Nicola Cowper
Encyclopedia
Nicola Jane Cowper is a British actress. Cowper is the younger sister of twin actresses Gerry Cowper
and Jackie Cowper. Cowper made an impression as a film actress in her early career, but she is best known for her work on British television, in particular her role as D.S Helen Diamond in BBC
's Dangerfield
.
(1981), S.W.A.L.K (1982) and Minder
(1984) and then went on to appear in several feature films. Her film credits include Dreamchild
; (1985); Underworld
(1985); Lionheart
(1987) and Journey to the Center of the Earth
(1989). Leading film directors David Puttnam
and Francis Ford Coppola
tipped Cowper "for the top" after she appeared in the American films Lionheart and Dreamchild— her performance in Dreamchild has been described as "excellent" and "impressive". However, it has since been commented that Cowper "never went onto consolidate her career" and "fairly much vanished into occasional appearances on British television."
Cowper has since appeared in a variety of British television series, which includes: Inspector Morse
(1991); Rides
(1992–1993); Casualty
(1992); Holby City
(2000); The Bill
; Devices and Desires (1990); as Deborah Wade in the BBC's Real Men (2003); as Edith West in The Grand (1998) and Judge John Deed
(2007), among others. She has also played the recurring character Gina Williams—the sister of Cindy Beale
(Michelle Collins
)—in BBC's EastEnders
on three separate occasions—she first appeared in 1998, then returned briefly in 1999 and she reprised the role again in 2007. However, Cowper is possibly best known for playing D.S Helen Diamond in three series of the BBC
's police drama, Dangerfield
, between 1996 and 1999.
, the latter being most famous for playing Rosie Miller
in BBC's EastEnders — though the Cowper sisters did not appear in the serial at the same time.
Cowper is in a long-term relationship with Tony McCann, a convicted armed robber who served a 15-year jail sentence for holding up a Lloyds bank and stealing £9,000 in 1988. Cowper's older sister, Gerry, fell in love and married McCann's accomplice in the robbery, Mark Foley, though they have since separated. Cowper and McCann have twin daughters, Dora and Tilly, born in 2002, and they live in Twickenham
, South West London. In April 2008 McCann was found guilty of murdering a 33-year-old man and sentenced to a minimum of 21 years imprisonment.
Gerry Cowper
Geraldine Cowper is an English actress who is best known for playing Rosie Miller in EastEnders. In the mid 1980s she took the part of Clare France in After Henry on BBC radio and also appeared on television as Jim Hacker's daughter in Yes Minister.-Career:Cowper was Clare France, the youngest of...
and Jackie Cowper. Cowper made an impression as a film actress in her early career, but she is best known for her work on British television, in particular her role as D.S Helen Diamond in 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 Dangerfield
Dangerfield (TV series)
Dangerfield is a British drama series about a small town doctor / police surgeon, which ran for 6 series, between 1995 and 1999. Originally Nigel Le Vaillant played the central role , but this character later left the series, the focus switching to his replacement, played by Nigel Havers.The BBC...
.
Career
Cowper's career began in the 1980s. She made early appearances on television in programmes such as Break in the SunBreak in the Sun
Break in the Sun is a British television serial made by the BBC in 1981.The series, written by Bernard Ashley, was considerably more gritty and controversial than standard BBC children's serial fare up until that time, dealing with a young girl, Patsy running away from her violent stepfather and...
(1981), S.W.A.L.K (1982) and Minder
Minder (TV series)
Minder is a British comedy-drama about the London criminal underworld. Initially produced by Verity Lambert, it was made by Euston Films, a subsidiary of Thames Television and shown on ITV...
(1984) and then went on to appear in several feature films. Her film credits include Dreamchild
Dreamchild
Dreamchild is a 1985 British drama film produced by Verity Lambert, directed by Gavin Millar and written by Dennis Potter. It stars Coral Browne, Ian Holm, Peter Gallagher, Nicola Cowper and Amelia Shankley and is a fictionalized account of Alice Liddell, the child who inspired Lewis Carroll's...
; (1985); Underworld
Underworld (1985 film)
Underworld is a 1985 British horror film, written by Clive Barker and James Caplin, and starring Denholm Elliott, Miranda Richardson, Steven Berkoff, Larry Lamb, Ingrid Pitt and Art Malik, in which a mad doctor keeps mutants underground. The film was directed by George Pavlou.-Plot:Dr...
(1985); Lionheart
Lionheart (1987 film)
Lionheart is a 1987 adventure film directed by Academy Award-winner Franklin J. Schaffner...
(1987) and Journey to the Center of the Earth
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1989 film)
Journey to the Center of the Earth is a 1989 science fiction film. It was a nominal sequel to the movie Alien from L.A., both of which are loosely based on the novel Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne....
(1989). Leading film directors David Puttnam
David Puttnam
David Terence Puttnam, Baron Puttnam, CBE, FRSA is a British film producer. He sits on the Labour benches in the House of Lords, although he is not principally a politician.-Early life:...
and Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
tipped Cowper "for the top" after she appeared in the American films Lionheart and Dreamchild— her performance in Dreamchild has been described as "excellent" and "impressive". However, it has since been commented that Cowper "never went onto consolidate her career" and "fairly much vanished into occasional appearances on British television."
Cowper has since appeared in a variety of British television series, which includes: Inspector Morse
Inspector Morse (TV series)
Inspector Morse is a detective drama based on Colin Dexter's series of Chief Inspector Morse novels. The series starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis. Dexter makes a cameo appearance in all but three of the episodes....
(1991); Rides
Rides (TV series)
Rides is a British television series produced by the BBC between 1992 and 1993. It lasted two series of six episodes each and was made by Warner Sisters, a UK based television production company based in Ealing....
(1992–1993); 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...
(1992); Holby City
Holby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
(2000); The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
; Devices and Desires (1990); as Deborah Wade in the BBC's Real Men (2003); as Edith West in The Grand (1998) and Judge John Deed
Judge John Deed
Judge John Deed is a British legal drama television series produced by the BBC in association with One-Eyed Dog for BBC One. It was created by G.F. Newman and stars Martin Shaw as Sir John Deed, a High Court judge who tries to seek real justice in the cases before him. It also stars Jenny Seagrove...
(2007), among others. She has also played the recurring character Gina Williams—the sister of Cindy Beale
Cindy Beale
Cindy Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michelle Collins.Cindy always had an eye for the lotharios of Walford and despite trying to settle down repeatedly with the more reliable Ian Beale, she was unable to remain faithful to him. She had a selfish...
(Michelle Collins
Michelle Collins
Michelle Danielle Collins is a British actress best known for her roles on television in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, as Cindy Beale, Coronation Street as Stella Price, and BBC dramas Sunburn and Two Thousand Acres of Sky...
)—in BBC's EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
on three separate occasions—she first appeared in 1998, then returned briefly in 1999 and she reprised the role again in 2007. However, Cowper is possibly best known for playing D.S Helen Diamond in three 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 police drama, Dangerfield
Dangerfield
Dangerfield may mean*Dangerfield , a British television series*Rover Dangerfield, an animated feature film*Dangerfield Newby, an American former slave who followed John BrownDangerfield is a surname and may refer to:...
, between 1996 and 1999.
Personal life
Cowper is the younger sister of twin actresses Jackie Cowper and Gerry CowperGerry Cowper
Geraldine Cowper is an English actress who is best known for playing Rosie Miller in EastEnders. In the mid 1980s she took the part of Clare France in After Henry on BBC radio and also appeared on television as Jim Hacker's daughter in Yes Minister.-Career:Cowper was Clare France, the youngest of...
, the latter being most famous for playing Rosie Miller
Rosie Miller
Rosemary "Rosie" Miller is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Gerry Cowper. Her first appearance was 9 September 2004 and she was axed in 2006, with her final scenes airing July 2006....
in BBC's EastEnders — though the Cowper sisters did not appear in the serial at the same time.
Cowper is in a long-term relationship with Tony McCann, a convicted armed robber who served a 15-year jail sentence for holding up a Lloyds bank and stealing £9,000 in 1988. Cowper's older sister, Gerry, fell in love and married McCann's accomplice in the robbery, Mark Foley, though they have since separated. Cowper and McCann have twin daughters, Dora and Tilly, born in 2002, and they live in Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, South West London. In April 2008 McCann was found guilty of murdering a 33-year-old man and sentenced to a minimum of 21 years imprisonment.