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Eva Pope (born 16 November 1967)^[1][2] is an English actress. She trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.^[3]

Career[link]

Her first major role was playing Tanya Pooley in ITV soap-opera Coronation Street from 1993 to 1994. Since then, she has made appearances in Cold Feet, The Bill, Heartbeat, Peak Practice (as Claire Brightwell), Men of the World, Holby City, Casualty, Strictly Confidential, Adventure Inc., Vincent, Bad Girls, Life on Mars, Sorted, Spooks: Code 9 and the film Shadow Man.^[4] From November 2007 to July 2010, she appeared in the lead role of headteacher Rachel Mason in the BBC drama Waterloo Road.^[5]

Her theatre credits include roles in The Comedy of Errors, Turkey Time and Hobson's Choice. She is a regular performer (and part of the original cast) of the international touring play Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners and in November 2007, appeared at the Théâtre Princesse Grace, Monte Carlo, directed by Marc Sinden, as part of his British Theatre Season, Monaco.

In March 2011 Pope starred as Ellie in the BBC One daytime drama 32 Brinkburn Street. She starred in Being Sold The Movie, which premièred on June 19, 2011. On 13 August 2011, Eva Pope starred as police woman, Simone Grayson on Casualty in the first episode of series 26. She appeared in the third series of Moving On on 16 November 2011 playing Michelle.

In 2007 she took over as head mistress, Rachel Mason from former head Jack Rimmer, playing alongside Neil Morrisey playing Eddie Lawson as her deputy head. She played half of season 3 and all of season 4&5. At the end of season 3 her old/original name of Amanda Fenshaw, which she changed as she used to be a prostitute, which everyone found out, in the same episode as the fire, which nearly destroyed the whole school. She nearly left at the end of season 4, as she was tired, and in season 5 executive head Max Tyler tried to force her out by bullying, and originally came in when he saw that she wasn't capable on her own. In the end of season 5 she became attached to new chef Adam Fleet, they soon got married, so she resigned.

Personal life[link]

She is divorced from graphic designer, Laurence Lassalle,^[6] with whom she has a daughter, Elise (born 1995).^[7]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Eva Pope at the Internet Movie Database
• Profile at Corrie.net

Gray O'Brien (birth name: Gerry O'Brien, born 11 August 1968) is a Scottish television and film actor, best known for his portrayal of the villainous Weatherfield businessman Tony Gordon in the popular British soap opera Coronation Street from 2007 to 2010, and as Dr Richard McCaig on Casualty from 1996 to 1998.^[1]

O'Brien was born in Stewarton, Ayrshire,^[2] the 2nd youngest of seven children,^[3] and is a graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.^[4] Resident for a time in Cumbernauld,^[3] he has appeared in many television productions, including Taggart, Peak Practice, River City (as serial womaniser Billy Davies), and the 2007 Doctor Who Christmas special, "Voyage of the Damned". He played Prince Charles's valet in the motion picture The Queen.

O'Brien joined the cast of Coronation Street as the murderous factory boss in September 2007. The actor explained in an interview that he uses sense-memory technique, drawing on "something dark from the past", to emote his powerful performances.^[5] Asked about female reaction to his character's on-screen conspiracy to murder love rival Liam Connor, played by pin-up Rob James-Collier, O'Brien joked: "I'm sure most viewers believe that it's just a story."^[6] O'Brien won Villain of the Year for the role at the 2009 British Soap Awards.^[2]

The Manchester show drew the ire of football fans when, in October 2008, several months after the 2008 UEFA Cup Final riots, in a scripted line, O'Brien's evil character made a jibe about Rangers F.C.. Complaints led to a similar line being cut from the script of a later episode.^[7] Professing surprise at the outcry, the star said: "I'm a Celtic supporter but I need to be clear that I certainly wasn't going out of my way to antagonise any Rangers supporters."^[8]

In May 2009 Coronation Street producers announced that O'Brien's contract with the show had been extended to 2010.^[9]

He played Abanazar in the pantomime Aladdin at the Opera House, Manchester from 5 December 2009 to 3 January 2010.^[9][10] Between 4 December 2010 and 16 January 2011 he played the role again at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham.^[11]

O'Brien was judged Scotland's eleventh most eligible man in February 2009 by a Scotland on Sunday panel.^[4] He once said: "I actually find the heartthrob thing laughable," adding: "I am just a jobbing actor from Scotland and I don't think of myself as particularly good looking."^[3]

Personal life[link]

Gray O'Brien is divorced^[12] from his wife Lynn, whom he married on 9 May 1996. They have a son together called Conor (b.2000),^[3] who made a cameo appearance on the cobbles in one episode.^[5] O'Brien's late father Eddie was also a fan of the long-running show.^[5] O'Brien began dating make-up artist Jill Farimond in 2008,^[12] but it was reported in April 2009 that the couple had amicably split.^[13] His father died of a heart attack.

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

TV[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Fansite on Gray O'Brien
• Message Board for Gray O'Brien
• BBC article about Doctor Who casting
• Gray O'Brien at the Internet Movie Database