Emma Williams (actress)
Encyclopedia
Emma Williams is a British
actress. After, going to North Halifax Grammar School
and studying at the Stage84 stage school in Idle, West Yorkshire
, she has had a successful career in TV, film and on stage.
, Agatha Christie's Marple, Doctors
and Bleak House and the film The Parole Officer
. Her second feature film, entitled Cosi and starred Richard E. Grant
, was released in 2010. Williams played opera singer Tamsin Ford. Williams' latest film venture, 10 Arenas of Marwood, is set to be released in 2011.
, Promises, Promises
and starred as the female lead in the premiere of Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll
. Williams starred as Truly Scrumptious
in the original cast of the West End
production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
at the London Palladium
, where she was the youngest ever female lead on the West End and won an award for the Most Promising Newcomer.
According to the British tabloid newspaper the Sunday Mirror
, Williams was signed to play Maria von Trapp
under a 6 month contract. However, the winner of the BBC
reality
TV show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
would still get a 6 month contract and perform 4 of the shows a week. On the 22 September 2006, Williams in a joint statement with Andrew Lloyd Webber
pulled out of The Sound of Music
, by mutual agreement.
Stage roles include; Truly Scrumptious
(Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
), Scarlett Rhodes (Playing for Reward), Emma and Kelly (workshop of Country Music), Julie Waller (workshop of Come Dancing), Betty Schaefer (Sunset Boulevard
), Shelley Parker (Bat Boy: The Musical
), Ellie Brookes (workshop and production of Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll
), Fran Kubelik (Promises, Promises
), Maria (workshops of The Sound of Music
), Chipo the Flamingo (recording of Bush Tales), Female (workshop of the Damon Albarn musical), Kat in Tomorrow Morning
(new British musical by composer/lyricist Laurence Mark Wythe
; at the New End Theatre London), Susan (workshops of Desperately Seeking Susan
and the original London cast at the Novello Theatre
from October 2007), Christine Keeler (A Model Girl), Faith (The Lucky Man), Johanna (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
), Jenny (Love Story
), Kathy and Annie (workshop of Up the Junction), Miss Honey (workshop of Matilda
), Rosy (workshop of Liberation Day - National Theatre). She has also appeared in several concerts and recordings.
Williams recently appeared as Johanna in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
at the Royal Festival Hall
with Bryn Terfel, and at London's Novello Theatre
as Susan in the world premiere of Desperately Seeking Susan
.
In 2009 Williams was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Luisa in Zorro
at the Garrick Theatre
. She also appeared as a guest singer in Michael Ball
's 25th Anniversary Concert Tour with a DVD being released of the Albert Hall
performance. Later in the year, she guested on BBC Radio 2
's Friday Night is Music Night
.
Her most recent project is playing Jenny in Love Story
at Chichester Festival Theatre
in Summer 2010, a new musical by Howard Goodall
and Stephen Clark, based on Erich Segal's book and film of the same name. The show later moved to the West End and earned Williams another nomination for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actress. After, going to North Halifax Grammar School
North Halifax Grammar School
The North Halifax Grammar School is a grammar school, specialist science college and specialist languages college in Illingworth, Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. It is in the east of Illingworth, towards Holmfield and Holdsworth...
and studying at the Stage84 stage school in Idle, West Yorkshire
Idle, West Yorkshire
The village of Idle and its outskirts make up a mainly residential suburban area in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, in England. The area is loosely bordered by the areas of Eccleshill, Wrose, Thackley and Greengates, in the north east of the city....
, she has had a successful career in TV, film and on stage.
TV & film
Williams has starred in various TV shows including Heartbeat, Where the Heart IsWhere the Heart Is (1997 TV series)
Where the Heart Is is a British television drama series set in the fictional town Skelthwaite.First shown in 1997, it was created by Ashley Pharoah and Vicky Featherstone...
, Agatha Christie's Marple, Doctors
Doctors (BBC Soap Opera)
Doctors is a British daytime television soap opera, set in the fictional Midland town of Letherbridge, defined as being close to the City of Birmingham. It was created by Chris Murray; Mal Young drove its development, and Carson Black was the original producer. The first episode was broadcast on...
and Bleak House and the film The Parole Officer
The Parole Officer
The Parole Officer is a 2001 film, directed by John Duigan and was the first feature film to star comedian Steve Coogan. The film follows a mismatched group of former criminals as they assist their probation officer in proving his innocence after a murder accusation.-Plot:Simon Garden is a...
. Her second feature film, entitled Cosi and starred Richard E. Grant
Richard E. Grant
Richard E. Grant is a Swaziland-born British actor, screenwriter and director. His most notable role came in the film Withnail and I. He holds dual British and Swazi citizenship.-Early life:...
, was released in 2010. Williams played opera singer Tamsin Ford. Williams' latest film venture, 10 Arenas of Marwood, is set to be released in 2011.
Stage career
Williams has starred in Bat Boy: The MusicalBat Boy: The Musical
Bat Boy: The Musical is a musical with a book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming and music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe, based on a June 23, 1992 Weekly World News story about a half-boy, half-bat, dubbed "Bat Boy", found living in a cave....
, Promises, Promises
Promises, Promises
Promises, Promises is a musical based on the 1960 film The Apartment. The music is by Burt Bacharach, lyrics by Hal David, and book by Neil Simon. Musical numbers for the original Broadway production were choreographed by Michael Bennett; Robert Moore directed and David Merrick produced...
and starred as the female lead in the premiere of Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll
Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll
Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll is a six-part television mini-series which was written and created by Debbie Horsfield and directed by John Woods...
. Williams starred as Truly Scrumptious
Truly Scrumptious
Truly Scrumptious is a fictional character in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, based on the children's novel of the same name by Ian Fleming.She does not appear in the book. In the film the character is portrayed by singer/actress Sally Ann Howes....
in the original cast of the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, also known as Chitty the Musical, is a stage musical based on the 1968 film produced by Cubby Broccoli. The music and lyrics were written by Richard and Robert Sherman with book by Jeremy Sams.-Productions:...
at the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
, where she was the youngest ever female lead on the West End and won an award for the Most Promising Newcomer.
According to the British tabloid newspaper the Sunday Mirror
Sunday Mirror
The Sunday Mirror is the Sunday sister paper of the Daily Mirror. It began life in 1915 as the Sunday Pictorial and was renamed the Sunday Mirror in 1963. Trinity Mirror also owns The People...
, Williams was signed to play Maria von Trapp
Maria von Trapp
Maria Augusta von Trapp , also known as Baroness Maria von Trapp, was the stepmother and matriarch of the Trapp Family Singers...
under a 6 month contract. However, the winner of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reality
Reality
In philosophy, reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined. In a wider definition, reality includes everything that is and has been, whether or not it is observable or comprehensible...
TV show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? was a British television talent series, that was broadcast on Saturday evenings on BBC One between 29 July and 16 September 2006. It documented the search for a new, undiscovered musical theatre performer to play the role of Maria von Trapp in the 2006 Andrew...
would still get a 6 month contract and perform 4 of the shows a week. On the 22 September 2006, Williams in a joint statement with Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
pulled out of The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
, by mutual agreement.
Stage roles include; Truly Scrumptious
Truly Scrumptious
Truly Scrumptious is a fictional character in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, based on the children's novel of the same name by Ian Fleming.She does not appear in the book. In the film the character is portrayed by singer/actress Sally Ann Howes....
(Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, also known as Chitty the Musical, is a stage musical based on the 1968 film produced by Cubby Broccoli. The music and lyrics were written by Richard and Robert Sherman with book by Jeremy Sams.-Productions:...
), Scarlett Rhodes (Playing for Reward), Emma and Kelly (workshop of Country Music), Julie Waller (workshop of Come Dancing), Betty Schaefer (Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard (musical)
Sunset Boulevard is a musical with book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Based on the 1950 film of the same title, the plot revolves around Norma Desmond, a faded star of the silent screen era, living in the past in her decaying mansion on the...
), Shelley Parker (Bat Boy: The Musical
Bat Boy: The Musical
Bat Boy: The Musical is a musical with a book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming and music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe, based on a June 23, 1992 Weekly World News story about a half-boy, half-bat, dubbed "Bat Boy", found living in a cave....
), Ellie Brookes (workshop and production of Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll
Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll
Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll is a six-part television mini-series which was written and created by Debbie Horsfield and directed by John Woods...
), Fran Kubelik (Promises, Promises
Promises, Promises
Promises, Promises is a musical based on the 1960 film The Apartment. The music is by Burt Bacharach, lyrics by Hal David, and book by Neil Simon. Musical numbers for the original Broadway production were choreographed by Michael Bennett; Robert Moore directed and David Merrick produced...
), Maria (workshops of The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
), Chipo the Flamingo (recording of Bush Tales), Female (workshop of the Damon Albarn musical), Kat in Tomorrow Morning
Tomorrow Morning
Tomorrow Morning is a musical by British composer and lyricist Laurence Mark Wythe. The story concerns the relationships of two couples separated by a span of time; one couple is getting married, while the other is getting divorced....
(new British musical by composer/lyricist Laurence Mark Wythe
Laurence Mark Wythe
Laurence Mark Wythe is an award winning English composer, lyricist and writer for West End and Off-Broadway musicals. He is principally known for the off-Broadway musical Tomorrow Morning and Through the Door seen in the West End at the Trafalgar Studios starring Julie Atherton...
; at the New End Theatre London), Susan (workshops of Desperately Seeking Susan
Desperately Seeking Susan
Desperately Seeking Susan is a 1985 American comedy-drama film directed by Susan Seidelman and starring Rosanna Arquette and Madonna.-Plot:...
and the original London cast at the Novello Theatre
Novello Theatre
The Novello Theatre is a West End theatre on Aldwych, in the City of Westminster.-History:The theatre was built as one of a pair with the Aldwych Theatre on either side of the Waldorf Hotel, both being designed by W. G. R. Sprague. The theatre opened as the Waldorf Theatre on 22 May 1905, and was...
from October 2007), Christine Keeler (A Model Girl), Faith (The Lucky Man), Johanna (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1936 British film produced and directed by George King.-Plot:The film features Tod Slaughter in one of his most famous roles as barber Sweeney Todd. Sweeney Todd was wrongly sentenced to life in prison. After his release 15 years later, he begins...
), Jenny (Love Story
Love Story (musical)
Love Story is a musical written by Stephen Clark withmusic by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Stephen Clark and Goodall. It is inspired by Erich Segal’s best-selling novel of the same name...
), Kathy and Annie (workshop of Up the Junction), Miss Honey (workshop of Matilda
Matilda (musical)
Matilda is a musical written by Dennis Kelly with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. It is based on the children's novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. The musical was performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company starting in December 2010 and running through January 2011...
), Rosy (workshop of Liberation Day - National Theatre). She has also appeared in several concerts and recordings.
Williams recently appeared as Johanna in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1936 British film produced and directed by George King.-Plot:The film features Tod Slaughter in one of his most famous roles as barber Sweeney Todd. Sweeney Todd was wrongly sentenced to life in prison. After his release 15 years later, he begins...
at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
with Bryn Terfel, and at London's Novello Theatre
Novello Theatre
The Novello Theatre is a West End theatre on Aldwych, in the City of Westminster.-History:The theatre was built as one of a pair with the Aldwych Theatre on either side of the Waldorf Hotel, both being designed by W. G. R. Sprague. The theatre opened as the Waldorf Theatre on 22 May 1905, and was...
as Susan in the world premiere of Desperately Seeking Susan
Desperately Seeking Susan
Desperately Seeking Susan is a 1985 American comedy-drama film directed by Susan Seidelman and starring Rosanna Arquette and Madonna.-Plot:...
.
In 2009 Williams was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Luisa in Zorro
Zorro (musical)
Zorro is a musical with music by the Gipsy Kings and John Cameron, a book by Stephen Clark and Helen Edmundson, and lyrics by Stephen Clark. It is based on the 2005 mock biography Zorro, the first origin story of the pulp hero Zorro, written by Chilean author Isabel Allende...
at the Garrick Theatre
Garrick Theatre
The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster. It opened on 24 April 1889 with The Profligate, a play by Arthur Wing Pinero. In its early years, it appears to have specialised in the performance of melodrama, and today the theatre is a...
. She also appeared as a guest singer in Michael Ball
Michael Ball
Michael Ball may refer to:* Michael Ball , English singer and actor* Michael Ball , American football player* Michael Ball , English football player...
's 25th Anniversary Concert Tour with a DVD being released of the Albert Hall
Albert Hall
Albert P. Hall is an American actor.Born in Brighton, Alabama, Hall graduated from the Columbia University School of the Arts in 1971. That same year he appeared Off-Broadway in The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel and on Broadway in the Melvin Van Peebles musical Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death...
performance. Later in the year, she guested on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
's Friday Night is Music Night
Friday Night is Music Night
Friday Night is Music Night is a long running live BBC radio concert programme featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra, broadcast most Fridays on BBC Radio 2 at 8.00pm. It is the world's longest-running live music radio programme....
.
Her most recent project is playing Jenny in Love Story
Love Story (musical)
Love Story is a musical written by Stephen Clark withmusic by Howard Goodall and lyrics by Stephen Clark and Goodall. It is inspired by Erich Segal’s best-selling novel of the same name...
at Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre, located in Chichester, England, was designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, and opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Martin in 1962. Subsequently the smaller and more intimate Minerva Theatre was built nearby in 1989....
in Summer 2010, a new musical by Howard Goodall
Howard Goodall
210px|thumb|Howard Goodall at St. John the Baptist Church in Devon, United Kingdom, May 2009Howard Lindsay Goodall CBE is a British composer of musicals, choral music and music for television...
and Stephen Clark, based on Erich Segal's book and film of the same name. The show later moved to the West End and earned Williams another nomination for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
MusicalTalk
Following a successful interview for MusicalTalk, Emma has now entered the podcast as a presenter. Her premiere presenting episode was Episode 30: Emma Williams, BatBoy, The King and...meFilmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Parole Officer The Parole Officer The Parole Officer is a 2001 film, directed by John Duigan and was the first feature film to star comedian Steve Coogan. The film follows a mismatched group of former criminals as they assist their probation officer in proving his innocence after a murder accusation.-Plot:Simon Garden is a... |
Kirsty | |
| 2004 | Agatha Christie's Marple | Ruby Keene | TV Movie |
| 2010 | First Night | Tamsin Ford | a.k.a Cosi |
| 2011 | 10 Arenas of Marwood | Helen | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Four Fathers | Justine Clancy | Unknown episodes |
| 2000 | Where the Heart Is Where the Heart Is (1997 TV series) Where the Heart Is is a British television drama series set in the fictional town Skelthwaite.First shown in 1997, it was created by Ashley Pharoah and Vicky Featherstone... |
Kelly Armitage | Episode: "Shifting Sands" |
| 1997—2001 | Heartbeat | Susie Cope / Lucy | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Bleak House | Rosa | 7 episodes |
| 2006—2009 | Doctors Doctors (BBC Soap Opera) Doctors is a British daytime television soap opera, set in the fictional Midland town of Letherbridge, defined as being close to the City of Birmingham. It was created by Chris Murray; Mal Young drove its development, and Carson Black was the original producer. The first episode was broadcast on... |
Jenny Jones / Sally Winters | 2 episodes |