Suranne Jones
Encyclopedia
Suranne Jones is an English
actress. She first rose to prominence playing the role of Karen McDonald
in ITV1
's soap opera Coronation Street
over a period of four years. In 2004, she left Coronation Street, later remarking: "I just thought, while [Karen]'s brilliant and I'm enjoying her, I've got to get out".
Upon leaving, Jones took on roles in many drama series broadcast on ITV1 and BBC1, such as Vincent
, Strictly Confidential
, Unforgiven
, Five Days and Single Father, whilst also appearing in various theatre productions, earning her critical acclaim, described by Andrew Billen of The Times
as being in a category of "those brave, talented few who earn their wings on a soap and then fly gloriously beyond it". In 2011 Jones starred in Scott & Bailey
as DC Rachel Bailey, with the television series being an original idea conceived by Jones herself and fellow actress Sally Lindsay
.
, Greater Manchester
, on 27 August 1978, the daughter of Chris and Jenny Jones, an engineer and a secretary, respectively. She also has a sibling, an older brother named Gary. Jones was raised a Catholic
; her priest suggested to her father she be christened Sarah Anne, instead of Suranne, her great-grandmother's name, as Suranne was not "a proper name". Jones grew up in a house surrounded by two farms and their fields and commented that one of her earliest memories is of "cows looking in the window as we ate our tea". As a child she was talkative, and later recounted that her priest would say "I'm praying you can concentrate just a bit more". Jones suffers from carpophobia (fear of wrists), which she believes possibly developed from viewing imagery of Christ
's crucifixion and stigmata
as a child. Talking of her childhood, Jones commented that "I think I always wanted to be different and felt very stifled at school". Jones also stated, "I was bullied at school and I let that get hold of me and withdrew into myself - I regret letting that happen". She became a member of the Oldham Theatre Workshop
, where she befriended Antony Cotton
, who now plays Sean Tully
on Coronation Street. She completed a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts, though she felt "that [wasn't] quite the same as drama school".
, while acknowledging her professional career beginnings at 16, noted that "she took to the stage at 8". Jones later recalled that her first role was at the age of 8, in Wait Until Dark
as Gloria. Upon joining the trade union Equity, Jones took on the stage name
'Suranne', as her birth name was already taken, and union rules dictate that each union member must have a different name. Having secured herself an agent
aged 15, she soon after began to act in the theatre. Jones' television career began, however, in 1997, where she had a very small role in Coronation Street
in April 1997 as Mandy Phillips, a girlfriend of Chris Collins. She was then cast in a television advert for Maltesers
, guest starred in episodes of series such as City Central and had a small role in My Wonderful Life. She auditioned for the role of Charity Dingle on the soap opera Emmerdale
, becoming one of the final four actors considered for the part, though the role was eventually given to Emma Atkins
. She also auditioned for the part of Geena Gregory on Coronation Street, though she felt she knew Jennifer James
would win the role—which she did—upon seeing her at the auditions.
In 2000, some weeks after her unsuccessful audition for Geena Gregory, she was contacted by Coronation Street bosses, who offered her a part of a new character. Jones took on the role of Karen Phillips (no relation to Mandy), making her first appearance on 21 June. The character, after marrying Steve McDonald, took on his surname, and became Karen McDonald
. Described as "a bulldog in hoop earrings" and a "Victoria Beckham
wannabe", the role garnered Jones public attention, with episodes involving feuds between her and rival Tracy Barlow
receiving millions of viewers; the episode featuring Karen and Steve's (second) wedding, ruined by Tracy Barlow's revelation that her daughter Amy Barlow was Steve's love child, received 16.3 million viewers. In May 2004 it was announced that she was to leave Coronation Street in the end of that year after four years of playing Karen. Jones described working on a soap opera as "exhausting", remarking, "I was living and breathing Karen McDonald". Jones made her last appearance as Karen on Boxing Day
2004.
's detective drama series Vincent
, with Ray Winstone
in the title role; this was Jones' first television role since leaving Coronation Street the previous year. In the same year she starred on the West End
stage in A Few Good Men opposite Rob Lowe
and John Barrowman
, which earnt her the Theatregoers' Choice Award
for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in the musical special Celebrate Oliver! which was screened on BBC1. In 2006, she starred as Snow White
in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at the Manchester Opera House
alongside Justin Moorhouse and fellow Coronation Street actor John Savident
. She also appeared in Kay Mellor
's Strictly Confidential
in which she played a bisexual sex therapist.
On New Year's Day
2007, Jones starred in a Yorkshire and London based black comedy
, Dead Clever
with Helen Baxendale
and Dean Lennox Kelly
on ITV1. In autumn 2007, Jones undertook a national tour in the stage run of the film Terms of Endearment
, where she played Emma, opposite Linda Gray
and John Bowe. In 2008 she played Martha, one of the female leads, in the ITV medical series Harley Street
, though the programme's tepid critical reception, combined with poor viewer ratings signalled the end of the programme after its first series.
In January 2009, she appeared in Unforgiven
, a three-part drama on ITV1
, where she plays Ruth Slater, a woman released from prison after serving a 15-year prison sentence for the murder of two policemen. Naturally brown-haired, Jones dyed her hair "tobacco yellow" with "big roots"; Jones joked that whilst not filming she "really should have worn a wig". Additionally, the character of Ruth wore no make-up throughout, with Jones stating she was left feeling "quite exposed", but nonetheless saying "Ruth wouldn't have worn any make-up, I don't think". Jones received favourable reviews for her portrayal, with Brian Viner of The Independent
writing: "a stunning performance, the stuff of Bafta nominations if ever I saw it. Heck, on the back of it she might even get propelled into the movies, and bring a bit of North Country sense to the Golden Globes". Viner summarised his review of Unforgiven by stating, "Five stars all round, and six for Jones". Suranne later stated, "I loved that role. They don't come along that often. It was seen by the broadsheet
s as well as the tabloids. It gave me a little bit of credibility, I suppose".
Later in the year, in November, she played the role of the Mona Lisa
in the two-part episode "Mona Lisa's Revenge
" in The Sarah Jane Adventures
. In December, Jones starred in the Manchester Royal Exchange
's production of Blithe Spirit
, by Noël Coward
, which ran until late January 2010. Jones was nominated for the Times Breakthrough Award at the 2010 South Bank Show Awards, the last ever ceremony, but lost to David Blandy
. When discussing her nomination she said, "You do question 'What am I breaking through?' Am I breaking through the perception of people who just thought I was a screaming banshee
in Coronation Street? Is it that I've worked hard and I've got better? Is it that now it's alright to say that I'm alright? I don't know what I was breaking through, but I knew that it was nice to feel included and patted on the back for a lot of hard work". In March 2010 Jones starred in Five Days, a non-connected sequel to the 2007 series of the same name, as the female lead DC Laurie Franklin. Later in the year she starred as Sarah in Single Father
on BBC1, a character who falls in love with a widower, Dave (David Tennant
), who was married to her best friend before her death.
On 14 May 2011 she played the central character of Idris in the Doctor Who
episode "The Doctor's Wife
". Jones was cast due to writer Neil Gaiman
wanting an actress, in the words of Jones, who is "odd; beautiful but strange looking, and quite funny" to play the role of Idris. Dan Martin, reviewer for The Guardian
, noted that "Suranne Jones arguably sets the standard by which all guest stars must now be judged here [...] Jones was electrifying throughout". Later, Jones played DC Rachel Bailey in ITV's new six-part detective series, Scott & Bailey
, alongside Lesley Sharp
, who plays DC Janet Scott. The series is based upon an original idea by Jones and Sally Lindsay
, a former Coronation Street co-star. In July, Jones starred as Marlene, a career-woman living in Thatcher
's Britain, in the Minerva Theatre
's production of Top Girls
by Caryl Churchill
in Chichester
. Michael Billington, reviewer for The Guardian, remarked that "Suranne Jones captures excellently the hidden regrets of the go-getting Marlene". The production was later transferred to the West End
's Trafalgar Studios
.
In August it was announced that Jones would star alongside John Hannah
in a spoof detective drama written by Charlie Brooker
and Daniel Maier
called A Touch of Cloth. The programme, which as of yet does not have an air date, is set to be broadcast on Sky1. Jones plays DC Anne Oldman, the "plucky, no-nonsense sidekick" of DCI Jack Cloth (John Hannah).
, Baxter. Whilst playing Karen McDonald in Coronation Street, Jones became engaged to Jim Phelan, an IT consultant, however, the couple separated.
Jones has been involved with various charitable organisations; as a teenager, Jones' mother Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer
, with Jones saying "at the time we did a breast cancer campaign together. I still do a lot of charity runs". Jones also has worked with Christian Aid
, travelling to Sierra Leone
and the Democratic Republic of Congo (the latter accompanied by Sally Lindsay), helping with projects concerning HIV
, women's rights
and child soldiers.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
actress. She first rose to prominence playing the role of Karen McDonald
Karen McDonald
Karen McDonald is a fictional character on the long-running British soap opera, Coronation Street from June 2000 to December 2004...
in ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
's soap opera Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
over a period of four years. In 2004, she left Coronation Street, later remarking: "I just thought, while [Karen]'s brilliant and I'm enjoying her, I've got to get out".
Upon leaving, Jones took on roles in many drama series broadcast on ITV1 and BBC1, such as Vincent
Vincent (TV series)
Vincent is an ITV drama series. An initial series was made and aired in 2005 and starred Ray Winstone, in the title role, and Suranne Jones as two members of a team of private eyes hired by people to spy on their partners or indeed anyone else they need to keep tabs on. The four part series also...
, Strictly Confidential
Strictly Confidential (TV series)
Strictly Confidential is a six part drama, written by Kay Mellor and originally shown on ITV during November and December 2006.It stars Suranne Jones as Linda, a bisexual ex police officer turned sex therapist, who shares a practice in Leeds with her brother-in-law, played by Tristan Gemmill...
, Unforgiven
Unforgiven (TV series)
Unforgiven was a three-part British television drama series written by Sally Wainwright which was first broadcast on ITV in January 2009...
, Five Days and Single Father, whilst also appearing in various theatre productions, earning her critical acclaim, described by Andrew Billen of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
as being in a category of "those brave, talented few who earn their wings on a soap and then fly gloriously beyond it". In 2011 Jones starred in Scott & Bailey
Scott & Bailey
Scott & Bailey is a British detective drama series that debuted on ITV on 29 May, 2011. The programme's main characters are DC Rachel Bailey and DC Janet Scott , both of whom are members of the Major Incident Team of the fictional Manchester Metropolitan Police, headed by DCI Gill Murray...
as DC Rachel Bailey, with the television series being an original idea conceived by Jones herself and fellow actress Sally Lindsay
Sally Lindsay
Sally Lindsay is an English actress best known for playing the role of Shelley Unwin in the long-running ITV1 Soap opera Coronation Street...
.
Early life
Suranne Jones was born Sarah Anne Jones in ChaddertonChadderton
Chadderton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England, historically a part of Lancashire...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, on 27 August 1978, the daughter of Chris and Jenny Jones, an engineer and a secretary, respectively. She also has a sibling, an older brother named Gary. Jones was raised a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
; her priest suggested to her father she be christened Sarah Anne, instead of Suranne, her great-grandmother's name, as Suranne was not "a proper name". Jones grew up in a house surrounded by two farms and their fields and commented that one of her earliest memories is of "cows looking in the window as we ate our tea". As a child she was talkative, and later recounted that her priest would say "I'm praying you can concentrate just a bit more". Jones suffers from carpophobia (fear of wrists), which she believes possibly developed from viewing imagery of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
's crucifixion and stigmata
Stigmata
Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, such as the hands and feet...
as a child. Talking of her childhood, Jones commented that "I think I always wanted to be different and felt very stifled at school". Jones also stated, "I was bullied at school and I let that get hold of me and withdrew into myself - I regret letting that happen". She became a member of the Oldham Theatre Workshop
Oldham Theatre Workshop
The Oldham Theatre Workshop is a youth theatre group based in the north west of England.-Outline:Founded by David Johnson in 1968, the workshop is renowned for producing some of the best young acting talent in Britain...
, where she befriended Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton
Antony Cotton is an English actor and singer best known for his roles in Coronation Street and the original UK version of Queer as Folk.-Early and personal life:...
, who now plays Sean Tully
Sean Tully
Sean Tully, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Antony Cotton, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 13 July 2003. Sean works as a factory machinist, and as a part-time barman in the Rovers Return...
on Coronation Street. She completed a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts, though she felt "that [wasn't] quite the same as drama school".
Career beginnings
Jones began acting professionally aged 16. Andrew Billen of The TimesThe Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, while acknowledging her professional career beginnings at 16, noted that "she took to the stage at 8". Jones later recalled that her first role was at the age of 8, in Wait Until Dark
Wait Until Dark
Wait Until Dark is a play by Frederick Knott.-Synopsis:Susy Hendrix is a blind Greenwich Village housewife who becomes the target of three con-men searching for the heroin hidden in a doll, which her husband Sam innocently transported from Canada as a favor to a woman who has since been murdered...
as Gloria. Upon joining the trade union Equity, Jones took on the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
'Suranne', as her birth name was already taken, and union rules dictate that each union member must have a different name. Having secured herself an agent
Talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
aged 15, she soon after began to act in the theatre. Jones' television career began, however, in 1997, where she had a very small role in Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
in April 1997 as Mandy Phillips, a girlfriend of Chris Collins. She was then cast in a television advert 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...
, guest starred in episodes of series such as City Central and had a small role in My Wonderful Life. She auditioned for the role of Charity Dingle on the soap opera Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
, becoming one of the final four actors considered for the part, though the role was eventually given to Emma Atkins
Emma Atkins
Emma Atkins is an English actress best known for the role of Charity Tate in the ITV1 Soap Opera Emmerdale from 2000 to 2005 and from 2009 to the present, which was her first role on British Television.-Television:...
. She also auditioned for the part of Geena Gregory on Coronation Street, though she felt she knew Jennifer James
Jennifer James
Jennifer James, is an English actress born on 3 December 1977 in Billinge Higher End, Wigan, Greater Manchester.-Early life:...
would win the role—which she did—upon seeing her at the auditions.
In 2000, some weeks after her unsuccessful audition for Geena Gregory, she was contacted by Coronation Street bosses, who offered her a part of a new character. Jones took on the role of Karen Phillips (no relation to Mandy), making her first appearance on 21 June. The character, after marrying Steve McDonald, took on his surname, and became Karen McDonald
Karen McDonald
Karen McDonald is a fictional character on the long-running British soap opera, Coronation Street from June 2000 to December 2004...
. Described as "a bulldog in hoop earrings" and a "Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops...
wannabe", the role garnered Jones public attention, with episodes involving feuds between her and rival Tracy Barlow
Tracy Barlow
Tracy Lynette Barlow is a fictional character in the British television soap opera Coronation Street. She is currently portrayed, since 2002, by Kate Ford, the latest in a series of actresses who have played Tracy at various ages...
receiving millions of viewers; the episode featuring Karen and Steve's (second) wedding, ruined by Tracy Barlow's revelation that her daughter Amy Barlow was Steve's love child, received 16.3 million viewers. In May 2004 it was announced that she was to leave Coronation Street in the end of that year after four years of playing Karen. Jones described working on a soap opera as "exhausting", remarking, "I was living and breathing Karen McDonald". Jones made her last appearance as Karen on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
2004.
Departure from Coronation Street
Jones stated that upon her departure from Coronation Street, she received numerous offers to appear in reality TV programmes, which she declined, quipping: "lots of money to go off and eat a crocodile's knob, or whatever". Ignoring reality TV offers, in Autumn 2005, Jones starred in an ITVITV
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 detective drama series Vincent
Vincent (TV series)
Vincent is an ITV drama series. An initial series was made and aired in 2005 and starred Ray Winstone, in the title role, and Suranne Jones as two members of a team of private eyes hired by people to spy on their partners or indeed anyone else they need to keep tabs on. The four part series also...
, with Ray Winstone
Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over...
in the title role; this was Jones' first television role since leaving Coronation Street the previous year. In the same year she starred on the 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...
stage in A Few Good Men opposite Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe
Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
and John Barrowman
John Barrowman
John Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American singer, actor, dancer, musical theatre performer and media personality. Born in Glasgow yet growing up in Illinois after his family emigrated to the United States when he was eight years old, Barrowman was encouraged to further his love for music and...
, which earnt her the Theatregoers' Choice Award
Theatregoers' Choice Award
The Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards are organised by the theatre website Whatsonstage.com and recognise the performers and productions of British theatre with emphasis on London's West End. Nominations and eventual winners are selected by the theatre-going public....
for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in the musical special Celebrate Oliver! which was screened on BBC1. In 2006, she starred as Snow White
Snow White
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at the Manchester Opera House
Manchester Opera House
The Opera House in Quay Street, Manchester, England is a 1,920 seater commercial touring theatre which plays host to touring musicals, ballet, concerts and a Christmas pantomime. It is the sister to the Palace Theatre which is a similar venue in nearby Oxford Street at its junction with Whitworth...
alongside Justin Moorhouse and fellow Coronation Street actor John Savident
John Savident
John Savident is a British actor, best known for playing the part of Fred Elliott in the soap opera Coronation Street from 1994 to 2006. And also was a frequent guest on Soccer AM alongside fellow actor Jack 'The Rigger' Spooner....
. She also appeared in Kay Mellor
Kay Mellor
Kay Mellor, OBE is an English actress, scriptwriter, and director best known for her work on several successful television drama series.-Early life:...
's Strictly Confidential
Strictly Confidential (TV series)
Strictly Confidential is a six part drama, written by Kay Mellor and originally shown on ITV during November and December 2006.It stars Suranne Jones as Linda, a bisexual ex police officer turned sex therapist, who shares a practice in Leeds with her brother-in-law, played by Tristan Gemmill...
in which she played a bisexual sex therapist.
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...
2007, Jones starred in a Yorkshire and London based black comedy
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
, Dead Clever
Dead Clever
Dead Clever is a British black comedy film, first screened on ITV on New Year's Day, 2007. Written by Sally Wainwright, it stars Suranne Jones, Helen Baxendale and Dean Lennox Kelly. Although officially titled Dead Clever it was subtitled The Life and Crimes of Julie Bottomley...
with Helen Baxendale
Helen Baxendale
Helen Victoria Baxendale is an English actress of stage and television, possibly best-known for her roles in Cold Feet, Friends and Cardiac Arrest.-Early life:...
and Dean Lennox Kelly
Dean Lennox Kelly
Dean Lennox Kelly is an English actor, He is the brother of actor Craig Kelly.Dean is best known for his role as Kev Ball in Channel 4’s Shameless.-Career:...
on ITV1. In autumn 2007, Jones undertook a national tour in the stage run of the film Terms of Endearment
Terms of Endearment
Terms of Endearment is a 1983 romantic comedy-drama film adapted by James L. Brooks from the novel by Larry McMurtry and starring Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, and Jack Nicholson...
, where she played Emma, opposite Linda Gray
Linda Gray
Linda Ann Gray is an American actress, best known for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing on the television prime-time soap opera Dallas.-Career:Prior to acting, Gray began working as a model in the 1960s...
and John Bowe. In 2008 she played Martha, one of the female leads, in the ITV medical series Harley Street
Harley Street (TV series)
Harley Street is a British television medical drama shown on ITV in 2008.The series was made by Carnival Films and was set in Harley Street, London...
, though the programme's tepid critical reception, combined with poor viewer ratings signalled the end of the programme after its first series.
In January 2009, she appeared in Unforgiven
Unforgiven (TV series)
Unforgiven was a three-part British television drama series written by Sally Wainwright which was first broadcast on ITV in January 2009...
, a three-part drama on ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
, where she plays Ruth Slater, a woman released from prison after serving a 15-year prison sentence for the murder of two policemen. Naturally brown-haired, Jones dyed her hair "tobacco yellow" with "big roots"; Jones joked that whilst not filming she "really should have worn a wig". Additionally, the character of Ruth wore no make-up throughout, with Jones stating she was left feeling "quite exposed", but nonetheless saying "Ruth wouldn't have worn any make-up, I don't think". Jones received favourable reviews for her portrayal, with Brian Viner of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
writing: "a stunning performance, the stuff of Bafta nominations if ever I saw it. Heck, on the back of it she might even get propelled into the movies, and bring a bit of North Country sense to the Golden Globes". Viner summarised his review of Unforgiven by stating, "Five stars all round, and six for Jones". Suranne later stated, "I loved that role. They don't come along that often. It was seen by the broadsheet
Broadsheet
Broadsheet is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages . The term derives from types of popular prints usually just of a single sheet, sold on the streets and containing various types of material, from ballads to political satire. The first broadsheet...
s as well as the tabloids. It gave me a little bit of credibility, I suppose".
Later in the year, in November, she played the role of the Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa is a portrait by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. It is a painting in oil on a poplar panel, completed circa 1503–1519...
in the two-part episode "Mona Lisa's Revenge
Mona Lisa's Revenge
Mona Lisa's Revenge is a two-part story of The Sarah Jane Adventures which was broadcast on CBBC on 12 and 13 November 2009. It is the fifth serial of the third series.-Part 1:Luke enters Clyde's painting for a competition and Clyde wins first prize...
" in The Sarah Jane Adventures
The Sarah Jane Adventures
The Sarah Jane Adventures is a British science fiction television series, produced by BBC Cymru Wales for CBBC, created by Russell T Davies and starring Elisabeth Sladen...
. In December, Jones starred in the Manchester Royal Exchange
Royal Exchange, Manchester
The Royal Exchange is a grade II listed Victorian building in Manchester, England. It is located in the city centre on the land bounded by St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street, Market Street, Cross Street and Old Bank Street...
's production of Blithe Spirit
Blithe Spirit (play)
Blithe Spirit is a comic play written by Noël Coward which takes its title from Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "To a Skylark" . The play concerns socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to...
, by Noël Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
, which ran until late January 2010. Jones was nominated for the Times Breakthrough Award at the 2010 South Bank Show Awards, the last ever ceremony, but lost to David Blandy
David Blandy
David Blandy is a British artist. He was educated at the Slade School of Fine Art and the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London. His most recent exhibition is "Represent", a two-person show with Swedish artist Saskia Holmkvist at Gasworks, London...
. When discussing her nomination she said, "You do question 'What am I breaking through?' Am I breaking through the perception of people who just thought I was a screaming banshee
Banshee
The banshee , from the Irish bean sí is a feminine spirit in Irish mythology, usually seen as an omen of death and a messenger from the Otherworld....
in Coronation Street? Is it that I've worked hard and I've got better? Is it that now it's alright to say that I'm alright? I don't know what I was breaking through, but I knew that it was nice to feel included and patted on the back for a lot of hard work". In March 2010 Jones starred in Five Days, a non-connected sequel to the 2007 series of the same name, as the female lead DC Laurie Franklin. Later in the year she starred as Sarah in Single Father
Single Father (TV drama)
Single Father is a four-episode 2010 BBC television drama centred on Dave , a photographer, attempting to look after his children as a single father after the death of his partner, Rita , in a road traffic accident. The series also explores the complicated and growing romance between Dave and...
on BBC1, a character who falls in love with a widower, Dave (David Tennant
David Tennant
David Tennant is a Scottish actor. In addition to his work in theatre, including a widely praised Hamlet, Tennant is best known for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, along with the title role in the 2005 TV serial Casanova and as Barty Crouch, Jr...
), who was married to her best friend before her death.
On 14 May 2011 she played the central character of Idris 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...
episode "The Doctor's Wife
The Doctor's Wife (Doctor Who)
"The Doctor's Wife" is the fourth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was broadcast on 14 May 2011 in the United Kingdom, as well as in the United States...
". Jones was cast due to writer Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
wanting an actress, in the words of Jones, who is "odd; beautiful but strange looking, and quite funny" to play the role of Idris. Dan Martin, reviewer for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, noted that "Suranne Jones arguably sets the standard by which all guest stars must now be judged here [...] Jones was electrifying throughout". Later, Jones played DC Rachel Bailey in ITV's new six-part detective series, Scott & Bailey
Scott & Bailey
Scott & Bailey is a British detective drama series that debuted on ITV on 29 May, 2011. The programme's main characters are DC Rachel Bailey and DC Janet Scott , both of whom are members of the Major Incident Team of the fictional Manchester Metropolitan Police, headed by DCI Gill Murray...
, alongside Lesley Sharp
Lesley Sharp
Lesley Sharp is an English stage, film and television actress, particularly well known for her variety of British television roles including Clocking Off, Bob & Rose and afterlife.-Early life:...
, who plays DC Janet Scott. The series is based upon an original idea by Jones and Sally Lindsay
Sally Lindsay
Sally Lindsay is an English actress best known for playing the role of Shelley Unwin in the long-running ITV1 Soap opera Coronation Street...
, a former Coronation Street co-star. In July, Jones starred as Marlene, a career-woman living in Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's Britain, in the Minerva Theatre
Minerva Theatre, Chichester
The Minerva Theatre is a studio theatre seating at full capacity 283. It is run as part of the adjacent Chichester Festival Theatre, located in Chichester, England, and was opened in 1989...
's production of Top Girls
Top Girls
Top Girls is a 1982 play by Caryl Churchill. It is about a woman named Marlene, a career-driven woman who is employed at the 'Top Girls' employment agency. The play examines issues of gender discrimination present in the Thatcherite society that it is set in...
by Caryl Churchill
Caryl Churchill
Caryl Churchill is an English dramatist known for her use of non-naturalistic techniques and feminist themes, the abuses of power, and sexual politics. She is acknowledged as a major playwright in the English language and a leading female writer...
in Chichester
Chichester
Chichester is a cathedral city in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings...
. Michael Billington, reviewer for The Guardian, remarked that "Suranne Jones captures excellently the hidden regrets of the go-getting Marlene". The production was later transferred to the 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...
's Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios, formerly The Whitehall Theatre until 2004, is a West End theatre in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, in the City of Westminster, London....
.
In August it was announced that Jones would star alongside John Hannah
John Hannah (actor)
John David Hannah is a Scottish actor of film and television. He has appeared in Stephen Sommers' Mummy Series, Richard Curtis' Four Weddings and a Funeral and Sliding Doors with Gwyneth Paltrow...
in a spoof detective drama written by Charlie Brooker
Charlie Brooker
Charlton "Charlie" Brooker is a British journalist, comic writer and broadcaster. His style of humour is savage and profane, with surreal elements and a consistent satirical pessimism...
and Daniel Maier
Daniel Maier
Daniel Maier is a comedy writer and performer for television, radio, print and the stage.Since 2002 he has been part of the writing team for ITV1's Bafta Award-winning Harry Hill's TV Burp...
called A Touch of Cloth. The programme, which as of yet does not have an air date, is set to be broadcast on Sky1. Jones plays DC Anne Oldman, the "plucky, no-nonsense sidekick" of DCI Jack Cloth (John Hannah).
Personal life
Jones remains in Manchester and lives in a "150-year-old cottage", though stated in 2010 she was searching for a flat in London too, due to her career requiring that she spend most of the week there. She lives with her Jack Russell TerrierJack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting. It is principally white-bodied smooth, rough or broken-coated which is commonly confused with the Parson Russell terrier and the Russell terrier with the term "Jack Russell" commonly misapplied to other small white...
, Baxter. Whilst playing Karen McDonald in Coronation Street, Jones became engaged to Jim Phelan, an IT consultant, however, the couple separated.
Jones has been involved with various charitable organisations; as a teenager, Jones' mother Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
, with Jones saying "at the time we did a breast cancer campaign together. I still do a lot of charity runs". Jones also has worked with Christian Aid
Christian Aid
Christian Aid is the official relief and development agency of 40 British and Irish churches and works to support sustainable development, alleviate poverty, support civil society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia...
, travelling to Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
and the Democratic Republic of Congo (the latter accompanied by Sally Lindsay), helping with projects concerning HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
, women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
and child soldiers.
Filmography
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Coronation Street Coronation Street Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960... |
Mandy Phillips | |
| 1998 | City Central | Emma | |
| 1999 | My Wonderful Life | Linda | |
| 2000–2004 | Coronation Street Coronation Street Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960... |
Karen McDonald Karen McDonald Karen McDonald is a fictional character on the long-running British soap opera, Coronation Street from June 2000 to December 2004... |
British Soap Award for Best Actress 2004 British Soap Award for Best Actress 2005 National Television Award for Most Popular Actress 2004 National Television Awards The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are... Nominated— National Television Award for Most Popular Actress 2003 |
| 2004 | Punch | Judy | Short film |
| 2005 | Celebrate "Oliver!" | Nancy | |
| 2005–2006 | Vincent Vincent (TV series) Vincent is an ITV drama series. An initial series was made and aired in 2005 and starred Ray Winstone, in the title role, and Suranne Jones as two members of a team of private eyes hired by people to spy on their partners or indeed anyone else they need to keep tabs on. The four part series also... |
Beth | |
| 2006 | Strictly Confidential Strictly Confidential (TV series) Strictly Confidential is a six part drama, written by Kay Mellor and originally shown on ITV during November and December 2006.It stars Suranne Jones as Linda, a bisexual ex police officer turned sex therapist, who shares a practice in Leeds with her brother-in-law, played by Tristan Gemmill... |
Linda Nelson | |
| 2007 | Dead Clever: The Life and Crimes of Julie Bottomley Dead Clever Dead Clever is a British black comedy film, first screened on ITV on New Year's Day, 2007. Written by Sally Wainwright, it stars Suranne Jones, Helen Baxendale and Dean Lennox Kelly. Although officially titled Dead Clever it was subtitled The Life and Crimes of Julie Bottomley... |
Julie Bottomley | Television film |
| 2008 | Harley Street Harley Street (TV series) Harley Street is a British television medical drama shown on ITV in 2008.The series was made by Carnival Films and was set in Harley Street, London... |
Dr Martha Elliot | |
| 2009 | Love and a Long Shot | Sarah | Film |
| Unforgiven Unforgiven (TV series) Unforgiven was a three-part British television drama series written by Sally Wainwright which was first broadcast on ITV in January 2009... |
Ruth Slater | Nominated—Royal Television Society Royal Television Society The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world... Award for Best Actor (female) |
|
| The Sarah Jane Adventures The Sarah Jane Adventures The Sarah Jane Adventures is a British science fiction television series, produced by BBC Cymru Wales for CBBC, created by Russell T Davies and starring Elisabeth Sladen... |
Mona Lisa Mona Lisa Mona Lisa is a portrait by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. It is a painting in oil on a poplar panel, completed circa 1503–1519... |
Episode: "Mona Lisa's Revenge Mona Lisa's Revenge Mona Lisa's Revenge is a two-part story of The Sarah Jane Adventures which was broadcast on CBBC on 12 and 13 November 2009. It is the fifth serial of the third series.-Part 1:Luke enters Clyde's painting for a competition and Clyde wins first prize... " |
|
| 2010 | Five Days Five Days Five Days is a British dramatic television series produced by the BBC in association with Home Box Office . The first series was first broadcast on BBC One from 23 January to 1 February 2007, and repeated on BBC Four from 9 April to 13 April 2007.... |
DC Laurie Franklin | Nominated—National Television Award for Outstanding Drama Performance 16th National Television Awards The 16th National Television Awards ceremony was held at The O2 Arena in London on 26 January 2011 and was hosted by Dermot O'Leary. The awards are voted by the public and the winners are revealed live on ITV1. Ant & Dec won the award for Most Popular Entertainment Presenter for the tenth year in a... Nominated— TV Choice Award for Best Actress |
| Single Father | Sarah | ||
| 2011 | 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... |
Idris/TARDIS TARDIS The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s... |
Episode: "The Doctor's Wife The Doctor's Wife (Doctor Who) "The Doctor's Wife" is the fourth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was broadcast on 14 May 2011 in the United Kingdom, as well as in the United States... " |
| Scott & Bailey Scott & Bailey Scott & Bailey is a British detective drama series that debuted on ITV on 29 May, 2011. The programme's main characters are DC Rachel Bailey and DC Janet Scott , both of whom are members of the Major Incident Team of the fictional Manchester Metropolitan Police, headed by DCI Gill Murray... |
DC Rachel Bailey | Royal Television Society Royal Television Society The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world... Award for Best Performance in a Drama |
|
| A Touch of Cloth | DC Anne Oldman |
External links
- Suranne Jones in DR Congo for Christian Aid
- Suranne Jones Online Fansite