Helen Baxendale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helen Baxendale
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Baxendale in 2013
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Helen Victoria Baxendale
7 June 1970 Pontefract, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Years active | 1991–present |
| Partner(s) | David L. Williams |
| Children | 3; including Nell Williams |
Helen Victoria Baxendale (born 7 June 1970) is an English actress who has appeared on stage and television. She is famous for playing Rachel Bradley in the British TV show Cold Feet and Emily Waltham in the American hit comedy Friends.
Her work in the theatre has also been praised. She was nominated for a big award, the Ian Charleson Award, in 1993 for her role in a play called The Soldiers. Some of her other well-known TV shows include Cardiac Arrest, Cuckoo, and Noughts + Crosses.
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Early Life and Dreams
Helen Baxendale was born in Pontefract, a town in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Her parents were both teachers, and her sister, Katie Baxendale, is a screenwriter.
She grew up in a village called Shenstone and went to King Edward VI School in Lichfield. When she was young, Helen's big dream was to become a ballet dancer. She trained at a special dance school but decided to leave when she was 17 to become an actress instead. She then studied at the famous Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Acting Career
After drama school, Helen began working at the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre from 1992 to 1995. This experience helped her get her first major roles on television.
Famous Television Roles
Early TV Success
One of Helen's first big TV roles was as Dr. Claire Maitland in the hospital drama Cardiac Arrest. Her performance was so good that she was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA award in 1995.
Soon after, she landed the role of Rachel Bradley in the popular comedy-drama Cold Feet. This role made her a household name in the UK and earned her a nomination for a British Comedy Award. She also played the main character, Cordelia Gray, in the detective series An Unsuitable Job for a Woman.
Appearing in Friends
In 1998, Helen got a major role in the world-famous American sitcom Friends. She played Emily Waltham, who becomes Ross Geller's girlfriend, wife, and then ex-wife. She appeared in 14 episodes during the show's fourth and fifth seasons.
Being in such a huge show brought a lot of attention. Helen later said she didn't think she wanted the kind of life the main Friends actors had. She explained, "They were hounded. They weren't able to walk into a supermarket and buy something." She found the level of fame that came with the show to be "bonkers."
What Came After Friends
After Friends, Helen continued to act in many interesting roles. She played Pandora Braithwaite in Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years in 2001.
From 2012 to 2019, she starred as Lorna in the BBC comedy Cuckoo. In 2020, she played the housekeeper Meggie McGregor in the TV adaptation of the popular book series Noughts + Crosses. She has also appeared in episodes of shows like Inspector George Gently, Lewis, and Agatha Christie's Poirot.
Stage and Radio Work
Besides television, Helen has a strong background in theatre. She has acted in famous plays like Hamlet, where she played Ophelia. In 2005, she starred in a play called The Woman Before at the famous Royal Court Theatre in London.
She has also done work for the radio. In 2008, she was a guest star on the award-winning BBC radio comedy Cabin Pressure.
Personal Life
Helen Baxendale has been with her partner, film director David L. Williams, since they met in Glasgow. The couple has three children together. Their oldest child, Nell Williams, is also an actress.
Her first pregnancy was written into the story of An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. Her second pregnancy was written into the fourth series of Cold Feet.
Because she was pregnant and lived in the UK, her character Emily was written out of Friends sooner than the writers had planned. This is why she only appeared in 14 episodes, even though her character had a major storyline with Ross.
See also
In Spanish: Helen Baxendale para niños
