Amanda Root: Difference between revisions

{{short description|British actress (born 1963)}}

Root was born in [[Chelmsford]], Essex, to Ken and Maureen Root.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-05-07 |title=Colchester actress nominated for US showbiz award |url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/4347932.actress-amanda-root-up-for-a-tony-award/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Gazette |language=en}}</ref> Her father was an accountant, whilst her mother had performed in amateur dramatic productions as a child.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title='I'm so much happier now' |url=https://www.womanalive.co.uk/home/im-so-much-happier-now/4758.article |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Woman Alive |language=en}}</ref> Both were supportive of her ambitions to become an actor. She attended [[Philip Morant School and College|Philip Morant School]] in [[Colchester]], studying drama at O Level; she joined the Essex Youth Theatre as a teenager. After graduating from the [[Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art]], she began her career at the [[Leeds Playhouse]] in 1983 when she played Essie in [[George Bernard Shaw|George Bernard Shaw's]] [[The Devil's Disciple (play)|''The Devil's Disciple'']]. She worked regularly with the RSC in [[Stratford-upon-Avon]] and [[London]] from 1983 to 1991, including playing the role of Juliet to [[Daniel Day-Lewis|Daniel Day-Lewis's]] [[Romeo]]; a very young Lady Macbeth; [[Cressida]] to [[Ralph Fiennes|Ralph Fiennes's]] [[Troilus]], and Rosaline to his [[Love's Labour's Lost|Berowne]]. She also appeared as Jessica opposite [[Ian McDiarmid|Ian McDiarmid’sMcDiarmid's]] [[Shylock]] in ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]''.

In 1985, Root made her television debut in the pilot episode of ''[[Ladies in Charge]]'', as one of a trio of women setting up an agency to help others in postwar London. She then starred as the title character in [[Mary Rose (play)|''Mary Rose'']], a television drama based on the play by [[J. M. Barrie|J.M. Barrie]]. In 1988, she featured as the Storyteller in five episodes of children’schildren's series ''[[Jackanory]]'', and the following year voiced Sophie in animated feature [[The BFG (1989 film)|''The BFG'']]. The film was aired on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] on [[Christmas|Christmas Day]]. In 1991, she reprised her role as Adela in a [[Channel 4]] adaptation of [[The House of Bernarda Alba (disambiguation)|''The House of Bernarda Alba'']] alongside [[Glenda Jackson]], having originally played the character in a 1986 stage production at the [[Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith)|Lyric Hammersmith]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Production of The House of Bernarda Alba {{!}} Theatricalia |url=https://theatricalia.com/play/3ta/the-house-of-bernarda-alba/production/c2n |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=theatricalia.com}}</ref> She also starred as Nina in [[Anton Chekhov|Chekhov’sChekhov's]] ''[[The Seagull]]'' at the [[Barbican Centre|Barbican Theatre]]. In 1993, Root played Hilda Maxwell in ITV period drama ''The Man Who Cried'', opposite [[Ciarán Hinds]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Whyte |first=Michael |title=The Man Who Cried |date=1993-01-03 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106060/ |type=Drama |access-date=2023-10-18 |others=Ciarán Hinds, Kate Buffery, Amanda Root |publisher=Festival Film & Television}}</ref> The series, adapted from the novel by [[Catherine Cookson]], received positive reviews and was watched by 12.7 million viewers.

In 1994, she appeared in [[BBC]] comedy drama series [[Love on a Branch Line (TV series)|''Love on a Branch Line'']] as Miss Mounsey. That same year, Root was sought by the actress [[Emma Thompson]] for the role of [[Marianne Dashwood|Marianne]] in [[Sense and Sensibility (film)|''Sense and Sensibility'']], based on [[Sense and Sensibility|the 1811 novel]] by [[Jane Austen]]. She participated in a read through in London with the cast but was unable to take on the role (it would later go to [[Kate Winslet]]) as she had already committed to star as [[Anne Elliot]] in another Austen adaptation, [[Persuasion (1995 film)|''Persuasion'']].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Emma Thompson: Write for the Part |url=https://ew.com/article/1995/12/15/emma-thompson-write-part/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref> The film, made by the BBC for drama anthology series [[Screen Two]], reunited Root with [[Ciarán Hinds]], who played Captain Wentworth. It was broadcast on [[BBC Two]] in April 1995, and later gained a limited cinematic release in the [[United States]], grossing over five million dollars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Persuasion |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0114117/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> Well received by critics, it went on to win five [[British Academy Television Awards|TV BAFTAs]], including for [[British Academy Television Award for Best Single Drama|Best Single Drama]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BAFTA Awards |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1996/television/single-drama |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref> In 1996, she played Patricia “Pat” Green in [[Breaking the Code (film)|''Breaking the Code'']]. Root’sRoot's character was inspired by [[Bletchley Park|Bletchley]] code-breaker [[Joan Clarke]], and starred [[Derek Jacobi]] as [[Alan Turing]].

In 1998, Root starred in BBC crime drama ''[[Mortimer's Law|]]''Mortimer’s Law'']], as Rachel Mortimer, a barrister who relocates to rural Wales to take up a vacant coroner’scoroner's post. The series ran for six episodes but was not recommissioned. In 2000, she played Dolly in [[Anna Karenina (2000 TV series)|''Anna Karenina'']], and later appeared as Mrs. Davilow in [[Daniel Deronda (TV series)|''Daniel Deronda'']]. That same year, Root returned to the stage in [[Yasmina Reza|Yasmina Reza’sReza's]] ''Conversations After a Burial'' at the [[Almeida Theatre]]. She also made guest appearances in various crime dramas, including ''[[A Touch of Frost]]'', ''[[Foyle's War|]]''Foyle’s War'']], [[Waking the Dead (TV series)|''Waking the Dead'']], ''Poirot'' and ''[[Midsomer Murders]]''. In 2004, she appeared in ten episodes of period drama [[The Forsyte Saga (2002 TV series)|''The Forsyte Saga'']] as Winifred Dartie. The following year, she featured in the docudrama [[Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder|''Julian Fellowes Investigates'']], playing murder victim Vera Sidney.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.truecrimelibrary.com/crimearticle/vera-sidney/ | title=Vera Sidney &#124; True Crime Library | date=20 October 2015 }}</ref> In 2006, she portrayed [[Alice Hoschedé|Alice Hoschede]], wife of [[Impressionism|Impressionist]] painter [[Claude Monet]], in the BBC miniseries [[The Impressionists (TV series)|''The Impressionists'']]. She also made her third appearance at the [[Almeida Theatre]] as Polina Bardin in [[Enemies (play)|''Enemies'']] by [[Maxim Gorky]], in a new interpretation by [[David Hare (playwright)|David Hare]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benedict |first=David |date=2006-05-28 |title=Enemies |url=https://variety.com/2006/legit/reviews/enemies-1200515872/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2008, Root was cast as Sarah in [[Alan Ayckbourn|Alan Ayckbourn’sAyckbourn's]] ''[[The Norman Conquests]]''. It was first staged at the [[The Old Vic|Old Vic Theatre]] in London, before making its [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] transfer to the [[Circle in the Square Theatre]] in [[New York City|New York]]. The production, directed by [[Matthew Warchus]], was positively received by critics, and gained seven [[Tony Awards|Tony]] nominations, winning [[Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play#2010s|Best Revival]]. Root was nominated for [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play|Best Featured Actress in a Play]]; her performance was described as “remarkable” by the [[The New York Times]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wolf |first=Matt |date=2008-10-21 |title=At the Old Vic, a 'Norman Conquest' that's better for the retelling |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/arts/22iht-lon22.1.17129501.html |access-date=2023-10-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The cast were also nominated for an [[Laurence Olivier Awards|Olivier Award]] for [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Company Performance|Best Company Performance]].

In 2021, she played Sister Brumfett in one episode of [[Dalgliesh (TV series)|''Dalgliesh'']]. The following year, she played Cynthia in a [[Allelujah (film)|film adaptation]] of [[Alan Bennett|Alan Bennett’sBennett's]] 2018 play ''[[Allelujah!]]''. She also appeared in BBC mystery thriller [[The Capture (TV series)|''The Capture'']]. In 2023, Root featured in two episodes of romantic comedy drama series [[You & Me (TV series)|''You & Me'']]. She also had a supporting role in true-life crime drama [[The Sixth Commandment (TV series)|''The Sixth Commandment'']], based on the murder of [[Peter Farquhar]]. Root played Farquhar’sFarquhar's sister-in-law Sue Farquhar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Sixth Commandment cast: Who stars in the BBC drama? |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/sixth-commandment-cast-bbc/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2024, she featured in three episodes of black comedy drama ''[[Baby Reindeer]]'' as Elle. The series premiered on Netflix on 11 April to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/apr/11/netflix-baby-reindeer-review-features-the-most-chilling-tv-episode-of-the-entire-year | title=Baby Reindeer review – features the most chilling TV episode of the entire year | newspaper=The Guardian | date=11 April 2024 | last1=Nicholson | first1=Rebecca }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2024/04/27/baby-reindeer-review-a-devastating-examination-of-trauma-and-abuse/ | title='Baby Reindeer' Review: A Devastating Examination of Trauma and Abuse | website=[[Forbes]] }}</ref>

In 2010, after hearing a talk by American attorney and former [[International Justice Mission]] president [[Gary Haugen]], Root founded Talitha Arts,<ref>https://www.talitha.org.uk/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> a non-profit organisation that uses the creative arts to provide therapeutic support for survivors of trafficking and domestic abuse throughout the UK and overseas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who We Are |url=https://www.talitha.org.uk/who-we-are |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Talitha Arts |language=en}}</ref> The organisation gained charitable status in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web |title=TALITHA ARTS - Charity 1162475 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/?p_p_id=uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_regId=1162475&_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_subId=0 |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> and has since expanded to support children, refugees, ex-offenders, and people experiencing homelessness as well as those living with dementia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farrah |first=Sophie |date=2017-08-24 |title=The art of therapy |url=https://www.essentialsurrey.co.uk/api/content/19a69e90-8674-11e7-9cae-0a72cbefeab2/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Essential Surrey & SW London |language=en-gb}}</ref> In 2016, Root was awarded a Point of Light Award by [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Theresa May]] in recognition of her work.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McBride |first=Jake |date=2016-12-06 |title=Talitha |url=https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/talitha/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Points of Light |language=en-GB}}</ref> She was also shortlisted for [[Lorraine Kelly|Lorraine Kelly’sKelly's]] Inspirational Woman of the Year Award; she was informed of her nomination in a surprise live announcement on the [[Lorraine (TV programme)|Lorraine]] programme.<ref>{{Citation |title=Inspirational Woman Of The Year Award - Surprising Amanda Root {{!}} Lorraine | date=13 February 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WKk3lDe41g |access-date=2023-10-18 |language=en}}</ref> In 2020, Root announced that she was stepping down as Artistic Director after ten years in the role.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaudet |first=Natalie |date=2020-07-10 |title=A Message From Founder Amanda Root |url=https://www.talitha.org.uk/post/a-message-from-founder-amanda-roots-jenna-thorne-to-be-new-artistic-director-of-talitha-arts |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Talitha Arts |language=en}}</ref>

[[Category:Actresses from EssexChelmsford]]