Jemima Rooper

Posted June 7, 201014 yr

Jemima Rooper (born 24 October 1981, in Hammersmith, London, England) is an English actress.

BackgroundLondon-born Rooper is the daughter of TV journalist Alison Rooper. She attended Redcliffe Primary School in Chelsea, London and then, at age 12, went to Godolphin and Latymer girls' school. While working on The Famous Five she passed eight GCSEs with A* and A grades. From there she went to sixth form college where she got three A-grade A levels

Work

Rooper expressed a wish to be an actress at the age of nine and contacted an agent.^[1] Her first professional roles were in the 1993 film The Higher Mortals and the 1994 film Willie's War. In 1996 she appeared in all episodes as George in Enid Blyton's The Famous Five.

She said:

“I remember writing 'I want to act' on my bed in lipstick. I think I told my mum I wanted to be an actress and she said I needed an agent to do that. I must have said: "Well, I'm going to get one" - and I think that's why. She was devastated. She said: "Please don't be an actress, be a doctor or lawyer." But I was very tunnel-visioned about it all. I'm an only child and I spent a lot of time alone. I played a lot of imaginary games. I just wanted to dress up and be weird, I suppose”—^[1]

Rooper made her Hollywood debut in The Black Dahlia. In 2008 she starred in the TV series Lost In Austen and guest starred in Agatha Christie's Poirot. She also played a lead role in Her Naked Skin, a new play at the National Theatre.

She is attached to star in the British horror Hotel Caledonia opposite Kelly Brook and Kris Marshall.

Rooper shares a flat with her friend and Lost in Austen co-star Tom Mison.^[2]

Selected screen credits

^{The Higher Mortals}^{(1993)... Vicky}
^{Willie's War}^{(1994) ... Annabel}
^{Owd Bob}^{(1997)... Maggie Moore}
^{The Famous Five}^{(1996–1997)...George}
^Junk^{(1999) (TV)...Gemma Brogan}
^{The Passion}^{(1999) (TV)...Alice}
^{Shockers: Dance}^{(1999) (TV)...Anne}
^{Wives and Daughters}^{(1999) (mini-series... Lizzie Goodenough)}
^{Summer in the Suburbs}^{(2000) (TV)...Julie Lyle}
^{The Railway Children}^{(2000) (mini-series)...Bobbie}
^{Urban Gothic}^{(2000) (TV)...Nik}
^{Love in a Cold Climate}^{(2001) (TV)...Jassy}
^Snapshots^{(2002)...Narma (20 years old)}
^{Midsomer Murders}^{(2004)...Jo Clifford}
^{As If}^{(2001–2004)(TV)... Nicki Sutton}
^{A Sound of Thunder}^{(2005)...Jenny Krase}
^{Kinky Boots}^{(2005)...Nicola}
^{The Brief}^{(2005) (TV)...Mia Ottway}
^Hex^{(2004–2005) (TV)...Thelma Bates}
^{Sugar Rush (TV series)}^{(2006) (TV)...Montana}
^{The Black Dahlia}^{(2006)...Lorna Mertz}
^{Silent Witness}^{(2006)...Claire Ashen}
^{Sinchronicity}^(2006)...Fi
^{Perfect Day: The Millennium}^{(2006) (TV)...Amber}
^{Random Quest}^{(2006) (TV)...Gerry}
^{Life Line}^{(2007) (TV)...Catt}
^{The Time of Your Life}^{(2007) (TV)...Emma}
^{Lost in Austen}^{(2008) (mini-series)...Amanda Price}
^{Agatha Christie's Poirot}^-^{Third Girl}^{(2008) (TV) - Norma Restarick}
^{Hotel Caledonia}^{(2009) (Film)}
^{A Bouquet of Barbed Wire}⁽²⁰¹⁰⁾^[3]

Theatre

^{Where Do We Live}^-^{Royal Court Theatre}^{, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, May 2002 (playing Lily)}
^{Us and Them}^-^{Hampstead Theatre}^{, June 2003 (playing Izzie)}
^{A Respectable Wedding}^{(part of The Big}^Brecht^{Fest) -}^{Young Vic}^{, April 2007 (playing Bride)}
^{Her Naked Skin}^-^{National Theatre}^{, July 2008 (playing Eve Douglas)}
^{The Great Game: Afghanistan}^-^{Tricycle Theatre}^{, April - June 2009}^[4]
^{The Power of Yes}^{National Theatre}^{October 2009}^[5]