My Family - The Art of Being Susan - 06:20 am Sunday, March 22 on U&W

Zoe Wanamaker (Actor) .. Susan Harper

Born: May 13, 1949 in New York

Best Known For: Playing a variety of strong women.

Early-life: Born May 13, 1949, in New York, the daughter of acclaimed actors Charlotte Holland and Sam Wanamaker. At the age of three, her family fled the US before her father could be called by Senator McCarthy's notorious House of Un-American Activities Committee; the family settled in the UK. Zoë decided to become an actress at age 10 after spending a summer in Stratford-Upon-Avon watching her father. Both parents tried to persuade her not to go into the profession but she enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating in 1970.

Career: Wanamaker spent 25 years with the RSC and National Theatre, and continues to appear on stage. She made her TV debut in 1975 in Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill. Her most memorable work has come on the small screen in projects such as Edge of Darkness, the first episode of Prime Suspect, A Dance to the Music of Time, Love Hurts, My Family, David Copperfield, Gormenghast and Doctor Who; she also has a recurring role as Ariadne Oliver in Agatha Christie's Poirot. Films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Wilde.

Quote: 'I think there is a niche for Beauty and the Beast, but there are also people who want to see good drama, who want to be moved by something.'

Trivia: Despite her English upbringing, she remains a US citizen and received an honorary CBE in 2000.

Daniela Denby-Ashe (Actor) .. Janey Harper

Gabriel Thomson (Actor) .. Michael Harper

Rosemary Leach (Actor) .. Grace

Robert Bathurst (Actor) .. James Garrett

Born: March 22, 1957 in Africa's Gold Coast (now Ghana)

Best Known For: Playing David in Cold Feet.

Early-life: Robert Guy Bathurst was born on February 22, 1957, on Africa's Gold Coast (now Ghana), where his father worked as a management consultant. The family later moved to Ireland, where Robert was enrolled in boarding school, which he has since said he disliked. Despite this, he went on to study law at Cambridge, and joined the university's prestigious Footlights theatre society, appearing in sketches alongside the likes of Emma Thompson and Hugh Laurie. However, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to make it as an actor and initially decided to stick with law, until his love of performing finally won out.

Career: Robert made his professional debut in a Radio 4 series called Injury Time, going on to take a small role in the first episode of Red Dwarf, and also appearing on stage in Noises Off. He made more of a splash with sitcom Joking Apart, which he has described as his favourite role, but it was winning the part of David in comedy drama Cold Feet in 1996 that really made him a star. Since then, he's continued to be in demand on stage and TV, appearing in My Dad's the Prime Minister, Downton Abbey and The Pillars of the Earth, and playing John Le Mesurier in Hattie. He was also reunited with his Cold Feet co-star Hermione Norris for a production of Blithe Spirit. Recently, he has been playing Lord Thomas Davenport in TV horror drama Dracula.

Quote: 'It's astonishing how every day someone will mention to me how they enjoyed Cold Feet.'

Trivia: He auditioned for the part of Rimmer in Red Dwarf.

Siobhan Hayes (Actor) .. Abi Harper

Keiron Self (Actor) .. Roger

Rhodri Meilir (Actor) .. Alfie

Lesley Vickerage (Actor) .. Simone

Trevor Baxter (Actor) .. Lionel

Hugh Lloyd (Actor) .. Martin

John Bartlett (Producer)

Dewi Humphreys (Director)

Paul Minett (Writer)

Brian Leveson (Writer)

My Family: The Art of Being Susan

06:20 am - 06:50 am, Sunday, March 22 on U&W (25)

About this Broadcast

The Art of Being Susan
Season 6, Episode 7

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