# Sandy McDade

Sandra Isobel McDade (born February 1964), professionally known as Sandy McDade or Sandy McDare, is a Scottish actress, known for her part as Margaret Brown (née Ellison) in the television series Lark Rise to Candleford, Miss Scatcherd in the 2011 film Jane Eyre, and Fay on stage at the Royal Court Theatre Downstairs in Iron, which won her the 2003 Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress.

## Early life

McDade grew up in Gracemount in Edinburgh, where she attended Gracemount High School. By the age of 15 she obtained a place at the Scottish Youth Theatre, where she made her stage debut at the Royal Lyceum Theatre.

## Professional life

McDade's professional acting career has involved acting on television, film and on the stage, although most of her parts have been in supporting roles. For the lead role in Iron, she won Best Actress in both the 2002 Stage Awards for Acting Excellence and the 2003 Evening Standard Theatre Awards. She would later go on to play her most famous part to date, that of Margaret Brown (née Ellison) in the BBC Television series Lark Rise to Candleford.

## Filmography
### Television

McDade has been in the cast of some of the most popular British television series, such as Hamish Macbeth, Taggart, A Touch of Frost, The Office, Lark Rise to Candleford and EastEnders
* The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1991), Moira, “From Doon with Death: Part 1 & 2
* Heading Home (1991), Lesley Perone
* Taggart (1992, 2000 & 2008)
* A Touch of Frost (1992 & 2004)
* Doctor Finlay (1993), Mary Thomson, “A Bitter Pill”
* Hamish Macbeth (1997), Jean Foley, TV Series
* McCallum (1998), Christine, “Running on Empty”
* The Bill (2000), Tracey Perry
* Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) (2000), Karen, “Mental Apparition Disorder”
* Holby City (2001)
* Masterpiece (2003-2013)
* My Uncle Silas (2003)
* Rockface (2003)
* Judge John Deed (2003)
* The Office (Christmas specials) (2003)
* Quite Ugly One Morning (2004)
* Teachers (2004), Inspector
* Down to Earth (2005), Fay Curtis, “Ignorance is Bliss”
* Secret Smile (2005), Susan, TV Mini-Series
* Vital Signs (2006), Dr. Phillips, TV Series
* Silent Witness (2007)
* Comedy Lab (The Smallest Game in Town) (2007)
* By the Book (2007)
* Lark Rise to Candleford (2008-2011)
* New Tricks (2012), Helen Wray, “Glasgow UCOS”
* Misfits (2012), Sister Catherine, TV Series
* Father Brown (2013), Marjorie Shipton, “The Standing Stones”
* Agatha Christie's Poirot (2013), Mrs Rice, “The Labours of Hercules”
* The Lady Vanishes (2013), Mrs Barnes
* Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (2014), Gail Murray
* EastEnders (2015-2016), Sister Judith
* Guilt (2021), Jackie
* The Wheel of Time (2021), Maigan
* Sanditon (2022), Miss Beatrice Hankins

### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1991 | London Kills Me | Woman diner |
| 1995 | Restoration | Hannah |
| 2004 | One Last Chance | Aunt Jean |
| 2005 | Mrs Henderson Presents | Civil servant |
| 2011 | Jane Eyre | Miss Scatcherd |

## Theatre

* The Life of Stuff
* Iron
* After Dido
* Making Stalin Laugh
* The Seagull
* A Period of Adjustment
* The House of Bernarda Alba
* Prayer for Owen Meany
* Twelfth Night
* As I Lay Dying
* 12 Dancing Princesses
* Cyrano de Bergerac
* The Skriker
* The Rivals
* Pioneers in Ingolstadt
* Macbeth
* Peer Gynt
* Ghetto
* Fuenteovejuna
* The Good Person of Szechwan
* Señora Carrar's Rifles
* A Woman Killed with Kindness
* Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

### Theatre awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Theatre | Result |
| 1994 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | The Life of Stuff | Donmar Warehouse | Nominated |
| 2002 | Stage Awards for Acting Excellence | Best Actress | Iron | Traverse Theatre | Won |
| 2003 | Evening Standard Theatre Awards | Best Actress | Iron | Royal Court Theatre | Won |

## Radio

* Life: An Audio Tour (BBC Radio 4) (2008)
* Births, Deaths and Marriages (BBC Radio 4) (2012-2013)