Katherine Parkinson
Encyclopedia
Laura Katherine Parkinson (born 9 March 1978) is an English actress and comedian
who is known for playing the part of Jen Barber in the Channel 4
comedy series The IT Crowd
. She has contributed sketches for Katy Brand
, her friend since studying at Oxford.
in Kingston upon Thames
, London
and then read Classics
at St Hilda's College, Oxford
before moving to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
where she met Chris O'Dowd
, fellow The IT Crowd
lead, for the first time.
During her studies she left the course to star in the play The Age of Consent. Her subsequent career has seen her star alongside British actors such as Martin Clunes
in Doc Martin
and Julie Walters
. In 2007, she appeared in a new translation of Chekhov
's The Seagull
at the Royal Court Theatre
in London, alongside Kristin Scott Thomas
and Mackenzie Crook
. In 2010-11 she appeared in Season's Greetings at the Royal National Theatre
and in 2011 as Lady Teazle in The School for Scandal
(directed by Deborah Warner
) at the Barbican Centre
.
She recently contributed sketch characters to Katy Brand
's ITV2
show, having been friends with Brand since Oxford. She has also appeared several times on BBC Radio 4
, including on Laura Solon: Talking and Not Talking
, Mouth Trap, again with Brand, and in The Odd Half Hour.
She also stars in a television advertisement for Maltesers
alongside fellow actress and comedienne Amanda Abbington
.
On New Year's Day
2009 she appeared in a feature-length episode of Jonathan Creek
, called "The Grinning Man
", which was broadcast in the UK. At the end of 2009 she appeared in the acclaimed Cock at the Royal Court Theatre.
In 2008 Katherine played Danika Meanwhile in the Doctor Who
audio "The Death Collectors" alongside Sylvester McCoy
as the Seventh Doctor
.
Having played the doctor's receptionist, and later phlebotomist
, in Series 2-4 of Doc Martin
opposite Martin Clunes, a March 2011 press releasehttp://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/docmartin/default.html from ITV
about Series 5 indicated that there would be a new receptionist at the doctor's surgery, confirming that Katherine Parkinson had left the programme.
In 2009, for the third series of The IT Crowd Parkinson became one of the highest paid actresses on Channel 4.
Parkinson has provided her voice for a Herbal Essences shampoo
advertising campaign in 2010.
Parkinson is one of the main cast in BBC Four
's three-part comedy series The Great Outdoors
, first aired on 28 July 2010.
until retiring to Cornwall
in 2009.
In 2007, Parkinson announced her engagement to fellow comedian Harry Peacock. During her acceptance speech for the Best Television Comedy Actress award at the British Comedy Awards
in December 2009, she referred to Peacock as her husband.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
who is known for playing the part of Jen Barber in the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
comedy series The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd is a British sitcom by Channel 4, written by Graham Linehan, produced by Ash Atalla and starring Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson and Matt Berry...
. She has contributed sketches for Katy Brand
Katy Brand
Katy Brand is an English actress, comedian and writer known for her ITV2 series Katy Brand's Big Ass Show and for Comedy Lab Slap on Channel 4....
, her friend since studying at Oxford.
Career
Katherine Parkinson studied at Tiffin Girls' SchoolTiffin Girls' School
The Tiffin Girls' School is an all girls grammar school located in Kingston upon Thames, south-west London, England. The school lies in over nine acres on the east side of Richmond Road.-History:...
in Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and then read Classics
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
at St Hilda's College, Oxford
St Hilda's College, Oxford
St Hilda's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.The college was founded in 1893 as a hall for women, and remained an all-women's college until 2006....
before moving to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art is a leading British drama school in west London. LAMDA's president is Timothy West and its new principal is Joanna Read, who recently succeeded Peter James...
where she met Chris O'Dowd
Chris O'Dowd
Chris O'Dowd is an Irish comedian and actor. He is best known for playing Roy Trenneman in British sitcom The IT Crowd...
, fellow The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd is a British sitcom by Channel 4, written by Graham Linehan, produced by Ash Atalla and starring Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, Katherine Parkinson and Matt Berry...
lead, for the first time.
During her studies she left the course to star in the play The Age of Consent. Her subsequent career has seen her star alongside British actors such as Martin Clunes
Martin Clunes
Alexander Martin Clunes is an English actor and comedian. Clunes is perhaps best known for his roles as Gary Strang in Men Behaving Badly, Doctor Martin Ellingham in Doc Martin and the title character in Reggie Perrin....
in Doc Martin
Doc Martin
Doc Martin is a British television comedy drama series starring Martin Clunes in the title role. It was created by Mark Crowdy, Craig Ferguson and Dominic Minghella. The show is filmed on location in the fishing village of Port Isaac, Cornwall, United Kingdom, with filming of most interior scenes...
and Julie Walters
Julie Walters
Julie Walters, CBE is an English actress and novelist. She came to international prominence in 1983 for Educating Rita, performing in the title role opposite Michael Caine. It was a role she had created on the West End stage and it won her BAFTA and Golden Globe awards for Best Actress...
. In 2007, she appeared in a new translation of Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
's The Seagull
The Seagull
The Seagull is the first of what are generally considered to be the four major plays by the Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov. The Seagull was written in 1895 and first produced in 1896...
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, alongside Kristin Scott Thomas
Kristin Scott Thomas
Kristin A. Scott Thomas, OBE is an English actress who has also acquired French nationality. She gained international recognition in the 1990s for her roles in Bitter Moon, Four Weddings and a Funeral and The English Patient....
and Mackenzie Crook
Mackenzie Crook
Paul Mackenzie Crook is a British actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Gareth Keenan in The Office and Ragetti in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.-Life and career:...
. In 2010-11 she appeared in Season's Greetings at the Royal National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
and in 2011 as Lady Teazle in The School for Scandal
The School for Scandal
The School for Scandal is a play written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on May 8, 1777.The prologue, written by David Garrick, commends the play, its subject, and its author to the audience...
(directed by Deborah Warner
Deborah Warner
Deborah Warner CBE is a British director of theatre and opera known for her interpretations of the works of Shakespeare, Bertolt Brecht, Georg Büchner, and Henrik Ibsen, and for her long-term working relationship with the Irish actress Fiona Shaw.-Early years:Warner was born in Oxfordshire,...
) at the Barbican Centre
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
.
She recently contributed sketch characters to Katy Brand
Katy Brand
Katy Brand is an English actress, comedian and writer known for her ITV2 series Katy Brand's Big Ass Show and for Comedy Lab Slap on Channel 4....
's ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
show, having been friends with Brand since Oxford. She has also appeared several times on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, including on Laura Solon: Talking and Not Talking
Laura Solon: Talking and Not Talking
Laura Solon: Talking and Not Talking is a comedy sketch show created by British Perrier Award winning comedian, Laura Solon. The show was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Following her success with Kopfraper's Syndrome: One Man and His Incredible Mind, Solon went on to create the show with the BBC...
, Mouth Trap, again with Brand, and in The Odd Half Hour.
She also stars in a television advertisement for Maltesers
Maltesers
Maltesers are a confectionery product manufactured by Mars, Incorporated.Maltesers consist of a roughly spherical malt honeycomb centre, surrounded by Milk chocolate. They are most popular in the UK, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Poland, France, Hong Kong, and Portugal...
alongside fellow actress and comedienne Amanda Abbington
Amanda Abbington
Amanda Abbington is an English actress and comedienne who has appeared on both television and stage. She is best known for her roles in the 2005 comedy sketch show Man Stroke Woman and the 2007–2008 comedy After You've Gone with Nicholas Lyndhurst...
.
On New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
2009 she appeared in a feature-length episode of Jonathan Creek
Jonathan Creek
Jonathan Creek is a British mystery series produced by the BBC and written by David Renwick. Primarily a crime drama, the show is also peppered with broadly comic touches...
, called "The Grinning Man
The Grinning Man (Jonathan Creek)
"The Grinning Man" is a feature-length episode of the BBC crime drama series Jonathan Creek, first broadcast on 1 January 2009. The episode marked the series' return to television following a five year hiatus, and saw the return of Alan Davies as the show's titular sleuth...
", which was broadcast in the UK. At the end of 2009 she appeared in the acclaimed Cock at the Royal Court Theatre.
In 2008 Katherine played Danika Meanwhile in the Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
audio "The Death Collectors" alongside Sylvester McCoy
Sylvester McCoy
Sylvester McCoy is a Scottish actor. As a comic act and busker he appeared regularly on stage and on BBC Children's television in the 1970s and 80s, but is best known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1987 to...
as the Seventh Doctor
Seventh Doctor
The Seventh Doctor is the seventh incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by the actor Sylvester McCoy....
.
Having played the doctor's receptionist, and later phlebotomist
Phlebotomist
Phlebotomists are individuals trained to draw blood from a live person or animal.Phlebotomists collect blood primarily by performing venipuncture and, for collection of minute quantities of blood, fingersticks. Blood may be collected from infants by means of a heel stick...
, in Series 2-4 of Doc Martin
Doc Martin
Doc Martin is a British television comedy drama series starring Martin Clunes in the title role. It was created by Mark Crowdy, Craig Ferguson and Dominic Minghella. The show is filmed on location in the fishing village of Port Isaac, Cornwall, United Kingdom, with filming of most interior scenes...
opposite Martin Clunes, a March 2011 press releasehttp://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/docmartin/default.html from 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...
about Series 5 indicated that there would be a new receptionist at the doctor's surgery, confirming that Katherine Parkinson had left the programme.
In 2009, for the third series of The IT Crowd Parkinson became one of the highest paid actresses on Channel 4.
Parkinson has provided her voice for a Herbal Essences shampoo
Herbal Essences
Herbal Essences is a brand of shampoo, hair conditioner, hair stylers, and hair coloring by Clairol. The brand was founded in 1972. There are eleven collections of product, each design for a different effect on the user's hair...
advertising campaign in 2010.
Parkinson is one of the main cast in BBC Four
BBC Four
BBC Four is a British television network operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation and available to digital television viewers on Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable....
's three-part comedy series The Great Outdoors
The Great Outdoors (UK TV series)
The Great Outdoors is a British television sitcom.The show follows the friendships of a misfit rambling club in Southern England in which vain group-leader Bob becomes embroiled in a battle of wills against new arrival and deputy group-leader Christine . The show ran for 3 episodes airing on...
, first aired on 28 July 2010.
Personal life
Her mother taught English at James Allen's Girls' SchoolJames Allen's Girls' School
James Allen's Girls' School, or JAGS, is an independent day school situated in Dulwich, South London, England. It has a senior school for 11–18 year old girls, a prep school for 7–11 year old girls , and a pre-preparatory school — JAPPS — for 4–7 year old girls.-Jags History:The school is part of...
until retiring to Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
in 2009.
In 2007, Parkinson announced her engagement to fellow comedian Harry Peacock. During her acceptance speech for the Best Television Comedy Actress award at the British Comedy Awards
British Comedy Awards
The British Comedy Awards is an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom celebrating notable comedians and entertainment performances of the previous year.-History:...
in December 2009, she referred to Peacock as her husband.
List of credits
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Hard to Swallow | Katie |
| 2007 | Christmas at the Riviera Christmas at the Riviera Christmas at the Riviera is a 2007 British comedy drama starring Reece Shearsmith, Pam Ferris, Barbara Flynn, Warren Clarke, Alexander Armstrong, Anna Chancellor, Sam Kelly and Darren Boyd... |
Vanessa |
| 2008 | Easy Virtue | Marion Whittaker |
| 2008 | How to Lose Friends & Alienate People How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (film) How to Lose Friends & Alienate People is a 2008 British comedy film based upon British writer Toby Young's 2001 memoir of the same name. The film follows a similar storyline, about his five year struggle to make it in the United States after employment at Sharps Magazine... |
PR woman |
| 2009 | Felicity | |
| 2009 | St. Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold | Physics teacher |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Ahead of the Class Ahead of the Class Ahead of the Class is a 2003 book and 2005 dramatic television film based on real-life events.-Plot:Marie Stubbs is a diminutive Glaswegian headmistress who is close to the age of retirement. After being Head teacher at The Douay Martyrs School, Ickenham, she takes on one last challenge: to improve... |
Vicky Foley | Television film |
| 2005 | Casualty Casualty (TV series) Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The... |
Helen Gibbons | Series 19 episode 41 "The Long Goodbye" Casualty (series 19) The nineteenth series of the British medical drama television series Casualty commenced airing in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 11 September 2004 and finished on 20 August 2005.It saw another increase, this time to 47 episodes... |
| 2005 | Extras Extras (TV series) Extras is a British sitcom about extras working on TV and film sets and in theatre. The series was co-produced by the BBC and HBO, and is created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, both of whom also star in it... |
Woman in queue | Series, 1 episode 2" "Ross Kemp and Vinnie Jones" |
| 2005–2009 | Doc Martin Doc Martin Doc Martin is a British television comedy drama series starring Martin Clunes in the title role. It was created by Mark Crowdy, Craig Ferguson and Dominic Minghella. The show is filmed on location in the fishing village of Port Isaac, Cornwall, United Kingdom, with filming of most interior scenes... |
Pauline Lamb | Series 2–4 |
| 2006–present | Jen Barber | Main cast British Comedy Award 2009 for Best Television Comedy Actress |
|
| 2007 | Fear, Stress & Anger Fear, Stress & Anger Fear, Stress & Anger is a British sitcom that aired on BBC Two in 2007. Starring Peter Davison and Pippa Haywood, it was written by Michael Aitkens... |
Gemma | Main cast |
| 2007–2009 | Katy Brand's Big Ass Show Katy Brand's Big Ass Show Katy Brand's Big Ass Show is a British comedy programme on ITV2.The show features comedian Katy Brand in skits of real life situations and stereotypes, as well and celebrities such as Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, Adele and Kate Winslet.The second series began on 2 September... |
Various roles | Series 1–3 |
| 2009 | Jonathan Creek Jonathan Creek Jonathan Creek is a British mystery series produced by the BBC and written by David Renwick. Primarily a crime drama, the show is also peppered with broadly comic touches... |
Nicola | 2009 New Year's Special "The Grinning Man" The Grinning Man (Jonathan Creek) "The Grinning Man" is a feature-length episode of the BBC crime drama series Jonathan Creek, first broadcast on 1 January 2009. The episode marked the series' return to television following a five year hiatus, and saw the return of Alan Davies as the show's titular sleuth... |
| 2009 | Amber | Main cast | |
| 2010 | Sophie | Main cast | |
| 2010 | Whites Whites (TV series) Whites is a BBC sitcom, written by Oliver Lansley and Matt King, and starring Alan Davies as the executive chef at a country house hotel. BBC Two gave the go ahead for the show to go into production in August 2009 with the first episode airing in September 2010. Whites aired for six episodes in... |
Caroline | Main cast – Restaurant Manager |
| 2011 | Psychoville Psychoville Psychoville is an award-winning British dark comedy television serial written by and starring The League of Gentlemen members Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. It debuted on BBC Two on 18 June 2009. Pemberton and Shearsmith each play numerous characters, with Dawn French and Jason Tompkins in... |
Fiona | Series 2 Episode 5 |
| 2011 | Comedy Showcase: Coma Girl Comedy Showcase Comedy Showcase is a series of one-off comedy specials featuring some of Britain's fledgling comedy talent. Its format is reminiscent of the much earlier Comedy Playhouse.... |
Pip | Series 4 Episode 2 |