Doña Croll facts for kids

Doña Croll is a talented actress who was born in Jamaica on August 29, 1953. She moved to the United Kingdom when she was five years old. Doña is well-known for her roles in popular TV shows, especially soap operas.

She has played many memorable characters. These include Pearl McHugh in Family Affairs on Channel 5. She also played Vera Corrigan in Doctors. Another famous role was Emerald Fox in EastEnders, both on the BBC. Doña also worked as nurse Adele Beckford in the TV series Casualty from 1993 to 1994.

Doña Croll is also a very experienced stage actress. She made history by being the first Black actress to play Cleopatra on the British stage. This was in a play called Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare in 1991.

In 2013, Doña returned to the stage. She played Kate Keller in All My Sons by Arthur Miller. She acted alongside Don Warrington and received great reviews for her performance. She played this role again in 2015.

Early Life and Training

Doña Croll was born in Patty Hill, Hanover, Jamaica. Her parents were both preachers. She moved to the UK when she was five years old. Doña trained to be an actress in Birmingham, England.

Doña Croll's Acting Career

Doña Croll has had a long and successful acting career. She has appeared in many different TV shows, films, and plays.

TV Roles

From 1999 to 2002, Doña played Pearl McHugh in the soap opera Family Affairs. She was also in Casualty as staff nurse Adele Beckford. This was from September 1993 to February 1994.

She also appeared in all three series of the BBC comedy show Gimme Gimme Gimme. In this show, she played Norma, who was Tom's agent. Doña also had a role in the film Manderlay.

Other TV roles include Catherine Cooper in ITV's William and Mary. She also played Matron Casp in the Doctor Who episode "New Earth".

Doña has played four different characters in EastEnders. These roles included a nurse in 1988 and a bar worker in 1991. She also played Joy Lucas in 2006. Her most recent role in EastEnders was Emerald Fox, which she played in 2017.

From 2007 to 2010, she played Vera Corrigan in the BBC soap opera Doctors. In April 2011, Doña returned to Casualty for one episode. She played a guest role as nurse Rachel Culley.

In 2013, Doña appeared in all three episodes of the ITV drama The Ice Cream Girls. That same year, she was also in Dani's Castle as Aunt Marjorie. In 2018, Doña played Old July in the BBC show The Long Song. She also appeared as Eleanor Beaumont in Death in Paradise in 2020.

Voice Acting

Doña Croll is also the voice of Leopard in the children's TV series Tinga Tinga Tales. This show teaches children about African folk tales.

Stage Performances

Doña Croll is well-known for her theatre work. In 2003, she starred in Kwame Kwei-Armah's play Elmina's Kitchen. This play first opened at the National Theatre in London. She also performed in the West End play The Last Days of Judas Iscariot.

In June 2007, she played Mary Maudlin in The Christ of Coldharbour Lane. In 2012, Doña appeared as Juanita in The Heresy of Love. This play was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In 2013, Doña played Kate Keller in All My Sons. She played this role again in 2015 when the play toured the UK.

Personal Life

Doña Croll lives in Brixton, south London. She lives with her long-term partner, David Marsden. They met at a pantomime show in East London. Doña also raised her cousin's daughter.

The famous poet Jean "Binta" Breeze was Doña Croll's distant cousin.