Jessica Martin

Jessica Cecelia Anna Maria Martin (born 25 August 1962)[1] is an English actress, singer, and impressionist whose career has diversified to include comic writing and illustrating.

Jessica Martin
Born (1962-08-25) 25 August 1962[1]
Fulham, London, England
Alma mater
OccupationActress, singer, artist, author/illustrator, impressionist
Websitejessicamartinofficial.com

Life and career

Performance roles

Jessica Martin graduated with a degree in English and Drama from Westfield College, London University and also studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama.[3] Her first job, in 1983 when she was 21, was as a resident singer at St James's Hotel and Club, where her father, Placido Martin, was the cocktail pianist.[3][1] She became an impressionist on the fringe circuit, performing alongside Harry Enfield and Rory Bremner. She was given a regular slot on Spitting Image and became the only female member of London Weekend's Copy Cats. Fellow team members included Bobby Davro with whom she partnered for three series of his weekly show Bobby Davro's TV Weekly. Martin and Gary Wilmot went on to star in the West End hit show Me and My Girl. They performed for two years at the Adelphi Theatre and then went on a national tour.[4]

Martin went on to play leading musical roles including Mabel in the 1996 production of Mack and Mabel at the Piccadilly Theatre, Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd and Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.[5] She also guest-starred in the 1988 Doctor Who serial The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, starring Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor, in which she played a punk werewolf. Many years later, she provided the voice of the Queen in Voyage of the Damned, the 2007 Christmas special, which starred David Tennant as the Doctor.[6]

She played the Lady of the Lake in the national tour of Spamalot in 2011,[7] Lottie Ames in the award-winning production of Mack and Mabel and Lottie Lacey in the revival of William Inge's Dark at the Top of the Stairs.[8]

In October 2015, she joined the cast of Elf: The Musical, playing the role of Emily Hobbs at the Dominion Theatre.[9] In September 2016, she was featured in Robert J. Sherman's Bumblescratch playing the dual roles of Bethesda Bumblescratch and the Widow MacGregor at the Adelphi Theatre. She was named a Variety Club Celebrity Ambassador for her work in Bumblescratch and her other works.[10][11][12]

Martin played role of Dame Shirley Porter in Shirleymander by Greg Evans at the Playground Theatre, London in 2018,[13] for which she was nominated for the Best Female Performance in the Off West End Awards 2018.[14]

Jessica Martin is a patron of the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America, and performed at the 50th anniversary Memorial Service for Lupino Lane at St Paul's, Covent Garden in 2009.[15]

Audio work

Martin has made numerous radio appearances including a specially written one off special for BBC Radio 2, The Gossip Column Murders, written by Mark Brisenden featuring a 1940s female radio detective Cybil Liberty, including Judy Garland and Carmen Miranda all played by Jessica.[16][17]

Martin was a voice actor for the English-language version of the PlayStation 2 game Dragon Quest VIII, and has also performed as a voice over artist for a range of animations and commercials. She has also recorded audio books including Vindication of the Rights of Men written by Mary Wollstonecraft.[18]

In 2004, Martin recorded a song for the CD Weird & Wonderful - A Collection of Songs by Alexander S. Bermange celebrating weirdos and weirdness, featuring sixteen West End stars (released on Dress Circle Records). In 2008, she joined author and columnist Mark Steyn to release a cover of "It's a Marshmallow World", a holiday song first popularised by Bing Crosby.[19]

Writing

In 2010, Martin took up sketching, for the first time since studying A-level art. The following year, whilst touring in the musical Spamalot with Phill Jupitus she showed him one of her sketches. Jupitus praised the sketch and suggested that Martin should do a graphic novel. Martin has referred to this as a "lightbulb moment."[20]

Her first published work was a story illustrated by her 'mentor' Mark Buckingham which was included in the Thought Bubble Anthology 2013. Her first comic written and drawn by herself was It Girl about silent film actress Clara Bow. It was self-published in November 2013 and was selected in the "Ten Must Own Small-Press Comics 2013" by Broken Frontier.[21]

Her first full-length graphic novel Elsie Harris Picture Palace, which is set in the 1930s British film industry, was shortlisted for the Myriad First Graphic Novel Prize 2014.[22]

Her graphic novel 'Life Drawing: A Life Under Lights' is a memoir about her life as an actress, singer and artist was published by Unbound in Spring 2019.[23]

Filmography

Television
Year(s)ProgrammeRoleRef
1985-86Bobby Davro on the Boxcast member[24]
1985And There's Morecast member[24]
1985TV-amguest[25]
1985Woganguest[26]
1985Live from Her Majesty'sperformer[27]
1985-86Copy Catscast member[24]
1985, 1986Good Morning Britainguest[28][29]
1986Tarby and Friendsguest[30]
1986Les and Dustin's Laughter Showperformer[31]
1986Summertime Specialguest[32]
1986We Love TVguest[33]
1986Laugh Attackcast member[24]
19863-2-1guest[34]
1986Des O'Connor Tonightguest[35]
1986-87Spitting Imagevoice performer[24]
1987-88Bobby Davro's T.V Weeklycast member[24]
1986Tom O'Connorguest[36]
1987Royal Variety Showperformer[37]
1988Catchphrase Celebrity Specialcelebrity contestant[24]
1988Doctor Who (serial The Greatest Show in the Galaxy)Mags[38]
1993The Art Sutter Showguest[24]
1995You Betguest panelist[24]
1995Live from the Lilydromeguest panelist[24]
2007Doctor Who (episode Voyage of the Damned)The Queen (voice)[39]

Radio
YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1985The ImpressionistsperformerBBC Radio Two[40]
1992The Gossip Column MurdersCybil LibertyDirected by Dirk Maggs[16]
1999I Can Do ThatRadio 4[41]
2002Stage Mother, Sequinned DaughterAlma CoganDirected by Marilyn Imrie[42]
2006Jack Rosenthal's Last ActBarbra StreisandDirected by Maureen Lipman[43]

Film
YearTitleNotesRef
1990The GardenDirected by Derek Jarman[24]

Theatre
YearTitleRoleVenueRef
1984Mad Max's CabaretperformerCrazy Larry's, London[44]
1984Jessica MartinperformerPalace Theatre, London[45]
1985Conkers CabaretperformerBush Hotel, London[46]
1985-86Cinderella (pantomime)CinderellaDe Montfort Hall[47][48]
1986-87Aladdin (pantomime)AladdinGrand Theatre, Wolverhampton[49]
1987-88Cinderella (pantomime)CinderellaPalace Theatre, Manchester[50]
1988Babes in ArmsBunny ByronMaynardville Open-Air Theatre[51]
1988-89The Wizard of OzDorothyTheatre Royal, Plymouth, and national tour[52][53]
1989-91Me and My GirlSally SmithAdelphi Theatre; national tour[54]
1994The Court JesterAlice PerrersWarehouse Theatre[55][56]
1996Mack and MabelMabel NormandPiccadilly Theatre[57]
1997South PacificNellie Forbushnational tour[58]
2001Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetMrs LovettBridewell Theatre[59]
2006Tracey Beaker Gets RealLouise/Tracey's mumnational tour[60]
2009Sunset BoulevardNorma DesmondComedy Theatre[61]
2010Sunset Bitchnumerous roles (one-woman show)Waterloo East Theatre, London[61]
2011SpamalotLady of the Lakenational tour[7]
2012Mack and MabelLottie AmesSouthwark Playhouse[62]
2014, 2015ElfEmily HobbsTheatre Royal, Plymouth; Dominion Theatre[63][64]
2016BumblescratchBethesda Bumblescratch/Widow MacGregorAdelphi Theatre[12]
2017ElfEmily HobbsThe Lowry[65]
2018ShirleymanderDame Shirley PorterPlayground Theatre, London[13]

References
  1. Hayward, Anthony (1996). Who's Who on Television. London: Boxtree Ltd. p. 172. ISBN 075221067X.
  2. Jessica Martin – Spitting Image Impressionist, West End Theatre Actor and Graphic Novelist Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine wearethecity.com Retrieved 16 June 2019
  3. "Jessica Martin". The Stage. London. 14 November 2019. p. 25.
  4. Cult Q & A: Jessica Martin Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine wearecult.rocks 23 January 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2019
  5. Jessica Martin Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine intertalentgroup.com Retrieved 21 June 2019
  6. Voyage of the Damned - Fact File Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2019
  7. Monty Python's Spamalot Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine David Chadderton. www.britishtheatreguide.info Retrieved 21 June 2019
  8. Jessica Martin: Elf: The Musical, West End Archived 21 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine www.sainou.com Retrieved 21 June 2019
  9. "Full casting announced for Elf at Dominion". whatsonstage.com. Whats on Stage. 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  10. "Variety Awards Darren Day, Michael Xavier and Jessica Martin Ambassador Status". Bumblescratch - A New Musical by Robert J Sherman. 5 September 2016. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  11. "REVIEW: BUMBLESCRATCH (Adelphi Theatre) ★★★★". West End Wilma. 12 September 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  12. "Variety Honours Five West End Actors and Musical Directors". variety.org.uk. 26 September 2016. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  13. Billington, Michael (27 May 2018). "Shirleymander review – timely retelling of chilling Tory scandal". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  14. The Offies Archived 15 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine offwestend.com Retrieved 21 June 2019
  15. The Music Hall Guild - News Archived 18 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 21 June 2019
  16. Jessica Martin's Variety Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine BBC Radio 2, 9 May 1992. genome.ch.bbc.co.uk Retrieved 29 July 2019. Note: User editable site.
  17. Jessica Martin-One Woman Show Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  18. Jessica Martin – Spitting Image Impressionist, West End Theatre Actor and Graphic Novelist Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine Jennifer Reischel, wearethecity.com, 15 September 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2019
  19. "It's a Marshmallow World - Macleans.ca". Maclean's. 26 June 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  20. Actress Jessica Martin: a life in three acts Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine Matt Adams, hertfordshirelife.co.uk, 18 July 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2019
  21. Oliver, Andy (2 January 2014). "Celebrating 2013: Ten UK Small Press Comics You Need to Own". Broken Frontier. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  22. Who Made the Final Six on the Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition Shortlist? Find Out Here! Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine Andy Oliver, www.brokenfrontier.com, 6 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2019
  23. Life Drawing: A Life Under Lights Archived 4 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine unbound.com. Retrieved 16 June 2019
  24. "Jessica Martin". bfi.org.uk. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  25. Pacey, Ann (4 August 1985). "The last word". Sunday Mirroe. p. 2.
  26. "BBC1". Reading Evening Post. 14 August 1985. p. 2.
  27. "ITV London". Reading Evening Post. 2 November 1985. p. 22.
  28. "ITV London". Daily Mirror. 19 December 1985. p. 16.
  29. "ITV London". Daily Mirror. 19 June 1986. p. 18.
  30. "LWT". Staines & Ashford News. 15 May 1986. p. 28.
  31. "Last night's TV". Dundee Courier. 11 July 1986. p. 4.
  32. "HTV". Enniscorthy Guardian. 1 August 1986. p. 28.
  33. "LWT". Kingston Informer. 8 August 1986. p. 16.
  34. "Central". Sandwell Evening Mail. 6 September 1986. p. 17.
  35. Thomas, Norman (31 October 1986). "Des is a real disaster". Liverpool Echo. p. 28.
  36. "BBC1". Sandwell Evening Mail. 20 January 1987. p. 16.
  37. Louis Barfe (1 March 2012). The Trials and Triumphs of Les Dawson. Atlantic Books. p. 268. ISBN 978-0-85789-670-4. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  38. "BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - The Greatest Show in the Galaxy - Details". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  39. "Doctor Who - Fact File - Voyage of the Damned". BBC. 25 December 2007. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  40. "Radio". Liverpool Echo. 6 March 1985. p. 18.
  41. Barnard, Pter (1 July 1999). "Radio Choice". The Times. London. p. 54.
  42. "Cogan court action fails". bbc.co.uk. 26 July 2002. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  43. "Jack Rosenthal's Last Act". bbc.co.uk. July 2006. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  44. Smith, Roy Robert (7 June 1984). "Seen at". The Stage. p. 8.
  45. Smith, Roy Robert (8 November 1984). "Seen at". The Stage. p. 7.
  46. "Theatre". Hammersmith & Shepherds Bush Gazette. 6 December 1985. p. 22.
  47. "Panto news". The Stage. 17 October 1985. p. 3.
  48. Davies, Mike (17 October 1985). "Christmas shows: Leicester". The Stage. p. 3.
  49. "Polishing up lamp magic!". Sandwell Evening Mail. 20 December 1986. p. 5.
  50. Patrick, Tony (30 November 1987). "Shows for Christmas". The Times. London. p. 22.
  51. Hepple, Peter (11 August 1988). "Christmas greetings". Playing against the odds. p. 14.
  52. "Christmas greetings". The Stage. 15 December 1988. p. 34.
  53. "What's on". Aberdeen Evening Express. 1 February 1989. p. 9.
  54. Benson, Anne (13 April 1993). "Jessica makes a different impression". Liverpool Echo. p. 22.
  55. P.H.S. (25 November 1994). "Rising Vamp". The Times. London. p. 20.
  56. "Theatre". The Times. London. 9 December 1994. p. 42.
  57. "Production news". The Stage. 25 April 1996. p. 47.
  58. "Bali Ha'i is calling our lucky winners". What's On: Wirral. 4 September 1997.
  59. Martland, Lisa (15 June 2000). "Bridewell: Sweeney Todd". The Stage. p. 12.
  60. "Stage: Tracey Beaker, Blue On Blue and The Nutcracker". Bracknell Forest Standard. 19 October 2006.
  61. Smurthwaite, Nick (2 September 2010). "Showpeople: Jessica Martin". The Stage. p. 27.
  62. Shelton, Mark (12 July 2012). "Mack and Mabel". The Stage. p. 17.
  63. "It certainly sounds like Jessica Martin has been there, done that and played her, her and her". Plymouth Evening Herald. 5 December 2014. pp. 8–9.
  64. Shuttleworth, Ian (8 November 2015). "Elf, Dominion Theatre, London — "Infectious enjoyment"". Financial Times.
  65. "Christmas pantomimes and shows in and around Manchester in 2017". Rochdale Observer. 22 December 2017.
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