Suzanne Packer (born Suzanne Jackson on 26 November 1962)[1] is a Welsh actress, known for playing the role of Tess Bateman in the BBC medical drama Casualty from September 2003 to August 2015. She later returned to the series as a guest for the 30th-anniversary episodes. Since departing from Casualty, she has appeared in various television series including Bang, In My Skin and The Pembrokeshire Murders.
Suzanne Packer | |
---|---|
Born | Suzanne Jackson 26 November 1962 Cardiff, Wales |
Education | Llanedeyrn High School; Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art |
Alma mater | University of Warwick |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1990–present |
Spouse | Jesse Newman (divorced) |
Children | 1 |
Relatives | Colin Jackson (brother) |
Early life
editPacker is the daughter of Jamaican and Panamanian immigrant parents to Abergavenny, and her mother worked as a nurse. She is the elder sister of the hurdler Colin Jackson.[2][3]
While studying at Llanedeyrn High School in Cardiff, she showed an interest in acting, playing the lead in school plays including Oklahoma and The King and I.[4] Packer attended the National Youth Theatre of Wales before earning a BA in theatre and drama at the University of Warwick. She then trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.[5] Prior to acting professionally, Packer worked as a drama supply teacher. After working at one particular school for three months, she was offered a permanent contract, which she declined due to wanting to pursue acting full-time.[6]
Career
editIn 1991, Packer co-founded BiBi Crew, Britain's first comedy theatre troupe made up entirely of Black women.[7] After she gained an audition for the BBC drama Casualty and was cast as Tess Bateman, she began appearing onscreen from September 2003.[8] On 22 August 2015, she announced her decision to leave Casualty after playing the character of Tess for over 11 years.[9]
Packer appeared with her brother Colin on the first series of Pointless Celebrities on 6 July 2011. They were eliminated in the first round.[10] In 2018, she began portraying the role of Nurse Digby in the BBC Three series In My Skin.[11] On 4 November 2018, Packer played Eve Cicero in the Doctor Who episode, "The Tsuranga Conundrum".[12] In 2021, she starred in the ITV miniseries The Pembrokeshire Murders.[13]
Personal life
editPacker met American actor Jesse Newman while on a tour in Europe, and the pair later married, and had a son together.[14] The pair divorced.[2]
Filmography
editYear | Title | Role | Channel | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1990–1993, 2000 | Brookside | Josie Johnson/Brooks | Channel 4 | Recurring roles |
1992 | Crime Story | Barbara Pilkington | ITV | Episode: "All Good Friends" |
1994 | The Lifeboat | Helen Mitchell | Unknown | Episode: "Shadow of Doubt" |
1995 | Grange Hill | Miss Foster | BBC | 2 episodes |
1995 | Some Kind of Life | Dr. Judson | Unknown | |
1996 | Wales Playhouse | Veronica | BBC Wales | Episode: "Strangers in the Night" |
1996 | Porkpie | Trish | Channel 4 | Episode: "Fatal Distraction" |
1996 | Casualty | Candice Francis | BBC1 | Episode “Trapped” |
1997 | Tiger Bay | Marie | Unknown | 4 episodes |
1998 | Brothers and Sisters | Siobhan Etienne | Unknown | |
1999 | The Bill | Katherine Adams | ITV | Episode: "Treading Water" |
2000 | Dirty Work | Rhiannon | Unknown | 6 episodes |
2002 | Third Watch | Dr. Sharon Reid | NBC | Episode: "The Greater Good" |
2003–2015, 2016, 2021 | Casualty | Tess Bateman | BBC | Series regular |
2004–2005 | Holby City | 2 episodes | ||
2005 | Casualty @ Holby City | 3 episodes | ||
2014 | Under Milk Wood | Mrs. Beynon | Television film | |
2015 | Doctors | Rose Blair | Episode: "The Heart of England" | |
2016 | Stella | Carol | Sky 1 | Series 5 |
2016 | The Level | Teresa Devlin | ITV | Recurring role |
2017 | Vera | Sophia | Episode: "Natural Selection" | |
2017 | Bang | Layla | S4C/BBC | Main role |
2017, 2019, 2021 | Un Bore Mercher / Keeping Faith | Delyth Lloyd | Main role | |
2018 | Death in Paradise | Maya Oprey | BBC | 1 episode |
2018 | Hold the Sunset | Mrs. Pool | Episode: "Roger the Carer" | |
2018 | Doctor Who | Eve Cicero | Episode: "The Tsuranga Conundrum" | |
2018 | The ABC Murders | Capstick | 3 episodes | |
2018–2021 | In My Skin | Nurse Digby | BBC Three | Recurring role |
2020 | Cyswllt (Mewn COVID) | Ruth | S4C | |
2021 | The Pembrokeshire Murders | Chief Constable Tyler | ITV1 | Miniseries |
2023 | Silent Witness | Miriam Harper | BBC1 | s26 Southbay pt1&2 |
2024 | The Night Caller | Rosa | Channel 5 | 4 episodes |
2024 | The Bay | Anne Jackson | ITV | Series 5 |
References
edit- ^ Wightwick, Abbie (28 September 2018). "Brilliant, Black and Welsh: A celebration of 100 African Caribbean and African Welsh people". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Colin Jackson and his sister, Suzanne". Sunday Times. 17 December 2006. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ^ Lewis, Anthony (10 August 2015). "Famous siblings visit day therapy unit". Penarth Times. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Casualty tales shrugged off by fun mum". Wales Online. 11 November 2006. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Hayward 1996, p. 193.
- ^ "Suzanne Packer talks about her experiences as a teacher". BBC. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Abram, Nicola, ed. (2020). "Theatre of Black Women". Black British Women's Theatre. Cham: Springer International Publishing. pp. 23–84. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-51459-4_2. ISBN 978-3-030-51459-4. S2CID 226651462. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
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ignored (help) - ^ "Characters & Cast: Tess Bateman". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
- ^ "Ex Casualty star Suzanne Packer: 'I've all the power in my new drama!'". What's on TV. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Episode 3". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ "BBC orders a dark comedy about a teen and her mentally ill mum". Chortle. 28 June 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ Ling, Thomas (4 November 2018). "Doctor Who series 11 episode 5: meet the guest cast of The Tsuranga Conundrum". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ Bond, Kimberley (12 January 2021). "Viewers Praise Luke Evans' Performance in 'Gripping' Serial Killer Drama Pembrokeshire Murders". Tyla. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Casualty Pack" (PDF). BBC. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2021.