Anna Francolini

Anna Francolini born 30 October 1973 is an English actress Francolini was born in Chertsey Surrey attended Bristol Grammar School and studied theatre at the University of Warwick She also trained as a member of the National Youth Theatre After appearances in Godspell and Oliver during the early part of her career Francolini appeared in two acclaimed musical productions at the Donmar Warehouse Company 1995 and Merrily We Roll Along 2000 both by Stephen Sondheim She also played the Bakers Wife in the Royal Opera House production of Sondheims Into the Woods in 2007 She won the 2009 TMA Award for Best Performance in a Play with her portrayal of Jean Brodie in Muriel Sparks The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie which was staged at the Royal Derngate in Northampton During the period from December 1997 to December 2004 Anna Francolini was a mainstay of Londons tiny but influential Bridewell Theatre during the latter part of its decade as a professional venue In December 1997 to January 1998 she played lead role Helen in the historic fully staged premiere of Stephen Sondheims Saturday Night This was to be followed in 1999 by Floyd Collins and later on during 20001 Anna appeared in revue shows created from the work of Jason Robert Brown Adam Guettel and John La Chiusa one of which The Cutting Edge transferred to the Donmar Warehouse in 2002 Further Bridewell Theatre work included Theres Always A Woman 2002 The Ballard of Little Jo 2003 and an appearance at the venues 10th Anniversary Farewell Concert on 12 December 2004 Following the demise of the Bridewell Theatre as a professional venue Annas other appearances included Caroline or Change at the National Theatre 2006 Three Sisters on Hope Street at the Liverpool Everyman 2008 and Wolves at the Window at the Arcola Theatre during the same year which gave her a New York debut at 59E59 in 2009 In 2010 she played the role of Maria Callas in Martin Shermans play Onassis at the Novello Theatre During the following year Anna played the role of Beatrice in Arthur Millers A View from the Bridge at Manchesters Royal Exchange a venue to which she was to return in 2014 as Enid in That Day We Sang 2012 saw her take the lead role in VictorVictoria at Southwark Playhouse and in February 2015 she made an appearance in Stephen Sondheims Assassins at the Menier Chocolate Factory July 2015 she was part of the premiere cast of Damon Albarns new musical Wonderland at the Manchester International Festival which transferred to the National Theatre later during the same year 25 October 2015 saw Anna make an appearance in Stephen Sondheims 85th Birthday Tribute Hey Old Friends In 2016 she appeared as a female Captain Hook at the National Theatre in Peter Pan From March to October 2018 she appeared in Strictly Ballroom at the Piccadilly Theatre In April 2023 she appeared in Tom Fool at Richmonds Orange Tree Theatre and in MayJune 2024 she played Olivia in Twelfth Night at Regents Park Open Air Theatre Her screen credits include the movies TopsyTurvy and Solo A Star Wars Story and the TV series Rome New Tricks and Vera In 2019 she voiced Gina on Thomas Friends in the USUK versions