Pearl Mackie (born 29 May 1987[1]) is a British actress. She is best known for playing Bill Potts in the long-running television series Doctor Who.[3] Mackie is a 2010 graduate of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[4] Her first major television role came in 2014, when she played Anne-Marie Frasier in BBC One soap opera Doctors.
Pearl Mackie | |
---|---|
Born | [1] Brixton, London, England | 29 May 1987
Alma mater | |
Occupation |
|
Years active | 2010–present |
Partner | Kam Chhokar (engaged) |
Relatives | Philip Mackie (grandfather) |
Early life
Mackie grew up in Brixton in south London and is of paternal West Indian and maternal English descent. She is the granddaughter of Philip Mackie, who wrote the screenplay for The Naked Civil Servant. She earned a degree in Drama from the University of Bristol,[5][6] and speaks English, French and Spanish.[7] During her studies she went to workshops and took part in many extra-curricular plays.
In 2010 she graduated from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[8] In the same year Mackie was nominated for the BBC Carleton Hobbs Award for outstanding duologues in the school play Noughts & Crosses.[9]
Career
Mackie appeared in an early mainstream role as a front of house girl in the 2013 music comedy Svengali.[10] In 2014, Mackie played Anne-Marie Frasier in Doctors and the young computer genius Mia in Crystal Springs at the Park Theatre in London.[11][12] She could also be seen in the political satire Obama-ology at the Finborough theatre in west London, playing Cece and Caits, two young women finding their voice.[13]
In 2015, she performed in the National Theatre's West End production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.[14] In the same year Mackie appeared in the short film Date Aid by Bond, a satirical public service announcement.[15][16] Mackie has also worked as an acting tutor for Troupers, a company that teaches theatre skills to children and young people.[5]
On 23 April 2016, it was announced that Mackie would be playing Bill Potts, the companion of The Doctor in the British television series Doctor Who.[3][6] It was also announced in March 2017 that Bill would be the first openly gay main companion in the series.[17]
After production on Series 10 of Doctor Who had wrapped, Mackie joined a production of Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party as Lulu. The production – costarring Stephen Mangan, Toby Jones, and Zoë Wanamaker – opened in January 2018 at London's Harold Pinter Theatre.[18]
In 2020, she guest starred as Lucy 1 in Friday Night Dinner.[19]
Personal life
On 28 June 2020, Mackie came out as bisexual in an Instagram post.[20][21] She and her partner Kam Chhokar announced their engagement on 19 January 2022.[22]
Filmography
† | Denotes productions that have not yet been released |
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Svengali | Front of House girl | |
2015 | Date Aid | Sarah | Short film |
2018 | Origami | Heather | |
2019 | Greed | Cathy | |
2020 | Horizon Line | Pascale | |
The Lennox Report | Tarnia | Short film | |
Copycats | Lady Isabelle Sausage | ||
2022 | The Deal | Kabira | |
TBA | Your Move † | Patricia | Short film |
Tyger † | Sarah | Post-production |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Doctors | Anne-Marie Frasier | Episode: "Love Is Blind" |
2017 | Doctor Who | Bill Potts | 13 episodes |
2018 | The Crystal Maze | Sleeping Beauty | Episode: "Celebrity Christmas Special" |
Gods of Medicine | Elsa Powers | 2 episodes | |
2019 | Urban Myths | Kay | Episode: "Andy & The Donald" |
Pops and Branwell | Pops Popowski (voice) | Short animated film | |
2020 | Friday Night Dinner | Lucy One | 2 episodes |
2021 | The Long Call | DS Jen Rafferty | 4 episodes |
2022 | Lloyd of the Flies | Gena (voice) | 17 episodes |
Best & Bester | Grafifi (voice) | 13 episodes | |
2023 | Tom Jones † | Honour | 4 episodes |
Radio
Year | Title | Role | Production | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Great Expectations | Miss Havisham | BBC Radio 4 | ||
Romeo and Juliet | Juliet | ||||
2017 | Adulting | Charlotte | BBC Radio 2 | 6 episodes | |
2018 | Proposal | Lucy | [23] | ||
2019 | Prepper | Rachel | BBC Radio 4 | 4 episodes | |
Forest 404 | Pan | 27 episodes | [24] | ||
2021 | Doctor Faustus | Wagner | BBC Radio 3 | [25] |
Theatre
Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Location | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | The Comedy of Errors | Adriana | Circomedia | Bristol | [26] |
The Crucible | Tituba | Theatre Royal | [27] | ||
2012 | Only Human | Nina | Theatre503 | London | [28] |
Home | Woman 1 / Pattie Mae | The Last Refuge | [29] | ||
2014 | Crystal Springs | Mia | Park Theatre | [30] | |
Obama-ology | Cece | Finborough Theatre | [31] | ||
Disnatured | Regan | RIFT Theatre | [32] | ||
Hello Kind World | Unknown | The Drayton Arms | [33] | ||
2015 | The Helen Project | Helen of Troy | The Face to Face Festival | [34] | |
A Mad World, My Masters | Truly Kidman | Theatre Royal | Brighton | [35] | |
2015–2016 | The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | Punk Girl / Information Lady / No.40 | Gielgud Theatre | London | [36] |
2018 | The Birthday Party | Lulu | Harold Pinter Theatre | ||
2020 | Bubble | Ashley | Nottingham Playhouse | Nottingham | [37] |
Audio
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | The Last Namsara | Asha | [38] | |
2019 | The Conception of Terror | Mika Chantry | ||
2020 | Ladybird Stories for Rainy Days | Narrator | ||
Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales | Narrator | [39] | ||
Paper Thin | Vanessa | [40] | ||
Cold Comfort Farm | Narrator | [41] | ||
2021 | Sour Hall | Ash | 6 episodes | |
2022 | Delphine Jones Takes a Chance | Narrator |
Music videos
Year | Title | Artist | Director | Role |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | "Real" | Years & Years | Robert Francis Müller | Clubber |
Commercials
Year | Brand | Company | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | Westgate Oxford | VCCP | [39] |
Uber | 72andSunny | [39] | |
Barclays | Publicis | [39] | |
Sainsbury's | Global Radio | [39] | |
Diet Coke | Wieden+Kennedy | [39] |
Accolades
Awards
- 2018: Screen Nation Film & TV Awards – Female Performance in TV for Doctor Who[42]
Nominations
- 2010: BBC Carleton Hobbs Awards – Outstanding Duologues for the BOVTS play Noughts & Crosses (shared with Roddy Peters)[9]
- 2017: TV Times Awards – Favourite Newcomer for Doctor Who[43]
- 2017: Heat's Unmissables Awards – Best Actress for Doctor Who[44]
- 2021: Critics' Choice Documentary Awards – Best Narration for The Real Charlie Chaplin[45]
- 2022: DIVA Awards – Actor of the Year[46]
Honorable mentions
- 2020: Screen Nation Film & TV Awards – Female Performance in TV for various roles[47][48]
References
- ^ a b Gee, Catherine (7 April 2017). "Doctor Who's Pearl Mackie: everything you need to know about the new companion". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
Pearl Mackie was born on 29 May 1987, in the south London district, to West Indian and English parents.
- ^ "CV" (PDF). Pearl Mackie. 2016.
- ^ a b "Doctor Who: Pearl Mackie named as new companion". Entertainment & Arts. BBC News. 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Alumni". Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Tutors: Pearl Mackie". Troupers.org.uk. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016.
- ^ a b Hughes, Sarah (9 April 2017). "Doctor Who's Pearl Mackie: 'When I was little there weren't many people like me on TV'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
- ^ "9 things about new Doctor Who companion Pearl Mackie". BBC One. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ "Pearl Mackie announced as new Doctor Who companion". The Guardian. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Winners: Carleton Hobbs Bursary Award 2010 Winners". Soundstart. BBC. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ "Who is Pearl Mackie? Here's everything you need to know about the new Doctor Who companion before the TARDIS". Digital Spy. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ Proto, Laura (23 April 2016). "Doctor Who: New companion unveiled as former Doctors actress Pearl Mackie". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ "Crystal Springs – Park Theatre, London". Thereviewshub.com. 14 August 2014. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016.
- ^ Gardner, Lyn (3 December 2014). "New cast for Curious Incident". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ Marshal, Charlotte (12 May 2015). "New cast for Curious Incident". Official London Theatre.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ Purvis, Katherine (10 November 2015). "Date Aid: are charities sending the wrong message?". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Who's Pearl Mackie? 7 Things We Know About The Actor Playing The Doctor's New Companion". Space.ca. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ Mzimba, Lizo (31 March 2017). "Doctor Who gets first openly gay companion". BBC News. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ^ Jones, Paul (15 September 2017). "Pearl Mackie joins Stephen Mangan, Toby Jones and Zoe Wanamaker in first project since Doctor Who". Radio Times. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
- ^ Sandwell, Ian (29 April 2020). "Friday Night Dinner first look clip introduces Doctor Who star in season 6 finale". Digital Spy.
- ^ "Pearl Mackie on Instagram". Archived from the original on 30 June 2020.
- ^ Damshenas, Sam (28 June 2020). "Doctor Who star Pearl Mackie comes out as bisexual". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Pearl Mackie on Instagram: "Be honest, how many of you had bets on this happening? Yup, we're En-GAY-ged!!!💍🥂🍾 😁💥 . . . @KMCHHKR I've said it before and I'll say it again, I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE MY WIFE! 💖💜💙 . . #bi #bisexual #engaged #wereengaged #loveislove #bilove #gay #gaylove #weregettingmarried #mygodourweddingsgoingtobesick"".
- ^ "Proposal". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 launches innovative new podcast project - Forest 404". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Drama On 3". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 20 September 2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Vowles, Jacquie. "The Comedy Of Errors, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School at Circomedia". Whats on Bristol.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018.
- ^ "Strong show of extreme controversy". Bristol Post. 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016.
- ^ "Only Human". Withoutapaddletheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ Knowles, Kieran (2 November 2012). "Only Human". Thegoodreview.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ Taylor, Paul (11 August 2014). "Crystal Springs, Park Theatre, review: 'Acutely intelligent'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
- ^ Fisher, Philip. "Theatre review: Obama-ology at Finborough Theatre". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Disnatured". Cargocollective.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016.
- ^ "Hello Kind World". Skylight Theatre. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016.
- ^ Tasker, Amy Clare. "The Helen Project". Amyclaretasker.com. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016.
- ^ Guest, David (12 March 2015). "Review: A Mad World, My Masters (Theatre Royal, Brighton, until Saturday, March 14)". Mid Sussex Times. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016.
- ^ Hoile, Christopher. "Review – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". Stage-door.com. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Bubble".
- ^ "Books by Pearl Mackie". HarperCollins. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Pearl Mackie". United Agents. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ "#8 Paper Thin by Eliot J Fallows - performed by Pearl Mackie - the Painkiller Podcast".
- ^ Cold Comfort Farm. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
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ignored (help) - ^ "VOXAFRICA NOMINATED FOR FAVOURITE BLACK BROADCASTER | 13TH SCREEN NATION AWARDS". Voxafrica (in French). Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "Pearl Mackie: Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "HEAT MAGAZINE REWARDS CREAM OF TV & POP CULTURE WITH NEW 'UNMISSABLES' AWARDS". Bauer Media. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "6th Annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards – List of Nominees and Winners – Critics Choice Awards". Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "DIVA Awards 2022 - SHORTLIST 2022". www.divaawards.co.uk. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "Screen Nation Hall Of Fame". www.screennation.org. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- ^ "Jo Martin and Doctor Who nominated for Screen Nation awards". CultBox. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2022.