Siân Brooke Explained

Siân Brooke
Birth Name:Siân Elizabeth Phillips
Children:2
Education:Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (BA)
Years Active:2002–present

Siân Brooke (born Siân Elizabeth Phillips; born 1980)[1] is an English actress. Her television work includes Cape Wrath (2007), Sherlock (2017), Doctor Foster (2017), Good Omens (2019), Guilt (2019), Trying (2020–), House of the Dragon (2022) and Blue Lights (2023-).

Early life and education

Siân Elizabeth Phillips was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, in 1980 and is the youngest of three siblings. She took on a stage name to avoid confusion with Welsh actress Siân Phillips, choosing Brooke after an English Civil War general Lord Brooke who was killed at Lichfield.[2] She is the daughter of a police officer and a teacher. Her parents are Welsh.[3] Brooke's early education was at The Friary School in Lichfield.[4] She initially joined the Lichfield Youth Theatre at the age of 11 before becoming a member of the National Youth Theatre and subsequently training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), from where she graduated in 2002.[4] [5]

Career

Her acting debut was as Krista in television series Dinotopia in 2002.Brooke's television credits include A Touch of Frost, Hotel Babylon, Foyle's War, and The Fixer. As a child, she was featured in Strangers in Utah with Adrian Dunbar and Phyllida Law. She also played the lead roles of Laura in All About George and Lori Marcuse in Cape Wrath.

Brooke has lent her voice to the radio dramas Murder on the Homefront, A Pin to See the Peepshow, and Dreaming in Africa.[6]

Brooke's theatre work includes Harvest, Dying City, Dido Queen of Carthage, In The Club, The Birthday Party, “I’m Not Running” and Absolutely Perhaps. She has also appeared in productions of Poor Beck, A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear and Romeo and Juliet, with the Royal Shakespeare Company.[6] From July to August 2008, Brooke played Dorothy Gale in the musical The Wizard of Oz at the Southbank Centre. The production was directed by Jude Kelly. During 2011 at the Almeida Theatre, London, she appeared in Stephen Poliakoff's My City and Neil LaBute's Reasons to be Pretty. From August to October 2015, Brooke played Ophelia alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in the Barbican's production of Hamlet.[7] [8]

In 2017, Brooke starred in the fourth series of the television crime drama Sherlock as Sherlock Holmes' secret sister, Eurus. She initially auditioned for several characters in the show before the showrunners told Brooke that all the characters were one, Eurus, who would be a master of disguise.[9] Michael Hogan writing for The Daily Telegraph in his review of the third episode of the series commented that the role was "a star-making turn from Siân Brooke".[10] Later in the year, she appeared with Sheridan Smith and Gemma Whelan in the BBC miniseries The Moorside, based on the kidnapping of Shannon Matthews.[11] She starred as Karen in the first two series of Apple TV series Trying, which has been renewed for a third series[12]

Her lead role performance in the 2023-24 BBC series Blue Lights as Grace Ellis, a mother of a teenager who made the decision in her 40s to leave her job as a social worker to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland, has been critically acclaimed.[13]

Personal life

Brooke is married and has two children.[14] [15] She is an ambassador for the climate change adaptation charity The Glacier Trust.[16]

Filmography

Television

Year(s)TitleRoleNotes
2002–2003scope=row DinotopiaKrista5 episodes[17]
2005scope=row All About GeorgeLaura6 episodes[18] [19]
2005scope=row Under the Greenwood TreeTelevision film[20] [21]
2006scope=row Episode: "Endangered Species"
2006scope=row Housewife, 49Television film
2007scope=row Foyle's WarEpisode: "Bleak Midwinter"
2007scope=row Hotel BabylonLisa1 episode[22]
2007scope=row Cape WrathMain cast[23]
2008scope=row 1 episode
2008scope=row Midsomer MurdersEpisode: "The Magician's Nephew"[24]
2008scope=row Television film[25]
2009scope=row Doc MartinClaire1 episode[26]
2010scope=row Vexed1 episode[27]
2010scope=rowNew TricksEpisode: "Dark Chocolate"[28]
2011scope=row Garrow's Law1 episode[29]
2011scope=row Silk1 episode[30]
2013scope=row Man DownDaisy1 episode[31]
2014scope=row LewisEpisode: "The Lions of Nemea"[32]
2015scope=row Not Safe for WorkMain cast[33] [34]
2017scope=row SherlockMain cast (Series 4)[35]
2017scope=row Miniseries[36] [37]
2017scope=row Doctor FosterMain cast (Series 2)[38]
2019Good OmensMain cast[39]
2019GuiltClaireMain cast (Series 1)[40]
2019scope=row Television film[41] [42]
2020–presentTryingKarenMain cast[43]
2021StephenMiniseries[44]
2022No ReturnMiniseries[45]
2022, 2024House of the DragonQueen Aemma ArrynEpisode: "The Heirs of the Dragon", "Smallfolk"[46] [47]
2023-presentscope=row Blue LightsConstable Grace EllisLead role[48]
2024SupacellVictoria KeshTelevision series[49]

Film

Year(s)TitleRole
2019RadioactiveBronia Sklodowska[50]
2020Body of waterStephanie[51]

Stage

Year(s)TitleRoleTheatrescope=col class="unsortable" Notesscope=col class="unsortable"
2002scope=rowJust a BlokeLisaRoyal Court Theatre7 November – 23 November[52] [53]
2002scope=rowSarahRoyal Court Theatre7 November – 23 November[54]
2003scope=rowAbsolutely! (Perhaps)DinaWyndham's Theatre7 May – 13 September[55] [56]
2004–2005scope=rowRomeo and JulietJulietRoyal Shakespeare Theatre
Noël Coward Theatre
25 March 2004 – 8 October 2004
16 December 2004 – 8 January 2005
[57] [58] [59] [60]
2004–2005scope=rowKing LearCordeliaRoyal Shakespeare Theatre
Theatre Royal, Newcastle
Noël Coward Theatre
17 June 2004 – 14 October 2004
16 November 2004 – 20 November 2004
13 January 2005 – 5 February 2005
[61] [62] [63] [64]
2004–2005scope=rowPoor BeckMyrrhaThe Other Place
Soho Theatre
29 September 2004 – 7 October 2004
11 March 2005 – 16 March 2005
[65] [66] [67]
2005scope=rowHarvestLauraRoyal Court Theatre2 September – 1 October[68] [69] [70]
2006scope=rowHermiaTheatre Royal, Nottingham
Hackney Empire
St David's Hall
11 February
12 February
25 March
[71]
2006scope=rowDying CityKellyRoyal Court Theatre12 May – 10 June[72] [73]
2007–2008scope=rowIn the ClubSashaHampstead Theatre
Richmond Theatre
Festival Theatre, Malvern
Wycombe Swan
Theatre Royal, Brighton
Belgrade Theatre
New Theatre, Cardiff
25 July 2007 – 25 August 2007
12 February 2008 – 16 February 2008
18 February 2008 – 23 February 2008
25 February 2008 – 1 March 2008
3 March 2008 – 8 March 2008
10 March 2008 – 15 March 2008
18 March 2008 – 22 March 2008
[74] [75] [76]
2008scope=rowLuluLyric Theatre8 May – 24 May[77] [78]
2008scope=rowDorothyRoyal Festival Hall23 July – 31 August[79] [80]
2009scope=rowDido, Queen of CarthageAnnaRoyal National Theatre17 March – 7 May[81] [82]
2009scope=rowArticle 19Royal Court Theatre3 July – 4 July[83]
2010scope=rowWanderlustRoyal Court Theatre9 September – 9 October[84] [85] [86]
2010scope=rowJoseph KVariousGate Theatre11 November – 18 December[87] [88]
2011scope=rowEcstasyJeanHampstead Theatre
Duchess Theatre
10 March – 9 April
12 April – 28 May
[89] [90]
2011scope=rowMy CityJulieAlmeida Theatre8 September – 5 November[91] [92]
2011–2012scope=rowReasons to Be PrettyStephAlmeida Theatre10 November 2011 – 14 January 2012[93] [94]
2013scope=rowTartuffeElmireBirmingham Repertory Theatre1 November – 16 November[95] [96]
2015scope=rowHamletOpheliaBarbican Centre5 August – 31 October[97] [98]
2018scope=rowI'm Not RunningPaulineNational Theatre[99]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Results for Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records . Findmypast. 22 January 2017.
  2. News: Who plays Sherlock's Euros Holmes?. Radio Times. 16 January 2017. Fullerton. Huw.
  3. Web site: Revealed: Wales's top 50 single women. Whitfield, Lydia . . 25 April 2004 . 20 August 2009.
  4. News: Sian's performances are praised as she works with the best in British theatre. Lichfield Mercury. 26 January 2012. 18 January 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170131193812/http://www.lichfieldmercury.co.uk/sian-s-performances-praised-works-best-british/story-15041681-detail/story.html. 31 January 2017. dmy-all.
  5. Web site: Sian Brooke. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. 17 January 2017.
  6. Web site: National Theatre: Company Members: Sian Brooke. https://web.archive.org/web/20110817103333/http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/45819/company-members/sian-brooke.html. 17 August 2011. National Theatre.
  7. News: Sian Brooke: The beauty of changing places . Trueman . Matt . 18 November 2011. The Stage. 12 January 2012.
  8. News: Reviews: Reasons To Be Pretty. Sierz. Aleks. 18 November 2011. The Stage. 12 January 2012.
  9. News: Sian Brooke auditioned several times for Sherlock after being told that each of Eurus's disguises were separate roles. Radio Times. 17 January 2017. Jones. Paul.
  10. News: Sherlock episode 3: The Final Problem, review: 'an exhilarating thrill-ride'. The Daily Telegraph. 17 January 2017. 17 January 2017. Hogan. Michael.
  11. News: Meet the cast of The Moorside. Radio Times. 8 February 2017.
  12. News: Apple Renews British Comedy 'Trying' Ahead Of Season 2 Premiere On May 14 . Kanter . Jake . March 24, 2021 . . February 13, 2022.
  13. News: Ryan . Aine . 13 May 2024 . The Guide-Critic's View-Blue Lights . The Sydney Morning Herald .
  14. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20170118225110/https://www.rada.ac.uk/rada_files/alumni_enewsletter/sian_brooke.pdf. 18 January 2017. Sian Brooke on Hamlet, Parenthood and her studies at RADA. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. 17 January 2017. dead.
  15. Web site: Sherlock series 4: Sian Brooke on keeping her role secret. Den of Geek. 13 January 2017. Mellor. Louisa.
  16. Web site: Siân Brooke joins The Glacier Trust. The Glacier Trust. en-US. 2019-05-26.
  17. Web site: Dinotopia. TV.com. 17 January 2017.
  18. Sian Brooke. TV Guide. 17 January 2017.
  19. News: Comfort TV. The Guardian. 2 October 2005. Flett. Kathryn.
  20. Web site: Under the Greenwood Tree Cast and Credits. https://web.archive.org/web/20080608212847/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/greenwood/whos_who_credits.html. 8 June 2008. PBS.
  21. Web site: Under the Greenwood Tree. https://web.archive.org/web/20141011194810/http://www.ecossefilms.com/tv/under-the-greenwood-tree. 11 October 2014. Ecosse Films.
  22. Web site: Hotel Babylon – second series coming soon to BBC One. BBC. 20 December 2006.
  23. Book: Terrace, Vincent. Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed.. 6 November 2008. McFarland. 978-0-7864-8641-0. 676.
  24. Web site: Siân Brooke. https://web.archive.org/web/20170118075513/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bd6c08733. dead. 18 January 2017. British Film Institute. 17 January 2017.
  25. Web site: Abduction (2008). https://web.archive.org/web/20160712111752/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8cf61832. dead. 12 July 2016. British Film Institute. 17 January 2017.
  26. News: Doc Martin. Radio Times. 17 January 2017.
  27. Web site: Vexed, Series 1, Episode 1. BBC. 17 January 2017.
  28. Web site: New Tricks, Series 7, Episode 4. BBC. 17 January 2017.
  29. Web site: Garrow's Law, Series 3, Episode 1. BBC. 17 January 2017.
  30. Web site: Silk, Series 1, Episode 2. BBC. 17 January 2017.
  31. News: Man Down. Radio Times. Brown. David. 17 January 2017.
  32. News: Lewis. Radio Times. 17 January 2017.
  33. Web site: Sian Brooke interview for Not Safe for Work. 2 June 2015. Channel 4.
  34. News: Not Safe for Work, Channel 4 - TV review: A portrait of a generation of youngish professionals who stay out too late on work nights. The Independent. 21 July 2015. Jones. Ellen.
  35. News: The Mystery of Sherlock's New Antagonist. The Atlantic. 9 January 2017. Gilbert. Sophie.
  36. Web site: Sheridan Smith announced to star in new BBC One drama The Moorside Project. BBC. 8 January 2016.
  37. News: Sherlock, Broadchurch and the return of Christina Ricci: the best television shows in 2017 . The Daily Telegraph. 27 December 2016.
  38. News: Sian Brooke on joining BBC hit drama Doctor Foster: The writing is so strong. Sunday Express. 3 September 2017.
  39. Sherlock star Sian Brooke joins the frankly ridiculous cast of Neil Gaiman's Good Omens. Radio Times. 22 September 2017.
  40. Web site: Claire. BBC. 10 October 2022.
  41. https://www.channel4.com/press/news/channel-4-commissions-drama-stafford-hospital-scandal Channel 4 commissions drama of Stafford Hospital scandal – Channel 4 press release
  42. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/dec/19/the-cure-review-a-nightmare-drama-about-the-mid-staffs-hospital-scandal The Cure review – a nightmare drama about the Mid Staffs hospital scandal – Lucy Mangan, The Guardian, 19 Dec 2019
  43. Web site: 'Trying' Season 2 Recap: What to Know Before Season 3. Decider. 22 July 2022. 10 October 2022. Gallucci. Nicole.
  44. News: 'Sherlock' Star Siân Brooke To Lead BBC Police Thriller 'Blue Lights' From 'The Salisbury Poisonings' Creators; Filming Has Begun In Belfast. Deadline Hollywood. 14 February 2022. 10 October 2022. Goldbart. Max.
  45. News: Meet the cast of ITV drama No Return. Radio Times. 8 February 2022. 10 October 2022. Cremona. Patrick.
  46. News: Who is Queen Aemma in House of the Dragon and who plays her?. Radio Times. 23 August 2022. Daly. Helen. 10 October 2022.
  47. 'House of the Dragon' season 2 surprise cameo lays Daemon bare . 2024-07-23 . . en.
  48. Web site: Blue Lights, review: BBC One's Belfast cop drama deserves as much hype as Line of Duty. The Daily Telegraph. Anita. Singh. March 28, 2023. March 28, 2023.
  49. Web site: Emily Murray . 2024-06-28 . Netflix's Supacell ending explained and post-credits scene breakdown: how does it set up a potential season 2? . 2024-07-21 . gamesradar . en.
  50. Web site: Radioactive (2019). https://web.archive.org/web/20201203035253/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/5f93564756844. dead. 3 December 2020. 10 October 2022. British Film Institute.
  51. News: Bradshaw . Peter . 2020-10-15 . Body of Water review – one wedding, and a sobering take on eating disorders . en-GB . the Guardian . 2023-11-08 . 0261-3077.
  52. Web site: Imprint: The Royal Court Young Writers Festival 2002. London Theatre. 8 October 2002. 17 January 2017.
  53. Web site: Tour archive for Just a Bloke (Play). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  54. Web site: Tour archive for The One with the Oven (Play). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  55. News: Absolutely! (Perhaps). The Guardian. 21 May 2003. Billington. Michael.
  56. Web site: Tour archive for Absolutely!! (Perhaps) (Play). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  57. Web site: Romeo and Juliet. The British Theatre Guide. 17 January 2017. Orme. Steve.
  58. News: Romeo and Juliet. The Guardian. 22 December 2004. 17 January 2017. Billington. Michael.
  59. Web site: Tour archive for Romeo and Juliet (Play). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  60. Web site: Tour archive for Romeo and Juliet (Play). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  61. News: King Lear. The Guardian. Billington. Michael. 1 July 2004. 17 January 2017.
  62. Web site: Tour archive for King Lear (Play). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  63. Web site: King Lear. The British Theatre Guide. 17 January 2017. Fisher. Philip.
  64. Web site: Tour archive for King Lear (Play). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  65. News: The RSC New Work Festival, Swan Theatre and The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon. The Independent. 18 October 2004. 17 January 2017. Taylor. Paul.
  66. News: Poor Beck review at Soho London. Thaxter. John. 23 March 2005. 17 January 2017. The Stage.
  67. Web site: Tour archive for Poor Beck (Play). 17 January 2017. UK Theatre Web.
  68. Web site: Harvest. The British Theatre Guide. Fisher. Philip. 18 January 2017.
  69. Web site: Harvest review at Royal Court London. The Stage. 9 September 2005. 17 January 2017. Berkowitz. Gerald.
  70. Web site: Tour archive for Harvest (Play). 18 January 2017. UK Theatre Web.
  71. Web site: Tour archive for A Midsummer Night's Dream (Play). 17 January 2017. UK Theatre Web.
  72. News: Dying City. The Guardian. 19 May 2006. 17 January 2017. Gardner. Lyn.
  73. Web site: Tour archive for Dying City (Play). 17 January 2017. UK Theatre Web.
  74. News: In the Club. The Guardian. 6 August 2007. Billington. Michael. 18 January 2017.
  75. Web site: Tour archive for In the Club (Play). 17 January 2017. UK Theatre Web.
  76. Web site: Tour archive for In the Club (Play). 17 January 2017. UK Theatre Web.
  77. News: The Birthday Party. The Guardian. 13 May 2008. Billington. Michael. 18 January 2017.
  78. Web site: Tour archive for The Birthday Party (Play). 17 January 2017. UK Theatre Web.
  79. News: The Wizard of Oz. The Guardian. 30 July 2008. 17 January 2017. Gardner. Lyn.
  80. Web site: Tour archive for The Wizard of Oz (Musical). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  81. News: Dido, Queen of Carthage, Cottesloe, National Theatre London. The Independent. 26 March 2009. 17 January 2017. Coveney. Michael.
  82. Web site: Tour archive for Dido, Queen of Carthage (Play). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  83. Web site: Tour archive for Article 19 (Play). 17 January 2017. UK Theatre Web.
  84. News: Wanderlust. Billington. Michael. 18 September 2010. 18 January 2017. The Guardian.
  85. News: Wanderlust. Variety. 20 September 2010. 17 January 2017. Benedict. David.
  86. Web site: Tour archive for Wanderlust (Play). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  87. News: Joseph K, Gate Theatre, London. The Independent. 3 December 2010. 18 January 2017. Jones. Alice.
  88. Web site: Tour archive for Joseph K (Play). 17 January 2017. UK Theatre Web.
  89. News: Ecstasy, Hampstead theatre, review. The Daily Telegraph. 18 January 2017. 16 March 2011. Spencer. Charles.
  90. Web site: Tour archive for Ecstasy (Play). 17 January 2017. UK Theatre Web.
  91. News: My City, Almeida Theatre, review. The Daily Telegraph. 16 September 2011. 17 January 2017. Spencer. Charles.
  92. Web site: Tour archive for My City (Play). 17 January 2017. UK Theatre Web.
  93. News: Reasons to be Pretty – review. The Guardian. 18 November 2011. 17 January 2017. Billington. Michael.
  94. Web site: Tour archive for Reasons to be Pretty (Play). 17 January 2017.
  95. News: Tartuffe – review . The Guardian. 7 November 2013. 17 January 2017. Billington. Michael.
  96. Web site: Tour archive for Tartuffe (Play). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  97. News: Hamlet, Barbican, review: 'justifies the hysteria'. The Daily Telegraph. Cavendish. Dominic. 25 August 2015.
  98. Web site: Tour archive for Hamlet (Play). UK Theatre Web. 17 January 2017.
  99. News: David Hare's 'I'm Not Running', National Theatre, Lyttelton review: An absorbing, flawed evening . The Independent.