Debbie Chazen Explained

Debbie Chazen
Birth Date:1 September 1971
Birth Place:Hammersmith, London, England
Yearsactive:1997–present
Domesticpartner:Michael Korel
Alma Mater:London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

Deborah Chazen (born 1 September 1971) is an English actress. She is best known for portraying Annie in the BBC comedy The Smoking Room, Big Claire in Mine All Mine, and various roles in the BBC sketch show Tittybangbang. Alongside these appearances, Chazen has had recurring roles on Trollied and Holby City.

Early life

Chazen was born in Hammersmith, London. After graduating from Manchester University in 1992 with a degree in Russian Studies, she trained at LAMDA.

Career

Chazen has appeared in the Mike Leigh film Topsy Turvy, and other films, such as A Christmas Carol, and the 2001 version of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

On television, she has acted in Gimme Gimme Gimme, Mile High, EastEnders and Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married.

Her theatre work includes Mother Clap's Molly House at the National Theatre, Dick Whittington and His Cat at the Barbican Theatre, and Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard in Sheffield. In 2006, she played Maribel in a new play called Crooked at the Bush Theatre, for which she received acclaim. An article in the International Herald Tribune compared the quality of her performance to the likes of Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. Another role that she played to great acclaim was Tessa in The Girlfriend Experience, which she performed at the Royal Court Theatre and the Young Vic.

Chazen appeared in two episodes of Midsomer Murders, one episode of Doc Martin, and in the 2007 Doctor Who episode "Voyage of the Damned". In November and December 2008, she played Milton's sister Susan in Another Case of Milton Jones on BBC Radio 4. Chazen starred as Ruth in the stage play Calendar Girls from November 2009 to January 2010 at the Noël Coward in Leicester Square, during which time she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to withdraw halfway through the run in order to start treatment. She made a full recovery, and returned to Calendar Girls in the same role for a national tour at the end of 2010.

Chazen had a running story line in Doctors in 2010 as Sissy Juggins, who, along with her brother Ivor Juggins, kidnapped Dr. Jimmi Clay, and was nominated for a British Soap Award. Chazen has also appeared in an episode of EastEnders as Minty's blind date, and two episodes of Coronation Street as Miriam. She toured Calendar Girls from August to December 2011.[1] In 2013, she appeared in the Sky 1 comedy series Trollied. She played Ludmilla in the play The Duck House,[2] [3] The show transferred to London's Vaudeville Theatre after a five-week tour.[2]

Chazen appeared on television as Ludmilla in Ambassadors. In 2014, she appeared in the Sherlock episode "The Sign of Three", and on 19 June 2014, it was announced that she would be joining the cast of Holby City. She subsequently appeared as Jessica in Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley.

In 2017, Chazen played Ruth in The Girls at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998Tess of the D'UrbervillesMarianTV film
1999Topsy-TurvyMiss Kingsley
A Christmas CarolFred's MaidTV film
2001Barnie's Minor AnnoyancesJennyOriginal title: Barnie et ses petites contrariétés
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas NicklebyFanny SqueersTV film
Beginner's LuckCharlotte
2004ToothFat Fairy
Suzie GoldMiriam Jacobs
2005FeederPamShort film
2009I Am Ruthie Segal, Hear Me RoarShort film
2010Anton Chekhov's the DuelOlga
2013GnomelandSuzanneShort film
2018Cormorant/SwanVoice role, English version
Red JoanKaren
2021PopsSuzie JacobsShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997The LakesDelilahRecurring role, 3 episodes
1998An Unsuitable Job for a WomanJoannaEpisode: "A Last Embrace"
Killer NetSandraTV Mini-series
The Ruth Rendell MysteriesJackieEpisode: "You Can't Be Too Careful"
The BillNuala HillEpisode: "Team Play"
1999Midsomer MurdersAnna SantarosaEpisode: "Strangler's Wood"
1999–2000Lucy Sullivan Is Getting MarriedMerediaSeries regular, 16 episodes
2000CasualtyDanielle AdamsEpisode: "Blood Brothers"
2001Gimme Gimme GimmeArt TeacherEpisode: "Decoy"
2002The Estate AgentsAngieEpisode: "Night Out"
Holby CityBernice WebsterEpisode: "Facing Facts"
2003GrassJennyEpisode: "Series 1, Episode 7"
2004Mine All MineBig ClaireSeries regular, 6 episodes
2004–2005The Smoking RoomAnnieSeries regular, 17 episodes
2005EastEndersShivorneEpisode: "5 May 2005"
The BillKathy JonesEpisode: "Use of Protocol"
Murder in SuburbiaEstelle HarcourtEpisode: "Dogs"
Mile HighTerriEpisode: "Series 2, Episode 26"
DoctorsMeriel CrostonEpisode: "Something to Hold Onto"
2005–2007TittybangbangVarious rolesSeries regular, 8 episodes
2007Doc MartinAlison LaneEpisode: "The Apple Doesn't Fall"
Doctor WhoFoon Van HoffEpisode: "Voyage of the Damned"
Comedy ShowcaseGarveyEpisode: "The Eejits"
2008Midsomer MurdersGemma PlattEpisode: "Midsomer Life"
Uncle MaxBrideEpisode: "Uncle Max Goes to a Wedding"
2009PsychovilleKelly Su CrabtreeRecurring role, 4 episodes
We Are KlangMayorRecurring role, 4 episodes
The Impressions Show with Culshaw and StephensonDaggyEpisode: "Series 1, Episode 6"
2010DoctorsSissy JugginsRecurring role, 12 episodes
2010–2011Coronation StreetMiriamRecurring role, 5 episodes
2011White Van ManPaulineEpisode: "The Morning After"
2013Holby CityColette BarnesEpisode: "Only Human"
Great Night OutShop AssistantEpisode: "Series 1, Episode 6"
TrolliedSarahRecurring role, 3 episodes
AmbassadorsLudmillaTV Mini-series
The SpaDavinaSeries regular, 8 episodes
2014SherlockVickyEpisode: "The Sign of Three"
The Job LotJoy ColemanEpisode: "Series 2, Episode 4"
2014–2019Holby CityFleur FanshaweRecurring role, 13 episodes
2015AsylumMercedesEpisode: "Public Relations"
You, Me and the ApocalypseMyrtaEpisode: "T Minus..."
2016Agatha RaisinJessica TarnickEpisode: "The Walkers of Dembley"
2018–2020The Last KingdomSableRecurring role, 6 episodes
2019Dead PixelsCaraRecurring role, 3 episodes
Sticks and StonesNatalieTV Mini-series
2020Urban MythsBeatrice MolinskyEpisode: "When Joan Kissed Barbra"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gallery . seecalendargirls.com . 2012-01-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120124034009/http://www.seecalendargirls.com/gallery/ . 24 January 2012.
  2. News: The Duck House: MPs' expenses satire heads for West End . BBC News . 16 September 2013 . 16 September 2013.
  3. Web site: Andrew Gans . Political Comedy The Duck House Will Play London's Vaudeville; Cast Announced . Playbill . 16 September 2013 . 12 August 2022.