The Rumour

Lucy Speed (Actor) .. Rachel

Born: August 31, 1976 in Croydon

Best Known For: Playing Natalie in EastEnders.

Early-life: Lucy Speed was born in Croydon in 1976. She has an older brother, Dan. As a child, she loved ballet and when a teacher recognised her potential, Lucy's parents acquired an agent. She attended a theatre group school alongside future co-star Nigel Harman, and enjoyed two terms at the Italia Conti Academy. During the next few years, Lucy appeared in an array of commercials, TV series and theatre roles.

Career: Lucy landed her big break aged 17 with the role of Natalie Price in EastEnders. She remained with the soap for just over a year, before making appearances in the films England, My England, Keep the Aspidistra Flying and Shakespeare in Love. She continued to work on TV too, appearing in Dangerfield, Holby City, Love Soup and the US series Unsolved Mysteries. In 1999, Lucy rejoined the cast of EastEnders to reprise her role as Natalie, eventually bowing out in 2004. In 2007, she joined the cast of The Bill.

Quote: "I've been acting for 25 years, so you just take the jobs as they come along. It just so happens that you're once in EastEnders."

Trivia: Away from acting, Lucy loves horse riding, skiing and continues to dance.

Joanne Whalley (Actor) .. Bea

Born: August 25, 1964 in Salford

Best Known For: Playing Christine Keeler in Scandal.

Early-life: Born in Salford on August 25, 1964. Her dad was a plumber with his own business. She discovered her love of acting at an early age and made her TV debut in an episode of Coronation Street when she was just 10 years old. She went on to win parts in Emmerdale, How We Used to Live, Juliet Bravo and A Kind of Loving. Despite this, Joanne says she was a shy teenager, although she did find the confidence to front her own pop group, Cindy and the Saffrons. At 19, she took a non-speaking role as a groupie in Pink Floyd's The Wall, before joining the Theatre Royal at Stratford East.

Career: Whalley garnered rave reviews for her stage performances, and appeared in two hugely acclaimed BBC dramas - Edge of Darkness and The Singing Detective. They led to her big Hollywood break, a starring role in 1988's Willow. She returned to Britain a year later to make Scandal before settling in Los Angeles. She was expected to become a major movie star, but despite appearing in Navy Seals, Mother's Boys and A Good Man in Africa, her career didn't take off, and she took fewer parts after becoming a mother. Her other film credits include The Man Who Knew Too Little and Breathtaking, and she played the title roles in American TV productions Scarlett and Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis. She's also appeared in 40, The Virgin Queen, Child of Mine, 44 Inch Chest and The Borgias.

Quote: "I love to work. I'm passionate about it. But my life is equally important."

Trivia: Whalley was once married to actor Val Kilmer.

Liza Sadovy (Actor) .. Kay

Carryl Thomas (Actor) .. Fatima

Samuel Anderson (Actor) .. Michael

Best Known For: Playing Danny Pink in Doctor Who.

Early-life: Born in 1982 in Handsworth, Birmingham. Samuel decided early on in life that he wanted to be an actor. He attended the Catholic secondary school Stuart Bathurst. Samuel stopped studying A levels after a year and went to Birmingham Theatre School before going on to attend the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London. Samuel originated the role of Crowther in the National Theatre's 2004 production of Alan Bennett's The History Boys. He went on to perform the role in the Broadway, Hong Kong, Sydney and Wellington productions, as well as radio and film versions.

Career: Anderson appeared in Sky One's Hex in 2004 and Channel 4's Totally Frank in 2006 and 2007. He played Fingers in the comedy series Gavin & Stacey. From 2007 until 2009, Anderson played Ross Kirk in Emmerdale. He appeared in the TV comedy film Stuck (2007) and had a number of guest appearances in such shows as Doctors, Casualty, Bedlam, Midsomer Murders and Death in Paradise. Anderson played Danny Pink in 11 episodes of Doctor Who in 2014. Since then, he has played DC Vince Grady in DCI Banks, Daniel in Trollied, Patrick in Witless and Leon in Loaded.

Quote: "When I'm having a bad time and can't get any work, I say to my friend, ‘This is not my life! I'm not supposed to be at this bar, I'm supposed to be acting. Quantum Leap me back into my life, Sam!'"

Trivia: He was voted best male guest star by readers of Doctor Who magazine.

Agnes Banfalvy (Actor) .. Mary

Tamzin Griffin (Actor) .. Sonia

Rachel Shenton (Actor) .. Joanna

Emily Atack (Actor) .. Debbie

Alex Waldmann (Actor) .. Stephen

Alex Forsyth (Actor) .. Zac

Declan Hannigan (Actor) .. DI Saunders

Julia Papp (Actor) .. Nurse Stephanie

Eiden-River Coleman (Actor) .. Alfie

Elie Haddington (Actor) .. Liz

Katalin Ruzsik (Actor) .. Anita

Okezje Morro (Actor) .. Mark

Lili Walters (Actor) .. Miss Higgins

Alex Diehl (Actor) .. Seth

Lidia Kauders (Actor) .. Hayley

Isaac Gallagher (Actor) .. Liam

Nora Olohitare Ohilebo (Actor) .. Ketifa

Lilla Jambricska (Actor) .. Young Joanna

Richard Clark (Director)

Dominic Barlow (Producer)

Giula Sandler (Writer)

9:45 pm - 10:45 pm, Tuesday, December 16 on RTE2 (55)

About this Broadcast

Season 1, Episode 4

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