Christine Bottomley

Christine Bottomley (born 27 April 1979)[1] is an English actress. Her television roles include playing Kirsty in EastEnders (2001), Melanie in Early Doors (2003–2004), Susie Ward in Heartbeat (2003), and Zoey Wyatt in Shameless (2006). Other credits include Massive (2008), Hope Springs (2009), Land Girls (2009), and Hush (2008).

Christine Bottomley
Bottomley in 2012
Born (1979-04-27) 27 April 1979 (age 45)
NationalityBritish
Alma materRoyal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (2001)
OccupationActress
Years active2001–present
Known forBack to Life
The End of the F***ing World

More recently she has starred in Fearless (2017), The End of the F***ing World (2017–2019), The Nest (2020), Back to Life (2019–2021), and Domina (2021).

Early life

Christine Bottomley was born in Rochdale, Greater Manchester,[1] and grew up in an apartment above the family's chemist shop.[2] She went to several local youth drama groups before embarking on a course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama,[2] from where she graduated in 2001.[2]

Career

Bottomley in 2012

Following graduation, she made her on-screen debut as Kirsty in EastEnders (2001).[1] She played a regular role from 2003–2004, as Melanie in the BBC2 sitcom Early Doors.[1] Bottomley has had numerous parts on television, including episodes of the second series of Torchwood (2008),[3] the comedy series Massive (2008),[3] and the drama series Hope Springs (2009),[3] and Land Girls (2009).[3] Her first film role was in Hush, in 2009.[3]

In 2010, she was nominated for Best New Actress at the London Film Critic's Circle Awards for her portrayal of Lisa Thompson in The Arbor.[4] She is a three-times winner of Best Actress at the BBC Audio Drama Awards; in 2014 for My Boy;[5] 2017 for The Sky is Wider[6] and 2018 for Solitary.[7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006VenusHospital Nurse
2007The Waiting RoomFiona
Death of a SocialistAliceShort film
2008HushBeth
2010The ArborLisa Thompson
Little White LiesMumShort film
2011Lost ChristmasHelen
2012All in Good TimeMolly Batt
Strawberry FieldsEmily
2013Charlie SaysLizShort film
Out of DarknessShort film
Man in the MoonScarlet
2014Keeping RosySarah
2017Cowboy DaveDebbieShort film
Funny CowFunny Calf's Mum
2018PeterlooFemale Reformer
2022Typist Artist Pirate KingJoan
TBARobin and the HoodBridgetPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001EastEndersKirstyEpisode: "21 September 2001"
2002The Inspector Lynley MysteriesBrideEpisode: "Missing Joseph"
Holby CityDanni SimmonsEpisode: "High Risk"
The BillSandieRecurring role; 5 episodes
Dalziel and PascoeChristine FitzgeraldEpisode: "For Love Nor Money"
2003HeartbeatSusie WardRecurring role; 5 episodes
Grease MonkeysTracieEpisode: "Girl Crazy"
2003–2004Early DoorsMelanieSeries regular; 11 episodes
2004Sex, Footballers and VideotapeMelTV film
Murder PreventionSally BrookEpisode: "False Prophet"
2005Comedy LabEpisode: "Speeding"
2006ShamelessZoe WyattEpisode: "Dark Friends"
The StreetYvonne O'NeillSeries regular; 6 episodes
VincentSelina KenyonSeries 2, episode 1
Simon Schama's Power of ArtFillideEpisode: "Caravaggio"
Blue MurderMandy BreeleyEpisode: "Make Believe"
2006–2007The Innocence ProjectSarah ShawcrossSeries regular; 8 episodes
2007InstinctMillyTV film
SoundLouTV film
Sea of SoulsMary DunbarEpisode: "The Prayer Tree"
2008The PalaceNatalieRecurring role; 3 episodes
TorchwoodMaggieEpisode: "A Day in the Death"
Tess of the D'UrbervillesKateRecurring role; 3 episodes
MassiveLouSeries regular; 6 episodes
2009Hope SpringsShoo CogganSeries regular; 8 episodes
Land GirlsAnnie BarrettSeries regular; 5 episodes
2010The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne ListerAnn WalkerTV film
SurvivorsClareSeries 2, episode 5
2011Midsomer MurdersBlaze LeadbetterEpisode: "The Oblong Murders"
In with the FlynnsSarahEpisode: "Whistleblowing"
Inspector George GentlyTerri MolloyEpisode: "Goodbye China"
Moving OnCarolineEpisode: "Tour of Duty"
2012Secrets and WordsValerie KingEpisode: "Help Me If You Can"
2013Silent WitnessDI Kate WarrenEpisode: "True Love Waits"
Great Night OutJulieSeries regular; 6 episodes
FrankieDiane PrestonSeries 1, episode 3
New TricksBecky BelgradeEpisode: "Into the Woods"
VeraLisa StrachanEpisode: "Prodigal Son"
2014DCI BanksKaty HeathEpisode: "Wednesday's Child"
UndeniableEmma RawlinsTV mini-series; 2 episodes
2014–2016In the ClubVicky BrierlySeries regular; 12 episodes
2015CucumberLynneSeries 1, episode 3
2017FearlessJenna BrooksSeries regular; 6 episodes
The TunnelHelena CarverRecurring role; 2 episodes
2017–2019The End of the F***ing WorldGwenRecurring role, 10 episodes
2018Torvill & DeanMavis DeanTV film
Hard SunMaggie SweetingEpisode: "One Thousand, Eight Hundred Days"
2019FlackSally HendersonEpisode: "Anthony"
2019–2021Back to LifeMandySeries regular; 11 episodes
2020The NestZoeSeries regular; 5 episodes
2021–2023DominaScriboniaSeries regular; 13 episodes
2022Silent WitnessFlorence ClarkeEpisode: "History, Part 3"

Radio

YearDateTitleRoleStrandStation
200429 NovemberDouble Acts: Scissors and Ribbon[8]LisaAfternoon PlayBBC Radio 4
200723 FebruaryMoney Magic[9]KathyFriday DramaBBC Radio 4
200815–22 MarchThe Dark Side[10]AnnieSaturday DramaBBC Radio 4
2011–2012June 2011 – October 2012Everyone Quite Likes Justin[11]LisaComedyBBC Radio 4 Extra
201217 March"Tony Teardrop"[12]CarlyThe WireBBC Radio 3
19 DecemberMy Boy[13]LisaBBC Radio 4
201312 MarchMeic Povey – Take me to Hafod Owen[14]VickyBBC Radio 4
1 OctoberMan in the Moon[15]ScarletBBC Radio 4
11–15 NovemberChildren in Need: Holding on to you[16]Jo15 Minute DramaBBC Radio 4
201431 January – 3 FebruaryTony Teardrop[17]CarlyBBC Radio 4
2 MarchLorca's Rural Trilogy[18]MartirioDrama on 3BBC Radio 3
15 JuneWriting Lives: Treats[19]ReaderBBC Radio 4
30 NovemberDream of White Horses[20]SarahDrama on 3BBC Radio 3
201525–29 MayAmicable[21]Sally15 Minute DramaBBC Radio 4
29 MayTime for One More Question[22]MelanieBBC Radio 4
11–18 OctoberReading Europe – Poland: Entanglement[23]Olga KuzniecowBBC Radio 4
28–29 NovemberBlood, Sex and Money[24][25]SeverineBBC Radio 4
20166–7 JulyStates of Mind[26][27]EllaAfternoon PlayBBC Radio 4
25 SeptemberPeter the Great: The Gamblers[28]SophiaTsarBBC Radio 4 Extra
22 OctoberBetween Ballards Ears[29]ActorBetween the EarsBBC Radio 3
11 DecemberThe Tidebreak[30]Mrs WilliamsDrama on 3BBC Radio 3
20177 JulyThe Archivist[31]ClareBBC Radio 4
7 OctoberSolitary[32]MandyBetween the EarsBBC Radio 3
20188–19 JanuaryStone (series 7)[33]SarahBBC Radio 4
22 January – 2 FebruaryThe Truth About Hawaii[34]Lizzie15 Minute DramaBBC Radio 4
1–9 MayThe Wings of the Dove[35]Susie StringerHenry JamesBBC Radio 4 Extra
9 JulyMy Mother's Daughter[36]HelenBBC Radio 4
201926 FebruaryDebbie Purdy[37]Debbie PurdyTest CaseBBC Radio 4 Extra
30 AprilWhat's He Building in There?[38]KateBBC Radio 4
17–21 JuneReading Europe – Lullaby[39]LouiseBBC Radio 4
14 JulyThe Masque of Anarchy[40]Drama on 3BBC Radio 3
27 SeptemberThis Changeling Self[41]SheBBC Radio 4
6 OctoberThe Mother[42]Karpov / The LandladyDrama on 3BBC Radio 3
28 NovemberMonique & Me[43]Adult CaraBBC Radio 4
24 DecemberThe Christmas Present[44]HollyBBC Radio 4
20203–13 February24 Kildare Road[45]HayleyBBC Radio 4
20212 MarchThe Ventriloquist's Dummy[46]JessBBC Radio 4
18 AprilKiller[47]DaniDrama on 3BBC Radio 3
202218–26 JanuaryMoney, Sex and Blood (series 3)[48]MariaFault LinesBBC Radio 4
29 MarchWaterloo Station[49]ChristaBBC Radio 4

Theatre credits

YearTitleRoleVenueRef
2000The PleasuremanVarious rolesCitizens Theatre, Glasgow[50]
2001DraculaLucy WestermanRoyal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama[51]
2004LadybirdLeraRoyal Court Theatre, London[52]
FlushHollySoho Theatre, London[53]
2005Rutherford and SonMaryRoyal Exchange Theatre, Manchester[54]
Osama the HeroMandyHampstead Theatre, London[55]
A Single ActMichelleHampstead Theatre, London[56]
2007AlaskaEmmaRoyal Court Theatre, London[57]
2009Uncle VanyaSonyaYoung Vic, London[58]
2015How To Hold Your BreathJasmineRoyal Court Theatre, London[59]

Awards

YearWorkAwardCategoryResultRef.
2010The ArborLondon Film Critics' Circle AwardsBest Supporting ActressNominated[4]
2014My BoyBBC Audio Drama AwardsBest ActressWon[5]
2017States of Mind: The Sky is WiderBBC Audio Drama AwardsBest ActressWon[6]
2018SolitaryBBC Audio Drama AwardsBest ActressWon[7]

References