# Ruth Gemmell

Ruth Katrin Gemmell (born 1967) is an English actress. She starred in the film Fever Pitch in 1997 which was followed by supporting roles in television series EastEnders, Casualty, Home Fires and Penny Dreadful. She has played Carly Beaker, the mother of the title character in the Tracy Beaker franchise since 2004. In 2020, she began playing Violet, Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton in the Netflix series Bridgerton.

## Early life and education

Ruth Katrin Gemmell was born in Bristol and grew up in County Durham, first in Barnard Castle before moving to Darlington with her mother upon her parents' divorce. She has three older brothers and a sister. She attended Polam Hall School. Gemmell later moved to London, where her father lived, to pursue acting. She trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.

## Career

Gemmell has played roles in both theatre and TV dramas. She played the leading female role in Fever Pitch, based on Nick Hornby's memoir of the same name, starring opposite Colin Firth and had another leading role in the comedy/drama 2 January (2006). She played the recurring character of Detective Constable Kerry Cox in the first series of the BBC police procedural Silent Witness, which premiered in 1996. She returned to the series as different characters in 2006 and 2014.
In 2004, she starred in Tracy Beaker's Movie of Me as the mother of the title character. From January 2009 she became a recurring character in EastEnders as Debra Dean, the absentee mother of Whitney Dean. In August 2009, she starred as Rebecca Sands in two episodes of The Bill.
Gemmell appeared three times in the BBC's police drama Waking the Dead, playing different characters. Her first appearance was in 2002 in the episode "Special Relationships" as DI Jess Worral, a former lover of DSI Boyd. She next appeared on the show in 2008, as Linda Cummings, an exceptionally intelligent serial killer. She reprised the role of Cummings in "Endgame", the finale of the eighth series.
Gemmell starred in Episode 8 of Jimmy McGovern's BBC drama Moving On as Joanne, in November 2010. In November 2011, Gemmell played Lady Shonagon in the adaptation for BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour of The Pillow Book, by Robert Forrest. She appeared as Jen, the wife of an adulterous civil servant, in Channel 4 drama Utopia, in early 2013.
In 2015, Gemmell appeared in five episodes of the television series Penny Dreadful as Octavia Putney. In 2020, she began playing Lady Violet Bridgerton in the Netflix series Bridgerton.
In 2021, Gemmell reprised her role of Carly Beaker for My Mum Tracy Beaker.

## Personal life

Gemmell was married in Westminster, London, in 1997 to 2005 to the actor Ray Stevenson, whom she met in 1995 during the filming of TV drama Band of Gold.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | Who Needs a Heart | Abigail | |
| 1996 | A Stiff Drink | Woman | Short film |
| 1997 | Fever Pitch | Sarah Hughes | |
| 2006 | January 2nd | Claire | |
| 2006 | Love for Sale | Lonely Lady | Short film |
| 2007 | Ela | Ela's Mum | Short film |
| 2007 | The Imaginary Girl | Mother | Short film |
| 2008 | Gone Fishing | Imogen | Short film |
| 2008 | Good | Elisabeth | |
| 2010 | F | Sarah Balham | |
| 2012 | Storage 24 | Sarah | |
| 2012 | Offender | Cassie | |
| 2013 | Chrysanthemum | Janet | Short film |
| 2019 | Cliffs of Freedom | Varvara Vakrinos | |
| 2025 | Cleaner | TBA | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | The Bill | Sue Latham | Episode: "Woman of Substance" |
| 1995 | Band of Gold | Gina Dickson | Episode: "Sold" |
| 1996 | Kavanagh QC | Jenny Norris | Episode: "Men of Substance" |
| 1996 | Short Sharp Shocks | Kate | Episode: "Everywhere" |
| 1996 | Silent Witness | Kerry Cox | Recurring role (series 1) |
| 1997 | Peak Practice | Christine Higson | Episode: "Home Truths" |
| 1997 | The Perfect Blue | Jo | Television film |
| 1998 | Macbeth | Lady Macduff | Television film |
| 1999 | The Bill | Jane Joyce | Episode: "Sex, Lies and Videotape" |
| 1999 | The Alchemists | Julia Bannerman | Television film |
| 1999 | Four Fathers | Nicola Yallop | 3 episodes |
| 2001 | Holby City | Diana Calder | Episode: "Extra Time" |
| 2002 | Dalziel and Pascoe | Rachel Waller | Episode: "For Love Nor Money" |
| 2002 | Waking the Dead | DI Jess Worrall | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | The Bill | Carol Evans | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Jeannie Waring | "Playing for the Ashes" |
| 2003 | Murder in Mind | Liz Willis | Episode: "Landlord" |
| 2003 | Spooks | Miranda | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Tracy Beaker: The Movie of Me | Carly Beaker | Television film |
| 2004 | Blue Dove | Jenny Page | Miniseries |
| 2005 | Midsomer Murders | Anne Merrick | Episode: "The House in the Woods" |
| 2006 | The Afternoon Play | Rachel | Episode: "Are You Jim's Wife?" |
| 2006 | A Touch of Frost | Christine Harris | Episode: "Endangered Species" |
| 2006 | Silent Witness | DI Beth Ashdown | Episode: "Terminus: Part 2" |
| 2007 | Five Days | Dr Tobolska | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Miss Sweetiman | Episode: "Mrs. McGinty's Dead" |
| 2008 | Summerhill | Rose | Television film |
| 2008–2009 | Waking the Dead | Linda Cummings | Guest role (season 7, episodes 3-4; season 8, episodes 7–8) |
| 2009 | Trial & Retribution | Kay Satchell | Episode: "Shooter: Part 1" |
| 2009 | Primeval | Katherine Kavanagh | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | EastEnders | Debra Dean | 11 episodes |
| 2009 | The Bill | Rebecca Sands | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Lewis | Robyn Strong | Episode: "Your Sudden Death Question" |
| 2010 | Casualty | Kate Margolin | Episode: "No Place Like Home" |
| 2010 | Law & Order: UK | Mel Garvey | Episode: "Confession" |
| 2010 | Moving On | Joanne | Episode: "Losing My Religion" |
| 2011 | The Fades | Alice | TV mini-series |
| 2012 | Inside Men | Rebecca | TV mini-series |
| 2013 | Father Brown | Martha Quinton | Episode: "The Wrong Shape" |
| 2013 | Dancing on the Edge | Lady Winnet | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Holby City | Amanda Layton | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | Coming Up | Lynn | Episode: "Big Girl" |
| 2013–2014 | Utopia | Jen Dugdale | Recurring role (9 episodes) |
| 2014 | Silent Witness | Ellie Brooke | Episode: "Undertone: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2014 | Inspector George Gently | Irene Seddon | Episode: "Gently Between the Lines" |
| 2014 | Casualty | DC Monica Darling | Episode: "Deadfall" |
| 2015 | Midsomer Murders | Diana Carnarvon | Episode: "A Vintage Murder" |
| 2015 | Penny Dreadful | Octavia Putney | Guest role (series 2) |
| 2015–2016 | Home Fires | Sarah Collingborne | Main role |
| 2017 | Ransom | Laurie | Episode: "Girl on a Train" |
| 2018 | Doctors | DCI Gail Hargreaves | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Doc Martin | Shirley Knott | Series 9 Episode 2 :"The Shock of the New" |
| 2020–present | Bridgerton | Lady Violet Bridgerton | Main role |
| 2021 | My Mum Tracy Beaker | Carly Beaker | |
| 2023 | Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story | Violet, Lady Bridgerton | Main role |

### Theatre

| | Title | Role | Director | Venue | Notes |
| | A Tale of Two Cities | Seamstress | Phillip Prowse | Glasgow Citizens | |
| | The Country Wife | Alethia | Ian Forrest | Lancaster Playhouse | |
| | Tis Pity She's a Whore | Annabella | Ian Forrest | Lancaster Playhouse | |
| | The Importance of Being Earnest | Cecily | Hugh Hogart | Edinburgh Lyceum | |
| | The Winter's Tale | Perdita | Debbie Paige | Salisbury Playhouse | |
| | An Ideal Husband | Mabel Chilton | Hugh Hodgart | Edinburgh Lyceum | |
| | Uncle Vanya | Yelena | Hugh Hodgart | Edinburgh Lyceum | |
| | Measure for Measure | Isabella | Ian Forrest | Chester Gateway | |
| 1991 | The Second Mrs. Tanqueray | Ellen | Debbie Page | Salisbury Playhouse | |
| 1994 | Othello | Desdemona | Oliver Godfrey | The Railway Tavern | Fast Intent Theatre Company |
| 1997 | Turn of the Screw | Governess | Julian Woolford | Hornchurch Queen's Theatre | |
| 1998 | Nabokov's Gloves | Mary Duggan | Ian Brown | Hampstead Theatre | |
| 1999 | The Weir | Valerie | Ian Rickson | Royal Court Theatre | |
| 2000-2001 | Ancient Lights | Iona | Ian Brown | Hampstead Theatre | |
| 2002 | Kick for Touch | Eileen | Josie Rourke | Crucible Theatre | |
| 2002 | Trips' Cinch | Lucy Parks | Thea Sharrock | Southwark Playhouse | |
| 2004 | Midwinter | Maude | Zinny Harris | | Royal Shakespeare Company |
| 2004-2005 | Macbeth | Lady Macduff / Witch | Dominic Cooke | Royal Shakespeare Theatre | Royal Shakespeare Company |
| 2004-2005 | King Lear | Regan | Bill Alexander | Royal Shakespeare Theatre | Royal Shakespeare Company |
| 2005 | Coram Boy | Mrs Lynch | Melly Still | National Theatre | |
| 2008 | Helter Skelter / Land of the Dead | Woman | Patricia Benecke | Bush Theatre | |
| 2008 | Riflemind | Cindy | Philip Seymour Hoffman | Trafalgar Studios | |
| 2010 | Les Liaisons Dangereuses | Merteuil | Toby Frow | Salisbury Playhouse | |
| 2011 | Zephaniah: In the Night, A Promise | — | Charlotte Westenra | Bush Theatre | A part of: "Sixty Six Books" |
| 2011 | Death and the Maiden | Paulina | Patricia Benecke | Salisbury Playhouse | |
| 2012 | Betrayal | Emma | Nick Bagnall | Sheffield Theatres | |
| 2014 | The Ant and the Cicada | Selina | Erica Whyman | The Other Place | Royal Shakespeare Company - Midsummer Mischief Plays |
| 2014 | Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. | — | Erica Whyman | The Other Place | Royal Shakespeare Company - Midsummer Mischief Plays |
| 2014 | I Can Hear You | Ruth | Jo McInnes | The Other Place | Royal Shakespeare Company - Midsummer Mischief Plays |
| 2014 | This is Not an Exit | Nora | Jo McInnes | The Other Place | Royal Shakespeare Company - Midsummer Mischief Plays |
| 2017 | No Places for a Woman | Annie | Kate Budgen | Theatre503 | |
| 2018 | The Whale | Liz | Laurence Boswell | Theatre Royal Bath | |
| 2018 | Still Alice | Self | David Grindley | West Yorkshire Playhouse | |

### Radio dramas

| Year | Title | Role | Station | Notes |
| | The Woman of Juda | Vivien Davies | | |
| | Maestro | Various characters | | |
| | The Cloths of Heaven | Rachel | | |
| 1994 | Teen Lurve | Nickie | BBC Radio 5 | |
| 1994 | The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes | Violet de Merville | BBC Radio 4 | Episode: "The Illustrious Client" |
| 1996 | The Candlemass Road | Lady | BBC Radio 4 | Saturday Night Theatre |
| 1996 | The House | Polly Bannister | BBC Radio 4 | Series 6 |
| 1999 | Fireworks | Maid | BBC Radio 4 | |
| 2001 | Ancient Lights | Iona | BBC Radio 3 | |
| 2003 | Parade's End | Sylvia | BBC Radio 3 | |
| 2003 | After Scarborough | Sandy | BBC Radio 4 | |
| 2003 | The Spaceman | Mother | BBC Radio 4 | |
| 2008 - 2018 | The Pillow Book | Sei Shōnagon | BBC Radio 4 | Woman's Hour Drama; Series 1–11 |
| 2009 | Classic Serial: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold | Liz | BBC Radio 4 | Episodes: 1, 3 |
| 2010 | The Vanishing | Lieneke | BBC Radio 4 | Saturday Play |
| 2010 | Classic Serial: The Secret Pilgrim | Stephanie | BBC Radio 4 | Episode: 1 |
| 2011 | The Spy Who Came in from the Cold | Liz Gold | BBC Radio 4 | |
| 2013 | The Corrupted | Gracie Braden | BBC Radio 4 | |
| 2013 | The Man in the Lift | Angie | BBC Radio 4 | |
| 2013-2014 | The Cazalets | Villy | BBC Radio 4 | Series: "Casting Off," "All Change" |
| 2014 | Old Times | Kate | BBC Radio 3 | |
| 2014 | Alison Moore: The Pre-War House and Other Stories | Narrator | BBC Radio 4 Extra | 5 episodes |
| 2014 | Time | Narrator | BBC Radio 4 | Episode: "A Bagful of Stories" |
| 2014 | The Mysterious Death of Jane Austen | Anne | BBC Radio 4 | 15 Minute Drama: 5 episodes |
| 2014 | The Time Being: Spells for Love | Melissa | BBC Radio 4 | |
| 2015 | The Left Hand of Darkness | Ashe | BBC Radio 4 | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Clown Shoes | Narrator | BBC Radio 4 Extra | 5 episodes |
| 2017 | The Essex Serpent | Narrator | BBC Radio 4 | 10 episodes |
| 2017 | A Perfect Spy | Mary | BBC Radio 4 | |

### Audio dramas

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2020 | The Archers | Victoria | Episode: "1.19335" | |

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2021 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Bridgerton | Nominated | |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2025 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Bridgerton | Pending | |