Jenna Russell (born 5 October 1967) is an English actress and singer. She has appeared on the stage in London in both musicals and dramas, as well as appearing with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She performed the role of Dot in Sunday in the Park with George in the West End and on Broadway, receiving the Tony Award nomination and the 2006 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role. She has also appeared in several television series, including Born and Bred and EastEnders.
Life and career Russell was born in London, grew up in Dundee, and attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School. She has said she had a "tricky childhood".
In 1985, Russell appeared as Matthew's girlfriend Christine in the ITV comedy Home to Roost.
Russell also sang the closing theme tune for the BBC sitcom Red Dwarf, with her version of the song being used in all series of the show. Russell began her career as an understudy for Eponine and Fantine and later took over Fantine in Les Misérables and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) for the first portion of her career. Plays there included The Beggar's Opera as Lucy Lockit in April 1992 and again in April 1993 at the Barbican Centre.Kennedy, Michael. "Sparkling Gay The Beggar's Opera at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon", The Herald (Glasgow), 15 April 1992, p. 10"Over the top and far away from Gay's world of darkness; The Beggar's Opera at the Barbican", London Evening Standard (London), 8 April 1993, p. 7 She also appeared in the RSC production of Alan Ayckbourn's Wildest Dreams at the Barbican in December 1993."Scotch Missed", The Observer, 19 December 1993, p. 4
From 1990 to 1992, she played one of the lead characters, Maggie Lomax, in primetime BBC TV comedy On the Up.
She performed in three shows at The Bridewell Theatre: On a Clear Day You Can See Forever as Daisy (January 2000),Benedict, David. "After 35 Years, London Gets on a Clear Day You Can See Forever". The Independent (London), 12 January 2000, p.11 Hello Again (March 2001)Spence, Charles. "More in tune with sexual mores", The Daily Telegraph (London), 29 March 2001, p. 27 and a concert, The Cutting Edge in June 2000.Martland, John. "The Cutting Edge;Light Entertainment Review: Bridewell", The Stage, 29 June 2000, p. 16 Other stage work includes Samantha Lord in High Society at Sheffield Crucible, Young Sally in Follies at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 1987,"'Follies', 1987 listing" sondheimguide.com. Retrieved 23 August 2010 Bertrande in Martin Guerre at the West End's Prince Edward theatre (1998),Schajer, Jodi and Alex."'Martin Guerre' at the Prince Edward Theatre" whatsonstage.com, July 1997 Felicity in Landslide at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, and Three Sisters at the Royal Court.Ansdell, Caroline."20 Questions With... Jenna Russell" whatsonstage.com, 30 May 2006
She left the cast of Songs for a New World during rehearsal to play Deborah Gilder in the television series Born and Bred in 2002 through 2005.(no author), "Sunday TV Criticss Choice" ("Deborah (Jenna Russell) has a run-in with Edie, who arrives to clean the Gilders' house."), Daily Record, 27 April 2002, p. 20
In 2005, she appeared as the Floor Manager in the Doctor Who episodes "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of the Ways". Also in 2005, she played the lead role of Sarah Brown in the West End production of Guys and Dolls opposite (at various times) Ewan McGregor, Nigel Harman, Sarah Lancashire, Jane Krakowski and Nigel Lindsay.Fisher, Philip."Review" britishtheatreguide.info. Retrieved 22 August 2010 She received a nomination for the 2006 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for this role."Olivier Winners 2006" officiallondontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2010 In 2006, she took over from Anna-Jane Casey as Dot/Marie in the London revival of Sunday in the Park with George, by Stephen Sondheim for which she won the 2007 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical."Olivier Winners 2007" officiallondontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2010
She subsequently played Amy alongside Felicity Kendal in the West End revival of the play Amy's View in 2006."Jenna Russell: Centre stage"The Independent,9 November 2006'Amy's View' listing thisistheatre.com. Retrieved 22 August 2010 In 2008, Russell reprised her role as Dot in the Broadway transfer of Sunday in the Park with George. The production opened on 21 February 2008 and ran until 29 June 2008 at Studio 54.Sommer, Elyse."Review:'Sunday in the Park with George' " curtainup.com. Retrieved 22 August 2010 Russell won the Theatre World Award and received Drama Desk Award and Tony Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical, losing to Patti LuPone.Gans, Andrew."August and Passing Strange Win Top Honors at Drama Desk Awards" Playbill, 18 May 2008Jones, Kenneth."August, South Pacific, In the Heights, Boeing-Boeing, LuPone Are Tony Winners" Playbill, 15 June 2008
In 2009, she appeared in the inaugural episode of the resurrected TV series Minder as Petra.(no author). "Best of This Week" ("Feisty pub landlady Petra Barnett (Jenna Russell) repels all offers and threats to get her out.") Scottish Daily Record, 31 January 2009, p.18
Russell has appeared in Into the Woods twice. For the Donmar Warehouse production in 1998, she played Cinderella."Archive, 'Into the Woods' at Donmar, 1998" albemarle-london.com. Retrieved 22 August 2010 For the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2010, she played the role of the Baker's Wife.Shenton, Mark."New London Production of Into the Woods Opens at Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park Aug. 16" Playbill, August 2010
In August 2012, Russell took to the London stage again at the Soho Theatre in Soho Cinders. She then played the role of Mary in Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End, following a run at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
From February 2014, she appeared as Penelope Pennywise in the London production of Urinetown: The Musical at the St. James Theatre. She reprised the role for the West End production at the Apollo Theatre from September 2014.Stanbury, Kate."Jenna Russell reprises Urinetown role" officiallondontheatre.co.uk, July 2014
In January 2016, she starred with Sheila Hancock in the first UK production of Grey Gardens at The Southwark PlayhouseClapp, Susannah. " 'Grey Gardens' review – splendidly odd couple of the Kennedy circle" The Guardian, 10 January 2016 to sell-out audiences.
In December 2016, she took over from previous actress Susan Tully in the role of Michelle Fowler in BBC One soap-opera EastEnders. In 2018, Russell decided to leave EastEnders to pursue other work. Her last appearance aired on Tuesday 17 April 2018.
In September 2022, Russell led the cast in Alan Ayckbourn's Woman in Mind at Chichester Festival Theatre.
Stage +YearTitleRoleTheatre1987 FolliesYoung SallyShaftesbury Theatre1991–1992Les MisérablesFantinePalace Theatre1998–1999Into the WoodsCinderellaDonmar Warehouse2001Les MisérablesFantinePalace Theatre2005–2006Guys and DollsSister Sarah BrownPiccadilly Theatre2006Sunday in the Park with GeorgeDot / MarieWyndham's Theatre2008Studio 542010Into the WoodsThe Baker's WifeRegent's Park Open Air Theatre2012Soho CindersMarilyn PlattSoho Theatre2012–2013Merrily We Roll AlongMary FlynnMenier Chocolate Factory / Harold Pinter Theatre2014–2015UrinetownPenelope PennywiseSt. James Theatre / Apollo Theatre2016Grey GardensEdith Bouvier Beale/Edith Ewing Bouvier BealeSouthwark Playhouse2018Fun HomeHelen BechdelYoung Vic2019The Bridges of Madison CountyFrancesca JohnsonMenier Chocolate Factory2021PiafEdith PiafNottingham Playhouse2022Woman in MindSusanChichester Festival Theatre2023Flowers for Mrs HarrisAda HarrisRiverside Studios2024Hello, Dolly!Irene Molloy London Palladium2025Dirty Rotten ScoundrelsMuriel EubanksTokyu Theatre Orb2025The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Maureen Fry Chichester Festival Theatre2026Theatre Royal Haymarket2026Sinatra: The Musical Dolly Sinatra Aldwych Theatre
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2006Laurence Olivier AwardBest Actress in a MusicalGuys and Dolls2007Laurence Olivier AwardBest Actress in a MusicalSunday in the Park with George2008Tony AwardBest Actress in a MusicalDrama Desk AwardOutstanding Actress in a MusicalDrama League AwardDistinguished PerformanceTheatre World Award2014Laurence Olivier AwardBest Actress in a MusicalMerrily We Roll Along2015WhatsOnStage AwardsBest Actress in a MusicalUrinetown2017WhatsOnStage AwardsBest Supporting Actress in a PlayDoctor Faustus2026Laurence Olivier AwardBest Actress in a MusicalThe Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Personal life Russell is the partner of actor Ray Coulthard, and they are the parents of a girl. Russell revealed that she was in the early stages of her pregnancy when she appeared in Sunday in the Park with George on Broadway.(no author). "Jenna Russell's London" visitlondon.com. Retrieved 23 August 2010
References
Bibliography Broadway.com interview, 21 February 2008 Official London Theatre interview, 21 February 2006
External links
Interview with Jenna Russell on Theatre.com