Megan Dodds

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Megan Dodds
Born Megan Lynne Dodds
(1970-02-15) February 15, 1970 (age 43)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Education Juilliard School (1995)
Occupation actress
Years active 1990–present
Spouse(s) Oliver Pearce

Megan Dodds (born February 15, 1970) is an American stage and television actress.

Contents

[edit] Early life and education

Megan Lynne Dodds was born in Sacramento, California, and after high school she enrolled in a community college where she was cast as Bananas in John Guare's The House of Blue Leaves. The role inspired her enough to apply successfully to the Juilliard School, where she studied for four years[1] as a member of the Drama Division's Group 24 (1991–1995).[2]

[edit] Career

After graduation, Dodds spent two years in Off Broadway and Broadway productions, before being spotted by British comedian Ben Elton, and came to London in 1997 to play a bunny girl in Elton's play Popcorn. As a result of meeting her photographer husband Oliver Pearce, she became resident in London: “I love it here, I really feel like I learn a lot. There’s a lot of variety in terms of work.”[3]

Dodds's track record in London shows the variety of work, as she has held down roles in diverse television productions, including: Love in a Cold Climate; playing Christine Dale, the CIA liaison officer in the BBC One series Spooks; and Kitty deLux in Viva Blackpool.[4]

Theatre roles have included playing opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in 1999 in As You Like It, and kissing Madonna in Up for Grabs;[5] in 2006 she won the London Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Actress in the one woman show "My Name is Rachel Corrie".[6] The show opened at the Royal Court Theatre in London, but a planned transfer to the New York Theatre Workshop was cancelled, with rumours of the theatre being afraid of the show’s Gaza Strip based political content. Dodds fought against the imposed indefinite delay, and the debate of censorship on such a sensitive issue at the time of the post-Iraq war debate became publicised by the New York Times. After a successful run in London's West End, the show eventually played to a sellout audience at the off-Broadway Minetta Lane Theatre in early 2006.

In 2006, she joined the cast of new sitcom Not Going Out as Kate, but she quit the show after the first series. Dodds's most famous movie role is perhaps the spoiled and selfish stepsister Margeurite in the 1998 romance Ever After.

[edit] Personal life

After coming to the UK in 1997, she met fashion and advertising photographer Oliver Pearce.[1] The couple married and had one daughter, Isabella, who they lived with in Battersea, South London.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Theatre[6]

Year Title Role Theatre / Notes
1995 The School for Scandal Maria Lyceum Theatre, New York
1996 Ancient History/English Made Simple Jill Primary Stages (off-Broadway)
1997 Popcorn Brooke Daniels Apollo Theatre, London
1999 Hamlet Ophelia Young Vic Theatre, London
As You Like It Celia Williamstown Theatre Festival, Williamstown, Massachusetts
2002 Up for Grabs Mindy Wyndham's Theatre, London
2005 This Is How It Goes Woman Donmar Warehouse, London
2006 My Name is Rachel Corrie Rachel Corrie The Playhouse Theatre, London
Minetta Lane Theatre (off-Broadway)
Won the London Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Actress[6]

[edit] Film and TV

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Midnight Caller Crystal
1994 Psychic Detective Reporter
1998 Ever After Marguerite De Ghent
The Rat Pack May Britt
2000 Urbania Deedee
Bait Agent Walsh
Interstate 84 Wendy
2001 Sword of Honour Virginia
Love in a Cold Climate Polly
2002 Purpose Lisa Forrester
2002–2004 Spooks Christine Dale CIA agent - 23 episodes
2004 The Hollow Henrietta Savernake
2005 Malice Aforethought Madeleine Cranmere
Festival Dina Film nominated for a BAFTA
2006 London
Free Jimmy Voice only
Viva Blackpool Kitty de Lux
Not Going Out Kate Series 1
The Contract Sandra
2008 Hotel Babylon
2009 Lie to Me Gail
House Dr. Beasley
2010 Chatroom Grace Rollins
2011 Detroit 1-8-7 Special Agent Jess Harkins
2012 CSI: NY Christine Whitney
Awake Agent Santoro

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Henderson, Kathy (October 16, 2006). "Fresh Face: Megan Dodds". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. 
  2. ^ "Alumni News". Juilliard School. November 2007. 
  3. ^ "The Big Interview: Megan Dodds". Official London Theatre Guide. Archived from the original on March 30, 2006. 
  4. ^ BBC - Drama - Viva Blackpool
  5. ^ "Megan Dodds - Actress Recalls Madonna Kiss". ContactMusic.com. March 30, 2006. 
  6. ^ a b c "Megan Dodds, Star File". Broadway.com Buzz. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. 

[edit] External links