Gemma Craven

b. 1 June 1950, Dublin, Eire. A popular and diversely talented actress and singer, Craven has worked extensively in British theatre, film and television. Among her many stage performances have been; the original concert presentation of Cats, a Bristol Old Vic production of The Threepenny Opera, playing Polly, A Month In The Country, Trelawny, Dandy Dick, Songbook: A Tribute To Mooney Shapiro, Song And Dance, Loot, winning the City Limits award as Best Comedy Actress, They’re Playing Our Song, the original London production of A Chorus Of Disapproval, a West End revival of South Pacific, touring versions of Noël Coward’s Present Laughter and Private Lives, Same Time Next Year, The Darling Buds Of May, revivals of Godspell, at the Barbican in 1993, The King And I, in Dublin, and Calamity Jane, at the West End’s Saddler’s Wells in 1996, Stella By Starlight, a touring version of 42nd Street, Beauty And The Beast, Shadow Of Doubt and Going Dutch, the latter in 2005.


Craven’s film appearances include The Slipper And The Rose (1976), The Mystery Of Edwin Drood (1993), Words Upon The Window Pane and The Last Bus Home, several of which were made in Ireland. On television many times over the years, Craven was in Hey Brian!, several editions of The Morecambe And Wise Show, She Loves Me, playing Amelia, East Lynne, Emily, Pennies From Heaven, playing Joan in Dennis Potter’s 1978 groundbreaking serial, andThe Brown Man as well as numerous single musical shows, among them Song By Song By Noël Coward, Song By Song By Alan Jay Lerner, Must Wear Tights, Girls And Gershwin and Gemma. She has also been in episodes of series such as The Bill, Boon and Father Ted. Additionally, Craven has sung in concert with the City Of London Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra.