Gemma Craven
| Gemma Craven | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Rita Gemma Gabriel 1 June 1950 Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation | Actress, performer, singer, musician |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Frazer Hines (1981–1984) David Beamish (1990–1996) |
Gemma Craven (born Rita Gemma Gabriel; 1 June 1950) is an Irish actress. She is best known for her role as Joan Parker, the frigid wife of Arthur (Bob Hoskins), in the BBC TV drama Pennies From Heaven (1978).
Gemma Craven's family moved from Dublin to England in 1960, and she attended the same school as Helen Mirren, St Bernard's Convent High School for Girls in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex.
She appeared as Cinderella in the film The Slipper and the Rose (1976) opposite Richard Chamberlain. Cast as an unknown, she was spotted by one of the producers while performing at the Bristol Old Vic in a production of The Threepenny Opera. The local press touted the event as her own "Cinderella" story. The musical gave Craven an opportunity to shine with her impressive singing talents.
In London's West End, she starred opposite Tom Conti in the musical They're Playing Our Song for which she won a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance, the lead role in South Pacific and in Noël Coward's Private Lives opposite Marc Sinden, Tony Anholt and his wife Tracey Childs which toured throughout 1991 and into 1992. She also played Josie in Boy George's Taboo and features on the OCR singing "Independent Woman".
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