Leanne Rowe
Birth date1982 (age 44–45)
Birth placeBrentwood, Essex, England
OccupationActress
Years active1996–present

Leanne Rowe (born 1982) is an English actress and singer, known for portraying Nancy in Oliver Twist, May Moss in Lilies and Baby in Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage.

Background

Rowe is from Brentwood, Essex.[1] She has two older sisters and a brother.[2]

Rowe left school at the age of 16 to train as a dancer,[2] attending Laine Theatre Arts.[3] She graduated at the age of 19 with honours in musical theatre.[2][3] Rowe also studied Drama, and after graduating, chose to pursue a career in acting instead of dance.[4]

Career

Rowe made her film and professional debut at the age of 12, playing Helen Burns in Franco Zeffirelli's Jane Eyre.[2] In 2005 she was chosen by Roman Polanski to play Nancy in his adaptation of Oliver Twist.[3] Her television credits include Boudica, The Famous Five and Where the Heart Is. She also played the lead role of May Moss in the Liverpool-set BBC One drama Lilies.[2]

Rowe's radio drama work includes Avoid London, Loving, Forget Me Not, One Chord Wonders, Roald Dahl's The Witches and To Sir with Love.[3]

Rowe made her West End debut in Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage, playing the lead role of Frances 'Baby' Houseman.[3] In 2009 she appeared in the revival of Victoria Wood's Talent at the Menier Chocolate Factory, playing Julie.[5]

Filmography

Television

YearShowRoleNotes
1996The Famous FiveHarriet
- Five on Finniston Farm (1996)
TV series
2003BoudicaSioraTelevision film
2004Where the Heart IsWaitress
- Stormy Weather (2004)
TV series
2007LiliesMay MossTV series
2013Call the MidwifeRuby RobertsTV series

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
1996Jane EyreHelen BurnsFeature film
2005Oliver TwistNancyFeature film

Theatre

YearProductionVenueRoleNotes
2008Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on StageAldwych TheatreFrances 'Baby' HousemanMusical
2009TalentMenier Chocolate FactoryJulieMusical / Play
2011LovesongWarwick Arts CentreMargaretFrantic Assembly

References

  1. ^ "Leanne has the time of her life on stage". This is Total Essex. 25 September 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  2. ^ ""Lilies" Press Pack: Leanne Rowe plays May". BBC Press Office. 18 December 2006. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  3. ^ Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage: Cast: Leanne Rowe Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  4. ^ Asbury, Karen (15 January 2009). "Dirty Dancing's Baby talks to Female First". Female First. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
  5. ^ Bosanquet, Theo (22 July 2009). "Plays Cast: Rowe's Got Talent, Light Leads Paine". What's on Stage. Retrieved 23 July 2009.