Joanna McCallum (born 27 June 1950) is an English theatre, film and television actress.

Joanna McCallum
McCallum in 2009
Born (1950-06-27) 27 June 1950 (age 73)
London, England
EducationNational Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
SpouseRoger Davenport
Children2
Parent(s)Googie Withers, John McCallum

Early years and personal life edit

She is the daughter of English actress Googie Withers and Australian actor John McCallum, and was educated at St Catherine's School in Melbourne. McCallum graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)[1] in 1969. She is married to writer Roger Davenport.

Theatre edit

McCallum is best known for her extensive work in theatre. Notable roles include Portia in The Merchant of Venice, with Alec Guinness as Shylock (Chichester Festival Theatre, dir. Patrick Garland, 1984);[2] heading a vast cast as Jane Marryot in Noël Coward's Cavalcade (Chichester Festival Theatre, dir. David Gilmore, 1985);[3] and Margeurite Blakeney, opposite Donald Sinden as Sir Percy Blakeney, in The Scarlet Pimpernel (Her Majesty's Theatre, dir. Nicholas Hytner, 1985).[4] She was Meg Page, one of The Merry Wives of Windsor, with Susannah York as Alice Ford (Royal Shakespeare Company, dir. Ian Judge, 1997);[5] and Gertrude, alongside Mark Rylance as Hamlet, at the reconstructed Globe Theatre on London's South Bank (dir. Giles Block, 2000).[6] McCallum played Princess Dragomiroff in the 2022 production of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express (Chichester Festival Theatre, dir. Jonathan Church).[7][8]


Film and television edit

McCallum played the central character, Aroon, in a three part adaptation of Molly Keane's Anglo Irish novel Good Behaviour (BBC Television, dir. Bill Hays, 1983),[9][10] and co-starred with Trevor Eve in A Wreath of Roses, adapted from the book by Elizabeth Taylor (Granada Television, dir. John Madden, 1987).[11][12]

In The Franchise Affair, a 1988 BBC Television serial, she played Marion Sharp opposite Rosalie Crutchley and Patrick Malahide.[13] She was writer Winifred Holtby in the last episode of Testament of Youth (BBC Television, 1979)[14] and Virginia Woolf in the film Tom & Viv (1994).[15]

McCallum played the missionary Alicia Bassett-Hill in the 1989 TV serial The Ginger Tree, which was based on the novel of the same name by Oswald Wynd; it also starred Samantha Bond and Daisuke Ryu.[citation needed]

Her other television appearances have included episodes of Holby City,[citation needed] All Creatures Great and Small,[citation needed] and Agatha Christie's Poirot.[citation needed]

Other Activities edit

Joanna McCallum is currently a Vice President of The Theatrical Guild,[16] (formerly The Theatrical Ladies Guild), having previously been Chairman, and has worked with the charity for many years. She is also a Vice President of Acting For Others,[17] and is active in fundraising work within the theatre community.

Selected Film and Television Credits edit

Selected Stage Work edit

Selected Radio Drama Appearances[41] edit

  • Doctor Who: Night Thoughts (Big Finish Productions)
  • The Big Toe Radio Show (BBC 7)
  • Waterloo Sunset (BBC Radio 4, dir. David Jackson Young)
  • The Open Window: Claw Marks on The Curtain (BBC Radio 4, dir. Ned Chaillet)
  • Meet Mr Mulliner (BBC Radio 4, dir. Ned Chaillet)
  • Woman's Hour Short Stories (BBC Radio 4, dir. Pat McLoughlin)
  • A Murder Is Announced (BBC Radio 4, dir. Enyd Williams)
  • This Love, This Love (based on Harriette Wilson's memoirs, BBC Radio 4, dir. David Johnson)
  • Dear Brutus (BBC Radio 4, dir. Caroline Raphael)
  • A Wheel of Fortune (BBC Radio 4, dir. Matthew Walters)
  • The Other Woman (BBC Radio 4, dir. Jane Morgan)
  • The Tortoise & The Hare (BBC Radio 4, dir. Caroline Raphael)

References edit

  1. ^ All Alumni (1960–1969) at nida.com.au
  2. ^ "Cast List, The Merchant of Venice (1984) – Pass It On".
  3. ^ "Cast List, Cavalcade (1985) – Pass It On".
  4. ^ "Cast List, The Scarlet Pimpernel (1985) – Pass It On".
  5. ^ "Search | RSC Performances | MEW199712 - The Merry Wives of Windsor | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk.
  6. ^ Bessell, Jaq (March 2001). "Hamlet" (PDF). Shakespeare's Globe. Research Bulletin (17): 3. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Murder on the Orient Express at Chichester Theatre Festival". 3 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Murder on the Orient Express Is Definitely Worth the Ticket". 14 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Good Behaviour: 1". 28 October 1983. p. 75 – via BBC Genome.
  10. ^ "Good Behaviour (1983)". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020.
  11. ^ "A Wreath of Roses (1987)". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Television Reviews : PBS' 'Wreath' Captures the Heart of Loneliness". Los Angeles Times. 7 January 1989.
  13. ^ "The Franchise Affair Episode 1 (1988)". BFI. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Testament of Youth". 31 August 1980. p. 34 – via BBC Genome.
  15. ^ "Tom & Viv (1994)". BFI. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Who We Are – The Theatrical Guild".
  17. ^ "Who is involved". Acting for Others.
  18. ^ "The Gathering Storm (2002)". BFI. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016.
  19. ^ "Wide Eyed & Legless (1993)". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016.
  20. ^ "The Eligible Bachelor (1993)". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020.
  21. ^ "The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1990)". BFI. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019.
  22. ^ "A Still Small Shout (1985)". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Coriolanus (1984)". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018.
  24. ^ "BBC TV series about the English Civil War: By The Sword Divided Brief Summary, Cast List, DVDs, Book". www.booksmusicfilmstv.com.
  25. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Henry VI Part I (1983) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  26. ^ "Hopscotch (1980)". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017.
  27. ^ "Pygmalion (1973)". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Barbara of the House of Grebe (1973)". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020.
  29. ^ "Nickel Queen (1971)". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Uncle Vanya". HOME.
  31. ^ "Hobson's Choice - Vaudeville Theatre". actdrop.uk.
  32. ^ "Hobson's Choice tickets – Vaudeville Theatre London". Official Theatre.
  33. ^ "Review of Hobson's Choice at the Vaudeville Theatre". 16 June 2016.
  34. ^ "Hobson's Choice, Vaudeville Theatre". theartsdesk.com. 19 June 2016.
  35. ^ "Production of Hobson's Choice | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  36. ^ "The Importance of Being Earnest at Salisbury Playhouse". Swindon Advertiser.
  37. ^ "Search | RSC Performances | CYM199702 - Cymbeline | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk.
  38. ^ "Love's Labour's Lost (1977): Bristol Old Vic | BBA Shakespeare". bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk.
  39. ^ "Production of Love's Labour's Lost | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  40. ^ "AusStage". www.ausstage.edu.au.
  41. ^ "Dalzell & Beresford Ltd - Joanna McCallum". www.dalzellandberesford.com.

External links edit