Suranne Jones

Sarah Ann Akers known professionally as Suranne Jones is an English actress and producer Known for her numerous collaborations with screenwriter Sally Wainwright she rose to prominence playing Karen McDonald on ITVs Coronation Street between 2000 and 2004 Upon leaving she furthered her television career in drama series such as Vincent 20052006 Strictly Confidential 2006 Harley Street 2008 and Unforgiven 2009 Jones starred as Detective Rachel Bailey in the police procedural Scott Bailey 20112016 and garnered further attention with headline roles in Single Father Five Days both 2010 A Touch of Cloth 20122014 and The Crimson Field 2014 For her portrayal of Gemma Fostera GP who suffers personal betrayalin Doctor Foster 20152017 Jones received several awards including the 2016 British Academy Television Award for Best Actress Subsequent credits include Save Me 2018 Vigil 2021present and Gentleman Jack 20192022 For the latter on which she served as executive producer Jones was again nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress On stage Jones has appeared in productions of A Few Good Men 2005 Blithe Spirit 2009 Top Girls 2011 Beautiful Thing 2013 Orlando 2014 and Frozen 2018 Jones was born Sarah Ann Jones in Chadderton Greater Manchester on 27 August 1978 She has an older brother named Gary Jones was raised Catholic her priest suggested to her father she be christened Sarah Anne instead of Suranne her greatgrandmothers name as Suranne was not a proper name She grew up in a house on Foxdenton Lane surrounded by two farms and their fields and commented that one of her earliest memories is of cows looking in the window as we ate our tea As a child she was talkative and later recounted that her priest would tell her Im praying you can concentrate just a bit more Jones was educated at Cardinal Langley Roman Catholic High School in Middleton Talking of her childhood she commented I think I always wanted to be different and felt very stifled at school She also said I was bullied at school and I let that get hold of me and withdrew into myself I regret letting that happen She became a member of the Oldham Theatre Workshop and completed a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts which she felt wasnt quite the same as drama school