{{short description|British actress}} {{Use British English|date=January 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Laura Pitt-Pulford''' is a British actress, best known for her work in [[musical theatre]] and for playing [[Carol Butler]] in ''[[Emmerdale]]''.
==Early life== Pitt-Pulford grew up in [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]], joined a local youth operatic group at age 12,<ref>Mountford, Fiona. [https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/theatre/laura-pittpulford-on-playing-nell-gwynn-shes-such-a-strong-female-historic-character-a3525066.html "Laura Pitt-Pulford on playing Nell Gwynn: 'She's such a strong female historic character’"] standard.co.uk, 27 April 2017</ref> and trained in drama at the [[Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts]].
==Career== In 2015, she played Milly in [[Regent's Park Open Air Theatre]] production of ''[[Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (musical)|Seven Brides for Seven Brothers]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/seven-brides-for-seven-brothers-cast_37993.html|title=Full cast plus recording announced for Open Air Seven Brides for Seven Brothers|work=WhatsOnStage.com|access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref> She received great acclaim for her performance, with a review from Claire Allfree in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' commenting "In a marvellous performance, Laura Pitt-Pulford's sparky, indomitable Milly holds all the power here".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/11755914/Seven-Brides-for-Seven-Brothers-Regents-Park-Open-Air-Theatre-review-joyful.html|title=Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, review: 'joyful'|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=23 April 2017|language=en}}</ref> [[Mark Shenton]] of ''[[The Stage]]'' stated that "Pitt-Pulford, too, is a radiant, ravishing Milly, combining brassy toughness with vulnerability".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2015/seven-brides-seven-brothers/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805182731/https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2015/seven-brides-seven-brothers/|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 August 2015|title=Seven Brides for Seven Brothers review, Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park|work=The Stage|access-date=23 April 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> She was nominated for the [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical]] for her performance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/feb/29/olivier-awards-2016-complete-list-of-nominations|title=Olivier awards 2016: complete list of nominations|last=Stage|first=Guardian|date=29 February 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 April 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
In 2016, she appeared in the musical ''[[Flowers for Mrs. Harris]]'' at the [[Crucible Theatre]], [[Sheffield]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/sheffield-theatre/news/flowers-for-mrs-harris-sheffield-crucible_39837.html|title=Full casting announced for Flowers for Mrs Harris|work=WhatsOnStage.com|access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref> She also starred as Violet in the UK premiere of ''[[Side Show (musical)|Side Show]]'' at the [[Southwark Playhouse]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/side-show-casting-southwark-playhouse_41767.html|title=Full casting announced for Side Show at Southwark Playhouse|work=WhatsOnStage.com|access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref>
In 2017, she played the title role in a UK touring production of ''[[Nell Gwynn (play)|Nell Gwynn]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/photos-laura-pitt-pulford-rehearsals-nell-gwynn_42880.html|title=Photos: Laura Pitt-Pulford in rehearsals for Nell Gwynn|work=WhatsOnStage.com|access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref> Pitt-Pulford most recently appeared in the role of Chairy Barnum in the 2017 revival of the Cy Coleman musical ''[[Barnum (musical)|Barnum]]'' at the Menier Chocolate Factory alongside comedian Marcus Brigstocke.
In 2019, she played the role of Sheryl Hoover in the [[Off West End]] European premiere of ''[[Little Miss Sunshine (musical)|Little Miss Sunshine]]'' at the [[Arcola Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/laura-pitt-pulford-little-miss-sunshine-arcola_48416.html|title=Laura Pitt-Pulford and Gary Wilmot to star in Little Miss Sunshine musical UK premiere|work=WhatsOnStage.com|access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref>
In 2020, she sang the song "One Small Step" from the anime [[Dr. Stone]].<ref>{{cite web |title=One small step |url=https://www.nautiljon.com/paroles/laura+pitt-pulford/one+small+step.html |website=www.Nautiljon.com |publisher=Nautiljon }}</ref>
Pitt-Pulford appeared in ''[[The Sound of Music]]'' in 2014 as Maria Von Trapp with Michael French at the Curve Theatre in Leicester and earned a UK Theatre Award nomination for her performance of Maria. Pitt-Pulford starred in Craig Revel Horwood’s production of ''[[Sunset Boulevard (musical)|Sunset Boulevard]]'' in 2008 in the role of Betty alongside Ben Goddard and Kathryn Evans who played Norma Desmond at the Watermill Theatre and the Comedy Theatre. Pitt-Pulford also played Irene Molloy in 2012’s Leicester Curve production of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello Dolly!]]'' with Michael Xavier and Janie Dee.<ref>[http://www.curveonline.co.uk/news/laura-pitt-pulford-and-michael-french-lead-the-company-of-the-sound-of-music/] curveonline.com</ref><ref>[http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/exclusive-brigstocke-pulford-barnum-menier-pics_45254.html ] whatsonstage.com</ref>
She starred as Trina in ''[[Falsettos]]'' at [[The Other Palace]] from August 2019. Pitt-Pulford has also had guest roles in TV dramas ''[[Father Brown (2013 TV series)|Father Brown]]'' (where she played Scarlett Dreyfuss) and ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' (Tina Hempsey), and as the Deputy Head in second series of the [[BBC]] [[legal drama]] ''[[The Split (TV series)|The Split]]'' in 2020.{{cn|date=January 2022}} In December 2021 and April 2022, she appeared in ''[[Emmerdale]]'' as [[Carol Butler]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Timblick |first1=Simon |title='Emmerdale' spoilers: Meena Jutla KILLER SECRET revealed? |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/spoilers/emmerdale-spoilers-meena-jutla-killer-secret-revealed |access-date=4 January 2022 |work=[[What to Watch]] |publisher=([[Future plc]])}}</ref>
Laura played Rose Vibert in the revival of [[Aspects of Love]] at the Lyric Theatre alongside [[Michael Ball]] from Saturday 13 May 2023 – Saturday 19 August 2023.
Laura played Poppy in the musical [[Standing at the Sky's Edge]] at the Gillian Lynne Theatre from February 8, 2024 to August 3, 2024.
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pitt-Pulford, Laura}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actresses from Warwickshire]] [[Category:British musical theatre actresses]] [[Category:Actors from Rugby, Warwickshire]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]