Editing Charlotte Coleman

{{Short description|English actress (1968–2001)}}
{{for|the Canadian actress and playwright|Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Charlotte Coleman
| image              = Charlotte Coleman.webp
| caption            = 
| birthname          = Charlotte Ninon Coleman
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1968|4|3|df=y}}
| birth_place        = London, England
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|2001|11|14|1968|4|3|df=y}}
| death_place        = London, England
| occupation         = Actress
| television         = ''[[Worzel Gummidge (TV series)|Worzel Gummidge]]''
| known_for          = ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral]]''
| years_active       = 1977–2001
| parents            = [[Francis Coleman]]<br/>[[Ann Beach]]
| relatives          = [[Lisa Coleman (actress)|Lisa Coleman]] (sister)
}}
'''Charlotte Ninon Coleman''' (3 April 1968 – 14 November 2001) was an English actress best known for playing Scarlett in the film ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral]]'' (1994) and Jess in the television drama ''[[Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (TV serial)|Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit]]'' (1990)''.'' For these roles she received BAFTA nominations in the [[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role|Best Actress in a Supporting Role]] and [[British Academy Television Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] categories respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Supporting Actress |url=https://www.bafta.org/awards/film/supporting-actress |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Bafta.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Actress |url=https://www.bafta.org/awards/television/actress-television |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Bafta.org |language=en}}</ref> Her childhood roles included Sue in ''[[Worzel Gummidge (TV series)|Worzel Gummidge]]'' (1979–1981) and the character [[Marmalade Atkins]] (1981–1984).

==Early life==
Coleman was the first of two daughters born to actress [[Ann Beach]] and Canadian-born television producer [[Francis Coleman]].<ref name="T171101">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1362600/Charlotte-Coleman.html "Obituary: Charlotte Coleman"] Daily Telegraph, 17 November 2001</ref> Her younger sister is the actress [[Lisa Coleman (actress)|Lisa Coleman]]. Charlotte was educated at [[Camden School for Girls]], from which she was expelled.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=Reynolds |first=Nigel |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1362610/Four-Weddings-actress-Charlotte-is-dead-at-33.html |title=Four Weddings actress Charlotte is dead at 33 |work=The Telegraph|date=2001-11-17 |access-date=2014-03-17}}</ref> Outside regular school hours she attended classes at the [[Anna Scher Theatre School]] in [[Islington]], [[north London]], because she said she was "too cool" to go to the [[Brownies (Girl Guides)|Brownies]].<ref name="Guard191101">Valentine, Penny; [https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/nov/19/guardianobituaries.filmnews "Obituary: Charlotte Coleman"] The Guardian, 19 November 2001</ref>

At 15, feeling that her upbringing had been too liberal, since her parents "didn't believe in restraint", Coleman enrolled at [[Dartington Hall]] School in [[Devon]]. It was a very progressive school where pupils "didn't have to go to any lessons, so I didn't. I spent 15 grand, all my money, and it was just stupid really". After this, she attended cookery school.<ref name="TO111296">Jivani, Alkarim,{{cite web|url=http://www.dwjbrider.freeserve.co.uk/Almost_grown.htm |title=Almost Grown |access-date=2005-01-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060910190507/http://www.dwjbrider.freeserve.co.uk/Almost_grown.htm |archive-date=10 September 2006}}  ''[[Time Out (company)|Time Out]]'', 11–18 December 1996</ref>

==Career==
Coleman's first major television role was as Sue in [[Southern Television]]'s ''[[Worzel Gummidge (TV series)|Worzel Gummidge]]''. This ran for four seasons from 1978 to 1981 on the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] network. Other early work included ''A Choice of Evils'' (''[[Play for Today]]'', [[BBC]], 1977) and ''Two People'' ([[London Weekend Television]], 1979), as Emma Moffatt). She had a crush on [[Stephen Garlick]], her co-star in ''Two People''. For the role, she had to choose a stuffed toy for Emma to carry; she named it "Haggis" and still had it when interviewed in 1990.

This was soon followed by her role as the teenage rebel [[Marmalade Atkins]], firstly in ''Marmalade Atkins in Space'' (a one-off drama shown in 1981), and then in two series, ''Educating Marmalade'' (1982–83) and ''Danger: Marmalade at Work'' (1984). All three were made by [[Thames Television]] and written by [[Andrew Davies (writer)|Andrew Davies]].

[[Image: Marmalade atkins thames.jpg|right|thumb|Coleman as Marmalade Atkins in ''[[Marmalade Atkins|Educating Marmalade]]'' (1982–83)]]

In 1990, Coleman appeared as Jess, a teenage girl from [[Lancashire]] brought up by a strict [[Pentecostal]] mother, in the BBC [[television drama]] ''[[Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (TV serial)|Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit]]'', based on [[Jeanette Winterson]]'s novel of the same name. Coleman won a [[Royal Television Society]], Best Actress award and was nominated for a BAFTA for her portrayal of the young lesbian character. She also read the novel for release by [[BBC Audiobooks]].

Other television appearances in the 1980s and '90s included roles in Thames Television's ''[[The Bill]]'' and [[ITV Central|Central Independent Television]]'s ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'', the short-lived comedy series ''Freddie and Max'', with [[Anne Bancroft]], a drama about homelessness, ''Sweet Nothing'' and another lesbian role, as Barbara Gale in the political satire ''Giving Tongue'' (1996). She also appeared in [[Simon Nye]]'s sitcom ''[[How Do You Want Me?]]'' (1998–2000), alongside [[Dylan Moran]] and [[Emma Chambers]], and voiced the lead female character, Primrose, in the animated adaptation of ''[[Brambly Hedge]]''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010212074410/http://www.toonhound.com/bramblyhedge.htm "TV Toons: Brambly Hedge (1996–2000)"] ''Toonhound.com'', 2008</ref> Coleman's final television appearance was in the adaptation of [[Jacqueline Wilson]]'s ''[[Double Act (film)|Double Act]]'', where she played the twins' teacher, Miss Debenham.

Coleman played Scarlett in the film ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral]]'' (1994) with [[Hugh Grant]], [[Simon Callow]] and [[Kristin Scott Thomas]]. She received a BAFTA Film Award nomination for this part, losing to Scott Thomas. Coleman continued to act in films throughout the 1990s with her last major film being [[Jasmin Dizdar]]'s ''[[Beautiful People (film)|Beautiful People]]'' (1999), set in London in 1993, at the time of the [[Yugoslav Wars]], playing the role of Portia Thornton.<ref>Walker, John (ed.). "Halliwell's Who's Who in the Movies" (fourth edition), ''HarperCollins'', 2006 ({{ISBN|-00-716957-4}})</ref>

===Theatre===
Coleman portrayed the character of the teenage Lorna in ''Our Own Kind'' ([[Roy MacGregor]]), at the [[Bush Theatre]] in London (April 1991). She co-starred with [[Kevin Whately]], [[Nisha Nayar]] and [[Jane Horrocks]].

<blockquote>"The prime focus falls on Sylvie's bright-eyed schoolgirl sister Lorna. Vividly brought to life by Charlotte Coleman, she's both a droll chorus figure and an optimistic, surrogate victim. The play is tightly directed by new Bush supremo [[Dominic Dromgoole]]."<ref>Thaxter, John, ''Richmond & Twickenham Times'', 12 April 1991.</ref></blockquote>

==Personal life and death==
In 1987, Coleman's boyfriend Jonathan Laycock was killed by a lorry driver whilst cycling to work. He was 23 years old.<ref name=refElle200209/> After his death Coleman went through periods of depression, and developed the [[eating disorder]]s [[Anorexia nervosa|anorexia]] and [[bulimia]].<ref name=refElle200209>{{cite journal |last=Gannon |first=Louise |date=September 2002 |title=Why did Charlotte Coleman die? |journal=Elle |pages=175–176, 179–180 |ref=refGannonElle }}</ref>

Coleman died aged 33 on 14 November 2001 from bronchial [[asthma]].<ref name=":0"/><ref name="refElle200209"/> A memorial was held at the [[Mill Hill]] Buddhist Centre in north London later that month and attended by family and close friends.<ref name=refElle200209/>

==Charlotte Coleman Scholarship Award==
The New London Performing Arts Centre (NLPAC) introduced the Charlotte Coleman Scholarship in 2003. All NLPAC members are eligible for the prize of a year's classes in dance, drama and music. A showcase event is held every November, from which one performer is chosen to receive the award.<ref name="NLPAC:CCSA">[http://www.nlpac.co.uk/main/page_scholarship.html "Charlotte Coleman Scholarship Award"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531103559/http://www.nlpac.co.uk/main/page_scholarship.html |date=31 May 2009 }} ''New London Performing Arts Centre''</ref>

==Roles==

===Film===
*''Bodywork'' (2001) ... Tiffany Shades
*''A Loving Act'' (2001) ... Det. Jane Thompson 
*''[[Beautiful People (film)|Beautiful People]]'' (1999) ... Portia Thornton
*''[[Faeries (1999 film)|Faeries]]'' (1999) ... voice of Merrivale<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f08abfe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329084304/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f08abfe |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 March 2016 |title=Charlotte Coleman |website=BFI.org |access-date=28 June 2018}}</ref>
*''[[The Man with Rain in His Shoes|If Only...]]'' (1998) aka ''Twice Upon a Yesterday'' ... Alison Hayes 
*''[[Sweet Revenge (1998 film)|Sweet Revenge]]'' (1998) ... Norma 
*''[[Different for Girls (film)|Different for Girls]]'' (1996) ... Alison 
*''[[The Young Poisoner's Handbook]]'' (1995) ... Winnie 
*''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral]]'' (1994) ... Scarlett 
*''[[Map of the Human Heart]]'' (1993) ... Julie 
*''Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale'' (1989) ... Kate

===Television===
*[[Double Act (film)|''Double Act'']] ... Miss Debenham; 2 June 2002, [[Channel 4]] (writer: [[Jacqueline Wilson]]; director: Cilla Ware)
*''McCready and Daughter'' ... Shelley Bennett in "No Bed of Roses" (1.5); Ecosse Films for [[BBC]]
*''[[How Do You Want Me?]]'' ... Lisa Lyons; 24 February 1998 – 22 December 1999, Kensington Films & Television for [[BBC]] (writer: Simon Nye; director: John Henderson)
*''[[Wycliffe (TV series)|Wycliffe]]'' ... Laura Kessell in "Bad Blood" (4.6); 3 August 1997, ITV (director: Alan Wareing)
*''[[Oliver's Travels]]'' ... Cathy; 1995, BBC Wales (writer: [[Alan Plater]]; director: [[Giles Foster]])
*''The Vacillations of Poppy Carew'' ... Mary; 5 March 1995, (director: [[James Cellan Jones]])
*''Olly's Prison'' ... Sheila; May 1993, [[BBC]] (writer: Edward Bond; director: Roy Battersby)<ref>Battersby, Roy; [https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/nov/28/guardianobituaries "Obituary letter: Charlotte Coleman"] ''The Guardian'', 28 November</ref>
*''[[The Comic Strip Presents...]]'' ... Patsy in "Gregory: Diary of a Nutcase"; 13 May 1993 (director: Peter Richardson)
*''[[The Bill]]'' ... Sharon Palmer in "Happy Families" (8.93); 19 November 1992, ITV (director: Andrew Higgs)
*''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' ... Jessica White in "Happy Families" (6.2); 11 March 1992, [[Zenith Entertainment]] for ITV (director: [[Adrian Shergold]])
*''Freddie and Max'' ... Freddie Latham; 12 November – 18 December 1990 (director: [[John Stroud (director)|John Stroud]])
*''[[Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (TV serial)|Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit]]'' ... Jess; 10–24 January 1990 (writer: [[Jeanette Winterson]]; director: [[Beeban Kidron]])<ref name="ScrOl:OANtOF">[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/589721/ "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit (1990)"] ''BFI ScreenOnline''</ref>
*''Inappropriate Behaviour'' ... Helen Bardsley; 8 March 1987, [[BBC Two]] [[Screen Two]], Season 3, Episode 10 (Writer: Andrew Davies; director: Paul Seed)
*''The Insurance Man'' ... Seamstress; 22 February 1986, BBC (Writer: Alan Bennett; director: Richard Eyre)<ref name="ScrOl:TIM">[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/504939/credits.html "Insurance Man, The (1986)"] ''BFI ScreenOnline''</ref>
*''[[Danger: Marmalade at Work]]'' ... [[Marmalade Atkins]]; 20 February – 30 April 1984, [[Thames Television]] for ITV (writer: Andrew Davies; director: John Stroud)
*''[[Educating Marmalade]]'' ... [[Marmalade Atkins]]; 25 October 1982 – 3 January 1983, Thames Television for ITV (writer: Andrew Davies; directors: John Stroud, Colin Bucksey)
*''[[Marmalade Atkins in Space]]'' ... [[Marmalade Atkins]]; 2 November 1981, Thames Television for ITV (writer: Andrew Davies)
*''[[Worzel Gummidge (TV series)|Worzel Gummidge]]'' ... Sue Peters; 25 February 1979 – 31 October 1981, [[Southern Television]] for ITV (writers: [[Keith Waterhouse]] and [[Willis Hall]] ; directors: James Hill and David Pick)<ref name="ScrOl:WG">[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/956561/index.html "Worzel Gummidge (1979–81)"] ''BFI ScreenOnline''</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name}}

{{RTS Programme Award for Best Performance by a Female Actor}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Coleman, Charlotte}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century English actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from London]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Anna Scher Theatre School]]
[[Category:Respiratory disease deaths in England]]
[[Category:Deaths from asthma]]
[[Category:English film actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:English voice actresses]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Islington]]
[[Category:People educated at Camden School for Girls]]
[[Category:People educated at Dartington Hall School]]
[[Category:English people of Canadian descent]]
[[Category:English people of American descent]]
[[Category:20th-century English businesspeople]]
[[Category:People from Islington (district)]]