Sara Powell Explained

Sara Powell
Birth Date:23 June 1968
Birth Place:Jamaica
Education:Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Years Active:1992–present
Children:2

Sara Powell (born 23 June 1968) is a British-Jamaican stage, screen and voice-over actress and audiobook narrator. Her regular television roles include crown prosecutor Rachel Barker in the BBC's police procedural drama HolbyBlue (2007–2008), driver Sally Reid in ITV's firefighting drama London's Burning (1993–1994) and psychologist Cass in Channel 4's sitcom Damned (2016–2018).

She also played historical figure Mary Seacole in the thirteenth series of the BBC One long-running science fiction series Doctor Who (2021), as well as a number of other characters in its spin-off audio dramas, produced by Big Finish Productions.

Early life and education

Powell was born on 23 June 1968[1] in Jamaica.[2] She loved acting from a very young age, making up little shows together with her brother and forcing her father and any guests at home to watch them. She studied acting at London's Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.[3] [4]

Career

Television

Powell's television debut happened in 1992, in an episode of the BAFTA-winning BBC police drama Between the Lines. From 1993 to 1994, she appeared in her first regular role in both the sixth and seventh series of the ITV firefighting drama London's Burning, playing Sally Reid, the watch's first female driver. In 2007, she joined the main cast of the BBC police procedural drama HolbyBlue (2007–2008), playing senior crown prosecutor Rachel Barker throughout the first and second series.[5]

From 2016 to 2018, Powell appeared as psychologist Cass in both series of the Channel 4 sitcom Damned (2016–2018), starring comedians Jo Brand, Alan Davies and Kevin Eldon. Her other television highlights include the ITV crime dramas The Ice Cream Girls (2013), Little Boy Blue (2017) and Unforgotten (2018), comedy thriller You, Me and the Apocalypse (2015), medical drama The Family Man (2006),[6] situation comedy Ghosts (2021) and the film My Zinc Bed (2008), starring Uma Thurman.[7]

In 2021, she played historical figure Mary Seacole in the episode "War of the Sontarans" of the BBC's long-running science fiction series Doctor Who, featuring the Thirteenth Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker.[8] [9] [10] Fans of the classic Doctor Who series, broadcast from 1963 to 1989, may also be familiar with Powell's voice, as she has portrayed more than ten other characters in several Doctor Who audio drama spin-offs from Big Finish Productions, featuring the First, Fourth, Sixth and Seventh Doctors.[11]

Stage work

Since 1995, she has appeared on stage as often as on television, taking part in about thirty productions at the National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Bush Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Arcola Theatre, Crucible Theatre, Birmingham Rep and more. Powell played various Shakespearean roles, such as Andromache in Troilus and Cressida (1999), Lady Macduff in Macbeth (2005) and Queen Elizabeth in Richard III (2017). Her other classical credits include playing Cariola in John Webster's revenge tragedy The Duchess of Malfi (2000–2001) for the Royal Shakespeare Company's touring production, directed by Gale Edwards.[12] In 2005, Powell starred opposite Friends star David Schwimmer in Neil LaBute's original West End production of Some Girl(s) at the Gielgud Theatre.[13] [14] The cast also included Catherine Tate, Lesley Manville and Saffron Burrows.[15]

In April 2003, she made her debut as a theatre director with Come Out Eli, a play based on the events of the Hackney siege, Britain's longest police siege.[16] [17] It opened at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London only four months after the siege ended. The story was told through recounting interviews taken from eyewitnesses and local residents during the incident.[18] Powell dismissed accusations that the production was exploiting a tragedy, "This [is] not exploitative to me because we are re-telling people's stories. We are not using the stories in any way because we are telling them in the way they told us during the interviews. It is a different method of storytelling to your usual theatre experience. It is technically quite difficult but it does capture the nuances of tone and speech in a very real way."

In 2019, she got a small part in the romantic comedy film Last Christmas, written by Emma Thompson and starring Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke.[19] Three years later, she joined Clarke in her West End debut, Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, directed by Jamie Lloyd.[20] It was broadcast in cinemas worldwide as part of the National Theatre Live programme,[21] just like Powell's other theatrical production, The Madness of George III (2018), with Mark Gatiss as the lead.[22] Two more plays starring Powell, Mapping the Edge (2001) and Albert Camus's The Plague (2017), have been broadcast on BBC Radio.[23]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992The Golden YearsTecuichpoTV film
1994One Night StandAnnaShort film[24]
1996The OfficeJoanTV film[25]
2008My Zinc BedMaxineTV film
2016DenialJacqueline Thomas
2019RuthRuthShort film; lead role[26]
Last ChristmasCasting Director[27]
2023The Red BallMotherShort film[28]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1992Between the LinesSchool TeacherEpisode: "The Chill Factor"
1993–2009The BillVarious5 episodes
1993–1994London's BurningSally ReidRegular role in series 6–7; 21 episodes
1997CasualtyJustine Leonard2 episodes
1998Vanity FairMiss Swartz2 episodes
2001–2012DoctorsVarious5 episodes
2002Silent WitnessDS Esther Linden2 episodes
2005Judge John DeedKerry RamsayEpisode: "Lost and Found"
2006The Family ManJaneMain role; 3 episodes
2007–2008HolbyBlueRachel BarkerMain role in series 1–2; 16 episodes
2010–2011Florrie's DragonsSplish-Splash (voice)52 episodes
2011Sadie JTraci2 episodes
Annetta TrewEpisode: "Deal"
2012Public EnemiesDawn CloughEpisode #1.3
CasualtyKerry FitzgeraldEpisode: "Confidences"
2013The Ice Cream GirlsFez Gorringe3 episodes
2015You, Me and the ApocalypseNaomi3 episodes
2016–2018DamnedCass8 episodes
2017Little Boy BlueACC Pat Gallan4 episodes
Midsomer MurdersMaxine LockstonEpisode: "Crime and Punishment"
2018Silent WitnessTilly Maddox2 episodes
UnforgottenArbiter3 episodes
2019Death in ParadiseJosephine PorterEpisode: "Frappe Death Day"
2021GhostsJacquiEpisode: "I Love Lucy"
Doctor WhoMary SeacoleEpisode: "War of the Sontarans"
2022Murder in ProvenceCosette FaraudEpisode #1.2
The House Across the StreetJoanne4 episodes
2023The Killing KindBelinda Grey5 episodes

Audio

Full-cast audio dramas

YearTitleRoleProductionNotes
2014Blake's 7Dr Cara PetrusBig Finish ProductionsEpisode: "Drones"
The Early AdventuresAudrey NewmanEpisode: "An Ordinary Life"
2015Pathfinder LegendsDeka-An-Keret / ZizziraEpisode: "Shifting Sands"
2016The Diary of River SongThe PAEpisode: "World Enough and Time"
2016–2017The PrisonerNumber 9 / Number 90Series 1–2
2017Blake's 7RokonEpisode: "Liberation"
2018The Early AdventuresJacklyn KarnaEpisode: "The Dalek Occupation of Winter"
The Seventh Doctor: The New AdventuresContessaEpisode: "Vanguard"
2021The Fourth Doctor AdventuresEmma FremantleEpisode: "The World Traders"
TorchwoodMo SimisterEpisode: "The Five People You Kill in Middlesbrough"
Jenny: The Doctor's DaughterAndros Fax / Bar PersonEpisode: "Inside the Maldovarium"
2022PeladonQueen MinarisEpisode: "The Death of Peladon"
The War MasterBlythe / Confederation Official2 episodes
2023The Fourth Doctor AdventuresMoira TenakaEpisode: "The Wizard of Time"

Audiobook narration

Video games

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenue
1995The House of Bernarda AlbaMagdalenaThe Brix Theatre[45]
Our Country's GoodDabbyTheatr Clwyd[46]
1996Golden GirlsDorcas Ableman[47]
1998The Basset TableLady LucyBristol Old Vic
1999Troilus and CressidaAndromacheNational Theatre
The Darker Face of the EarthScylla
1999–2000Honk! The Ugly DucklingMaureen[48]
2000The Villain's OperaMardelle
2000–2001The Duchess of MalfiCariolaRoyal Shakespeare Company
2001Mapping the EdgeNadiaCrucible Theatre[49]
2003Racing DemonStella MarrBirmingham Repertory Theatre[50]
Murmuring JudgesIrina Platt[51]
The Absence of WarMary Housego[52]
2003–2004World MusicPaulette JonesCrucible Theatre / Donmar Warehouse[53]
2004Stuff HappensForeign Office officialNational Theatre[54]
2005MacbethLady MacduffAlmeida Theatre
Some Girl(s)TylerGielgud Theatre
2011A Walk On PartActressSoho Theatre
2013DisgracedJoryBush Theatre
2015The CrucibleTitubaBristol Old Vic[55]
2017Richard IIIQueen ElizabethArcola Theatre
The PlagueDr. Rieux[56]
2018The Madness of George IIILady PembrokeNottingham Playhouse[57]
2019Keith?VeenaArcola Theatre[58]
CyranoRoxaneBristol Old Vic[59]
2021–2022Vanya and Sonia and Masha and SpikeCassandraCharing Cross Theatre
2022The SeagullPolina AndryevnaHarold Pinter Theatre

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ★ Sara Powell Address . 2022-09-26 . www.fanmail.biz.
  2. Web site: Shury-Smith . Hannah . TBB TALKS … The Seagull with Sara Powell The British Blacklist . 6 September 2022 . 2022-09-26 . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Sara Powell BBA Shakespeare . 2022-09-26 . bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk.
  4. Web site: WhatsOnStage Award Winners . 2022-09-27 . The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama . 5 March 2019 . en . The Madness of King George III – including performance from Sara Powell (Stage 1992).
  5. Web site: admin . Sara Powell Interview . 2022-09-26 . www.holby.tv . 9 March 2010 . en-US.
  6. Web site: BBC . The Family Man . 2022-09-26 . www.bbc.co.uk . en-gb.
  7. Web site: BBC - Drama - Holby Blue - Sara Powell as Rachel Barker . 2022-09-26 . www.bbc.co.uk.
  8. News: Hogan . Michael . 2021-11-07 . Doctor Who: Flux, episode 2, review: Chibnall's heroic charge may be too late . en-GB . The Telegraph . 2022-09-26 . 0307-1235.
  9. Web site: Haring . Bruce . 2021-10-15 . 'Doctor Who: Flux' Releases First-Look Trailer For 13th Season, Spotlighting Guest Actors And Monsters . 2022-09-26 . Deadline . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2021-11-07 . The week in TV: Doctor Who; Showtrial; How Green Is the Government?; Dalgliesh . 2022-09-26 . the Guardian . en.
  11. Web site: Sara Powell - Contributions - Big Finish . 2022-09-26 . www.bigfinish.com.
  12. Web site: Production of The Duchess of Malfi Theatricalia . 2022-09-26 . theatricalia.com.
  13. Web site: 2005-05-25 . Some Girls, Gielgud, London . 2022-09-26 . the Guardian . en.
  14. Web site: Standard . Nicholas de Jongh, Evening . 2012-04-10 . Schwimmer and his girl (Friends) . 2022-09-26 . Evening Standard . en.
  15. News: JOHNS . IAN . Neil LaBute double sting in his tales . . en . 2023-01-26 . 0140-0460.
  16. Web site: 2003-01-10 . Longest siege in British police history . 2023-01-26 . the Guardian . en.
  17. News: Marlowe . Sam . 2003-09-08 . Come Out Eli . en . The Times . 2023-01-26 . 0140-0460.
  18. News: 2003-04-30 . Hackney siege hits stage . en-GB . 2023-01-26.
  19. Web site: Christmas, romance film 'Last Christmas' featuring Sara Powell and Calvin Demba. . 2022-09-26 . SueTerryVoices . en.
  20. Web site: Wild . Stephi . Full Cast Announced for The Jamie Lloyd Company's THE SEAGULL, Starring Emilia Clarke . 2023-02-02 . BroadwayWorld.com . en.
  21. Web site: 2022-07-29 . National Theatre Live to Broadcast The Seagull Starring Emilia Clarke . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220729152259/https://playbill.com/article/national-theatre-live-to-broadcast-the-seagull-starring-emilia-clarke . 2022-07-29 . 2022-09-26 . Playbill.
  22. Web site: 2020-06-15 . The Madness of George III, National Theatre Live on YouTube, stage review: 'Hamilton's less musical British cousin' . 2022-09-26 . Hackney Citizen . en-GB.
  23. Web site: BBC Programme Index . 2022-09-27 . genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 26 July 2020 .
  24. Web site: One Night Stand (1993) . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202223635/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7d1e6e5d . dead . February 2, 2023 . 2023-02-02 . BFI . en.
  25. Web site: 2020-09-19 . The Office (ITV Sitcom, Robert Lindsay, Isla Blair) Memorable TV - Episodes, News & More . 2023-02-02 . en-US.
  26. Web site: Ruth -Trailer . 2023-02-02 . screeningroom.nfts.co.uk . en-us.
  27. Web site: Colin Morgan and Emma Appleton to lead new thriller The Killing Kind . 2023-02-02 . Radio Times . en.
  28. Web site: Talk Radio Hidden Art Films Liverpool . 2023-02-02 . hiddenartfilms . en.
  29. Book: The Cellar . en.
  30. Book: When I Was Invisible . en.
  31. Book: All Men Want to Know . en.
  32. Book: Bryan, Judith . Bernard and the Cloth Monkey. 4 February 2021 .
  33. Book: The Sex Lives of African Women . en.
  34. Book: Citizens . en.
  35. Book: Assassin's Orbit . en.
  36. Book: Sankofa . en.
  37. Book: Island Songs . en.
  38. Book: What Is History, Now? . en.
  39. Book: In Every Mirror She's Black . en.
  40. Web site: Evelyn Dove: Britain's Black Cabaret Queen . 2022-09-27 . Audiobooks.com . en.
  41. Book: The Wordhord . en.
  42. Book: Watson, Mary . Blood to Poison . en.
  43. Book: The Blunder . en.
  44. Web site: Racial Code: Tales of Resistance and Survival . 2022-09-27 . Audiobooks.com . en.
  45. Web site: 1995-04-18 . A broad church in Brixton . 2022-09-27 . The Independent . en.
  46. Web site: Macbeth . 2022-09-27 . Almeida Theatre . en.
  47. Web site: Programme for 'Golden girls' by Louise Page . 2022-09-27 . Mercury Theatre . en-GB.
  48. Web site: Sara Powell theatre profile . 2022-09-27 . www.abouttheartists.com.
  49. Web site: wilson+wilson . 2022-09-27 . Wils Wilson . en-US.
  50. Web site: Dungate . Rod . 2003-03-21 . RACING DEMON: till 19 April . 2022-09-27 . ReviewsGate . en-GB.
  51. Web site: Review: Theatre of the highest quality; Murmuring Judges Birmingham Rep. - Free Online Library . 2022-09-27 . www.thefreelibrary.com . The Birmingham Post.
  52. Web site: Dungate . Rod . 2003-03-20 . THE ABSENCE OF WAR: till 19 April . 2022-09-27 . ReviewsGate . en-GB.
  53. Web site: Aguinaldo . WORLD MUSIC. To 7 June. . 16 May 2018 . 2022-09-27 . en-GB.
  54. Web site: Sara Powell . 2022-09-27 . www.bushtheatre.co.uk . en-GB.
  55. Web site: The Crucible review, Old Vic, Bristol, 2015 . 2022-09-27 . The Stage . En.
  56. Web site: 2018-03-05 . The Plague . 2022-09-26 . Arcola Theatre . en-US.
  57. Web site: 2018-11-07 . The Madness of George III review – Mark Gatiss delivers a tour de force . 2022-09-26 . the Guardian . en.
  58. Web site: Wild . Stephi . Photos: First Look at KEITH? A COMEDY . 2022-09-27 . BroadwayWorld.com . en.
  59. Web site: 2019-10-24 . Cyrano review – sorely lacking in panache . 2022-09-26 . the Guardian . en.