Fiona Button Explained

Fiona Button
Birth Place:Lausanne, Switzerland
Nationality:British
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:2007–present
Children:1
Alma Mater:Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
University of Birmingham

Fiona Button is an English actress. She is best known for playing Rose Defoe in The Split.

Early life and education

Button was born in Lausanne, Switzerland,[1] and grew up in Newbury, Berkshire.

She made her professional stage debut at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury aged 10 in the Wizard of Oz. She attended Park House School and the sixth form of St. Bartholomew's School. She studied drama at the University of Birmingham before enrolling at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 2007.

Career

Television

After graduating, Button played parts in Midsomer Murders and The Bill.In 2008, she played Lucy Bedford in The Palace. From 2010 to 2012 she played Tess Roberts in two series of Lip Service. From 2014 to 2016 she played Jennifer Chambers in series 1 and 2 of Grantchester. In 2018, she was cast as Rose Defoe in the BBC series The Split.

Button has made guest appearances in How Not to Live Your Life, Outcasts, Foyle's War, Cardinal Burns, Pramface, You, Me and the Apocalypse and as Vera in My Mother and Other Strangers.

Theatre

Button made her West End debut in 2007 in Rock 'n' Roll by Tom Stoppard playing young Esme and Alice. In 2009 she appeared in Madame de Sade for the Donmar Warehouse opposite Judi Dench and Rosamund Pike, then as Sonya in Vanya at the Gate Theatre. In 2010 she played Rachel in the original cast of Posh at the Royal Court Theatre,[2] then Mabel Chiltern in An Ideal Husband at the Vaudeville Theatre.[3]

In 2013 Button originated the role of Wendy in Wendy and Peter Pan for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Written by Ella Hickson, it is a feminist reimagining of Barrie's original novel, putting Wendy 'the girl who would grow up' in the spotlight.[4] The show became a sell out hit and the production was revived in 2015.

In 2014 Button went on to play Annabella in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore at the Globe Theatre. Dominic Maxwell from The Times said of her performance, "Button has the ability to transmit the knottiest thoughts from behind an easy, poised demeanour. She is an exceptional performer."[5]

In 2016 she played Stef in They Drink It in the Congo at the Almeida Theatre. In 2018 she played Cecily Cardew in The Importance of Being Earnest in the West End.[6]

Personal life

Button married screenwriter Henry Fleet in 2014 and they have a daughter..[7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012We'll Take ManhattanLaviniaTV film
2015Bugsplat!Gina McCutcheonTV film
2018The Importance of Being EarnestCecily Cardew
2021No One Is Talking About ThisStorytellerShort film
2022Petra

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007The BillSusie MatthewsEpisode: "Behind Closed Doors"
Midsomer MurdersWillow McKinleyEpisode: "The Axeman Cometh"
2008The PalaceLucy BedfordRecurring role; 5 episodes
2010How Not to Live Your LifeJennyEpisode: "Don's Angry Girlfriend"
2010–2012Lip ServiceTess RobertsSeries regular; 12 episodes
2011OutcastsTrixEpisode: "Series 1, Episode 3"
2012Cardinal BurnsVarious rolesSeries regular; 5 episodes
2013PramfaceGabyEpisode: "The Edge of Hell"
Foyle's WarMary NelsonEpisode: "Sunflower"
2014–2016GrantchesterJennifer ChambersRecurring role; 3 episodes
2015You, Me and the ApocalypseSkyeRecurring role; 2 episodes
2016My Mother and Other StrangersVera CurtisEpisode: "Vera"
2018–2022The SplitRoseSeries regular; 17 episodes
2019FlackAnnieEpisode: "Anthony"
2020Out of Her MindLucySeries regular; 6 episodes
2021TryingSkyEpisode: "Big Heads"
2023Death in ParadiseHannah RobertsEpisode: "Murder on the High Seas"
2024TrueloveKateSeries regular; 6 episodes[8]

Theatre credits

YearTitleRoleVenueRef
2007The LessonClaireArcola Theatre, London[9]
World's EndKatThe Pleasance, Edinburgh[10]
Rock 'n' RollAlice/Young EsmeDuke of York's Theatre, London[11]
2008Ring Round the MoonIsabellePlayhouse Theatre, London[12]
Hay FeverSorel BlissRoyal Exchange, Manchester[13]
2009Madame de SadeAnneWyndham's Theatre, London[14]
VanyaSonyaGate Theatre, London[15]
2010PoshRachelRoyal Court Theatre, London[16]
An Ideal HusbandMiss Mabel ChilternVaudeville Theatre, London[17]
2012The Girl with the Yellow DressCeliaTheatre503, London[18]
Heartbreak HouseEllie DunnChichester Festival Theatre, Chichester[19]
2013King LearCordeliaTheatre Royal, Bath[20]
Wendy & Peter PanWendy DarlingRoyal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon[21]
2014'Tis Pity She's a WhoreAnnabellaSam Wanamaker Playhouse, London[22]
2016They Drink It in the CongoStefAlmeida Theatre, London[23]
2018The Importance of Being EarnestCecily CardewVaudeville Theatre, London[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 20 Questions with... Fiona Button, star of RSC's Wendy and Peter Pan. Editorial Staff. 16 December 2013. WhatsOnStage.com.
  2. Web site: Review Round-up: Were Critics Outclassed at Posh?. Terri Paddock. 16 April 2010. WhatsOnStage.com.
  3. Web site: An Ideal Husband. Michael Coveney. 11 November 2010. WhatsOnStage.com.
  4. Web site: Holly Williams . And what about Wendy? Introducing a feminist return to Peter Pan's roots . The Independent. 2013-12-15 . 2020-01-15.
  5. Web site: Dominic Maxwell . 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, SE1 . The Times . 2014-10-30 . 2020-01-15.
  6. Web site: Fiona Button on The Importance of Being Earnest: 'It's a lot to do with sex. Oscar Wilde would have loved it' . Fiona Mountford . 27 July 2018 . Go London .
  7. Web site: Fiona Mountford . Fiona Button on The Importance of Being Earnest: 'It's a lot to do with sex. Oscar Wilde would have loved it'. London. Evening Standard. 2018-07-17 . 2020-01-15.
  8. Web site: Simone . Carlo . Channel 4 Truelove: Full cast and when it is on TV . . 27 July 2024 . 2 January 2024.
  9. Web site: THE LESSON . Arcola Theatre . 15 May 2019 . 16 January 2022.
  10. News: McBay . Nadine . World's End . 16 January 2022 . Metro.co.uk . 20 August 2007.
  11. Web site: 20 Questions with... Fiona Button, star of RSC's Wendy and Peter Pan . WhatOnStage . 16 December 2013 . 16 January 2022.
  12. News: Billington . Michael . Theatre - Ring Round the Moon . 16 January 2022 . The Guardian . 20 February 2008.
  13. News: Shenton . Sarah . You Write The Reviews: Hay Fever, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester . 16 January 2022 . The Independent . 24 July 2004.
  14. Web site: Madame de Sade . British Theatre Guide . 16 January 2022.
  15. Web site: VANYA . Gate Theatre . 16 January 2022.
  16. News: Cooke . Rachel . Laura Wade: the girl in the Tories' soup . 16 January 2022 . The Observer . 4 April 2010.
  17. News: Billington . Michael . An Ideal Husband - review . 16 January 2022 . The Guardian . 11 November 2010.
  18. News: Marlowe . Sam . The Girl in the Yellow Dress at Theatre 503, SW11 . 16 January 2022 . The Times . 30 March 2012.
  19. News: Billington . Michael . Heartbreak House – review . 16 January 2022 . The Guardian . 13 July 2012.
  20. News: Baber . Andy . King Lear, Theatre Royal Bath, until August 10 . 16 January 2022 . Gazette & Herald . 1 August 2013.
  21. News: Billington . Michael . Wendy and Peter Pan – review . 16 January 2022 . The Guardian . 19 December 2013.
  22. News: Billington . Michael . 'Tis Pity She's a Whore review – naked passion illuminated by candlelight . 16 January 2022 . The Guardian . 29 October 2014.
  23. News: Brennan . Clare . They Drink It in the Congo review – on the rocky road of good intentions . 16 January 2022 . The Guardian . 28 August 2016.
  24. News: Mountford . Fiona . Fiona Button on The Importance of Being Earnest: 'It's a lot to do with sex. Oscar Wilde would have loved it' . 16 January 2022 . Evening Standard . 17 July 2018.