Debra Stephenson

Debra Stephenson
Stephenson in 2015
Born
Deborah Lee Stephenson

(1972-06-04) 4 June 1972 (age 51)
Hull, Yorkshire, England
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • impressionist
  • singer
Years active1989–present
Notable workPlaying the Field
Bad Girls
Coronation Street
The Impressions Show
Newzoids
Holby City
Spitting Image
Spouse
James Duffield
​
(m. 1999)​
Children2

Deborah Lee Duffield (née Stephenson; born 4 June 1972), known professionally as Debra Stephenson, is an English actress, comedian, impressionist and singer, best known for her roles as Diane Powell in Playing the Field (1999–2000), Shell Dockley in Bad Girls (1999–2001, 2003) and as Frankie Baldwin in Coronation Street (2004–2006).

Between 2009 and 2011, she co-starred with Jon Culshaw in The Impressions Show, a comedy sketch show with impressions of top celebrities. Stephenson has voiced a number of characters for sketch shows such as Dead Ringers (2014–present) and Newzoids (2015–2016). She was also a regular team captain on the panel show The Imitation Game for ITV (2018) and She also appeared in the BBC medical soap opera, Doctors (2019).

Early life

Deborah Lee Stephenson was born on 4 June 1972 in Hull, Yorkshire, as an only child.[1][2][3] Her parents live in the East Riding of Yorkshire.[2] Stephenson attended South Hunsley School in Melton, East Riding of Yorkshire,[4] from the age of 11, and during these years she appeared in a number of national television talent shows doing impressions. In 1996, Stephenson graduated in drama from the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre.[5]

Career

At the age of 14, Stephenson appeared on BBC TV's Opportunity Knocks, winning her way through to the All-Winners' Final, broadcast live from the London Palladium.[6] Around the same time she appeared on Blue Peter doing impressions.[7]

She would later appear in other CBBC programmes such as The Friday Zone (in which she was a regular presenter) and was a backing singer on Chris Jarvis's 1997 charity single "Glasses".[8][9]

In 1995 she sang vocals on musician and writer John Robb project Sensuround. She also sang in rave band Rhythm Quest, touring rave venues.[10]

After graduating as an actor from The Manchester Metropolitan University, Stephenson was cast in various television roles, first appearing in ITV drama Reckless, starring Francesca Annis and Robson Green. In 1998 (for three series) she became one of the main characters in Kay Mellor's comedy drama about women's football, Playing the Field. Stephenson also appeared in the last two episodes of ITV's adaptation of Catherine Cookson's A Dinner of Herbs, in which she played the adult Kate Roystan, who fell in love with the son of the woman who murdered her grandfather.

In 1999, Stephenson played the prominent role of Shell Dockley in the ITV prison drama Bad Girls. Her performance as the psychotic Dockley earned her consecutive nominations for Best Actress at the National Television Awards in 1999 and 2000.[11] After three years playing one of the show's most popular characters, Stephenson left in 2001, the same year she appeared on numerous TV light entertainment shows including as The Frank Skinner Show, The Alan Titchmarsh Show, The Sharon Osbourne Show, Des and Mel, as well as taking part in Lily Savage's Blankety Blank;[12] She returned to Bad Girls" for four episodes of the fifth series in 2003.[13]

As well as doing stand-up comedy at venues including London's Comedy Store and The 100 Club Stephenson has played several roles as a comic actress on radio and television. These include Hosanna in the BBC Radio 4 comedy At Home with the Snails (2002), and BBC1 sketch show TV to Go in 2000 with Hugh Dennis, Martin Freeman, Mckenzie Crook and Pauline McLynn.[14] Stephenson was also part of The Friday Night Project, interviewing the public and going undercover with disguises such as 'Debbo' and 'Sister Mary'.[15]

From June 2004 to December 2006, Stephenson starred in British soap opera Coronation Street playing Frankie Baldwin. She received nominations for "Best Newcomer" at various TV and soap awards shows. On 14 May 2006, producers announced that Stephenson would be leaving the soap at the end of that year.[16] Her final scenes aired on 31 December 2006.

In 2005, Stephenson took part in Comic Relief Does Fame Academy, a singing competition involving celebrities, to raise money for charity, and finished fifth.[17] Among her performances was a rendition of "Cry Me a River" which was called "blemishless" . Her participation on the show led to a recording contract and she released her debut album, In The Sunshine including cover versions of the songs she sang on the show.[18][19]

Stephenson was a reporter for GMTV throughout 2007 as part of The Richard Arnold Show.[20] Stephenson appeared on Lorraine weekly, presenting her 10-week bikini diet plan. This involved demonstrating recipes in the studio kitchen.[21]

Stephenson appeared on Channel Virgin 1's immersive style documentary The Prisoner:X in December 2008. Here she was locked up for four days in a high security prison in America, where she spent a night in segregation and was treated as though she was an actual prisoner doing time in that prison.[22]

Stephenson has performed in many pantomimes. Roles have included Aladdin, Peter Pan and Jack (Jack and the Beanstalk) at venues including the Regent Theatre in Ipswich, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre and Poole Lighthouse.[23][24]

The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson, led by Stephenson and Jon Culshaw, began recording in August 2009. Eight episodes were commissioned by the BBC; the first aired on Saturday 31 October 2009. The show was recommissioned for a second series in 2010 and then again for a third series of six episodes which started on 26 October 2011. As of October 2011, only the first series has currently been released on to DVD.[25]

In March 2010, Stephenson took part in Let's Dance for Sport Relief and reached the final after a rendition of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal". The judges chose to put her through to the final as she had received some of the highest viewer votes. The final was live on 13 March and she performed the same routine.[26]

She was also a contestant on the 2011 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.[27] She danced the American Smooth with partner Ian Waite.

Stephenson was a guest for four episodes as Naomi Scotcher in Waterloo Road. In October 2012, Stephenson played the television cook, Fanny Cradock in Fanny and Friends on More4.[28]

In 2015 she appeared as mentor alongside Ray Quinn in ITV's talent show Get Your Act Together. Since 2015, she has voiced a number of characters in the ITV puppet sketch show Newzoids alongside Jon Culshaw.[29] A second series aired in 2016.[30][31]

Stephenson has appeared in guest roles on series including Midsomer Murders, Spooks and Where the Heart Is, as well as Doctors and Holby City. She also appeared in the one-off BBC comedy drama Young Hyacinth.[32] Between 2017 and 2018, Stephenson appeared alongside Diana Vickers in the stage musical Son of a Preacher Man, in a tour of UK number one theatres.[33]

Stephenson has for several years toured UK theatres with her own one woman cabaret show "Night of 100 Voices".[34] She has also performed on board cruise ships such as P&O Aurora and Ventura and also took part in the TV cook show Battlechefs, hosted by Marco Pierre White.[35]

In 2018, Stephenson was a regular team captain opposite Rory Bremner on ITV1 panel show The Imitation Game, hosted by Alexander Armstrong.[36]

In September 2019, she appeared as Jane in Midlife Cowboy, a new musical at the Pleasance Theatre written by Tony Hawks.[37] She was the voice of Melania Trump as well as Lady Margaret in the animated movie The Queen's Corgi, released in cinemas in 2019.[38] Stephenson also voices several characters in the ongoing CBBC animated series Scream Street.[39] In December 2020, Stephenson voiced several characters on Spitting Image for the Britbox streaming service. She also voiced deepfake version of the Queen's Alternative Christmas Message on Christmas Day on Channel 4.[40]

Personal life

Stephenson married builder James Duffield in June 1999, and they have two children; Max, born in November 2002 and Zoe born in January 2007.[41]

Filmography

Television
Title Year Role Notes
1989 Spitting Image Unnamed role Episodes 7.1 & 7.2
1997 Reckless Michelle Miniseries; 5 episodes
1997 Cone Zone Coriander 6 episodes
1998 ChuckleVision Grand Duches Olga Episode 10.8 – "Stop That Stamp"
1998 Midsomer Murders Kitty Carmichael Episode 1.4 – "Death of a Hollow Man"
1999–2001, 2003 Bad Girls Shell Dockley Series 1–3 – 31 episodes (main role)
Series 5 – 4 episodes (recurring role)
TV Quick Award for Best Actress (2001)
Nominated: National Television Award for Most Popular Actress (2000)
Nominated: National Television Award for Most Popular Actress (2001)
1999 People Like Us Unnamed role Episode 1.4 – "The Police Officer"
1999–2000 Playing the Field Diane Powell Seasons 1–3; 16 episodes
2000 A Dinner of Herbs Kate Roystan Miniseries; 3 episodes
2001 Sam's Game Sarah Episode 1.1 – "Bed"
2002 Dick Whittington Alice Fitzwarren Television film
2002 Spooks Claire Osborne Episode 1.2 – "Looking After Our Own"
2002 TV to Go Various roles Episode 2.1
2004 Mad About Alice Kate 6 episodes
2004 The Last Detective Angela Barnwell Episode 2.4 – "Dangerous and the Lonely Hearts"
2004 Where the Heart Is Charlotte Balderstone Episode 8.5 – "Little Boy Blue"
2004–2006 Coronation Street Frankie Baldwin 340 episodes, Series regular
2005 Comic Relief Does Fame Academy Contestant
2009–2011 The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson Various roles 3 series; 21 episodes
2011 Waterloo Road Naomi Scotcher 4 episodes
2010 Let's Dance for Sport Relief Contestant
2012 Coming Up Emma Sullivan Episode 7.5 – "Postcode Lottery"
2012 Rocket's Island Sarah 3 episodes
2012 Fanny and Friends Fanny Cradock
2014–2015 My Mad Fat Diary Chloe's Mum 4 episodes
2015 Get Your Act Together Celebrity mentor 2 episodes
2015–2016 Newzoids Various voices 2 series; 12 episodes
2016 Coastal Walks with My Dog Co-presenter 1 episode
2016 Battlechefs Contestant
2016 Zig and Zag Nellie 26 episodes
2016 Young Hyacinth Dulcie Cooper-Smith 1 episode
2017 Doctors Becca Mowberry Episode: "Legacy"
2017 Holby City Harriet Jacobson 2 episodes
2018 The Imitation Game Herself, impressionist 8 episodes
2019 Doctors Charlotte Hill 12 episodes
2020 Give Them Wings Ethel Hogg
2020–2021 Spitting Image Queen Elizabeth II
2020 Alternative Queen's Speech Queen Elizabeth II Impression of the Queen via deepfake
2021 Holby City Jeni Sinclair Series regular
2023 Mrs. Brown's Boys Anita Luttrell Guest role
Additional credits

References

  1. ^ "Deborah Lee DUFFIELD personal appointments – Find and update company information – GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Hull's Debra Stephenson brings her impressions to Leeds City Varities and Scarborough Spa Theatre". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  3. ^ "FreeBMD Entry Info". www.freebmd.org.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Patron". Spin Off Productions. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Debra is proud of hull roots". The Yorkshire Post. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  6. ^ "The questionnaire | Life and style". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  7. ^ Fulton, Rick (29 July 2022). "Ex-Corrie star Debra Stephenson 'scared to wade into Scottish indy debate'". Daily Record. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  8. ^ "BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 14 February 1997. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Debra Stephenson guest stars with Swing Unlimited Big Band". Daily Echo. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Aries Entertainment". www.ariesentertainment.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  11. ^ "The Bad Girls who came good | UK news". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  12. ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 6 May 2001. ITV.
  13. ^ "Sex and sensibility | Culture". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Tv To Go". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Curtis Brown". www.curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Stephenson to quit Coronation Street". RTÉ. 15 May 2006. Retrieved 29 May 2009.
  17. ^ "Corrie's Debra kicked off Fame Academy". Manchester Evening News. 30 June 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Comic Relief Does Fame Academy – Debra Stephenson profile". Manchester Evening News. 19 February 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Debra Stephenson – In The Sunshine". 13 August 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2023 – via www.discogs.com.
  20. ^ "GMTV's Arnold gets his own show". Digital Spy. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  21. ^ "DEBRA STEPHENSON EXCLUSIVE: HOW I GOT MY BEACH BODY". mirror. 25 May 2006. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Virgin1 confirms 'Prisoner: X' cast". Digital Spy. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  23. ^ "REVIEW: Jack and the Beanstalk". Salisbury Journal. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Stephenson to earn big money from panto". Digital Spy. 20 June 2006. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  25. ^ "BBC One – The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson". BBC. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  26. ^ "BBC One – Let's Dance for Sport Relief, 2010, Grand Final, The Final – Debra Stephenson". BBC. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Su Pollard to star in Strictly Christmas show". BBC News. BBC. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  28. ^ "Curtis Brown". www.curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  29. ^ "ITV to air topical puppet sketch show". Digital Spy. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  30. ^ "Newzoids returns for second series". Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  31. ^ "Newzoids will return for a second season this year". Digital Spy. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  32. ^ "BBC One – Young Hyacinth". BBC. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Debra Stephenson joins Son of a Preacher Man tour". Musical Theatre Review. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Debra Stephenson: Night Of One Hundred Voices : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  35. ^ Gilchrist, Roderick (4 April 2016). "Battlechefs: Alex James and Jenny Eclair face off for a 'nautical last supper'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  36. ^ "TV star Debra Stephenson to dazzle Dorset with her impressions". Dorset Echo. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  37. ^ Staff Writer (9 July 2019). "Debra Stephenson to Star in Midlife Cowboy by Tony Hawks at The Pleasance". Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  38. ^ "The Queen's Corgi Cast and Crew Credits". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  39. ^ "Debra Stephenson spooks us on Scream Street". ITVX. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  40. ^ "Deepfake Queen to deliver Channel 4's Alternative Christmas Message". Channel 4. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  41. ^ "Debra Stephenson exclusive". mirror. 7 August 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2023.

External links

  • MMU Alumni website
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