Jayne Wisener
Encyclopedia
Jayne Wisener is a Northern Irish actress and singer. She is best known for playing Johanna
in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
and grew up in Coleraine
, Northern Ireland
, where she attended the Coleraine High School
for girls.
In 2005, she represented Antrim
in the highly acclaimed Rose of Tralee
competition. Wisener also was part of Musical Theatre 4 Youth, and appeared in a workshop production of Falling
.
While performing in a youth production of West Side Story at the Millennium Forum
in Derry
, Wisener was spotted by a talent scout, who asked her to audition for a role in Sweeney Todd. Wisener was, at age 19, deemed too old to play the 15-year-old Johanna Barker. When told this, Wisener "e-mailed them some pictures [of herself] without make-up. Usually looking young does [an actress] no favours at all but [she was] quite pleased this time".
She trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
for one year but left after landing the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd.
Wisener made her stage debut in the UK premiere of the musical Parade
at the Donmar Warehouse
theatre in 2007. She appeared in Boogeyman 3
playing the role of Amy and in November 2008 created the role of Sophie in a West End showcase of the new musical The Lost Christmas by Laurence Mark Wythe
at the Trafalgar Studios
, London. In 2009 she appeared in one episode of The Inbetweeners
. In late 2009, until early 2010 she appeared on stage playing the role of Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden at the West Yorkshire Playhouse
. In late 2010, Jayne played the lead character 'Jay' in UK feature film, Life Just Is (in post-production until 2011). She starred alongside Paul Nicholls and the two play a couple trying to work out their complex relationship.
In March 2011 she played Sally, a young woman in a centre for female juvenile delinquents, in The Runaway, based on Martina Cole
's novel.
Johanna Barker
Johanna is a fictional character appearing in the story of Sweeney Todd. In the original version of the tale, the penny dreadful The String of Pearls , her name is Johanna Oakley and she is no relation of Todd...
in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Background
Wisener was born in BallymoneyBallymoney
Ballymoney is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 9,021 people in the 2001 Census. It is currently served by Ballymoney Borough Council....
and grew up in Coleraine
Coleraine
Coleraine is a large town near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, where she attended the Coleraine High School
Coleraine High School
Coleraine High School is an all-girls' grammar school located in Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The High School, or Gordonville Ladies' Academy as it was originally known, was founded in 1875 in Alexander Terrace, Coleraine, by Mrs Long, assisted by her daughter and staff.From...
for girls.
In 2005, she represented Antrim
Antrim, County Antrim
Antrim is a town in County Antrim in the northeast of Northern Ireland, on the banks of the Six Mile Water, half a mile north-east of Lough Neagh. It had a population of 20,001 people in the 2001 Census. The town is the administrative centre of Antrim Borough Council...
in the highly acclaimed Rose of Tralee
Rose of Tralee (festival)
The Rose of Tralee festival is an international competition which is celebrated among Irish communities all over the world. The festival takes its inspiration from a nineteenth century ballad of the same name about a woman called Mary, who because of her beauty was called The Rose of Tralee. The...
competition. Wisener also was part of Musical Theatre 4 Youth, and appeared in a workshop production of Falling
Falling
Falling may refer to:*Falling , movement due to gravity*Falling *Falling *Falling *Falling , in which the goal is to hit the ground last...
.
While performing in a youth production of West Side Story at the Millennium Forum
Millennium Forum
The Millennium Forum is a theatre and conference centre in Newmarket Street, Derry, Northern Ireland.It was the first purpose built theatre in Derry and opened in 2001. It has a seating capacity of 1000 and the largest theatre stage in Ireland. It hosts entertainment of all kinds and can also be...
in Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
, Wisener was spotted by a talent scout, who asked her to audition for a role in Sweeney Todd. Wisener was, at age 19, deemed too old to play the 15-year-old Johanna Barker. When told this, Wisener "e-mailed them some pictures [of herself] without make-up. Usually looking young does [an actress] no favours at all but [she was] quite pleased this time".
She trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
for one year but left after landing the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd.
Wisener made her stage debut in the UK premiere of the musical Parade
Parade (musical)
Parade is a musical with a book by Alfred Uhry and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. The musical was first produced on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on December 17, 1998. The production was directed by Harold Prince and closed 28 February 1999 after only 39 previews and 84 regular...
at the Donmar Warehouse
Donmar Warehouse
Donmar Warehouse is a small not-for-profit theatre in the Covent Garden area of London, with a capacity of 251.-About:Under the artistic leadership of Michael Grandage, the theatre has presented some of London’s most memorable award-winning theatrical experiences, as well as garnered critical...
theatre in 2007. She appeared in Boogeyman 3
Boogeyman 3
Boogeyman 3 is the third installment of the Boogeyman film series, released in 2009.-Plot:Boogeyman 3 opens with Dr. Mitchell Allen's daughter, Audrey . Audrey proceeds to take a shower and while doing so sees a hand with a black glove. Scared, Audrey gets out and goes to her room to sleep. Her...
playing the role of Amy and in November 2008 created the role of Sophie in a West End showcase of the new musical The Lost Christmas by 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 Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios
Trafalgar Studios, formerly The Whitehall Theatre until 2004, is a West End theatre in Whitehall, near Trafalgar Square, in the City of Westminster, London....
, London. In 2009 she appeared in one episode of The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweeners
The Inbetweeners is a British sitcom which aired for three series from 2008 to 2010 on E4. Created and written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, the show follows the life of suburban teenager Will , and three of his friends at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive. The Inbetweeners Movie was...
. In late 2009, until early 2010 she appeared on stage playing the role of Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden at the West Yorkshire Playhouse
West Yorkshire Playhouse
The West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, England is a theatre which opened in March 1990 as part of the regeneration of the Quarry Hill area of the city...
. In late 2010, Jayne played the lead character 'Jay' in UK feature film, Life Just Is (in post-production until 2011). She starred alongside Paul Nicholls and the two play a couple trying to work out their complex relationship.
In March 2011 she played Sally, a young woman in a centre for female juvenile delinquents, in The Runaway, based on Martina Cole
Martina Cole
Martina Cole is a British crime writer. She was brought up in Aveley, and has released seventeen novels about crime some of which examine London's gangster underworld. Four of her novels, Dangerous Lady, The Jump, The Take and The Runaway have been adapted into high-rating television dramas...
's novel.
Select credits
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Johanna Barker Johanna Barker Johanna is a fictional character appearing in the story of Sweeney Todd. In the original version of the tale, the penny dreadful The String of Pearls , her name is Johanna Oakley and she is no relation of Todd... |
|
| 2009 | Minder Minder (TV series) Minder is a British comedy-drama about the London criminal underworld. Initially produced by Verity Lambert, it was made by Euston Films, a subsidiary of Thames Television and shown on ITV... |
Maria | Episode 04 |
| The Inbetweeners The Inbetweeners The Inbetweeners is a British sitcom which aired for three series from 2008 to 2010 on E4. Created and written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, the show follows the life of suburban teenager Will , and three of his friends at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive. The Inbetweeners Movie was... |
Lauren | Series 2: Episode 1 | |
| Boogeyman 3 Boogeyman 3 Boogeyman 3 is the third installment of the Boogeyman film series, released in 2009.-Plot:Boogeyman 3 opens with Dr. Mitchell Allen's daughter, Audrey . Audrey proceeds to take a shower and while doing so sees a hand with a black glove. Scared, Audrey gets out and goes to her room to sleep. Her... |
Amy | ||
| Archive: Bullets | Video Clip | ||
| 2010 | Casualty Casualty (TV series) Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The... |
Simone | 7 episodes: Entry Wounds to Reasons Unknown |
| 2011 | Jane Eyre Jane Eyre (2011 film) Jane Eyre is a 2011 British romantic drama film directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. The screenplay is written by Moira Buffini based on the 1847 novel of the same name by Charlotte Brontë... |
Bessie Lee | |
| 2011 | Injustice Injustice (TV series) Injustice is a five-part drama television series about criminal barrister William Travers, who has lost his faith in the legal system following a traumatic series of events. The one-hour drama premiered on June 6, 2011, on ITV1... |
Lucy Wilson | |
| 2011 | Life Just Is | Jay |
External links
- Agency CV
- Parade at the Donmar WarehouseDonmar WarehouseDonmar Warehouse is a small not-for-profit theatre in the Covent Garden area of London, with a capacity of 251.-About:Under the artistic leadership of Michael Grandage, the theatre has presented some of London’s most memorable award-winning theatrical experiences, as well as garnered critical...