Annette Badland, born on August 26, 1950, is a distinguished British actress with a career spanning television, radio, stage, and film. She is known for her versatility and has portrayed a wide array of characters, captivating audiences across various genres.
Early Life and Training
Born in Edgbaston, Birmingham, Annette Badland pursued her passion for acting at the East 15 Acting School in Loughton, Essex. During her time there, she gained practical experience working in "rep" at Southwold Summer Theatre, laying the foundation for her extensive career.
Stage Career
Badland's stage career is marked by diverse roles and collaborations with renowned theatre companies. In 2006, she worked with The Peter Hall Company on productions at the Theatre Royal in Bath, England. In 2018, she joined The Globe Theatre in London for Blanche McIntyre's "The Winter's Tale" and Matt Hartley's "Eyam," the latter based on the true story of a Derbyshire village that voluntarily quarantined themselves during an outbreak of the Black Plague. During the first quarter of 2019, Badland starred in two separate productions, featuring the same cast, at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in London. In September 2019, Badland was made a patron of The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham.
Her early stage appearances include "The Three Arrows" at the Arts Theatre, Cambridge in 1972, "Toad of Toad Hall" in 1973, and "As You Like It" with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1973. Later performances include "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice," "Miss Jean Brodie," "Tis Pity She's a Whore," "Doctor Faustus," "Measure for Measure," "Habeas Corpus," "Alphabetical Order," "Blithe Spirit," "Kin," "Far Away," "The Winter's Tale," "After Edward," and "Our Lady of Blundellsands."
Television Career
Annette Badland has an extensive television career, appearing in numerous episodic roles and series. She gained recognition for her roles as Charlotte in "Bergerac," Margaret Blaine in "Doctor Who," Mrs. Glenna Fitzgibbons in "Outlander," Babe Smith in "EastEnders," Dr. Fleur Perkins in "Midsomer Murders," and Mae Green in "Ted Lasso."
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Early Television Roles
Badland's early television work includes guest-starring roles in episodic television starting in 1982. She appeared in BBC's crime mini-series "Holding On" (1997), the children's comedy "Mr Wymi" (1997-1998), and ITV's children's program "The Worst Witch" (1997-1998). She also guest-starred on ITV's "The Bill" and CBBC's "The Queen's Nose" (2000/2001).
Notable Television Appearances
In 2005, Badland featured in a variety of television mediums, including portraying Einstein's nurse in an episode of BBC Two's documentary series "Horizon." She also appeared in "Coronation Street," "Judge John Deed," and "Twisted Tales." In a crossover episode of "Holby City" and "Casualty," she guest-starred as Wendy Wincott. She portrayed the recurring villain Blon Fel-Fotch Pasameer-Day Slitheen a.k.a. "Margaret Blaine" in "Doctor Who."
Later Television Work
In 2010, Badland appeared in "Doctors" and the pilot episode of Sky One's "Little Crackers." The following year, she featured in "Land Girls," another episode of "Little Crackers," and "The Faces of…" In 2013, she starred in the web series "3some" and an episode of Sky One's "Playhouse Presents" entitled "Snodgrass." She also featured in "You, Me & Them" and "Man Down."
EastEnders
On December 12, 2013, it was announced that Badland would appear as a regular in the BBC soap opera, "EastEnders," playing Babe Smith. She made her first on-screen appearance on January 31, 2014, and remained until February 9, 2017.
Recent Television Roles
In 2018, Badland reached the final of BBC's charity series "Pointless" with "Midsomer Murders" Neil Dudgeon. She also appeared in "Not Going Out," "Plebs," "The Dumping Ground," "Hold the Sunset," and "Agatha Raisin." In 2019, she guest-starred on "Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators."
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Film Career
Annette Badland's film career includes roles in various genres, from comedies to thrillers.
Early Film Roles
Badland's first film role was in Terry Gilliam's 1977 film "Jabberwocky." Other early film appearances include "The Naked Civil Servant" (1975), "Flat Bust" (1979), and "The Rough and the Smooth" (1989).
Notable Film Appearances
In 2007, Badland featured in "The Baker." She also starred in "Mr Thornton's Change of Heart," "Three and Out," and "Legacy: Black Ops." In 2009, she appeared in "Jam" and the Oscar-nominated "Wish 143."
Later Film Work
In 2012, Badland was featured in "Mother's Milk." In 2017, she featured in two separate biopics.
Radio Career
Annette Badland has an extensive radio career, including roles in dramas and comedies for BBC Radio.
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Early Radio Work
In 2006, Badland starred in BBC Radio 4's "River's Up." The next year, she featured in Jonathan Myerson's "Dr Zhivago." From there, Badland featured in "The Way We Live Right Now" (2008) and served as a narrator for "Cosmic Quest."
Notable Radio Appearances
In 2010, Badland starred in "Yerma" on BBC Radio 3. That same year, she appeared in several episodes of BBC Radio 4's "Poetry Please" and Chris Wilson's play "Lump-Boy Logan" for BBC Radio 3. She later guest-starred in "Pilgrim" (2013). In "The Aeneid" (2013), Badland played Roman Goddess Venus on BBC Radio 4.
Recent Radio Roles
In 2014, Badland featured in "Doing Time: The Last Ballad of Reading Gaol." She went on to perform as a reader for "Little Lifetimes" and starred in "Mrs Pickwick's Papers" on BBC Radio 4. In 2018, it was announced that Badland would reprise her role as Doctor Who's Margaret Blaine in the spin-off radio series "Torchwood."
The Unavoidable Topic: Weight and Body Image
While Annette Badland's career is a testament to her talent and versatility, discussions about actresses often, unfairly, veer towards their physical appearance. In Lynne Ashe's case, her weight became a defining factor in her career choices. Diagnosed with Lipedema in 2010, a genetic fat disorder impervious to diet and exercise, Lynne Ashe's experience reflects the societal pressures and self-image issues that many women, including actresses, face.
It is important to recognize that focusing on an actress's weight overshadows their accomplishments and contributions to the entertainment industry. Annette Badland's extensive body of work, spanning various mediums and genres, speaks volumes about her talent and dedication, which should be the primary focus of any discussion about her career.