Gina McKee

Georgina McKee (born 14 April 1964)[1] is an English actress. She won the 1997 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for Our Friends in the North (1996), and earned subsequent nominations for The Lost Prince (2003) and The Street (2007). She also starred on television in The Forsyte Saga (2002) and as Caterina Sforza in The Borgias (2011). Her film appearances include Notting Hill (1999), In the Loop (2009) and Phantom Thread (2017).

Gina McKee
Born (1964-04-14) 14 April 1964
Peterlee, County Durham, England
OccupationActress
Years active1979–present
Spouse(s)
Kez Cary
​
(m. 1989)​

Early life

McKee was born in Peterlee, County Durham, the daughter of a coal miner,[2] and grew up there and in nearby Easington and Sunderland. Her first experience of acting occurred in her final year at primary school where her teacher finished the school week off with improvisations.[2] Seeing a poster in a shoe-shop window for a new youth drama group, McKee and her friends decided to attend, initially not seriously but later becoming enthusiastic.[2] It led to McKee's first professional appearance, working on Tyne Tees children's series, Quest of Eagles.[2]

From the age of 15, McKee spent three summers in London with the National Youth Theatre.[2] After completing her A-Levels at East Durham College, she decided, with her parents' blessing, to apply to drama schools rather than art colleges. However, she was rejected by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the Central School of Speech and Drama.[2]

Career

McKee began her career in TV with several small background roles including a part on the Lenny Henry Show. She made her film debut in 1988 when she had a small role in the Ken Russell film The Lair of the White Worm which co-starred Hugh Grant. In 1996, she played Mary in the BBC drama Our Friends in the North, a role for which she won three Best Actress awards in 1997: the British Academy Television Award, the Royal Television Society Award and the Broadcasting Press Guild Award.[3] McKee appeared in several episodes of the Chris Morris spoof current affairs show, Brass Eye (1997, 2001), as reporter Libby Shuss.

McKee's theatre credits include Harold Pinter's The Lover and The Collection at the Comedy Theatre in London.

In 2008 she appeared in the BBC drama Fiona's Story and a West End revival of Chekhov's Ivanov.[4] In 2010, she appeared as Goneril in the Donmar Warehouse revival of King Lear, directed by Michael Grandage and starring Derek Jacobi. She received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.[5] She also played the mother of a deaf teenager in BBC TV's thriller, The Silence, opposite Genevieve Barr.

In 2018, she appeared in the highly successful BBC/Netflix drama series Bodyguard, playing the character of Commander Anne Sampson.

Personal life

McKee has been married to Kez Cary since 1989; they live in East Sussex, England. She has been a vegetarian since 1982.[6]

In 2002, McKee was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Sunderland, receiving the honour alongside footballer Niall Quinn.[7][8]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1988The Lair of the White WormNurse Gladwell
1989The Rachel PapersEvonne
1993NakedCafé Girl
1996The Treasure SeekersMary Leslie
1998CroupierMarion Nell
1999Notting HillBella
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of ArcDuchess of Bedford
WonderlandNadia
Women Talking DirtyEllen
2000There's Only One Jimmy Grimble[9]Donna
2001The ZookeeperAnkica
2002Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya SisterhoodGenevieve
2003Burning the BedCaroline
The ReckoningSarah
2004Mickybo and MeJonjo's ma
2005The Adventures of Greyfriars BobbyMaureen Gray
MirrorMaskWhite Queen/Dark Queen
2006Scenes of a Sexual NatureJulia
2007And When Did You Last See Your Father?[10]Kathy Morrison
AtonementNurse Drummond
2009In the Loop[11][12]Judy Molloy
2013Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains IndianMadeleine
2015HectorLizzie
Taj MahalLouise's Mother
2017Phantom ThreadCountess Henrietta Harding

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1979Quest of EaglesJane7 episodes
1986Auf Wiedersehen, PetGirl1 episode
1987Inspector MorseGirl in Betting Shop1 episode
1988The Lenny Henry ShowJulie12 episodes
1989MinderJoanna1 episode
1990Drop the Dead DonkeyLou1 episode
1991An Actor's Life For MeSue Bishop6 episodes
1996Our Friends in the NorthMary Cox9 episodes
1997The ChestFiona CroftTelevision movie
1997Brass EyeLibby Shuss / Vivian Banch3 episodes
2001DiceAngela StarckMiniseries, 6 episodes
2002–2003The Forsyte SagaIrene ForsytheMiniseries, 10 episodes
2003The Lost PrinceLallaTelevision movie
2004The Blackwater LightshipHelenTelevision movie
2006Tsunami: The AftermathKim PeabodyMiniseries, 2 episodes
2006The Lavender ListMarcia WilliamsTelevision movie
2007LewisDiane Turnbull1 episode
2007The Old Curiosity ShopSally BrassTelevision movie
2007The StreetJan Parr2 episodes
2008Fiona's StoryFionaTelevision movie
2009Waking the DeadJackie2 episodes
2010DiveJacquelineTelevision movie
2010The SilenceAnneMiniseries, 4 episodes
2011VeraJulie Armstrong1 episode
2011–2013The BorgiasCaterina SforzaMain cast, 13 episodes
2012MissingJamie Ortega6 episodes
2012Line of DutyJackie Laverty3 episodes
2012–2013HebburnPauline12 episodes
2012Secret StateEllis KaneMiniseries, 4 episodes
2013By Any MeansHelen BarlowMiniseries, 6 episodes
2016Royal Wives At WarWallis SimpsonTelevision movie
2017Emerald CityDr. Jane AndrewsRecurring role, 5 episodes
2017KnightfallLandry’s Mother3 episodes
2018BodyguardCommander Anne SampsonMain cast, 5 episodes
2019The RookJennifer BirchMiniseries, 7 episodes
2019Catherine the GreatCountess BruceMiniseries, 4 Episodes
2020Black NarcissusSister AdelaMiniseries, 2 Episodes

Theatre

References and notes
  1. DoB correct. (not 1961) birth indexes show birth registered 2nd quarter (April, May, June) 1964 in Hartlepool, mother's maiden name = "Turnbull"
  2. Lane, Harriet; "'I had nothing to lose'" Guardian.co.uk, 30 November 2008 (Retrieved: 1 August 2009)
  3. Jones, Alice; "Who's that girl?" Independent.co.uk, 16 September 2008 (Retrieved: 1 August 2009)
  4. Taylor, Paul; "First Night: Ivanov, Wyndham's Theatre, London" Independent.co.uk, 18 September 2008 (Retrieved: 1 August 2009)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 January 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. Norman, Neil; "My favourite table: Actress Gina McKee at Rasa, London" Guardian.co.uk, 25 March 2007 (Retrieved: 1 August 2009)
  7. "Honorary Graduates" Archived 15 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Sunderland.ac.uk (Retrieved: 1 August 2009)
  8. "Football veteran receives honorary degree" TheNorthernEcho.co.uk, 15 July 2002 (Retrieved: 1 August 2009)
  9. Ellen, Barbara; "Pale and interesting" Guardian.co.uk, 27 August 2000 (Retrieved: 1 August 2009)
  10. Morrison, Blak"This is your life" Guardian.co.uk, 29 September 2007 (Retrieved: 1 August 2009)
  11. Eyre, Hermione; "Ministry of offence: Armando Iannucci takes on the White House" Independent.co.uk, 12 April 2009 (Retrieved: 1 August 2009)
  12. Eyre, Hermione; "Fiona's Story, BBC 1" Independent.co.uk, 7 September 2008 (Retrieved: 1 August 2009)
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