Floss Kisses, was...
's powerful Aberdonian drama Rainbow Kiss at the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
in London's West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
. Reviews praised her performance as a promiscuous beautician who becomes the object of a lethal obsession. In 2002 Steele was voted the Most Eligible Woman in Scotland and followed this up in 2003 when she was voted the second most eligible woman in Scotland by readers of a Sunday newspaper.
Steele starred in a one-off BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
comedy, Magnolia, which aired on 22 September 2006. In November 2007 she made her pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
debut as the Wicked Witch Carrion in Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault or Little Briar Rose by the Brothers Grimm is a classic fairytale involving a beautiful princess, enchantment, and a handsome prince...
at the King's Theatre, Glasgow
King's Theatre, Glasgow
The King's Theatre is located in Glasgow, Scotland. It was built for Howard & Wyndham Ltd under its chairman Baillie Michael Simons as a sister theatre of their Theatre Royal in the city and was designed by Frank Matcham, opening in 1904. The theatre is primarily a receiving house for touring...
. In 2009 she returned to TV screens in the 4th series of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's Wild at Heart
Wild at Heart
Wild at Heart: The Story of Sailor and Lula is a 1990 pulp, "neo-noir" novel by Barry Gifford which was adapted to film in 1990.The novel begins the adventures of two sex-driven, star crossed protagonists on the road, Sailor and Lula...
, playing a new character as replacement for Amanda Holden
Amanda Holden
Amanda Louise Holden is an English actress and presenter. Among her roles are Mia Bevan in Cutting It, Sarah Trevanion in Wild at Heart, and the title role in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award...
who left the show after the third series. In 2010 she returned once more as Alice for a 10-episode run in the fifth series of the popular show. She has returned again for another 10-episode run in the sixth series of "Wild at Heart" but as Alice Trevanion; Alice and Danny got engaged at the end of series five and they are now having a baby. Steele is currently filming the seventh series of "Wild at Heart" which will be screened in 2012. In the summer of 2009, She guest presented STV's daily lifestyle show The Hour for a week, alongside main anchor Stephen Jardine
Stephen Jardine
Stephen Jardine is a Scottish journalist and presenter. He has worked for Scottish Television, GMTV and Radio Tay. He now runs Scotland's first dedicated food and drink communications consultancy, Taste Communications.-Early years:...
.
Education
- 1994 - 1998 Royal Scottish Academy of Music and DramaRoyal Scottish Academy of Music and DramaThe Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
, Glasgow, BA Dramatic Studies (Hons) - 1998 - Graduated First Class Honours
- 1998 - Winner of Silver Medal RSAMD
Theatre
| Production - Character | Director | Company |
| Blackbird 2008 - Una | David Grindley David Grindley David Allan Grindley is a British former 400 metres runner who reached the final of the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.-Athletics career:... | MJE Productions |
| Tutti Frutti Tutti Frutti (1987 TV series) Tutti Frutti is a BBC Scotland six part drama series, transmitted in 1987 and written by John Byrne. It starred Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson, Maurice Roëves, Richard Wilson and Katy Murphy... - Suzi Kettles | Tony Cownie | National Theatre of Scotland National Theatre of Scotland The National Theatre of Scotland is a theatre company established in February 2006. The company performs in a wide range of venues including theatres, halls and found spaces across Scotland.... |
| Home Edinburgh | Anthony Neilson Anthony Neilson Anthony Neilson is a Scottish playwright and director commonly associated with the "in-yer-face theatre" movement and is known for his collaborative way of writing and workshopping his plays. His work is characterised by the exploration of sex and violence... | National Theatre of Scotland National Theatre of Scotland The National Theatre of Scotland is a theatre company established in February 2006. The company performs in a wide range of venues including theatres, halls and found spaces across Scotland.... |
| The Slab Boys - Bernadette | Philip Howard Philip Howard Philip Howard may refer to:*Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel, Saint Philip Howard, *Philip Howard , English army officer and Member of Parliament*Philip Howard Philip Howard may refer to:*Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel, Saint Philip Howard, (1557–1595)*Philip Howard (1629–1717), English... | Traverse, Edinburgh |
| Electra - Crysothemis | Theatre Babel | |
| Medea Medea (play) Medea is an ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides, based upon the myth of Jason and Medea and first produced in 431 BC. The plot centers on the barbarian protagonist as she finds her position in the Greek world threatened, and the revenge she takes against her husband Jason who has betrayed... - Gluake | Theatre Babel | |
| Rainbow Kiss Rainbow Kiss Rainbow Kiss is a play by Scottish writer Simon Farquhar. It was first staged at the Royal Court Theatre in London in April 2006, having been chosen to occupy the theatre's 50th Anniversary slot.... - Shazza | Richard Wilson | Royal Court Theatre |
Television
| Production - Character | Director | Company |
| Comic Relief does Fame Academy Fame Academy Fame Academy is a televised competition to search for and educate new musical talents. The winner received a chance to become a successful music artist. The prize consisted of a £1m recording contract with a major record company, plus the use of a luxury apartment in London and a sports car for one... | Various | BBC/Comic Relief/Endemol |
| Sea of Souls Sea of Souls Sea of Souls is a BBC paranormal drama series, based around the fictional activities of a group of investigators into psychic and other paranormal events. Produced in-house by BBC Scotland, initially in association with Sony Pictures Television International, the series debuted on BBC One in the UK... - Justine McManus | Various | BBC Scotland |
| The Bedtime Hour (CBeebies) | BBC | |
| The Key The Key -Films:*The Key , a 1934 film directed by Michael Curtiz*The Key , a war film directed by Carol Reed, starring William Holden and Sophia Loren*The Key , a Soviet animated feature... - Mary | David Blair | BBC |
| Monarch of the Glen (6 series) - Lexie | Various | Ecosse Films/BBC Scotland |
| Snoddy Snoddy Snoddy was a Scottish television sitcom that aired for only six episodes in 2002. Itstarred Gregor Fisher from the recently finished Rab C Nesbitt. It was not particularly successful and was never aired outside of Scotland.-Plot:... - Laura | Colin Gilbert | BBC Scotland |
| Tinsel Town Tinsel Town Tinsel Town is a television drama co-produced by BBC Scotland and Raindog/Deep Indigo Productions. It ran for two series, the first debuting on BBC2 in 2000 and the second airing on BBC Choice the following year. Set throughout the city of Glasgow, Scotland, it deals with the lifestyles of eight... (2 series) | Various | Raindog for BBC |
| Highlander Highlander: The Series Highlander: The Series is a fantasy-adventure television series featuring Duncan MacLeod of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the Highlander. It was an offshoot and another alternate sequel of the 1986 feature film with a twist: Connor MacLeod did not win the prize and Immortals still exist post-1985... - War and Peace - Brynn | Gaumont TV | |
| Haywire Haywire (film) Haywire is an upcoming action film directed by Steven Soderbergh, starring Gina Carano, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum and Michael Fassbender.-Plot:... | Peter Boyd MacLean | BBC |
| Split Second Split Second Split Second is an American television game show which originally aired on ABC from March 20, 1972, to June 27, 1975. The show returned in September 1986 in syndication and ran for one year.... - Kathy | David Blair | BBC |
| Rain Dog Pilot | BBC Scotland | |
| In Search of the Unicorns | BBC | |
| Dreams and Recollections | Scottish Television | |
| Magnolia - Sheila | Red Productions | |
| Wild At Heart Wild at Heart Wild at Heart: The Story of Sailor and Lula is a 1990 pulp, "neo-noir" novel by Barry Gifford which was adapted to film in 1990.The novel begins the adventures of two sex-driven, star crossed protagonists on the road, Sailor and Lula... - Alice Trevanion | ITV |
Film
| Production - Character | Director | Company |
| Tabloid TV - Tori | David Blair | Tabloid TV Productions |
| Club le Monde Club le Monde Club le Monde is an independent film released in 2002 and directed by Simon Rumley. It is set in 1993 and tells the story of one Saturday night in a small London nightclub. It stars Allison McKenzie and Dawn Steele.... - Jacqui | Simon Rumley | Club le Monde Films |
| The Debt Collector The Debt Collector The Debt Collector is a 1999 thriller, written and directed by Scottish dramatist Anthony Neilson and starring Billy Connolly, Ken Stott and Francesca Annis.... | Anthony Neilson | Theatre Babel |
| Gregory's Two Girls Gregory's Two Girls Gregory's Two Girls is a 1999 British film. It is the sequel to 1981's Gregory's Girl, which also starred John Gordon Sinclair and was written and directed by Bill Forsyth... - Jan | Bill Forsyth |