Jemima Rooper (born 24 October 1981) is an English actress. Having started as a child actress in television series, she has appeared in numerous film and theatre roles.

Jemima Rooper
Born (1981-10-24) 24 October 1981 (age 42)
Hammersmith, London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1993–present

Background edit

Born in Hammersmith, London, Rooper is the daughter of TV journalist Alison Rooper. She attended Redcliffe Primary School in Chelsea and the Godolphin and Latymer School. While working on The Famous Five, she passed eight GCSEs with A* and A grades. From there she went to MPW sixth form college where she got three A-grade A levels. Rooper bought her first home at the age of 19.[citation needed]

Career edit

Rooper expressed a wish to be an actress at the age of nine and contacted an agent.[1] Her first professional roles were in the 1993 film The Higher Mortals and the 1994 film Willie's War. In 1996, she appeared in all episodes as George in Enid Blyton's The Famous Five.

She said:

I remember writing "I want to act" on my bed in lipstick. I think I told my mum I wanted to be an actress and she said I needed an agent to do that. I must have said: "Well, I'm going to get one"—and I think that's why. She was devastated. She said: "Please don't be an actress, be a doctor or lawyer." But I was very tunnel-visioned about it all. I'm an only child and I spent a lot of time alone. I played a lot of imaginary games. I just wanted to dress up and be weird, I suppose.

After several small roles in British TV series, Jemima took the role of Nicki Sutton in the popular Channel 4 teenage series As If, which successfully ran for three years. Her next appearance was in the supernatural drama Hex where she played a lovable lesbian ghost named Thelma. Hex aired on Sky One and ran for two series between 2004 and 2005.[2]

Rooper made her Hollywood debut in The Black Dahlia. In 2008 she starred in the TV series Lost in Austen In 2013 she played a role as Medusa in Atlantis. Also guest starred in Agatha Christie's Poirot. She also played a lead role in Her Naked Skin, a new play at the National Theatre. In December 2010, Rooper was cast in the musical Me and My Girl at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, alongside Miriam Margolyes.[3] Having been featured in films including The Railway Children, A Sound of Thunder, Kinky Boots, One Chance and The F Word (as the on-screen sister of Daniel Radcliffe's character) since 2003, she has since appeared in numerous guest roles on British series including Father Brown.

In September 2023, Rooper starred in the Channel 5 drama series The Inheritance, appearing alongside Samantha Bond, Rob James-Collier, Gaynor Faye and Adil Ray.[4]

Stage edit

Rooper was seen on stage in One Man, Two Guvnors, which was favourably reviewed. She has since appeared in Blithe Spirit and Breeders in the West End.[5]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Higher Mortals Vicky
1994 Willie's War Annabel
1998 Owd Bob Maggie Moore
2002 Snapshots Narma (20 years old)
2005 A Sound of Thunder Jenny Krase
Kinky Boots Nicola
2006 The Black Dahlia Lorna Mertz
2011 Hotel Caledonia Casey Wright
2013 One Chance Hydrangea
The F Word Ellie
2022 Matriarch Laura
The People We Hate at the Wedding Mimzy
2023 The Isle Tide Hotel Price[6] Interactive film[7]

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1996–1997 The Famous Five George Series regular
1998 Animal Ark Rachel Farmer Episode; "Guinea Pig in the Garage"
1999 Junk Gemma Brogan TV film
The Passion Alice TV series
Shockers: Dance Anne TV film
Wives and Daughters Lizzie Goodenough Miniseries
2000 Summer in the Suburbs Judie Lyle TV film
The Railway Children Bobbie TV film
Life Force Siren Episode: "Siren Song"
Urban Gothic Nik Episode: "Dead Meat"
2001 Love in a Cold Climate Jassy Miniseries
2001–2004 As If Nicki Sutton Series regular
2004 Midsomer Murders Jo Clifford Episode: "The Straw Woman"
2005 The Brief Mia Ottway Episode 2.2
2004–2005 Hex Thelma Bates Series regular
2006 Sugar Rush Montana Episode 2.5
Silent Witness Claire Ashen 2 episodes; "Schism: Part 1", "Schism: Part 2"
Sinchronicity Fi Series regular
Perfect Day: The Millennium Amber TV film
Random Quest Gerry TV film
2007 Life Line Catt TV film
The Time of Your Life Emma Series regular
2008 Agatha Christie's Poirot Norma Restarick Episode: "Third Girl"
Lost in Austen Amanda Price Miniseries, 4 episodes
2010 Reunited Sophie TV movie
Bouquet of Barbed Wire Sarah Francis Miniseries, 3 episodes
2011 Frankenstein's Wedding Justine Mortiz Television film
2013–2015 Atlantis Medusa Main role
2014 Blandings Lesley Drabble Episode: "Hallo to All This"
2017 Fearless Maggie 3 episodes
2018 Death in Paradise Karen Marston Episode: "Murder From Above"
Trauma Nora Baker 3 episodes
2019 Father Brown Lilith Crowe Episode: "The Whistle in the Dark“
Silent Witness Amy Marlow Episode: "Two Spirits" Part 1 & 2
Gold Digger Della Day Miniseries, 6 episodes
2021 The Girlfriend Experience Leanne Season 3; 7 episodes
2022 The Split India Series 3
Flowers in the Attic: The Origin Olivia Winfield Miniseries[8]
2023 Sister Boniface Mysteries Verity Martin Episode: "The It Girl"
Grantchester Josephine Hanlan Season 8; Episode 3
The Inheritance 4 episodes

Theatre edit

References edit

  1. ^ Williams, Andrew (8 September 2005). "60 Seconds: Jemima Rooper". Metro. Archived from the original on 15 August 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  2. ^ "IMDb". IMDb. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Jemima Rooper | London Theatre". Westendtheatre.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  4. ^ Robinson, Abby (4 September 2023). "The Inheritance cast: Meet the characters in Channel 5 drama". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  5. ^ "One Man, Two Guvnors – review" Archived 14 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine. The Guardian, 25 May 2011.
  6. ^ Bamsey, Ryan Thomas (12 September 2023). "The Isle Tide Hotel Review - An Over-The-Top Mystery Romp". thegamer.com. Compelling writing and a juicy mystery make for a fun time in this stylish, if uneven, FMV game.
  7. ^ Packwood, Lewis (20 September 2023). "The Isle Tide Hotel: like Wes Anderson directing a playable episode of Doctor Who". The Guardian. Brother and sister duo Grace and Harry Chadwick have followed in the footsteps of Charlie Brooker's Bandersnatch with an interactive film about body swapping
  8. ^ Petski, Denise (17 August 2021). "Lifetime Greenlights 'Flowers In The Attic' Prequel Miniseries With Jemima Rooper, Max Irons, Kelsey Grammer, Harry Hamlin, Moren". Deadline.
  9. ^ "Acting Company Announced for Tricycle Theatre's 'The Great Game: Afghanistan'". Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
  10. ^ "The Power of Yes Cast Credits". Royal National Theatre. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  11. ^ "All My Sons Extends At The Apollo Theatre Through Oct 2". Broadway World. 18 June 2010. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  12. ^ "One Man, Two Guvnors Cast Credits". Royal National Theatre. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  13. ^ "Blithe Spirit, Delfont Mackintosh Theatres". Delfont Mackintosh Theatres. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.

External links edit