Jenna also recorded the theme tunes of 'Red Dwarf' and 'Office Gossip'!

Credit goes to whatsonstage and  officiallondontheatregiude for selected information used here.

Jenna Russell

Agent: Ruth Young

On the 5th of October 1967 in Paddington, London a star was born named Jenna Russell.

Jenna was a very shy 14 year old when her step dad suggested she should attend Sylvia Young. At the time Jenna's mother was studying Romeo and Juliet  O-level and so she picked the biggest speech and learned it. Jenna's dad had always liked the West side story album so she went into the auditon to sing “Something’s Coming”. The infamous Sylvia saw something special in Jenna- probably the same something special that still makes her shine brighter than many others in her profession today!

"I’m grateful to her forever. She changed my life. I came out as someone with acting experience and suddenly got some roles."

Jenna's first big break was when she was 16, a channel 4 film called Sacred hearts with Kathy Burke. Sylvia told her that she had got this part on her last day of school.  It was this that finalised jenna's decision to continue with acting.

Jenna's best known television role is Deborah Gilder who she played for four series of 'Born and Bred'. Other Tv credits include

'Men only', 'Peak practise', 'Picking up the pieces', 'On the up', 'Home to roost', 'Missing persons', 'Purple people eater', 'Better class of person', 'The bill' and many more.

Early on in Jenna's career she had an opportunity to join the cast of Eastenders but turned it down as she had a bad feeling about it. It was the advise of a cameraman that swayed her decision “Unless you really feel it in your heart that it is something you want to do,” he told her, “it is a long time to commit yourself to something if you’re not going to be happy.” Jenna has never regretted her choice and so she shouldn't with her amazing and varied CV!

Theatre work is Jenna's favourite by a small margin. Although she likes both stage and screen work.

"If Idid too much on stage I’d be bored, and if I did too much on screen I’d be bored. It’s a great privilege to be able to mix and match, you always feel like you’re doing something fresh"

Jenna has alot of theatre experience including 'Sunday in the park with George' (Dot/Marie), Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown), Les Miserables (Fantine), High Society (Tracy Lord), As you like it (Phoebe), The three sisters (Natasha), Midsummers night dream (Hermia) and many, many more!

Jenna's role as Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls got her a laurence olivier nomination!

“It put a smile on my face and made my Mum feel really nice… and I get to wear a nice frock.”

This role also got Jenna a nomination for best theatre actress in Glamour Magazine's woman of the year competition!

Jenna has always only done work that she has wanted to do. She believes as an actor the only power you have is to say no. This enables her to get as much variety into her work as she can.

Her favourite job to date is Sunday in the park as its always been a dream of hers. She also recorded vocals on the London cast recording {Which is totally amazing by the way} just 48 hours after finishing her role in Guys and Dolls, before she had even started rehearsals- talented or what!

"It was a challenge. It was a great honour, though, as it’s only the second recording ever made of the show. I think I did the best I could in the circumstances, but I hadn’t had the opportunity to properly investigate the character of Marie, who I play in Act Two and who I am now really very fond of."

The only job that Jenna could imagine doing if she wasn't an actor would be a police officer or a paramedic. She had to do a few weeks training as a paramedic when she played one for a tv series and was quite taken with what they do.

For the time being though,and hopefully for a long time to come she is more than happy to continue with acting...

“I’ve had a good time and I’ve been very lucky. I’m very aware that it’s a very hard profession, but I love it. I’ve had nothing but joy given to me from this job. It’s the best job in the world.”