Essex is probably most famous now for the cast of The Only Way is Essex, but do you know, Essex has also produced some of Britain’s favourite actors and actresses? Probably as far from a typical Essex girl as you can imagine, Dame Maggie Smith was born in Ilford in 1934. Probably most well known for playing Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, she has more recently starred in Britain’s favourite TV show, Downton Abbey as Violet Crawley which won her two Emmy awards, a Golden Globe Award and four screen actors guild awards!
Speaking of awards, did you know film star Dudley Moore also hailed from Essex? He spent his childhood in Dagenham where it became apparent he had a musical talent, and went on to become an accomplished pianist before entering the world of film. His Oscar nominated film Arthur in 1981 is probably his most famous role, but children may know him from the 1985 Santa Claus movie, in which he starred as the elf, Patch.
How about everyone’s favourite Mitchell Brother, Ross Kemp? Ross comes from Barking and you may not know that his first television appearance was actually in Emmerdale in 1986, before moving to Walford to become half of the notorious Mitchell Brothers in EastEnders! He has also taken part in dangerous TV shows including Ross Kemp in search of Pirates and Ross Kemp Extreme world, he travels the world in search meeting people from all walks of life, he may well have yearned for some proper Essex bathrooms in some of the places he visited, from http://www.rgcole.co.uk/Old-Charm-Furniture-By-Wood-Bros.
Another EastEnder who started life in in Essex is Tamzin Outhwaite. Tamzin was born in Ilford, and joined the soap in 1999 as Melanie Healey who went on to marry gangster Steve Owen. She left the soap in 2002 and more recently went on to star in popular TV series New Tricks as DCI Sasha Miller.
Alex Jennings, who played Prince Charles in The Queen alongside Helen Mirren was also born in Essex before training at Bristol Old Vic theatre school. He starred alongside fellow Essex actress Dame Maggie Smith in the Film Lady in the Van, where he portrayed playwright Alan Bennett.
So now you know…. There’s more to Essex than meets the eye!
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