Ruth Madeley
Born (1987-08-04) 4 August 1987
Westhoughton, England
NationalityBritish
Alma materEdge Hill University
OccupationActor
Known forYears and Years
The Rook
Doctor Who

Ruth Madeley (born 4 August 1987) is a British actress known for her roles in Years and Years, The Rook and Doctor Who. She was born with spina bifida and has worked with the charity Whizz-Kidz for much of her life. She was nominated for a television BAFTA in 2016 for her work in Don't Take My Baby.

Early life

Madeley was born in Westhoughton, and was diagnosed with spina bifida six weeks before she was born.[1][2] She has an older sister named Liz. Her father worked in customer services and her mother was a nurse.[3] When Madeley was 5 years old, the charity Whizz-Kidz provided funding for a custom wheelchair for her.[4] Madeley actively volunteered for Whizz-Kidz throughout her childhood and was part of the Kidz Board youth panel.[5][6] As part of her work with Whizz-Kidz, at age 13, she visited Cherie Blair at 10 Downing Street to discuss fundraising and awareness.[7] At age 14, she received another wheelchair from the charity.[6]

At age 13, while a student at Mount St. Joseph, Farnworth, she was awarded the Princess Diana Memorial Award for young people.[8][9][10] In 2004, at age 17, she was awarded the first Bolton Wanderers' Community Hero award.[11][12]

Madeley attended Thornleigh Salesian College and later studied English and creative writing with a focus on scriptwriting at Edge Hill University, and graduated with a First Class Honours degree.[13][14][15]

Career

In 2012, Madeley wrote and starred in the Lime Pictures TV movie Scrims.[16] She has had several supporting roles in television, including Fresh Meat and The Level.[17]

She starred as Anna in the 2015 TV movie Don't Take My Baby, chronicling a disabled couple's fight to prevent their baby from being taken away,[2] and was nominated for a Best Actress TV BAFTA for her performance.[18] The following year, she was listed as one of BAFTA's 18 Breakthrough Brits.[19] At the time of filming, Madeley was working in fundraising at WhizzKids. She returned to the job after her BAFTA win, thinking there would not be enough roles for disabled actresses for her to make a career in acting.[20]

In Russell T Davies' 2019 BBC/HBO miniseries, Years and Years, Madeley played Rosie Lyons. The role of Rosie was not originally written for a wheelchair user, but after her audition, Davies decided to work with Madeley to reshape the role around her spina bifida.[15] Madeley took a six-month sabbatical from her job at WhizzKids to film the role. When she attempted to return to the job, she found she had landed another acting role. Madeley asked her boss if she could extend the sabbatical but her boss assured her that the sabbatical did not make sense as she was "an actress now".[20]

Also in 2019, she played Ingrid Woodhouse in the television adaptation of Daniel O'Malley's The Rook.[21][22]

In 2019, Madeley signed an open letter urging Hollywood executives to normalize disability by casting disabled actors to play disabled characters.[23] In 2020, she appeared in the Christmas special episode of Would I Lie to You?[24] and appeared in Mat Fraser's CripTales, a collection of disability monologues.[25] In 2021, she competed on Celebrity Best Home Cook[26] and played Throat in the television adaptation of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel, The Watch.[27]

In 2021, she was cast in the BBC One comedy series, The Cleaner[28] and starred as Barbara Lisicki in the 2022 BBC Two drama, Then Barbara Met Alan.[29][30] She also appeared in Tom Stern and Celyn Jones' film, The Almond and The Seahorse, inspired by Kaite O'Reilly's play of the same name.[31][32]

Madeley's first theatre role was in The Greatest Wealth at The Old Vic in 2018. The Greatest Wealth consisted of seven monologues and was put together in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the NHS. Madeley's monologue, "Choice & Control" was written by Matilda Ibini.[33] In late 2019 and early 2020, she played Barbara 'Buck' Buckingham in Teenage Dick at the Donmar Warehouse directed by Michael Longhurst. The play, written by Mike Lew, was inspired by Shakespeare's Richard III. The character of Buck was based on the character of the Duke of Buckingham and was explicitly written to be played by a disabled actor.[34]

In September 2021, it was announced that she would star alongside Colin Baker and Bonnie Langford in the Big Finish Doctor Who audio dramas as a new companion of the Sixth Doctor, marine biologist Hebe Harrison.[35] The boxset, The Sixth Doctor Adventures: Water Worlds, was released in May 2022. She was cast as Shirley Anne Bingham in the television series' 2023 specials, which were written by Davies, who has returned as showrunner.[36]

Madeley and Ruben Reuter appeared in a documentary from Channel 4 on disability and abortion titled Disability and Abortion: The Hardest Choice. The documentary aired in August 2022.[37][38]

Personal life

Madeley continues her work with Whizz-Kidz as a fundraiser and, in 2019, was recognized as a patron of the charity.[6][39]

She has been with her partner, Joe, since 2012.[40] The two have known each other since they were young.[33] She is a supporter of Bolton Wanderers F.C.[41]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
2012 Scrims (TV movie) Jak[17][42]
2015 Don't Take My Baby (TV movie)[2][43] Anna Watson
2018 Horizon: "Spina Bifida and Me" (documentary)[44] Herself
2018 Ashes (short)[45] Erica [46]
2019 Brexit: The Uncivil War (TV movie)[47] Leave supporter
2020 The Uncertain Kingdom: Verisimilitude (short)[48][49] Bella
2022 The Almond and the Seahorse Jenny[32]

Television

Year Title Role Episode
2009 Half Moon Investigations Fran "Sick Note" (Season 1, episode 8)[50]
2011 Fresh Meat Sal (Season 1, episode 5)[18]
2016–2017 The Level[18] Julie (Episodes 1–6)
2016 Outnumbered Jill "Christmas Special"[51][52]
2017 Five by Five[53] Janine (Season 1, episodes 3 and 4)
2017 Cold Feet[54] Tracey McHarrie (Season 7)
2017 Katy[55] Helen (Episodes 2 and 3)
2019 Pure Abby (Episode 6)[56][42]
2019 Years and Years[57][15] Rosie Lyons (Episodes 1–6)
2019 The Rook[21][22] Ingrid Woodhouse (Episodes 1–8)
2019 The Accident Laura Tucker (Episodes 2–4)[58][59][60]
2020 Save Me Too[61] DS Pip Bleasdell (Season 2, episode 6)
2020 Would I Lie To You? Herself (Christmas Special)[24]
2020 Celebrity Mastermind Herself (Episode 8)[62]
2020 Sunday Brunch[63] Herself (Series 9, episode 15)
2020 Criptales[25] Sue "Thunderbox" and "Audition"
2021 Celebrity Best Home Cook[26][64] Herself (Episodes 1–3)
2021 The Last Leg Herself "Christmas special", "The Last Leg of Tokyo 2020" and Episode 24.4
2021 The Watch[33][65] Throat Dibbler "Better to Light a Candle", "Not on My Watch", "A Near Vimes Experience"
2021 The Cleaner Helena "The Neighbour" (Season 1, episode 3)[66]
2022 Then Barbara Met Alan Barbara Lisicki
2022 Disability and Abortion: The Hardest Choice Herself
2022 Brassic Clara Marie Series 3, episode 3. The Exotic Zoo.
2023 The Unique Boutique Narrator Series 1
2023–present Doctor Who Shirley Ann Bingham Recurring role (2023 specials, Series 14, Series 15)[67][68][69][70]
TBA[71] Nightsleeper TBA TBA

Theatre

  • 2018: Performed "Choice & Control" monologue in The Greatest Wealth[72][73][74]
  • 2019–2020: Barbara 'Buck' Buckingham in Teenage Dick[75][34]

Awards

Year Award Category Work Result Refs
2016 BAFTA TV Awards Best actress Don't Take My Baby Nominated [76]
2022 Stylist's Remarkable Women Awards Change Maker of the Year Award N/A Won [77]

References

  1. ↑ "Years & Years star Ruth Madeley talks about spina bifida". Stylist. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Brandwood, Neil (20 May 2019). "Bolton actress Ruth Madeley tells of her new role in hit TV drama Years and Years". The Bolton News. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  3. ↑ Green, Georgia (27 March 2022). "Ruth Madeley: 'I never saw a body like mine on screen'". YOU Magazine. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  4. ↑ Wallwork, Melanie (26 February 2014). "Westhoughton dad's thanks after daughter's life-changing pink wheelchair gift". The Bolton News. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "HEALTH MATTERS: Ruth, 12, is a campaigning Whizz Kid!". The Bolton News. 25 May 1999. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "Years and Years actress Ruth Madeley becomes Whizz-Kidz patron". Whizz-Kidz. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  7. ↑ "Ruth's top level board meeting". The Bolton News. 20 March 2000. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  8. ↑ "Disabled schoolgirl's Princess Di honour". The Bolton News. 13 March 2000. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  9. ↑ "Doctor's tonic for disabled children". The Bolton News. 13 April 2000. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  10. ↑ "Mount St Joseph Alumni - Ruth Madeley". Mount St Joseph. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  11. ↑ "Brave Ruth is just champion!". The Bolton News. 20 February 2004. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  12. ↑ "Brave Ruth is just champion!". The Bolton News. 20 February 2004. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  13. ↑ Chaudhari, Saiqa (27 July 2008). "Student Ruth proves herself better by degree". The Bolton News. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  14. ↑ "Little Ruth is a good role model". The Bolton News. 5 February 2004. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 Nicolaou, Kelly (29 August 2019). Dawson, Elena (ed.). "Ruth Madeley Wants To Be The First Avenger In A Wheelchair". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  16. ↑ "2016 BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, in partnership with Burberry" (PDF). BAFTA. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  17. 1 2 "Ruth Madeley | Actress". www.bafta.org. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  18. 1 2 3 Masters, Tim (26 October 2016). "Bafta unveils its 'Breakthrough Brits'". BBC News. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  19. ↑ "Ruth Madeley makes BAFTA's Breakthrough Brits 2016 list". Whizz-Kidz. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  20. 1 2 Segalov, Michael (19 March 2022). "'These stories change how people think': actor Ruth Madeley on disability, activism and sex scenes". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  21. 1 2 Gilbert, Sophie (2 July 2019). "A Supernatural Spy Story Goes Dark in 'The Rook'". The Atlantic. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  22. 1 2 "5 Reasons Why You Should Watch Starz's "The Rook" -". fangirlish.com. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  23. ↑ Harrison, Ellie (20 December 2019). "Bryan Cranston and Danny DeVito call out Hollywood for ignoring disabled actors". The Independent. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  24. 1 2 Warner, Matt (24 November 2020). "Here's our pick of the Top Ten Christmas specials on the BBC this Christmas". The Leader. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  25. 1 2 Donaldson, Brian (2 November 2020). "Crip Tales". The List. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  26. 1 2 Hopkins, Daniel (28 January 2021). "Bolton's Ruth Madeley cooking up a storm on Celebrity Best Home Cook". The Bolton News. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  27. ↑ Bowman, Jamie (14 December 2020). "Bolton actor Ruth Madeley continues to be one to watch in 2021". The Bolton News. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  28. ↑ Carr, Flora (2 March 2021). "The Cleaner release date: Guide to BBC One crime scene comedy starring Greg Davies". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  29. ↑ "Ruth Madeley to star in disability rights factual drama for BBC2". Televisual. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  30. ↑ Bownass, Helen (30 June 2021). "BBC drama exclusive: Ruth Madeley on new TV show on disability". Stylist. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  31. ↑ Brew, Simon (7 April 2021). "Rebel Wilson's new film starts shooting in the UK". Film Stories. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  32. 1 2 "The Almond and the Seahorse (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  33. 1 2 3 Curtis, Nick (10 December 2019). "Ruth Madeley: 'It's exciting if a disabled character is horrible too'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  34. 1 2 Davies, Paul T (15 December 2019). "REVIEW: Teenage Dick, Donmar Warehouse ✭✭✭✭". British Theatre. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  35. ↑ "Ruth Madeley joins the cast of The Sixth Doctor Adventures". Big Finish. 14 September 2021.
  36. ↑ Iorizzo, Ellie (25 December 2022). "Doctor Who fans receive festive treat as teaser clip lands". Evening Standard. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  37. ↑ Cook, Sam (22 August 2022). "Actress learns mum had 'blunt' advice about her pregnancy". WalesOnline. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  38. ↑ Tracy, Andrew (9 August 2022). "Extra: C4 slates "Disability & Abortion" doc; Mediaset sells "Back to School" to Germany". RealScreen. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  39. ↑ "BAFTA Nominee Ruth Madeley a 'role model' for disabled youth". Whizz-Kidz. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  40. ↑ Glaviano, Di Alesssia (26 November 2019). "Ruth Madeley". Vogue Italia. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  41. ↑ "Ruth Madeley & the Toughsheet Community Stadium – Bolton Wanderers". music.amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  42. 1 2 "Ruth Madeley CV". www.curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  43. ↑ "Don't Take My Baby (2015)". BFI. Archived from the original on 29 May 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  44. ↑ "BBC Two - Horizon, 2018, Spina Bifida & Me". BBC. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  45. ↑ "Drama filmed in Cumbria set to release online". Whitehaven News. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  46. ↑ "Prissy People". www.prissyproductions.com. Retrieved 13 February 2020. Ruth Madeley will perform the part of Erica. A very talented actress who was nominated for a BAFTA for 'Don't Take My Baby' in 2016, with the film taking home the award.
  47. ↑ "Brexit". www.curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  48. ↑ "British Council Film: Verisimilitude". film-directory.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  49. ↑ "The Uncertain Kingdom". BFI. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  50. ↑ "CBBC - Half Moon Investigations, Sick Note". BBC. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  51. ↑ "What did you think of the Outnumbered Christmas special?". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  52. ↑ "BBC One - Outnumbered, Christmas Special 2016". BBC. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  53. ↑ "five by five". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  54. ↑ "Years and Years: who stars in Russell T Davies' new BBC drama?". inews.co.uk. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  55. ↑ "Curtis Brown". www.curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  56. ↑ "Pure - S1 - Episode 6". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  57. ↑ Smith, Josh (18 June 2019). "'There are plenty of people with invisible disabilities on screen & no one cares!' Years & Years' Ruth Madeley on why we NEED more disabled characters on screen". Glamour UK. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  58. ↑ "Who are the next generation of UK film awards contenders?". Screen. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  59. ↑ Weston, Christopher (8 November 2019). "The Accident: Who is actress Ruth Madeley? Age, Instagram and previous roles!". HITC. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  60. ↑ Tilley, Joanna (22 October 2019). "'His Dark Materials' Writer Jack Thorne: TV is Failing Disabled Actors". Screen Daily. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  61. ↑ "Save Me Too". www.curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  62. ↑ "BBC One - Celebrity Mastermind, 2019/2020, Episode 8". BBC. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  63. ↑ "What's on Channel 4?". tv24.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  64. ↑ "Ruth Madeley on Celebrity Best Home Cook". Digital Spy. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  65. ↑ "BBC - BBC Studios' The Watch enlists Anna Chancellor and James Fleet - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  66. ↑ "Comedy role for Westhoughton actress Ruth Madeley in new BBC sitcom". The Bolton News. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  67. ↑ "Doctor Who 60th anniversary trailer - Merry Christmas and a very Happy Who Year". BBC Press Office. 25 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  68. ↑ "Ruth Madeley Plays "an Integral Part" in Upcoming Doctor Who". The Doctor Who Companion. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  69. ↑ Graham-Lowery, Nathan (26 November 2023). "Doctor Who's New UNIT Character Future Confirmed By David Tennant & Producer". ScreenRant. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  70. ↑ New Year, New TV 🤩 2024 iPlayer Trailer | BBC, retrieved 27 December 2023
  71. ↑ Christian-Sims, Ella (24 April 2023). "Joe Cole and Alexandra Roach to lead new BBC thriller Nightsleeper". Royal Television Society. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  72. ↑ BWW News Desk. "The Old Vic Announces Casting for THE GREATEST WEALTH". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  73. ↑ Ian (1 July 2018). "Review: The Greatest Wealth, Old Vic". There Ought To Be Clowns. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  74. ↑ Clements, Carry-Anne (13 June 2018). "Casting for The Greatest Wealth announced". Official London Theatre. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  75. ↑ Billington, Michael (13 December 2019). "Teenage Dick review – Daniel Monks is a dazzling high-school Richard III". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  76. ↑ "BAFTA Television Awards 2016 – winners in full". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  77. ↑ Geall, Lauren (14 March 2022). "Remarkable Women Awards: Ruth Madeley wins Change Maker of Year". Stylist. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
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