Ann Mitchell facts for kids

Ann Mitchell is a talented British actress. She was born on April 22, 1939. Ann is famous for her work in theatre, on television, and in films.

She became well-known in the 1980s. This was when she played Dolly Rawlins in the crime TV series Widows. She also starred in its follow-up shows, Widows 2 and She's Out. All these popular shows were written by Lynda La Plante.

Later, in 2011, Ann Mitchell joined the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She played the character of Cora Cross. Cora was the mother of Tanya Cross and Rainie Cross. Ann Mitchell has had many important roles throughout her long career.

Ann Mitchell's Life and Education

Ann Mitchell went to Raine's Foundation School. After that, she trained to be an actress. She studied at the East 15 Acting School. She was the very first person to receive a scholarship to this school.

Since then, she has worked in many areas of acting. This includes theatre, television, film, and radio. Her first big project was Diary of a Young Man. This TV series was written just for her. It was directed by the famous Ken Loach.

Ann Mitchell also helps teach acting. She is a visiting lecturer at several top drama schools. These include the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She also supports groups like Clean Break. This company helps women who have been in trouble with the law through theatre.

Ann Mitchell has two sons. One of her sons, Ché Walker, is also an actor. She lives in London.

Ann Mitchell's Acting Career

In 1984, Ann Mitchell won an award called the Pye Award. She received it for being the female who had the biggest impact on television. This was for her role as Dolly Rawlins in Widows. She even made a small appearance in the 2018 American movie version of Widows.

In 1992, she won "Performance of the Year" from The Independent on Sunday. This was for her role as Hecuba at the Gate Theatre. Ann Mitchell was also nominated for important awards in 2003. These included the Evening Standard Awards and the Laurence Olivier Awards. This was for her performance in Through the Leaves.

Ann Mitchell has also worked as a director and writer. She helped create plays like Voices from Prison and Cathy Come Home. She also co-wrote Ever After and Kiss and Kill. She directed the first ever performance of Barrie Keeffe's play Sus. This play was shown at the Royal Court Theatre.

Ann Mitchell has worked with actor and director Simon Callow many times. Their first project together was over 35 years ago. It was a play called The Erpingham Camp in Lincoln. Simon Callow made his acting debut in that play.

Ann Mitchell has had a very busy career on stage. She once said that she loves plays by Eugene O'Neill. She also enjoys the delicate plays of Tennessee Williams. She finds plays by Racine wonderful because of their language.

Her Role in EastEnders

In 2011, Ann Mitchell joined the popular British soap opera EastEnders. She played Cora Cross. Cora was the mother of characters Tanya Jessop and Rainie Cross. She first appeared for just a few episodes for her daughter's wedding.

But fans loved her, so she became a regular character. The show's producer, Bryan Kirkwood, said he wanted a new strong female character. He felt Ann Mitchell was perfect for the role of Cora. He said they wondered how they ever managed without Cora.

Ann Mitchell had actually been in EastEnders before. She played a different character, Jane Williams, for six episodes. When she joined as Cora, Ann said she was thrilled. She was a big fan of the show and of actress June Brown. Ann Mitchell took a break from the show in 2015. She returned in 2017 and left in 2018.

Other Acting Roles

Ann Mitchell has played many different characters.

Theatre Performances

She was a main actress at the famous Citizens' Theatre in Glasgow. Her roles there included Mother Courage in Mother Courage and Her Children. She also played Helen in A Taste of Honey and Amanda in Private Lives. Other roles were Mary in Mary Stuart and Mrs Warren in Mrs. Warren's Profession. She also played Gertrude in Hamlet and Agrippina in Britannicus. In London, she performed in The Way of the World and The White Devil.

Royal Shakespeare Company Roles

For the Royal Shakespeare Company, she played Hecuba and other roles in Tantalus. She was also Frieda Lawrence in Divine Gossip. She appeared in Edward Bond's War Plays. Tantalus was a huge play that lasted over 10 hours.

She has also worked with other top UK theatre companies. She was Helen in The Road to Mecca at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. She played Mrs Malaprop in The Rivals at Nottingham Playhouse. In 2005, she starred in Whose Life Is It Anyway? in London's West End. She acted alongside Kim Cattrall and Janet Suzman.

Television Appearances

Ann Mitchell has been in many popular UK TV shows. These include dramas and comedies. Some of her well-known roles were in Z-Cars, Upstairs, Downstairs, and Bergerac. She also appeared in Taggart, The Bill, and French & Saunders.

She was especially loved as Dolly Rawlins in Widows and She's Out. In 2017, she joined the cast of CBBC's Hetty Feather. More recently, in 2022, she appeared in the TV series Vera.

Film and TV Roles

Awards and Nominations

Ann Mitchell has been recognized for her acting with several awards and nominations.

See also

In Spanish: Ann Mitchell para niños