In our profile series Tell Us In Ten, we challenge cast members and creatives from London’s top shows to reveal all about themselves in just 10 questions. From their first steps into the industry to their favourite productions, we want to hear it all!
This week, we caught up with Jemima Rooper, whose acting career began in childhood with roles in the 1993 film The Higher Mortals and the TV adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five. She later starred in a number of television series, including Channel 4’s As If, Sky TV’s Hex, and ITV’s Lost in Austen.
On stage, Jemima was part of the original cast of One Man, Two Guvnors at the National Theatre and starred in Her Naked Skin, the first original play by a female writer to be staged in the Olivier Theatre. She also performed alongside Miriam Margolyes in Me and My Girl at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre and appeared in Breeders and Blithe Spirit in the West End.
Jemima is currently starring as Suzanne Abetz in Farewell Mister Haffman at the Park Theatre.
1. My route into theatre was…
Playing lesbians on TV.
2. My West End idol is…
Nigel Harman (he’s overseeing me write this).
3. My colleagues would describe me as…
A powerful snacker.
4. My favourite show is…
The Book Of Mormon.
Olivier Award winner Gavin Creel as Elder Price in The Book Of Mormon. Gavin won the Olivier for Best Actor in a Musical in 2014.
5. The career moment I’m most proud of is…
Making friends with the late great Gavin Creel and Jared Gertner while they starred in the above show; they called me in my dressing room on my last show of Blithe Spirit round the corner and sang a special rendition of their opening number down the phone.
6. The hardest part about my job is…
Not getting to do it enough.
7. If I wasn’t an actor, I would be…
More stable!
8. Something people don’t know about me is…
I’m an ordained minister.
9. The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
Everyone’s with you at the party but no one’s with you for the hangover.
10. The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…
Please acquire some basic skills useful for life.
Catch Jemima in Farewell Mister Haffman from 5 March – book your tickets from just £26 at Official London Theatre.