Crystal Clarke
Crystal Clarke (born 1993/1994)[1] is an American actress. She is best known for her role in the BBC/Amazon Prime mini-series Ordeal by Innocence. Clarke portrays Miss Lambe in the television adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Sanditon, produced by ITV and PBS.[2][3]
Crystal Clarke | |
---|---|
Born | New Jersey, United States |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Royal Conservatoire |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2013-present |
Known for | Ordeal by Innocence |
Life and career
Clarke was born and raised in Essex County, New Jersey to Caribbean parents; her mother is from Trinidad and her father is from Guyana.[4][5] She has one older brother.[6] Clarke spent part of her childhood in Tennessee.[7] She made the decision to leave the United States to pursue acting because she felt her race and class put her at a disadvantage.[8] Clarke moved to Glasgow to attend the Royal Conservatoire and graduated in 2014.[4]
Her London theatre debut was in the role of Hester Worsley in Dominic Dromgoole's revival of A Woman of No Importance. Clarke had supporting roles in two Star Wars films: Episode VII-The Force Awakens and Episode VIII-The Last Jedi.[5] She and Lupita Nyong'o were the first two black actresses to appear in a Star Wars film together when they both were cast in Episode VII.[9] Clarke has also acted in Black Mirror.[10]
She played Tina Argyll in the 2018 mini-series adaptation of Agatha Christie's Ordeal by Innocence.[3][11] In 2019 she played Georgiana Lambe in the PBS/ITV adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Sanditon. Lambe is the only black character written by Austen.[7]
References
- Elber, Lynn (2020-02-08). "Actor Crystal Clarke found hope in Jane Austen adaptation, 'Sanditon'". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
- "ITV and Red Planet Pictures announce cast as filming commences on Jane Austen's Sanditon". Press Centre. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
- Humphreys, Georgia. "TV Quickfire: Star Wars actress Crystal Clarke on her Agatha Christie TV role". The Irish News. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
- "Agatha Christie star Crystal Clarke on her favourite Glasgow haunts". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
- "Rising Star Crystal Clarke on Appearing in the West End's A Woman of No Importance & Two Star Wars Movies". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
- "Agatha Christie star Crystal Clarke on her favourite Glasgow haunts". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
- "Sanditon Cast Interview: Crystal Clarke | Masterpiece | PBS". Masterpiece. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
- Croce, Maria (2017-11-28). "Last Jedi star Crystal Clarke on swapping Glasgow for the silver screen". dailyrecord. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
- "Crystal Clarke Cast in New Star Wars Movie". Black Enterprise. 2014-07-09. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
- Lawler, Kelly. "How PBS adaptation of Jane Austen's unfinished novel 'Sanditon' introduces the author's first black character". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
- "BBC - Interview with Crystal Clarke - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-29.