Who is Helen Baxendale? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In June

Also Known As: Helen Victoria Baxendale

Age: 53 Years, 53 Year Old Females

Family:

father: William Baxendale

mother: June Baxendale

children: Eric Williams, Nell Williams, Vincent Elliot Williams

Partner: David L. Williams

Actresses British Women

Height: 5'6" (168 cm), 5'6" Females

Notable Alumni: Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

City: Yorkshire, England

More Facts

education: Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

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Childhood & Early Life

Helen Victoria Baxendale was born on June 7, 1970, in Pontefract, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, to June and William Baxendale. She has a sister named Katie Baxendale who went on to become a screenwriter.

Growing up in Shenstone, Staffordshire, Helen attended King Edward VI School, Lichfield, and also trained as a ballet dancer. However, upon realizing that she was not good enough for ballet, she settled for the "next best thing", acting. She trained in acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

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Career

Helen Baxendale began her stage career at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow in 1992. For her performance in 'Soldiers' in 1993, she received a 'Best Classical Actor Under 30' nomination at the 'Ian Charleson Awards'.

Thanks to her work in theatre, she was cast as Dr. Claire Maitland in the medical drama series 'Cardiac Arrest' (1994-96), which earned her a 'Scottish BAFTA' nomination in 1995. She got her second 'Scottish BAFTA' nomination in 1997 for her role in the television movie 'Truth or Dare' (1996).

In 1996, she played the role of Maggie in Ibolya Fekete's celebrated Hungarian drama film 'Bolse vita'. She got a breakthrough in 1997 after being cast in the main role of Rachel Bradley in the ITV comedy-drama series 'Cold Feet', the pilot episode of which earned her a 'British Comedy Award' nomination.

Helen starred as aspiring private detective Cordelia Gray in the ITV series 'An Unsuitable Job for a Woman' (1997), which also aired in the United States on PBS as part of their 'Mystery!' series. In 1998, Helen Baxendale got a wider exposure on American television after appearing as Ross Geller’s wife Emily Waltham in the popular American sitcom 'Friends'.

In 2001, she played the main role of Pandora Braithwaite in the British television series 'Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years'. One of her significant roles from this period was as Julie Matthews in Curt Truninger's 'Dead by Monday' in 2001.

Helen continued to appear in stage productions alongside doing TV roles, and starred in Patrick Marber's 'After Miss Julie', as Romy, the eponymous titular role in 'The Woman Before', and as Ophelia in Marovitz's 'Hamlet'. She worked in 'Swimming with Sharks' (2007-08) at London's Vaudeville Theatre and played Lara in 'Amongst Friends' in 2009.

Following a few guest roles in 'Agatha Christie's Marple' and 'Lewis', she appeared as Susan Harmison in two episodes of 'Dirk Gently' between 2010 and 2012. In 2011, she shot for the three-part ITV drama 'Kidnap and Ransom' in South Africa and starred as DCI Marion Bettany in Val McDermid's radio crime drama 'Village SOS'.

Helen recently acted in the film 'Anonymous' in addition to appearing in television series, such as 'Inspector George Gently', 'Agatha Christie's Poirot', and 'Midsomer Murders'. Since 2012, she has been appearing as Lorna Thompson, the mother in-law of the lead character, in the British-Irish sitcom 'Cuckoo'.

Major Works

Two of Helen Baxendale's major acting roles were in Britain’s highest-rated dramas, 'Cold Feet' and 'Friends'. The American sitcom 'Friends' is one of the most successful comedies in the history of television.

Family & Personal Life

Helen Baxendale first met director David L. Williams at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow. They have been in a relationship ever since and have three children together, Nell, Vincent Elliot, and Eric. Nell played the role of younger Cersei Lannister in the popular HBO series 'Game of Thrones'.

Her first pregnancy was incorporated into 'An Unsuitable Job for a Woman' and her second was written into the fourth series of 'Cold Feet'. However, she lost many important roles due to her pregnancy, including her role in 'Friends', but she has no regrets as family is more important to her.

Trivia

Helen Baxendale's three children have unusual middle names 'Marmalade', 'Mustard' and 'Mash', which according to her, was the result of "a bit of stupidity on the way to the register office."

Helen Baxendale Biography