Jessica Hynes (née Stevenson) in a British actress, director and writer. She is best known as one of the creators, writers and stars of the British sitcom Spaced.
Jessica Hynes | |
|---|---|
 Hynes in 2008 | |
| Born | Jessica Stevenson |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouse |
Adam Hynes (m. 2002) |
| Children | 3 |
Hynes has been nominated for a Tony, a Laurence Olivier Award, five BAFTAs (winning two) and three British Comedy Awards (winning two).
Early life
editHynes was born in Lewisham, London, and grew up in Brighton, where she attended St Luke's Infant and Junior Schools and Dorothy Stringer High School.[1] After her parents split up, she was raised by her mother. She moved back to London as a young adult.[2] Her maternal grandmother came from the village of Llanelian, north Wales, where her uncle also ran a farm. Her mother is a fluent Welsh speaker who later moved back to north Wales. In 2023, Hynes took part in the S4C series Iaith ar Daith where she began to learn the Welsh language; she cited being able to speak Welsh to her mother as a reason why she wanted to take part in the programme.[3]
Career
editAs a teenager, Hynes was a member of the National Youth Theatre company, and made her stage début with the company in Lionel Bart's Blitz! in 1990.[4] In 1992–1993, she played a season at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds. In the same year, she appeared in Peter Greenaway's 1993 film The Baby of Mâcon, playing the first midwife. In 1994, Hynes appeared as an uncredited extra in the first episode of The Day Today in the Attitudes Night segment, a parody of the UK's changing attitudes.
Early in her career, Hynes teamed up with future Spaced co-star Katy Carmichael in a comedy double-act called the Liz Hurleys, appeared in two productions at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, and acted for television shows including Staying Alive, Six Pairs of Pants, (Un)natural Acts, and Asylum (on which the Spaced team of Stevenson, Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright first assembled). She guest starred in the first episode of Midsomer Murders in 1997. From 1998 to 2000, she played the supporting role of Cheryl in the hit sitcom The Royle Family; she reprised the role for special episodes in 2006, 2009 and 2010. In 1999, she co-wrote and starred in Spaced.
Hynes' London theatre début was in April 2002, playing the tough ex-prisoner "Bolla" in Jez Butterworth's The Night Heron at the Royal Court.[5] In 2004, she played a minor part as Yvonne in horror comedy Shaun of the Dead, again working with Pegg and Wright. In the same year, she was also cast as Magda, friend of the titular character, in the Hollywood sequel Bridget Jones' Diary 2, also called Bridget Jones' Diary: The Edge of Reason. In 2005, Hynes took the lead role in the BBC One sitcom According to Bex (which she would later come to regret),[6] and had a starring role in British comedy Confetti alongside Jimmy Carr, Martin Freeman and Mark Heap.
In early 2007, Hynes took a lead role in the film Magicians, starring alongside comic duo David Mitchell and Robert Webb. She provided the voice of Mafalda Hopkirk in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She played Joan Redfern in the 2007 Doctor Who episodes "Human Nature" and "The Family of Blood". She then appeared in part two of the story "The End of Time", playing a character named Verity Newman, who is Joan's great-granddaughter.[7] Hynes appeared in Big Finish's Eighth Doctor audio adventure "Invaders from Mars", with her Spaced colleague Simon Pegg. She starred in Son of Rambow (credited as Jessica Stevenson), playing Mary Proudfoot opposite the star of the film, Bill Milner. In November 2007, BBC One released Learners, a comedy drama television movie which Hynes starred in and wrote.[8]
Hynes co-wrote the pilot Phoo Action, based on the cartoons of Jamie Hewlett, which was transmitted on BBC Three in early 2008.[9] In the same year, she appeared in the film Faintheart and in a revival of Alan Ayckbourn's The Norman Conquests at the Old Vic. In 2009 she made her Broadway début in the play's transfer[10] and was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance. Hynes stated that she planned to pursue a solo career as a stand-up comedian[11] and was working on a children's book, Ants in the Marmalade.[12] Later that year, she returned to the Royal Court in The Priory, a new play by Michael Wynne.[13]
Hynes appeared as a "right-on" PR person, Siobhan Sharpe, in the London Olympics centred satire Twenty Twelve, of which the first series screened on BBC Four in 2011, moving to BBC Two in spring 2012. A further series was screened in July 2012. She reprised the role in the 2014 series W1A for which she won a BAFTA. In October 2012, she released a duet with singer Anthony Strong of Slim Gaillard's "Laughing in Rhythm". The following month, she appeared in the film Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger, in which she plays competition host Angel Matthews.[14] In December 2012 she appeared with co-star Hugh Bonneville in World's Most Dangerous Roads, travelling through Georgia.
In 2017, Hynes played the role of a medieval knight in the revival series of The Crystal Maze and Emmeline Pankhurst in the UK take of Drunk History. In the same year, she directed her first feature film, The Fight, produced by Noel Clarke and Jason Maza. In 2018, she played the role of a mother in the BBC Four programme There She Goes. She stars alongside David Tennant, raising a daughter with a severe learning disability. It is based on the real life of writer Shaun Pye, whose daughter was born with a chromosomal disorder.[15] Also in 2018, she played the character of ‘Marv’ in the online series Jack and Dean of All Trades which ran for two seasons on Fullscreen and later the Jack and Dean YouTube channel following the closure of Fullscreen's video on-demand service. The following year in 2019, she starred in the BBC and HBO production Years and Years.
Personal life
editHynes is married to Adam Hynes, a sculptor. The couple have been together since they were 18 years old, but only married in 2002, when she officially changed her surname from her birth name of Stevenson – including for screen credits.[6][2] They have three children together, and live in Folkestone, Kent.[2][16] Until 2012, Hynes lived between London and San Francisco.[2]
She has one sibling, sister Zoe, who works in fashion.[2]
Filmography
editTelevision
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The House of Eliott | Charlotte Parker | Guest role, series 3, episode 1 |
| 1995 | Six Pairs of Pants | Various characters | |
| Tears Before Bedtime | Maggie | ||
| Crown Prosecutor | Jackie South | ||
| 1996 | Mash and Peas | Various roles | |
| Asylum | Martha & Nurse McFadden | ||
| 1996–1997 | Staying Alive | Alice Timpson | |
| 1997 | Midsomer Murders | Judith Lessiter | Episode: "The Killings at Badger's Drift" |
| Armstrong and Miller | Various roles | Series 2, episode 1 | |
| Harry Enfield and Chums | Episode: "Harry Enfield and His Yule Log Chums" | ||
| 1998 | Unnatural Acts | Various roles | Main cast |
| Alexei Sayle’s Merry-Go-Round | Alice, the Ayatollah's Assistant | Episode 1 | |
| 1998–2010 | The Royle Family | Cheryl Carroll | Recurring role |
| 1999 | People Like Us | Sarah | Episode: "The Estate Agent" |
| 1999–2001 | Spaced | Daisy Steiner | Also co-wrote with Simon Pegg |
| 2001 | Randall & Hopkirk | Felia Siderova | Episodes: "Mental Apparition Disorder", "Drop Dead" |
| Bob & Rose | Holly Vance | ||
| Comedy Lab | Wife | Episode: "Knife & Wife" | |
| 2002 | Dick Whittington | The Good Fairy | Television film |
| Black Books | Eva | Episode: "Hello Sun" | |
| 2005 | According to Bex | Rebecca 'Bex' Atwell | |
| 2006 | Pinochet in Suburbia | Police Guard | Television film |
| The Secret Policeman's Ball | Mrs. Peacock | Recording of staged show | |
| QI | Herself | Episode: "Domesticity" | |
| Agatha Christie's Marple | Aimee Griffith | Episode: "The Moving Finger" | |
| 2007 | Doctor Who | Nurse Joan Redfern | Episodes: "Human Nature", "The Family of Blood" |
| Learners | Beverly | Television film | |
| Never Mind the Buzzcocks | Herself | Series 21, episode 1 | |
| 2010 | Doctor Who | Verity Newman | Episode: "The End of Time, Part Two" |
| Lizzie and Sarah | Various roles | Television pilot | |
| 2011–2012 | Twenty Twelve | Siobhan Sharpe | Main cast, won RTS Best Comedy Performance award |
| 2011 | Skins | Crystal | Episode: "Everyone" |
| The Hour | Jane Kish | Episode 4 | |
| 2012 | One Night | Carol | |
| World's Most Dangerous Roads | Herself | Episode 2 | |
| 2013 | Blandings | Daphne Littlewood | |
| Up the Women | Margaret | Also writer | |
| Crackanory | Storyteller | Read "My Former Self" by Holly Walsh | |
| 2014 | Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled | Herself | Episode 2 |
| 2014–2017 | W1A | Siobhan Sharpe | |
| 2015 | Celebrity Squares | Herself | Series 2, episode 2 |
| 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown | Herself | ||
| 2016 | The Keith Lemon Sketch Show | Manager | Series 2: "The Cartoon Job Centre" sketch |
| Jack and Dean of All Trades | Marv | Web series | |
| Hooten & the Lady | Ella Bond | ||
| 2017 | The Crystal Maze | The Knight | |
| 2018–2020, 2023 | There She Goes | Emily Yates | Main cast |
| 2019 | Years and Years | Edith Lyons | |
| 2022 | Mood | Laura | |
| The Witchfinder[17] | Old Myers | ||
| Inside No. 9 | Helen | Episode: “A Random Act of Kindness” | |
| Life After Life | Mrs. Glover | [18] | |
| Am I Being Unreasonable? | Becca | ||
| Outsiders | Herself | Main cast (Series 2) | |
| 2023 | The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off | Herself / Contestant | Star Baker[19] |
| 2024 | The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin | The Reddlehag | |
| The Franchise | Steph | Main cast | |
| TBA | Miss Austen | Mary | In-production[20] |
Film
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Swing Kids | Helga | Credited as Jessica Stevenson |
| The Baby of Mâcon | The First Midwife | Credited as Jessica Stevenson | |
| 2000 | Born Romantic | Libby | Credited as Jessica Stevenson |
| 2002 | Tomorrow La Scala! | Victoria | Credited as Jessica Stevenson |
| Pure | Paramedic | Credited as Jessica Stevenson | |
| 2004 | Shaun of the Dead | Yvonne | Credited as Jessica Stevenson |
| Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason | Magda | Credited as Jessica Stevenson | |
| 2006 | Confetti | Sam | Credited as Jessica Stevenson |
| 2007 | Four Last Songs | Miranda | Credited as Jessica Stevenson |
| Son of Rambow | Mary | Credited as Jessica Stevenson | |
| Magicians | Linda | Credited as Jessica Stevenson | |
| Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | Mafalda Hopkirk | Voice only Credited as Jessica Stevenson | |
| 2008 | Faintheart | Cathy | |
| 2010 | Burke and Hare | Lucky | |
| 2012 | Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger | Angel Matthews | |
| 2014 | Pudsey: The Movie | Gail | |
| 2016 | Swallows and Amazons | Mrs Jackson | |
| Bridget Jones's Baby | Magda | ||
| 2017 | The Fight | Tina | Also writer/director |
| Paddington 2 | Miss Kitts | ||
| 2018 | Alright Now | Sara | |
| Nativity Rocks! | Angel Matthews | ||
| 2020 | Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse | Sofie Dahl | TV film |
| 2024 | Seize Them! | Leofwine | [21] |
| TBA | Death of a Unicorn | Post-production[22] |
Awards
editReferences
edit- ^ Graham, Jamie. "Jessica Hynes interview: The Royle Family and W1A star on why she's spoiling for the Fight".
- ^ a b c d e "Jessica Hynes - The 'totally amazeballs' actress who won the Olympics". The Independent. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ [1] Yr actores Jessica Hynes 'am wneud ei mam yn hapus' drwy siarad Cymraeg
- ^ Kilcoyne, Emma (13 February 2008). "Charismatic artistic director of the National Youth Theatre". The Independent. p. 34.
- ^ "The Night Heron". The Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ a b McLean, Gareth (25 May 2007). "Gareth McLean talks to screen star Jessica Stevenson about feminist history". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 May 2007.
- ^ Anders, Charlie Jane (23 March 2009). "Discover Both Ends of The "Spectrum of Spock." Plus The Doctor's Worst Nightmare". io9. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
- ^ "Press Releases: David Tennant and Jessica Hynes in the driving seat for new BBC One comedy drama Learners". BBC. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
- ^ "Press Releases: Jessica Hynes in Phoo Action". BBC. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
- ^ "Tickets on sale for Alan Ayckbourn's 'The Norman Conquests'". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Hall, Julian (20 June 2008). "Stand Up Get Down Featuring Jessica Hynes & Friends, Madame Jojo's, London". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- ^ McLean, Gareth (25 May 2007). "I went mainstream. It really wasn't me". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- ^ "The Priory". The Royal Court Theatre. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
- ^ "Laughing in Rhythm". iTunes Store. Retrieved 23 December 2012.[dead link]
- ^ Hodges, Michael (16 October 2018). "David Tennant felt 'huge responsibility' starring in new BBC comedy There She Goes". Radio Times. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ "Jessica Hynes: 'What was your most embarrassing moment? I've got so many, it's hard to choose.'". The Guardian. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
[note: article as updated 3 June 2021]
- ^ "First look image and casting confirmed for new BBC comedy The Witchfinder". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ Kanter, Jake (20 April 2021). "Thomasin McKenzie & Sian Clifford To Lead Cast For BBC Adaptation Of Kate Atkinson's 'Life After Life'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ "The Great British Bake Off crowns another winner in SU2C special". uk.news.yahoo.com. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ Rice, Lynette (7 December 2023). "'Miss Austen': Keeley Hawes & Rose Leslie Join TV Adaptation For Masterpiece". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ Long, Lacy (21 March 2022). "'Seize Them!': Nicola Coughlan, Aimee Lou Wood, and Lolly Adefope Join Dark Ages Comedy Film". Collider. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (1 November 2023). "A24's 'Death Of A Unicorne' Adds Richard E. Grant, Téa Leoni, Will Poulter, Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani & More; Paul Rudd And Jenna Ortega Set To Star". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "British Comedy Awards 1999". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Skinner crowned TV comedy king". BBC. 16 December 2001. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Television in 2002". BAFTA. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Programme Award Winners 2002". Royal Television Society. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Television in 2003". BAFTA. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Olivier Winners 2003". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "JUST THE LIST: Winners and Nominees of the 2009 Tony Awards". Playbill. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "British Comedy Awards: Twenty Twelve to take on The Thick of It". The Daily Telegraph. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2016.[dead link]
- ^ "RTS Programme Awards 2013". Royal Television Society. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Television in 2013". BAFTA. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Television in 2015". BAFTA. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
