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Jenna Russell (born 5 October 1967) is an English actress and singer. She has appeared on the stage in London in both musicals and dramas, as well as appearing with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She performed the role of Dot in Sunday in the Park with George in the West End and on Broadway theatre, receiving the Tony Award nomination and the 2006 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role. She has also appeared in several television series, including Born and Bred and EastEnders.
In 1985, Russell appeared as Matthew's girlfriend Christine in the ITV Network comedy Home to Roost.
Russell also sang the theme tune to the BBC sitcom, Red Dwarf, with her version of the song being used in all series of the show. Russell began her career as an understudy for Eponine and Fantine and later took over Fantine in Les Misérables and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) for the first portion of her career. Plays there included The Beggar's Opera as Lucy Lockit in April 1992 and again in April 1993 at the Barbican Centre.Kennedy, Michael. "Sparkling Gay The Beggar's Opera at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon", The Herald (Glasgow), 15 April 1992, p. 10"Over the top and far away from Gay's world of darkness; The Beggar's Opera at the Barbican", London Evening Standard (London), 8 April 1993, p. 7 She also appeared in the RSC production of Alan Ayckbourn's Wildest Dreams at the Barbican in December 1993."Scotch Missed", The Observer, 19 December 1993, p. 4
From 1990 to 1992 she played one of the lead characters, Maggie Lomax, in primetime BBC TV comedy On the Up. "On the Up listing" Internet Movie Database listing. Retrieved 22 August 2010
She performed in three shows at The Bridewell Theatre: On a Clear Day You Can See Forever as Daisy (January 2000),Benedict, David. "After 35 Years, London Gets on a Clear Day You Can See Forever". The Independent (London), 12 January 2000, p.11 Hello Again (March 2001)Spence, Charles. "More in tune with sexual mores", The Daily Telegraph (London), 29 March 2001, p. 27 and a concert, The Cutting Edge in June 2000.Martland, John. "The Cutting Edge;Light Entertainment Review: Bridewell", The Stage, 29 June 2000, p. 16 Other stage work includes Samantha Lord in High Society at Sheffield Crucible, Young Sally in Follies at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 1987, "'Follies', 1987 listing" sondheimguide.com. Retrieved 23 August 2010 Bertrande in Martin Guerre at the West End's Prince Edward theatre (1998),Schajer, Jodi and Alex. "'Martin Guerre' at the Prince Edward Theatre" whatsonstage.com, July 1997 Felicity in Landslide at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, and Three Sisters at the Royal Court.Ansdell, Caroline. "20 Questions With... Jenna Russell" whatsonstage.com, 30 May 2006
She left the cast of Songs for a New World during rehearsal to play Deborah Gilder in the television series Born and Bred in 2002 through 2005. "Born and Bred listing" Internet Movie Database listing. Retrieved 22 August 2010(no author), "Sunday TV Criticss Choice" ("Deborah (Jenna Russell) has a run-in with Edie, who arrives to clean the Gilders' house."), Daily Record, 27 April 2002, p. 20
In 2005 she appeared as the Floor Manager in the Doctor Who episodes "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of the Ways". Also in 2005, she played the lead role of Sarah Brown in the West End production of Guys and Dolls opposite (at various times) Ewan McGregor, Nigel Harman, Sarah Lancashire, Jane Krakowski and Nigel Lindsay.Fisher, Philip. "Review" britishtheatreguide.info. Retrieved 22 August 2010 She received a nomination for the 2006 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for this role. "Olivier Winners 2006" officiallondontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2010 In 2006, she took over from Anna-Jane Casey as Dot/Marie in the London revival of Sunday in the Park with George, by Stephen Sondheim for which she won the 2007 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. "Olivier Winners 2007" officiallondontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2010
She subsequently played Amy alongside Felicity Kendal in the West End revival of the play Amy's View in 2006. "Jenna Russell: Centre stage" The Independent,9 November 2006 'Amy's View' listing thisistheatre.com. Retrieved 22 August 2010 In 2008, Russell reprised her role as Dot in the Broadway transfer of Sunday in the Park with George. The production opened on 21 February 2008 and ran until 29 June 2008 at Studio 54.Sommer, Elyse. "Review:'Sunday in the Park with George' " curtainup.com. Retrieved 22 August 2010 Russell won the Theatre World Award and received Drama Desk Award and Tony Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical, losing to Patti LuPone.Gans, Andrew. "August and Passing Strange Win Top Honors at Drama Desk Awards" Playbill, 18 May 2008Jones, Kenneth. "August, South Pacific, In the Heights, Boeing-Boeing, LuPone Are Tony Winners" Playbill, 15 June 2008
In 2009 she appeared in the inaugural episode of the resurrected TV series Minder as Petra.(no author). "Best of This Week" ("Feisty pub landlady Petra Barnett (Jenna Russell) repels all offers and threats to get her out.") Scottish Daily Record, 31 January 2009, p.18
Russell has appeared in Into the Woods twice. For the Donmar Warehouse production in 1998, she played Cinderella. "Archive, 'Into the Woods' at Donmar, 1998" albemarle-london.com. Retrieved 22 August 2010 For the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2010, she played the role of the Baker's Wife.Shenton, Mark. "New London Production of Into the Woods Opens at Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park Aug. 16" Playbill, August 2010
In August 2012, Russell took to the London stage again at the Soho Theatre in Soho Cinders. She then played the role of Mary in Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End, following a run at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
From February 2014 she appeared as Penelope Pennywise in the London production of at the St. James Theatre. She reprises the role for the West End production at the Apollo Theatre from September 2014.Stanbury, Kate. "Jenna Russell reprises Urinetown role" officiallondontheatre.co.uk, July 2014
In January 2016 she starred with Sheila Hancock in the first UK production of Grey Gardens at The Southwark PlayhouseSusannah Clapp. " 'Grey Gardens' review – splendidly odd couple of the Kennedy circle" The Guardian, 10 January 2016 to sell-out audiences.
In December 2016 she took over from previous actress Susan Tully in the role of Michelle Fowler in BBC One soap-opera EastEnders. In 2018 Russell decided to leave EastEnders to pursue other work. Her last appearance aired on Tuesday 17 April 2018.
In September 2022, Russell led the cast in Alan Ayckbourn's Woman in Mind at Chichester Festival Theatre.
| + !Year !Title !Role !Theatre | |||
| 1987 | Follies | Young Sally | Shaftesbury Theatre |
| 1991-1992 | Les Misérables | Fantine | Palace Theatre |
| 1998-1999 | Into the Woods | Cinderella | Donmar Warehouse |
| 2001 | Les Misérables | Fantine | Palace Theatre |
| 2005-2006 | Guys and Dolls | Sister Sarah Brown | Piccadilly Theatre |
| 2006 | Sunday in the Park with George | Dot / Marie | Wyndham's Theatre |
| 2008 | Studio 54 | ||
| 2010 | Into the Woods | The Baker's Wife | Regent's Park Open Air Theatre |
| 2012 | Soho Cinders | Marilyn Platt | Soho Theatre |
| 2012-2013 | Merrily We Roll Along | Mary Flynn | Menier Chocolate Factory / Harold Pinter Theatre |
| 2014-2015 | Urinetown | Penelope Pennywise | St. James Theatre / Apollo Theatre |
| 2016 | Grey Gardens | Edith Bouvier Beale/Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale | Southwark Playhouse |
| 2018 | Fun Home | Helen Bechdel | Young Vic |
| 2019 | The Bridges of Madison County | Francesca Johnson | Menier Chocolate Factory |
| 2021 | Piaf | Edith Piaf | Nottingham Playhouse |
| 2022 | Woman in Mind | Susan | Chichester Festival Theatre |
| 2023 | Flowers for Mrs Harris | Ada Harris | Riverside Studios |
| 2024 | Hello, Dolly! | Irene Molloy | London Palladium |
| 2025 | Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | Muriel Eubanks | Tokyo Theatre Orb |
| 2006 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress in a Musical | Guys and Dolls | ||
| 2007 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress in a Musical | Sunday in the Park with George | ||
| 2008 | Tony Award | Best Actress in a Musical | |||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | ||||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | ||||
| Theatre World Award | |||||
| 2014 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress in a Musical | Merrily We Roll Along | ||
| 2015 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Actress in a Musical | Urinetown | ||
| 2017 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Play | Doctor Faustus | ||
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