A History Of Liverpool Thespians - Angela Clarke

 

Angela (Left), with sister Margie and brother Frank

Angela Clarke was born in 1969 and was brought up in the family home in Colwall Road in Kirkby, on the outskirts of Liverpool, the younger sister of actress Margi Clarke, with whom she appeared in the films 'Letter to Brezhnev' (1985) and 'Blonde Fist' (1991) and also the sister of screenwriter Frank Clarke. It was after her first TV appearance as Elsa in 3 episodes of 'Brookside' (1983) that she appeared in 'Letter to Brezhnev', the romantic comedy film about working-class life in Liverpool, written by her brother Frank. She played Josie, the sister of Elaine, one of the two main characters, played by Alexandra Pigg. There followed a small part as Mrs Petrakis in 'Memories of Me (1988) and then as Maureen in 'Dancin' Thru the Dark' (1990). Other appearances included ''The Paradise Club' (1990), 'Blonde Fist' 1991)  and 'A Touch of Frost' (1994) before she landed the role of Colette Daly in 15 episodes in 'Soldier Soldier (1994-95), a drama following the life of the officers and men of the King's Own Fusiliers regiment, during their home lives, training exercises and battles. The gritty police drama set in the heart of Liverpool's underworld, 'Liverpool 1' (1998-99) followed, with Angela appearing in 5 episodes alongside Samantha Womack, Mark Womack and Tom Georgeson. After appearing in 'The Bill' (1998), 2 episodes in 'Casualty' (1999) and 'City Central' (2000), a pregnant Angela returned home to have her baby.

with Richard O'Callaghan in Educating Rita 2002

After her years as an actress, during which time she performed alongside such luminaries as Ian McKellen and starring in such perennial favourites as 'Educating Rita', Angela decided to fulfil a life-long ambition and turn her hand to writing. The result was 'Eyes Down', a comedy for BBC ONE starring Paul O'Grady as Ray, the embittered manager of a bingo club. She said, "I had my son and I was living back at home and while the baby was napping I used to scribble little ideas down to keep myself amused." Angela remembers how she heard through her agent about a BBC New Writing Scheme called The Writer's Room, which was looking for women comedy writers. "I did it purely for my own benefit - it was more of a hobby than anything else, really. I didn't know where I was going to go with it. There were 250 applicants, but Angela was awarded one of the final ten places. Over the course of four intensive days, 'Eyes Down' was born. Lorraine Heggessey, the Controller of BBC ONE, came to see it and she called back a few weeks later to say that she loved it and they wanted to commission a series.

Eyes Down cast

She recalls, "When I played Collette Daley in two series of Soldier, Soldier, and I always used to beef up my script. I looked at my script and thought, 'Oh, that's rubbish'. So I gave myself and the rest of the cast some laugh lines. Now I feel as though I'm really doing what I've always wanted and needed to do."

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2024/09/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-mark.html