Ruth Connell (born 20 April 1979) is a Scottish actress, and producer. She is also a former professional dancer and choreographer. Connell is known for her recurring role as Rowena in the CW series Supernatural (2014-2020).[1][2] She was nominated as "Best Leading Actress" in the 2013 Broadway World Los Angeles Awards for her portrayal of Mrs Darling and Captain Hook at the Blank Theatre, Los Angeles in their award-winning production of Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers.[3][4]
Ruth Connell | |
|---|---|
 Connell in 2016 | |
| Born | 20 April 1979 Falkirk, Scotland |
| Alma mater | Rose Bruford College |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, producer |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Partner | Rob Benedict |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (May 2019) |
Born in Falkirk and raised outside Bonnybridge, she is the only child of football manager and coach David Connell and teacher Fiona Murray. Connell was sent to dancing lessons at an early age to keep her cousin company; she showed promise and was accepted onto the Scottish Ballets Vocational Dance Education Scheme. She performed many child roles with Scottish Ballet including the lead role of Clara in their Nutcracker. She won the titles of Scottish Junior Ballet Champion and Scottish Senior Ballet champion at Stage Festivals in Scotland as a teenager.
Career
editAfter working as a professional dancer with companies The Curve Foundation, Jazz Art UK, and with Leah Stein at Dancebase Edinburgh, Connell attended the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in London where she gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Acting. She was picked as the "Critics Choice" by the adjudicator from The Stage newspaper for her graduation showcase. After leaving drama college, she performed the lead role of Grusha in Bertolt Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle, which toured for The Palace Theatre, Watford in 2004.[5]
Connell toured the UK in 2005 with the Oxford Stage Company's revival of Men Should Weep in the role of Isa.[6] In 2006, she played the lead female roles of Gretchen and Helen of Troy in Faust at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. The production was CATS-nominated Critics Awards for theatre in Scotland.[7] In 2007, Connell played ballroom dancer Lily at the Citizens Theater's sell out production of Alex Norton's No Mean City and in 2008, Connell played the dual roles of Mrs. Beaver/Mrs. Mcready to glowing reviews The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh.[8]
Connell was cast as a series regular in the ITV sitcom pilot Above Their Stations in 2009, which also starred Denis Lawson, Ashley Madekwe, Andrew Brooke and Simon Dudley shown on BBC Three. Connell is also credited with producing A Midsummer Night's Dream and Hansel and Gretel at the Avenue Theatre Company based in Greenwich during this time period as well as the short film Sapphire Strange and web series John and Jane.
Since moving to the United States in 2011, Connell has had lead roles in the award-winning independent film Folklore as well as in the feature films The Cursed Man, based on the cult novel by Keith Rommel, and Hara Kiri, a punk infused love story of two street skaters, directed by Aitch Alberto. She voiced Merida in the video game Disney Infinity 3.0.[9] She reprised the role in the Sofia the First episode "The Secret Library". From 2014 to 2020 Connell played Rowena, a powerful witch and also the mother of the King of Hell, Crowley (Mark A. Sheppard), on the popular TV series Supernatural starting in season 10 up until its fifteenth and final season and has been one of the longest running female characters on the show.
Personal life
editConnell is in a relationship with her Supernatural co-star, Rob Benedict. They have a daughter, who was born in January 2024.[10]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Soldier's Leap | London Girl | Short film |
| 2010 | Love's Debt | Deborah Perry | Short film |
| 2012 | A Perfect Ending | Mourner | |
| Folklore | MaryLane Heth | ||
| Sh*t British People Say in the USA | Ruth | YouTube | |
| 2013 | Meth Head | Louise | |
| Sapphire Strange | Belecka Corath | Short film | |
| 2015 | Sienna Burning | Suzanne / Sienna | Short film |
| 2016 | Hara Kiri | Candy | |
| The Cursed Man | Bonnie | ||
| 2018 | For the Love of George | Stacy | |
| 2021 | The Loud House Movie | Chip Shoppe Owner, Car Driver, Additional voices | Voice role |
| 2023 | Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose | Mrs. Irving |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Meades Eats | Medical Staff | Episode: "Fast Food" |
| 2010 | Above Their Station | Olga | TV movie |
| 2014–2020 | Supernatural | Rowena MacLeod | Recurring role |
| 2015 | Sofia the First | Merida | Episode: "The Secret Library", voice role |
| 2017 | Open House | Linda | Episode: "Like A Clam" |
| 2021 | Doom Patrol | Night Nurse | Episode: "Dead Patrol" |
| 2023 | The Winchesters | Rowena MacLeod | Episode: "The Tears of a Clown" |
| 2024 | Dead Boy Detectives | Night Nurse | Main cast |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes | Merida | Voice |
| 2015 | Disney Infinity 3.0 | Merida | Voice |
| 2018 | Lego The Incredibles | Merida | Voice |
| 2023 | Truth | Gameshow Contestant | Full-motion video |
| 2023 | Starfield | Polly Mac Coinnich | Voice |
References
edit- ^ "Supernatural Season 10 Adding New Mysterious Witch to the Mix, New Details". Hollywood Hills. Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ "Supernatural Season 10 spoilers: Scot Ruth Connell to play Rowena & more!". Prime Time. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ "Thespian Thoughts Theatre Review – PETER PAN: THE BOY WHO HATED MOTHERS". Actors Entertainment. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ "BroadwayWorld LA Awards LAST CHANCE TO VOTE – Brochtrup, Barker Tied!". Broadway World. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ "The Caucasian Chalk Circle – The Bull Arts Centre, High Barnet, London". Culture Wars. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ "Tours: National Hero, Earnest & Men Should Weep". What's On Stage. Archived from the original on 9 December 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ "Faust parts 1&2". The Skinny. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Lyceum, Review". Edinburgh Guide. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ Avalanche Software. Disney Infinity 3.0. Scene: Closing credits, 5:39 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
