Laura Main (born 8 March 1977) is a Scottish actress known for her role as Sister Bernadette and, later, Nurse Shelagh Turner in the BBC One drama series Call the Midwife.[1]
Laura Main | |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 March 1977 Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Education | University of Aberdeen, MA History of Art, 1998 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Notable work | Call the Midwife |
| Height | 157 cm (5 ft 2 in) |
| Partner | Stephen McGlynn (2012-2017) |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Rona (sister)Julia (sister) |
Early life and education
editLaura Main was born in Aberdeen. Her father, Robert, was a fish merchant and her mother, Lorna, was a primary school teacher turned housewife. She has two older sisters, a niece, and two nephews.[2]
Laura Main went to school at the Hazlehead Academy[3] and took dance lessons at the Danscentre in Aberdeen.[4] She then studied history at the University of Aberdeen, gaining an MA History of Art in 1998 before starting drama school at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.[5]
Career
editThis section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (July 2023) |
Main started performing in musical theatre at the age of 13 when she landed the role of Annie with Phoenix Youth Theatre.[1][6] At age 15 she debuted in the role of Louisa von Trapp in a stage production of The Sound of Music. At university she performed as part of the musical society Treading the Boards in Aberdeen.[7] She has performed on stage in several productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2011 she appeared in the Stephen Sondheim musical Company.
In 2011 she was cast as Sister Bernadette in the hit BBC series Call the Midwife.[8] Main features as a soloist in several tracks on the Call the Midwife album released in February 2013. In November 2015 Main won the Children in Need Strictly Come Dancing special with dancer Brendan Cole.
In 2017, Main was cast in the lead role of Princess Fiona, in the second UK tour of Shrek The Musical. Main shared the role with The X Factor contestant Amelia Lily. Main's first performance was on 12 December 2017, at the Edinburgh Playhouse.
From January 2023, Main starred as M'lynn in a production of Steel Magnolias at the Richmond Theatre, London. Main appeared alongside Lucy Speed, Diana Vickers, Caroline Harker and Elizabeth Ayodele.[9][10] The production, going on to tour the UK, was rated 2/5 stars by What's on Stage.[11]
In February 2024, Main will star in Chris Chibnall’s new play, One Last Push, at Salisbury Playhouse.[12] [13]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film/TV | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Is Harry on the Boat? | Rival Club Rep | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2003 | The Forsyte Saga: To Let | Mary McKenzie | TV mini-series (1 episode) |
| Trevor's World of Sport | Nurse | TV series (2 episodes) | |
| 2004 | Monarch of the Glen | Jaynie Cresswell | TV series (1 episode: #6.4) |
| Murder City | DC Alison Bain | TV series (10 episodes, 2004–2006) | |
| 2007 | Holby City | Julia Mason | TV series (1 episode: "After the Fall") |
| 2010 | The Invisible Atomic Monsters from Mars | Beth | Film |
| Rob and Valentyna in Scotland | Waitress in Pub | Short | |
| 2011 | Holby City | Deirdre Hunter | TV series (1 episode: "What You Mean by Home") |
| Doctors | Amanda Luckhurst | TV series (1 episode: "Lasso the Moon") | |
| 2012–present | Call the Midwife | Sister Bernadette (Nun) Shelagh Turner (Nurse) | TV series (101 episodes) |
| 2013 | Dead Cat | Etta | Film |
| 2014 | The Mill | Rebecca Howlett | TV series (Series 2: 6 episodes) |
| 2014 | Father Brown | Dorothy Underwood | TV series (1 episode: "The Maddest of All") |
| 2016 | Doctors | Kate Wilkinson | TV series (1 episode: "Living Together") |
| 2022 | Roots & Fruits | Pak Choi (voice) | TV series (26 episodes) Children's animation |
Theatre
edit| Year | Play title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Annie | Annie[6] | Aberdeen Arts Centre |
| 1992 | The Sound of Music | Louisa von Trapp[14] | His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen |
| 1996 | Aberdeen Student Show: The Good, the Bad and the Buttery | [15] | His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen |
| 1997 | Aberdeen Student Show: Scaffie Society | Judy Free[15] | His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen |
| 1998 | Aberdeen Student Show: From Rubislaw with Love | Shauna Connery[15] | His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen |
| 2001 | Company | Amy | |
| Alice in Wonderland | Edith/Eaglet (understudy Alice)[16] | Royal Shakespeare Company | |
| 2002 | As You Like It | Phebe, a shepherdess[17] | Regents Park Open Air Theatre |
| Romeo and Juliet | Juliet[18] | Regents Park Open Air Theatre | |
| 2006 | Young Woodley | Maude | Finborough Theatre |
| Tea and Sympathy | Laura Reynolds | Finborough Theatre | |
| 2007 | All I Want For Christmas | Irina Vanevskaya | Upstairs at the Gatehouse |
| 2008 | On the Island of Aars | Morag McMac | Pleasance Islington and Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh |
| 2009 | State Fair | Margy Frake | Finborough Theatre |
| Super Alice Smith | Carly | Trafalgar Studios | |
| 2010 | State Fair | Margy Frake | Trafalgar Studios |
| Me and Juliet | Jeanie | Finborough Theatre | |
| 2011 | Company | Susan | Southwark Playhouse |
| 2012 | Robin Hood | Maid Marian | Queen's Theatre Barnstaple |
| 2013 | The Lost Dragon | Harlow Playhouse | |
| 2018 | Shrek the Musical | Princess Fiona | UK tour |
| 2019 | Cinderella | Fairy Godmother | His Majesty's Theatre Aberdeen |
| 2023 | Steel Magnolias | M'Lynn Eatenton | 2023 UK & Ireland Tour |
| 2024 | One Last Push | Jen | Salisbury Playhouse |
References
edit- ^ a b "Call The Midwife Album Laura Main Interview". Female First. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ^ "The Midwife called and actress answered". Tribune News Service. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2018 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Aberdeen actress stars in new BBC TV series". Evening. 14 January 2012. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
- ^ "Past pupils and alumni at danscentre". danscentre. Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ Hendry, Steve (3 February 2013). "Call the Midwife star Laura Main: Playing Sister Bernadette has been the answer to my prayers". Daily Record. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Aberdeen theatre company celebrates 25 years of top talent - Evening Express". Evening Express. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ^ "Laura Main". IMDb.
- ^ "My lovestruck nun's been a gift from God, says TV star Laura Main". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
- ^ Anson, John (23 December 2022). "Diana Vickers back on stage as Steel Magnolias tours the UK". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ Wood, Alex (22 November 2022). "Cast for Steel Magnolias tour announced". What's on Stage. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ Satin, Ella (27 January 2023). "Steel Magnolias at Richmond Theatre and on tour – review". What's on Stage. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ "One Last Push". www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk.
- ^ "Full cast announced for One Last Push at Salisbury Playhouse". www.theatreweekly.com. 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Laura Main". Spotlight. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ a b c Massey, Paul (2 May 1997). "Theatre Scaffie Society, His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen". The Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
- ^ "Search | RSC Performances | ALI200112 - Alice in Wonderland | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
- ^ "As You Like It". June 2002.
- ^ "Romeo and Juliet (2002) | Our Heritage | Open Air Theatre". openairtheatreheritage.com. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
External links
edit- Laura Main at IMDb
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