Ann Mitchell facts for kids

Ann Mitchell is a talented British actress born on April 22, 1939. She is well-known for her roles on stage and television. Many people remember her as Dolly Rawlins in the crime TV series Widows from the 1980s, and its follow-up shows. Later, in 2011, she joined the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders as Cora Cross. Ann Mitchell has played many different characters in movies, plays, and TV shows throughout her long career.

About Ann Mitchell

Early Life and Training

Ann Mitchell went to Raine's Foundation School when she was younger. She then studied acting at East 15 Acting School. She was the very first student to receive a scholarship to attend this school, which was a big achievement!

After her training, Ann started working in theatre, television, film, and radio. One of her first big roles was in a TV series called Diary of a Young Man. This show was specially written for her.

Teaching and Community Work

Besides acting, Ann Mitchell also shares her knowledge with new actors. She is a guest teacher at several famous drama schools. These include the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

She also helps different organizations. For example, she is on the board of the Unity Theatre Trust. She is also a supporter of Clean Break. This is a special theatre company that helps women who have been in trouble with the law.

Family Life

Ann Mitchell has been married twice and has two sons. One of her sons, Ché Walker, is also an actor. Ann lives in London.

Ann Mitchell's Acting Career

Key Roles and Awards

In 1984, Ann Mitchell won an award for being the female actress who made the biggest impact on television. This was for her role as Dolly Rawlins in the crime series 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 newspaper. This was for her role as Hecuba in a play at the Gate Theatre. In 2003, she was nominated for two major awards, the Evening Standard Awards and the Laurence Olivier Awards. These nominations were for her performance as Martha in the play 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 directed the first ever performance of Barrie Keeffe's play Sus.

Working with Simon Callow

Ann Mitchell has worked with the famous actor and director Simon Callow many times. They first worked together over 35 years ago in a play called The Erpingham Camp. Simon Callow made his acting debut in that play! They have continued to work together throughout their careers.

Ann has had a very busy career on stage. She once said that her favorite playwright was Eugene O'Neill. She also enjoys performing plays by Tennessee Williams and Racine.

Her Role as Cora Cross in EastEnders

In 2011, Ann Mitchell joined the cast of the popular British soap opera EastEnders. She played the character of Cora Cross. Cora was the mother of two characters already on the show, Tanya Jessop and Rainie Cross.

When she first appeared, she was only meant to be in a few episodes for her daughter's wedding. But fans loved her, so it was announced that she would become a regular character!

The show's producer, Bryan Kirkwood, was very excited to have her. He said he wanted to find a new strong female character for the show. He felt Ann Mitchell was perfect for the role of Cora. Ann herself was thrilled to join the show, as she had been a fan of EastEnders for a long time. She took a short break from the show in 2015 but returned in 2017.

Other Notable Roles

Theatre Roles

Ann Mitchell was a main actress at the Citizens' Theatre for many years. Some of her important roles there included:

• Mother Courage in Mother Courage and Her Children
• Helen in A Taste of Honey
• Amanda in Private Lives
• Mrs Warren in Mrs. Warren's Profession
• Gertrude in Hamlet

She also performed for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her roles there included Hecuba and the Woman in Edward Bond's War Plays. She also appeared in Whose Life Is It Anyway? in London's West End in 2005.

Television Roles

Ann Mitchell has appeared in many popular UK television shows. She has acted in dramas and comedies. Some of these shows include:

• Z-Cars
• Upstairs, Downstairs
• Bergerac
• Taggart
• The Bill
• French & Saunders
• Gimme Gimme Gimme

She also joined the cast of CBBC's Hetty Feather in 2017. In 2022, she appeared in an episode of the crime drama Vera.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Ann Mitchell para niños