Amanda Drew

Infobox actor
name = Amanda Drew


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birthdate = birth date and age|1969|12|21|df=y
birthplace = Boston, Lincolnshire, England
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occupation = Actor
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awards = 2003 Evening Standard Theatre Awards - "Eastward Ho!"

Amanda Drew (born 21 December 1969) is an English actress. Drew is best known for her role as the psychotic Dr. May Wright in the BBC One soap opera "EastEnders." [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/characters_cast/cast/cast_amanda_d.shtml Amanda Drew's profile on EastEnders' BBC site ] ]

Biography

One of four children born in Lincolnshire, [citeweb|url=http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/interviews/view/item72189/Amanda-Drew/|title=The Big Interview: Amanda Drew|publisher=officiallondontheatre.co.uk|date=2007-09-19|accessdate=2008-06-10] Drew's mother was a nurse. [citeweb|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/EastEnders-51677.html|title=Amanda Drew's doctor dream|publisher=FemaleFirst.com|date=2008-06-06|accessdate=2008-06-10]

Drew has always been shy, and through her acting career has explored her own vulnerability. Aged 6, she played a flower in a play based on an Oscar Wilde, for which she enjoyed the creativity and invention of story, as well as the protective coat of playing someone else.citeweb|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821189178815|title=20 Questions With … Amanda Drew|publisher=whatsonstage.com|date=2007-09-10|accessdate=2008-06-10] When her parents moved to Leicestershire for work, Drew was educated at Beauchamp College in Oadby, [ [http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/stratfordians/stdream.htm A Dictionary of the RSC by Simon Trowbridge ] ] and joined a youth theatre, playing Charity in "Sweet Charity."

After graduating from RADA in 1992, Drew made her name on stage at the Royal Court Theatre and various other West End productions in both drama and comedy roles. At the age of 32, in 2001, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Eastenders

Between September 2006 and June 2007, Amanda played Dr. May Wright in the BBC One soap opera "EastEnders". [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/characters_cast/cast/cast_amanda_d.shtml Amanda Drew's profile on EastEnders' BBC site ] ] Drew was involved in one of largest storylines of the year, a love triangle between May, her husband Rob Minter, and Dawn Swann.

May's personality has earned her the nickname "Mad May" from the media. [cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=51103&in_page_id=7&in_a_source=|title=Amanda: I've never felt broody|publisher=Metro|date=30 May 2007|accessdate=2007-06-06] Drew has described the role as "a gift of a role for any actor because of her complexity."Citation|last=|first=|author-link=|publication-date=22 April 2008|date=|year=|title=May's mad comeback!|periodical=Inside Soap|publication-place=England|place=|publisher=|volume=|issue=|pages=11|url=|doi=|oclc=|accessdate=] Of her return to "EastEnders", she has stated: "I'm so excited to be playing her again. It'd be a shame to give too much away, but she has changed in many ways." Executive producer Diederick Santer has said: "It's great to have Amanda back. May is a hugely popular character. I'm sure viewers will be keen to see what she gets up to and how she's changed."

In May 2007, it was decided that the ending of a current storyline featuring characters of Dawn Swann, Dr. May Wright and Rob Minter would be substantially rewritten due to the disappearance of toddler Madeleine McCann. The storyline would have seen May ran off with Dawn and Rob's baby shortly after it had been born." [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a58142/eastenders-axe-baby-abduction-plot.html 'EastEnders' axe baby abduction plot] ", "Digital Spy". URL last accessed 2007-05-25.] The move has attracted some criticism as to how it relates directly to the disappearance of the toddler, [" [http://www.thesun.co.uk/mysun/comment/view.page?storyId=2007230631&submissionId=76482 Enders cancel Maddie plot] ", "The Sun". URL last accessed 2007-05-25.] but the BBC has defended its actions by stating that "In the current circumstances it was felt any storyline that included a child abduction would be inappropriate and could cause distress to our viewers."In Drew's final episodes, May holds Dawn hostage, intending to steal her baby by performing a cesarean section. May is arrested and Drew left the series.

Trailers for Drew's return to "Eastenders," had been shown in the weeks running up to her return on BBC channels; on the 6 June 2008 Drew reprised her role as Dr. May Wright, under the assumed name of 'Jenny'. She was seen smoking a cigarette, a new activity for the character. Drew's character was killed off in an explosion at the Miller's house on June 18. [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a93711/mad-may-returns-to-eastenders.html Mad May returns to EastEnders ] ] [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/news/news_20080415.shtml May's on her way back ] ]

Awards

Drew won the Outstanding Newcomer at the 2003 London Evening Standard Theatre Awards for her performance in "Eastward Ho!" at the Gielgud Theatre.

Personal life

Drew presently lives in Earls Court, West London. She owns a greyhound called Ron, which she adopted in 2007 from the Retired Greyhound Trust.

Filmography

Film

She also appeared in these films
*"The Other Man" 2008
*"Between Us" 2004
*"This Year's Love" 1999
*"Mrs Dalloway" 1997
*"Remember Me?" 1997

tage

*"Eastward Ho!"
*"The House of Bernarda Alba"
*"Blithe Spirit"

Television

Amanda has appeared many times on British television, including roles in:
*"Between The Lines" 1992
*"Full Stretch" 1993
*"Performance" 1993
*"Paul Calf's Video Diary" 1993
*"Soldier Soldier" 1994
*"Degree's Of Love" 1995
*"Men Behaving Badly" 1998
*"Tough Love" 2000
*"Spooks" 2002
*"The Bill" 1995. 2003
*"" 2003
*"No Angels" 2004
*"The Golden Hour" 2005
*"Holby Blue" 2008
*"Eastenders" 2006-2007, 2008

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0237629|name=Amanda Drew