Rebecca Pidgeon Explained

Rebecca Pidgeon
Birth Date:October 10, 1965
Birth Place:Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality:American, British
Occupation:Actress, singer, songwriter
Years Active:1986–present
Children:2; including Clara Mamet
Module:
Embed:yes
Background:solo_singer
Genre:Folk, pop
Instrument:Guitar, vocals
Label:Chesky, Decca
Associated Acts:Ruby Blue

Rebecca Pidgeon (born October 10, 1965) is an American/British actress who has appeared on stage and in feature films. She is also a singer, songwriter and recording artist.

Early life

Pidgeon was born to English parents in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while her father, Carl R. Pidgeon, was a visiting professor at MIT.[1] [2] Her mother, Elaine, is a yoga teacher. Her paternal grandmother, Monica Pidgeon, the editor of Architectural Design, was the sister of artist Olga Lehmann and academic Andrew George Lehmann.[3] [4]

Pidgeon moved to Edinburgh, Scotland in 1970 with her parents. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London with classmates Clive Owen and Liza Tarbuck.[5]

Career

From 1986 to 1990, Pidgeon was the lead singer of the British folk/pop band Ruby Blue. She left the group shortly after they signed to a major record label. She released the album The Raven in 1994, followed by The New York Girls' Club (1996), and The Four Marys (1998), a collection of traditional Celtic folk songs. Tough on Crime (2005) featured Walter Becker on guitar and Billy Preston on keyboards. Behind the Velvet Curtain (2008) included a cover version of the Beach Boys song "Wouldn't It Be Nice". Slingshot was released in 2012.[6]

She appeared in her first feature film, The Dawning, in 1988, then starred in David Mamet's plays and films, beginning with the movie Homicide and the play Oleanna, a part Mamet wrote for her. She composed the music for the film version, which starred Debra Eisenstadt in her role.

Pidgeon has had roles in additional Mamet films, including The Spanish Prisoner (1997), The Winslow Boy (1999), State and Main (2000), Heist (2001) and Redbelt (2008). She had a supporting role in Red (2010). In the 2013 television movie Phil Spector, she played a supporting role and also sang "Spanish Harlem" over the closing credits. She appeared in the U.S. television series The Unit as Charlotte Ryan, and in the 2007 television film as Leeann Lewis, a murder/bank robbery suspect.

Personal life

Pidgeon is married to American writer and director David Mamet, whom she met while appearing in his play Speed-the-Plow at the National Theatre, London.

Pidgeon and Mamet have two children, actress Clara and Noah, in addition to Mamet's two older children, Willa and Zosia. Pidgeon, who was born to a non-practising Christian family, is a student of yoga as taught by B.K.S. Iyengar.She holds dual American/British citizenship.

Discography

With Ruby Blue

As guest

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988The DawningNancy Gulliver
1991Uncle VanyaSonya
HomicideMiss Klein
1997The Spanish PrisonerSusan Ricci
1999The Winslow BoyCatherine Winslow
2000CatastropheThe Director's Assistant
State and MainAnn
2001HeistFran Moore
2002Advice and DissentEllen Goldman
2005ShopgirlChristie Richards
EdmondWife
2006ProvokedMiriam Taylor
2007Leeann Lewis
2008RedbeltZena Frank
How to BeMother
Cat CityVictoria Compton
2009The LodgerDr. Jessica Westmin
2010RedCynthia Wilkes
Two PaintersAnnouncerShort
2013Come Back to Sorrento
2014Two-Bit WaltzAnita
2016AllegiantSarah
2018Bird BoxLydia

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987BustSarah2 episodes
1988CampaignSally Byfleet
1989Screen One: She's Been AwayYoung LillianEpisode: "She's Been Away"
1992The Water EngineConnieTV movie
2004–2005The ShieldJoanna Faulks3 episodes
2006In JusticeCharlotte Conti3 episodes
2006–2009The UnitCharlotte Ryan14 episodes
2007Leeann LewisTV movie
2010Glenn Martin, DDSUnknownEpisode: "Jackie of All Trades"
Voice
2013Phil SpectorDr. FallonTV movie

Notes and References

  1. News: FILM; A Deft Stage Presence Moves Into the Movies. The New York Times. Laura. Winters. April 5, 1998. May 22, 2010.
  2. https://books.google.com/books?cd=1&id=LV1IAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22CARL+PIDGEON%22+rebecca&q=%22Carl+Pidgeon%22 Carl Pidgeon biodata
  3. News: Monica Pidgeon. London. The Daily Telegraph. October 20, 2009.
  4. News: Monica Pidgeon obituary. London. The Guardian. Diana. Rowntree. September 21, 2009.
  5. Web site: Hollywood previews. 23 March 2012. hollywoodpreviews.com.
  6. Web site: Discography. Rebecca Pidgeon Music. 23 May 2016.
  7. Web site: Album Premiere: Rebecca Pidgeon Explores Connection Between Yoga and Music on Compelling 'Parts of Speech Pieces of Sound'. September 21, 2022. Glide Magazine.