Rebecca Pidgeon

Rebecca Pidgeon (born October 10, 1965) is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She has maintained a recording career while also acting on stage and in feature films. She is married to American playwright David Mamet.

Rebecca Pidgeon
Pidgeon at the premiere of Redbelt, April 2008
Born (1965-10-10) October 10, 1965 (some sources cite October 25, 1965)
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActress, singer, songwriter
Years active1986–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 1991)
Children2, including Clara Mamet
Musical career
GenresFolk, pop
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
LabelsChesky, Decca
Associated actsRuby Blue
Websiterebeccapidgeonmusic.com

Early life

Pidgeon was born to English parents in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while her father, Carl R. Pidgeon, was a visiting professor at MIT.[1][2] Her mother, Elaine, is a yoga teacher. Her paternal grandmother, Monica Pidgeon, the editor of Architectural Design, was the sister of artist Olga Lehmann and academic Andrew George Lehmann.[3][4] She moved to Edinburgh, Scotland in 1970, with her parents. She holds dual American/British citizenship. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London alongside Clive Owen and Liza Tarbuck.[5]

Career

From 1986-1990, Pidgeon was the lead singer of the British folk/pop band Ruby Blue. She left Ruby Blue shortly after the band signed to a major record label. She appeared in her first feature film, The Dawning, in 1988 and then starred in David Mamet's plays and films, beginning with the movie Homicide and the play Oleanna, a part Mamet wrote for her. Pidgeon composed the music for the film version, which starred Debra Eisenstadt in her role.[6]

Returning to music, she released the album The Raven (1994), followed by The New York Girls' Club (1996), and The Four Marys (1998), a collection of traditional Celtic folk songs. Tough on Crime (2005) featured Walter Becker of Steely Dan on guitar and Billy Preston on keyboards. Behind the Velvet Curtain (2008) included a cover version of the Beach Boys song "Wouldn't It Be Nice". Slingshot was released in 2012.[7]

Pidgeon has had roles in several of Mamet's films, including The Spanish Prisoner (1997), The Winslow Boy (1999), State and Main (2000), and Heist (2001). She had a small role in Redbelt (2008), and a supporting role in Red (2010). In the 2013 television movie Phil Spector she played a supporting role and also sang "Spanish Harlem" over the closing credits. She appeared in the U.S. television series The Unit, playing Charlotte Ryan, and in the 2007 television film Jesse Stone: Sea Change, playing Leeann Lewis, a murder-bank robbery suspect.[6]

Personal life

Pidgeon is married to the American writer and director David Mamet. She met Mamet while acting in his play Speed-the-Plow during its run at the National Theatre, London. Although married to actress Lindsay Crouse, Mamet began a relationship with Pidgeon. Mamet divorced Crouse in 1990 and married Pidgeon in 1991.

Pidgeon and Mamet have two children, actress Clara and Noah, in addition to Mamet's two older children, Willa and Zosia. Pidgeon, who was born to a non-practising Christian family, has converted to Mamet's Jewish faith.[8][9][10]

Discography

  • The Raven (Chesky, 1994)
  • The New York Girls' Club (Chesky, 1996)
  • The Four Marys (Chesky, 1998)
  • Tough on Crime (Fuel 2000, 2005)
  • Behind the Velvet Curtain (Great American Music, 2008)
  • Slingshot (Toy Canteen, 2011)
  • Blue Dress On (Toy Canteen, 2013)
  • Bad Poetry (Toy Canteen, 2014)
  • Sudden Exposure to Light (Toy Canteen, 2019)

With Ruby Blue

  • So Unlike Me (Red Flame, 1987)
  • Bloomsbury Blue (Red Flame, 1988)

As guest

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1988 The Dawning Nancy Gulliver
1991 Uncle Vanya Sonya
Homicide Miss Klein
1997 The Spanish Prisoner Susan Ricci
1999 The Winslow Boy Catherine Winslow
2000 Catastrophe The Director's Assistant
State and Main Ann
2001 Heist Fran Moore
2002 Advice and Dissent Ellen Goldman
2005 Shopgirl Christie Richards
Edmond Wife
2006 Provoked Miriam
2007 Jesse Stone: Sea Change Leeann Lewis
2008 Redbelt Zena Frank
How to Be Mother
Cat City Victoria Compton
2009 The Lodger Dr. Jessica Westmin
2010 Red Cynthia Wilkes
Two Painters Announcer Short
2013 Come Back to Sorrento
2014 Two-Bit Waltz Anita
2016 Allegiant Sarah
2018 Bird Box Lydia

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Bust Sarah 2 episodes
1988 Campaign Sally Byfleet
1989 Screen One: She's Been Away Young Lillian Episode: "She's Been Away"
1992 The Water Engine Connie TV movie
2004–2005 The Shield Joanna Faulks 3 episodes
2006 In Justice Charlotte Conti 3 episodes
2006–2009 The Unit Charlotte Ryan 14 episodes
2007 Jesse Stone: Sea Change Leeann Lewis TV movie
2010 Glenn Martin, DDS Unknown Episode: "Jackie of All Trades"
Voice
2013 Phil Spector Dr. Fallon TV movie

References

  1. Winters, Laura (April 5, 1998). "FILM; A Deft Stage Presence Moves Into the Movies". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  2. Carl Pidgeon biodata
  3. "Monica Pidgeon". The Daily Telegraph. London. October 20, 2009.
  4. Rowntree, Diana (September 21, 2009). "Monica Pidgeon obituary". The Guardian. London.
  5. "Hollywood previews". hollywoodpreviews.com. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  6. Rebecca Pidgeon at IMDb
  7. "Discography". Rebecca Pidgeon Music. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  8. Tabor, Mary B. W. (March 29, 1995). "Book Notes: Mamet on Passover". The New York Times.
  9. Weber, Bruce (November 17, 1994). "AT HOME WITH: David Mamet; Thoughts From A Man's Man". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  10. "Star's Bonding With Director Meshes Needs of Marital, Reel Life". Miami Herald. January 25, 2001.
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