Editing Ronni Ancona

{{Short description|Scottish comedian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox writer
| birth_name       = Veronica Jane Ancona
 | birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1966|07|04}}
| birth_place      = [[Louth, Lincolnshire]], England
| death_date       = 
| death_place      = 
| occupation       = {{ubl|Actress|[[impressionist (entertainment)|impressionist]]| [[Sketch comedy|sketch comedian]]|[[Comedian|comedian]]}}
| children         = 2
| spouse           = {{marriage|Gerard Hall|2004}}
| education        = [[Saint Martin's School of Art]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University College London]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])
}}
'''Veronica Jane Ancona''' (born 4 July 1966)<!-- {{efn|text=In July 2024 Ancona appeared on the podcast [https://castbox.fm/episode/297-DWSC-LIVE%3A-With-Ronni-Ancona-id4626842-id716044521?country=gb ''Drunk Women Solving Crime''] (7:50) saying that her age on Wikipedia is incorrect. Some sources [what sources?] give her year of birth as 1968.}} --> is a British actress, comedian, impressionist and writer best known for ''[[The Big Impression]]'', which she co-wrote and starred in<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/people/ronni_ancona_person_page.shtml|publisher=BBC Comedy|title=Ronni Ancona|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> and was, for four years, one of [[BBC One]]'s top-rated comedy programmes,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3QKjsd01JbQr6TD7vGdRJ8C/alistair-mcgowan-tinkles-the-ivories|publisher=BBC Arts|title=Alistair McGowan tinkles the ivories|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> winning numerous awards, including a [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA]] in 2003.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2003/television/comedy-programme-or-series|work=British Academy of Film and Television Arts|title=Television – Comedy – Programme or Series in 2003|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> Ancona also starred in the first series of the BAFTA-winning [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] series ''[[The Sketch Show]]''.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2002/television/comedy-programme-or-series|work=British Academy of Film and Television Arts|title=Television – Comedy – Programme or Series in 2002|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_sketch_show|work=[[British Comedy Guide]]|title=The Sketch Show|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> Ancona has appeared in the BAFTA-winning ''[[Last Tango in Halifax]]''<ref name=":13">{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2013/television/drama-series|work=British Academy of Film and Television Arts|title=Television – Drama Series in 2013|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> since its creation in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/2013/47/last-tango-in-halifax|publisher=BBC Media Centre|title=Last Tango in Halifax|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/18251726.ronni-ancona-return-last-tango-halifax|work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]|location=[[Glasgow]]|title=Ronni Ancona on the return of Last Tango in Halifax|first=Susan|last=Swarbrick|date=22 February 2020|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> She is a co-director, alongside [[Sally Phillips]] and Nick Hamson, of the production company Captain Dolly.<ref name=":8">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/life/sally-phillips-far-worst-case-scenario-have-child-downs-syndrome|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Sally Phillips: 'It's far from a worst-case scenario to have a child with Down's syndrome'|first=Madeleine|last=Howell|date=18 July 2020|access-date=29 July 2021|issn=0307-1235}}{{subscription required}}</ref>

==Early life==
Ancona was born in [[Louth, Lincolnshire]] in 1966, but moved to [[Scotland]] when she was a few days old<ref name=":0" /> and was brought up in [[Troon]]. She is of [[Italian Jewish]] descent.<ref name="Ancona">{{cite news|last=Ellen|first=Barbara|date=19 December 2004|title='They don't think I'm the thinking man's crumpet'|work=The Guardian|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/arts/features/story/0,,1376637,00.html|access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref> Her father was a [[commander (Royal Navy)|commander]] in the [[Royal Navy]] and her mother was an artist who painted the sets at the [[Gaiety Theatre, Ayr|Gaiety Theatre]] in [[Ayr]] and the [[Theatre Royal, Glasgow|Theatre Royal]] in [[Glasgow]].<ref>{{cite news|date=29 May 2009|title=Interview: A fresh wave of success beckons for Ronni Ancona|work=[[The Scotsman]]|url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/interview-a-fresh-wave-of-success-beckons-for-ronni-ancona-1-1040274}}</ref> Ancona is the youngest of three children, with two older brothers,<ref name=":0" /> one of whom continued their father's tradition of serving in the Navy: Simon Ancona is a former Admiral.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyler |first=Richard |date=2024-06-07 |title=The little-known organisation that sheds light on Whitehall |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/the-little-known-club-that-sheds-light-on-whitehall-r553pswb0 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=[[The Times]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Dominic |date=2024-06-07 |title=City People: the feuds, the faces and the farcical |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/city-people-the-feuds-the-faces-and-the-farcical-6hhl3pxvn28 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=[[The Times]]|language=en}}</ref> In the [[BBC]] television programme ''[[Comedy Map of Britain]]'' she returned to her old school, [[Marr College]] in Troon, and talked about her earliest comedy performing experience as part of an improvisation group called Pots People.<ref name="comedymap">{{cite web|title=Episode 6 Belfast to Glasgow|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedymap/episode6.shtml|work=The Comedy Map of Britain|publisher=BBC}}{{dead link|date=November 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url =https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/17426246.scotlands-insider-guide-troon/|first =Marianne |last =Taylor |date =17 February 2019 |newspaper =[[The Herald, Scotland]]|title =Scotland's Insider Guide: Troon}}</ref>

She attended the [[University of Kent]] at [[Canterbury]] to study film and then did a degree in theatre and TV design at [[Saint Martin's School of Art]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dafydd|first=Gwenno|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IHDpDwAAQBAJ&q=ronni+ancona+university+of+kent&pg=PT85|title=Stand Up and Sock It To them Sister|date=1 August 2016|publisher=Parthian Books|isbn=978-1-910901-86-1}}</ref> At the age of 19, while she was studying at St Martin's College, the BBC's ''[[Blue Peter]]'' reported on a play about [[Brecht]] at the [[Riverside Studios]] in which she was involved as a designer and performer: her appearance was later covered on the BBC show ''Before They Were Famous''.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/3648006/Dont-get-the-wrong-impression-about-her.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Don't get the wrong impression about her|first=Jasper|last=Rees|date=16 November 2005|access-date=25 February 2021}}{{subscription required}}</ref> Ancona then attended the [[Institute of Education]], [[University College London]] and qualified as a teacher in art, design & technology, and drama.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/ronni-ancona-sometimes-appearances-can-be-deceptive-327869.html|work=The Independent|title=Ronni Ancona: Sometimes appearances can be deceptive|first=Nick|last=Duerden|date=19 November 2005|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> Whilst working as a teacher, Ancona started a comedy career on the live circuit. She won the ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' Hackney Empire New Act of the Year in 1993.<ref name=":1" />

==Television career==
For many years, Ancona worked extensively in radio and on television shows such as ''[[Fist of Fun]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/fistoffun|publisher=BBC|title=Fist of Fun|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> as well as performing stand-up comedy. She co-wrote and performed in shows such as ''[[Comedy Nation]]'', ''Pulp Video'', and ''[[The Sketch Show]]'' alongside [[Lee Mack]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/ronni-ancona-kevin-whately-still-8552775|work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|location=Glasgow|title=Ronni Ancona and Kevin Whately are Still Game for laughs|first=Mary|last=Palmer|date=3 August 2016|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> In 2000, she teamed up with [[Alistair McGowan]], with whom she had previously worked on ''[[The Staggering Stories of Ferdinand de Bargos|The Staggering Stories of Ferdinand De Bargos]]'' and ''[[Standing Room Only (1991 TV programme)|Standing Room Only]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/sunday-review/regulars/how-we-met-ronni-ancona-alistair-mcgowan-870519.html|work=The Independent|title=How We Met: Ronni Ancona & Alistair McGowan|first=Simon|last=Usborne|date=20 October 2011|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> to create ''[[The Big Impression]]''.<ref name=":2" /> The show was one of [[BBC One]]'s top-rating comedy programmes for four years,<ref name=":3" /> and won both a [[Variety, the Children's Charity#Variety Club of Great Britain Awards|Variety Club Comedy Award]] and a [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":9">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/02_february/12/varietywinners.shtml|publisher=BBC Press Office|title=Stars honoured at Variety Club Annual Showbusiness Awards 2002|date=2 February 2002|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> In 2003, she won "Best Actress" at the [[British Comedy Awards]].<ref name=":10">{{cite web|url=https://www.britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/2003.aspx|work=British Comedy Awards|title=PAST WINNERS 2003|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> From 1996 to 2000, she also voiced Pennyghent on the CITV children's comedy series "[[Roger and the Rottentrolls]]", who was the smartest of the titular Rottentrolls.

In 2003, she starred in the BBC One historical drama ''The Key''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2587903.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Switching on in 2003|first=William|last=Gallagher|date=3 January 2003|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2005, she played Barbara in [[Stephen Poliakoff]]'s ''[[Gideon's Daughter]]'' on BBC One.<ref name=":14">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/01_january/05/gideon_ancona.shtml|publisher=BBC Press Office|title=Gideon's Daughter|date=5 January 2006|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

She has appeared several times on the BBC celebrity panel show ''[[QI]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/qi/episodes/4/4|work=British Comedy Guide|title=QI Series D, Episode 4 – Dictionaries|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/qi/episodes/6/1|work=British Comedy Guide|title=Series F – Families|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/qi/episodes/7/7|work=British Comedy Guide|title=QI Series G, Episode 7 – Girls And Boys|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/qi/episodes/14/13|work=British Comedy Guide|title=QI Series N, Episode 13 – Naval Navigation|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> In November 2006, she was a guest presenter on ''[[Have I Got News For You]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/hignfy/episodes/32/6|work=British Comedy Guide|title=Have I Got News For You Series 32, Episode 6|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> She also appeared on the [[Channel 4|Channel]] 4 comedy show ''[[TV Heaven, Telly Hell]]'' discussing her preferences in television shows.

In 2007, her three-episode comedy sketch series ''[[Ronni Ancona & Co]]'' was broadcast on BBC One.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/03_march/29/ancona.shtml|publisher=BBC Press Office|title=Ronni Ancona & Co – brand new sketch show coming to BBC One|date=29 May 2007|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

She appeared as the mother of [[Katie Fitch|Katie]] and [[Emily Fitch]] in the third (2009) and fourth (2010) series of ''[[Skins (British TV series)|Skins]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a202492/skins-insider-reveals-next-episode|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|title='Skins' insider reveals next episode|first=Dan|last=French|date=2 November 2010|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2009, she had a leading role in the BBC comedy drama ''[[Hope Springs (TV series)|Hope Springs]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/07_july/16/hope_springs.shtml|publisher=BBC Press Office|title=Hope Springs: Ronni Ancona & Sian Reeves all set for Scots drama|date=16 July 2008|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

As part of the BBC's ''[[The Big Read]]'', she promoted ''[[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]''.<ref name="bigread">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/bookchampions.shtml|publisher=BBC|title=The Big Read|date=25 October 2003|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

In April 2010, she appeared on ''[[A Comedy Roast]]'', celebrating [[Sharon Osbourne]]'s life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/comedy_roast/episodes/1/2|work=British Comedy Guide|title=A Comedy Roast Series 1, Episode 2 – Sharon Osbourne|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> She appeared on the 2010 ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'' Christmas Special where she was paired with [[Anton Du Beke]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/2010/11/christmas-special-line-up-is-u.shtml|publisher=BBC Blogs|title=Strictly Christmas Special line-up unveiled!|date=17 November 2010|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

Ancona also took part in [[Comic Relief]]'s Desert Trek 2011 alongside [[Craig David]], [[Olly Murs]], [[Dermot O'Leary]], [[Scott Mills]] and [[Lorraine Kelly]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-12379852|publisher=BBC News|title=Dermot O'Leary leads Comic Relief desert trek|date=7 February 2011|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2012, she appeared in ''[[Last Tango in Halifax]]''.<ref name=":13" />

In January 2015, she was a guest on ''[[Room 101 (British TV series)|Room 101]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/room_101_2012/episodes/4/1|publisher=BBC Comedy Guide|title=Room 101 Series 4, Episode 1 – Len Goodman, Ronni Ancona, Tim Vine|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2016, she played the role of Mrs Fletcher, the manager of a local care home, in the seventh series of the Scottish comedy ''[[Still Game]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/still_game/episodes/7|work=British Comedy Guide|title=Still Game Series 7 episode guide|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref> Later that year she made a guest appearance in an episode of the BBC television series ''[[Celebrity Antiques Road Trip]]'', partnering with antiques expert James Braxton.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b083j4tb|publisher=[[BBC iPlayer]]|title=Celebrity Antiques Road Trip – series 6, episode 10|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

In April 2017, Ancona appeared as a guest on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]'s ''[[The Nightly Show (UK TV series)|The Nightly Show]]'', presented by [[Jason Manford]], in which they each performed impersonations of famous people which the other had to identify.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_nightly_show/episodes/1/40|work=British Comedy Guide|title=The Nightly Show Series 1, Episode 34|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

On 27 December 2020, Ancona appeared as a contestant on the Christmas special of ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Celebrity Special]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep2week53/who-wants-be-millionaire-celebrity-special|publisher=ITV Press Centre|title=Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Celebrity Special Episode 2|access-date=16 December 2020}}{{dead link|date=July 2021}}</ref>

She won ''[[Pointless|Pointless Celebrities]]'' in January 2021 with [[Jan Ravens]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000rhfx|publisher=BBC iPlayer|title=Pointless Celebrities – Series 13, Impressionists|date=16 January 2021|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

==Film career==
Ancona's first feature role was in 1999 when she appeared in ''[[The Debt Collector (1999 film)|The Debt Collector]]'' alongside [[Billy Connolly]].<ref name=":14" />

In 2004, she played the role of Pat Connelly in ''[[The Calcium Kid]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Calcium Kid|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/film/the_calcium_kid|work=British Comedy Guide|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

In the same year, she appeared in ''[[Stella Street: The Movie]]'', playing numerous female celebrities including [[Madonna]] and [[Victoria Beckham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/film/j7fx2/URL|work=[[Radio Times]]|title=Stella Street review|first=David|last=Parkinson|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2005, Ancona played the role of Anita in [[Michael Winterbottom]]'s ''[[A Cock and Bull Story]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/film/a_cock_and_bull_story/cast_crew|work=British Comedy Guide|title=A Cock and Bull Story|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

She had a cameo role in the 2006 fantasy romantic comedy ''[[Penelope (2006 film)|Penelope]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/movies/penelope-2|work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]|title=Penelope|date=29 January 2008 |access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2013, Ancona was cast as Mrs Spencer in ''The Devil Went Down to Islington'', a horror film following two hapless Londoners who sell their souls to Satan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1885411/fullcredits|publisher=[[IMDb]]|title=The Devil Went Down to Islington (2019)|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

She played Donna, [[Rob Brydon]]'s agent, in the 2014 film ''[[The Trip to Italy]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/events/film/2014-08-29/the-trip-to-italy|work=[[The Austin Chronicle]]|title=The Trip to Italy review|first=Steve|last=Davis|date=29 August 2014|access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2018, she had a small role in the US comedy film ''[[Show Dogs]]''{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} and starred in ''[[Surviving Christmas with the Relatives]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://studiosohodistribution.com/surviving-christmas|work=Studio Soho|title=Surviving Christmas with the Relatives|date=16 July 2020 |access-date=29 July 2021}}</ref>

==Theatre==
Ancona's first [[Edinburgh International Festival|Edinburgh Festival]] appearance was in 1992, during which she performed in two shows: ''The Inexplicable World of Lionel Nimrod'' with [[Stewart Lee]] and [[Richard Herring]], and a stand-up show with [[Alistair McGowan]].{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Her first theatre role was in ''Miss Conceptions'' in 1996, a comedy play she co-wrote with Alan Francis, directed by [[Anthony Neilson|Anthony Nielson]].{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

In 2004, Ancona was cast in ''[[Singin' in the Rain (musical)|Singin' in the Rain]]'', the first production with [[Adam Cooper (dancer)|Adam Cooper]]. Ancona played the role of Lina Lamont, the silent-movie starlet, in the [[Sadler's Wells]] production.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/breakfast/3915787.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Singin' in the Rain|date=22 July 2004|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref>

She then played the gold-digging temptress Belline in [[Richard Bean]]'s 2005 production of [[Molière]]'s ''[[The Hypochondriac]]'', alongside [[Carey Mulligan]] and [[Henry Goodman]].<ref name=":15" /> The play received favourable reviews, with [[Michael Billington (critic)|Michael Billington]] for ''[[The Guardian]]'' giving it four stars out of five and describing it as a "hilarious new version".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2005/nov/18/theatre|work=The Guardian|title=The Hypochondriac|first=Michael|last=Billingdon|date=18 November 2005|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref>

Ancona returned to the [[Almeida Theatre|Almeida]] to perform in ''Little Revolution'', set during and after the [[2011 London riots]], alongside [[Lucian Msamati]] and [[Imogen Stubbs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://almeida.co.uk/whats-on/little-revolution/26-aug-2014-4-oct-2014|work=Almeida Theatre|title=Little Revolution|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref>

In June 2015, Ancona was cast to play the role of Paula in the musical adaptation of ''[[Bend It Like Beckham the Musical|Bend It Like Beckham]]'' at the [[West End theatre|West End]]'s [[Phoenix Theatre, London|Phoenix Theatre]]. However, she had to pull out of the play for personal reasons before the premier.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/sophie-louise-dann-bend-it-like-beckham_37570.html|work=[[WhatsOnStage.com]]|title=Sophie-Louise Dann replaces Ronni Ancona in Bend It Like Beckham|first=Rosie|last=Bannister|date=13 April 2015|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref> Later that year she appeared alongside [[Justin Fletcher]] in ''The Tale of [[Mr Tumble]]''  during the [[Manchester International Festival]].<ref name="tumble">{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/jul/13/the-tale-of-mr-tumble-review-cbeebies-justin-fletcher|work=The Guardian|title=The Tale of Mr Tumble review – a nose-honking good time|first=Alfred|last=Hickling|date=13 July 2015|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref>

In 2019, she performed in the [[Edinburgh Fringe]] show ''Just Checking In'', which she co-wrote with [[Kim Fuller]] and fellow cast member [[Lewis MacLeod (actor)|Lewis MacLeod]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/review/2019/08/19/44068/ronni_ancona_and_lewis_macleod:_just_checking_in|work=[[Chortle]]|title=Ronni Ancona and Lewis MacLeod: Just Checking In|first=Steve|last=Bennett|date=19 August 2019|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref>

==Written work==
In 2009, ''A Matter of Life and Death: How to Wean a Man Off Football'', by Ancona and Alistair McGowan, was published by [[Faber & Faber]].<ref>{{cite book|title=A Matter of Life and Death: How to Wean a Man Off Football|first1=Ronni|last1=Ancona|first2=Alistair|last2=McGowan|publisher=Faber & Faber|date=1 October 2009|isbn=978-0571250547}}</ref>

==Awards==
Ancona co-wrote ''[[The Big Impression]]'',<ref name=":2" /> which won numerous awards including a [[British Academy Television Awards|BAFTA]] in 2003.<ref name=":4" /> She was nominated for Best Comedy Newcomer in 2000<ref name=":11">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/1072776.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Welsh actor wins comedy award|date=17 December 2000|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref> and Best Comedy actress in 2002,<ref name=":12">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2492895.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=In brief: Office duo fight for prize|date= 19 November 2002|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref> as well as winning The Best TV comedy Actress in 2003.<ref name=":10" /> Ancona and McGowan also received The Variety Club Comedy Award in 2002.<ref name=":9" />

Nominee – Best Comedy Newcomer – Big Impression – 2000<ref name=":11" />

'''Winner – Broadcast Award – 2001'''{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Nominee – Best Comedy Actress – 2002 – Big Impression<ref name=":12" />

'''Winner – Variety Club Comedy Award – 2002<ref name=":9" />'''

'''Winner – New TV Talent of the Year – [[Television and Radio Industries Club]] – 2002'''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/mar/12/broadcasting3|work=The Guardian|title=Ant and Dec are triple winners at TV awards|first=Jason|last=Deans|date=12 March 2002|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref>

'''Winner – Comedy Actress – [[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]] Women of the Year Awards – 2002'''{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

'''Winner – Best TV Comedy Actress – Big Impression – 2003'''<ref name=":10" />

'''Winner – Funny Woman of the Year – [[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]] Women of the Year Awards – 2004'''{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

'''Winner – BAFTA – ''The Sketch Show'''''<ref name=":7" />

'''Winner – BAFTA – ''The Big Impression'''''<ref name=":4" />

==Personal life==
Ancona had a seven-year relationship with [[Alistair McGowan]] which ended shortly before they started working together professionally.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} Ancona is married to Gerard Hall, a consultant [[rheumatologist]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/ronni-ancona-how-my-heart-still-1099723|work=Daily Record|title=Ronni Ancona: How my heart still aches over stillborn Seth|first=Ben|last=Spencer|date=8 April 2011|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref> with whom she has two daughters. They live in [[west London]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/sunday-review/regulars/how-we-met-ronni-ancona--alistair-mcgowan-870519.html|work=The Independent|title=How We Met: Ronni Ancona & Alistair McGowan|first=Simon|last=Usborne|date=20 October 2011|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref>

Ancona is an ambassador to the [[Environmental Investigation Agency]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rqgyv|publisher=[[BBC Radio 4]]|title=Radio 4 Appeal|date=11 April 2013|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref> [[Marie Curie (charity)|Marie Curie]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.charitytoday.co.uk/cookalong-tv-launches-with-a-mission-to-support-charities-in-need|work=Charity Today|title=Cookalong TV launches with a mission to support charities in need|date=30 June 2020|access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref> and [[Sightsavers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sightsavers.org/media-centre/celebrity-supporters|work=Sightsavers|title=Our celebrity supporters|date=18 April 2019 |access-date=30 July 2021}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{BLP sources section|date=July 2021}}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1994
| ''[[Ben Elton: The Man from Auntie]]''
| Consumer Watch presenter / [[Tomorrow's World]] presenter
| Series 2, Episode 3
|-
| ''[[The Imaginatively Titled Punt and Dennis Show]]''
|
| Series 1, Episodes 4–6
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1995
| ''[[What's Up Doc? (British TV series)|What's Up Doc?]]''
| Leticia Geek
| Series 3, Episode 25
|-
| ''The Geeks''
| 
| Series 1, Episode 1: "The Money, Money, Money" & Episode 6: "Our House"
|-
| ''[[Scratchy and Co.]]''
| Various
| [[CITV]] series
|-
| ''Pulp Video''
| Various characters
| [[BBC Two]] series
|-
| ''[[The Staggering Stories of Ferdinand de Bargos]]''
| Various (voice)
| Series 5, Episodes 1–6
|-
| 1995–1996
| ''[[Fist of Fun]]''
| Sarah / Tina Hartiman / Various
| Series 1, Episodes 3 & 4; Series 2, Episodes 1, 3 & 4
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Win, Lose or Draw (British game show)|Win, Lose or Draw!]]''
| Herself – Contestant
| Series 7, Episodes 21–25
|-
| 1997
| ''Klinik!''
| Various characters (voice)
| [[Channel 4]] series
|-
| 1997–2000
| ''[[Roger and the Rottentrolls]]''
| Rottentroll Voices (voice)
| Series 2–4, 26 episodes
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Comedy Nation]]''
| Various roles
| BBC Two series
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1999
| ''Mark Lamarr Leaving the 20th Century''
|
| Series 1, Episode 2
|-
| ''The Waiting Time''
| RMP Colonel
| Television film
|-
| 1999–2003
| ''[[The Big Impression]]''
| Various characters
| Series 1–4 & Christmas Specials, 30 episodes
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Holby City]]''
| Anna Griffiths
| Series 3, Episode 7: "The Trouble with the Truth"
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2001
| ''[[Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible]]''
| Countess Kronsteen
| Series 1, Episode 1: "Lesbian Vampire Lovers of Lust"
|-
| ''Combat Sheep''
| Peaches (voice)
| Television film
|-
| ''[[The Sketch Show]]''
| Various characters
| Series 1, Episodes 1–8
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Sport Relief]]''
| Herself / [[Victoria Beckham]]
| Television Special
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2003
| ''[[Comic Relief|Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do]]''
| Various characters
| Television Special
|-
| ''The Key''
| Maggie
| Series 1, Episodes 1–3
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''
| Herself – Contestant
| Series 16, Episodes 14/15: "Celebrity Special"
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2005
| ''[[Monkey Trousers]]''
| Various characters
| Series 1, Episodes 1–5
|-
| ''[[Gideon's Daughter]]''
| Barbara
| Television film
|-
| ''[[Comic Relief|Comic Relief: Red Nose Night Live '05]]''
| [[Catherine Zeta-Jones]] / [[Courtney Cox Arquette]] / [[Renée Zellweger]]
| Television Special
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2006
| ''[[Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive]]''
| Herself
| Series 1, Episode 4
|-
| ''[[Have I Got News For You]]''
| Herself – Guest Presenter
| Series 32, Episode 6
|-
| ''[[The Secret Policeman's Ball (2006)|The Secret Policeman's Ball: The Ball in the Hall]]''
| Herself
| Television film
|-
| 2006–2017
| ''[[QI]]''
| Herself – Panellist
| Series 4, 6–9, 12 & 14, 7 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2007
| ''[[Hotel Babylon (BBC series)|Hotel Babylon]]''
| Theresa Evan
| Series 2, Episode 1
|-
| ''[[Agatha Christie's Marple]]''
| Amanda Dalrymple
| Series 3, Episode 4: "Nemesis"
|-
| ''[[Red Nose Day 2007|Comic Relief 2007: The Big One]]''
| Various characters
| Television Special
|-
| ''[[Ronni Ancona & Co]].''
| Various roles
| Series 1, Episodes 1–3
|-
| 2008
| ''Comedy Classics''
| Narrator (voice)
| Series 1, Episodes 1–6
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2009
| ''[[Hope Springs (TV series)|Hope Springs]]''
| Ann Marie Cairncross
| Series 1, Episodes 1–8
|-
| ''[[CBeebies Bedtime Stories]]''
| Herself – Storyteller
| Series 1, Episodes 72–76
|-
| ''[[Would I Lie to You? (British game show)|Would I Lie to You?]]''
| Herself – Panellist
| Series 3, Episode 7
|-
| 2009–2010
| ''[[Skins (British TV series)|Skins]]''
| Jenna Fitch
| Series 3, Episode 9; Series 4, Episodes 2 & 4
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Strictly Come Dancing#Specials|Strictly Come Dancing]]''
| Herself – Contestant
| Series 8, Episode 27: "Christmas Special"
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2011
| ''[[Midsomer Murders]]''
| Kitty Pottinger
| Series 13, Episode 8: "Fit for Murder"
|-
| ''[[The Comic Strip Presents...]]''
| Barbara Windsor
| Series 9, Episode 1: "The Hunt for Tony Blair"
|-
| ''Pet Squad''
| Various (voices)
| Series 1, 52 episodes
|-
| ''[[Shooting Stars (1993 TV series)|Shooting Stars]]''
| Herself – Panellist
| Series 8, Episode 5
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Little Crackers]]''
| Ex-Wife
| Series 3, Episode 3: "Tommy Tiernan's Little Cracker: Howler"
|-
| 2012–2020
| ''[[Last Tango in Halifax]]''
| Judith
| Series 1, 2, 4 & 5, 15 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2014
| ''[[The Trip (2010 TV series)|The Trip]]''
| Donna
| Series 2, Episodes 2–6
|-
| ''[[Pointless Celebrities]]''
| Herself – Contestant
| Series 6, Episode 12: "Comedy Performers" & Episode 30: "Comedians"
|-
| ''[[Portrait Artist of the Year]]''
| Herself – Sitter
| Series 2, Episode 2: "[[Julian Fellowes]], Ronni Ancona, and [[Helen Kennedy]]"
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2015
| ''[[Father Brown (2013 TV series)|Father Brown]]''
| Madame Chania
| Series 3, Episode 8: "The Lair of the Libertines"
|-
| ''CBeebies Presents: The Tale of Mr. Tumble''
| Miss Eerie
| Television film
|-
| ''[[Citizen Khan]]''
| Sandra
| Series 4 Episode 4: "Chicken Shop"
|-
| ''[[Room 101 (British TV series)|Room 101]]''
| Herself – Guest
| Series 15, Episode 1: "[[Tim Vine]], [[Len Goodman]], Ronni Ancona"
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2016
| ''[[Stella (British TV series)|Stella]]''
| Selina Child
| Series 5, Episode 10
|-
| ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]''
| Alicia Largo
| Series 18, Episode 10: "In Questa Reggia"
|-
| ''[[Still Game]]''
| Mrs. Fletcher
| Series 7, Episode 6: "Down and Out"
|-
| ''[[Pointless Celebrities]]''
| Herself – Contestant
| Series 10, Episode 6: "Impressionists"
|-
| 2017
| ''Where in the World''
| Narrator (voice)
| [[CBeebies]] documentary series. Series 1, Episodes 1–20
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| ''The Week That Wasn't''
| 
| [[Sky One]] series
|-
| ''[[Tourist Trap (TV series)|Tourist Trap]]''
| Marie
| Series 1, Episode 5
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2020
| ''[[Celebrity Chase]]''
| rowspan="6" | Herself – Contestant
| Series 10, Episode 5
|-
| ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (British game show)|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]''
| Series 35, Episodes 7: "Christmas Special"
|-
| ''[[Pointless Celebrities]]''
| Series 13, Episode 24: "Impressionists"
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Richard Osman's House of Games]]''
| Series 4, Episodes 86–90
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2022
| ''[[The Hit List (game show)|The Hit List]]''
| Series 5, Episode 10: "Christmas Special"
|-
| ''[[Portrait Artist of the Year]]''
| Series 10, Episode: "Celebrity Special"
|-
| ''[[Friday Night Live (UK TV show)|Friday Night Live]]''
| [[Olivia Colman]]
| Television Special
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Death in Paradise (TV series)|Death in Paradise]]''
| Lexi 'Alexandria' Reece
| Series 13, Episode 6
|}

===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1999
| ''[[The Debt Collector (1999 film)|The Debt Collector]]''
| Miss Dryden
| [[Channel 4]] Films
|-
| 2003
| ''The Early Days''
| Leela
| Short film
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2004
| ''[[Stella Street: The Movie]]''
| Various roles
| [[Absolutely Productions]]
|-
| ''[[The Calcium Kid]]''
| Pat Connelly
| Calcium Films Ltd.
|-
| 2005
| ''[[A Cock and Bull Story]]''
| Anita
| Dir.: Michael Winterbottom
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Penelope (2008 film)|Penelope]]''
| Wanda
| Dir.: Mark Polansky
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Huge (film)|Huge]]''
| Herself
| Dir.: Ben Miller
|-
| 2014
| ''[[The Trip to Italy]]''
| Donna
| [[BBC Film]]s
|-
| 2015
| ''The Marriage of Reason & Squalor''
| Hen 3
| Dir.: Jake Chapman
|-
| 2016
| ''The Prince of Denmark''
| Gertrude
| Short film
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2018
| ''[[Show Dogs]]''
| Poopsie Chow's Owner
| [[Open Road Films]]
|-
| ''Stuffed''
| Gwen
| Short film
|-
| ''[[Surviving Christmas with the Relatives]]''
| Vicky
| Studio Soho Films
|-
| 2023
| ''The Devil Went Down to Islington''
| Mrs. Spencer
| Skinned Productions
|}

===Radio===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title
! Channel
|-
| ''Life, Death & Sex with Mike & Sue''
| [[BBC Radio 4|Radio 4]]
|-
| ''[[The Alan Davies Show]]''
| Radio 4
|-
| ''Weekending''
| Radio 4
|-
| ''[[The Museum of Curiosity]]''
| Radio 4
|-
| ''Mum's on the Run''
| Radio 4
|-
| ''Shed Town''
| Radio 4
|-
| ''The Game's Up''
| [[BBC Radio 5 Live|Radio 5]]
|-
| ''[[Loose Ends (radio programme)|Loose Ends]]''
| Radio 4
|-
| ''Wild Things''
| Radio 4
|-
| ''Hal''
| Radio 4
|-
| ''[[And This is Them]]''
| [[BBC Radio 2|Radio 2]]
|-
| ''Griff Rhys Jones Show''
| Radio 4
|-
| ''[[Gaby Roslin#Radio|Gaby's Talking Pictures]]''
| Radio 4
|}

===Theatre===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Venue
|-
| 1996 || ''Miss Conceptions'' || || [[Edinburgh International Festival|Edinburgh Festival]]
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Singin' in the Rain (musical)|Singin' in the Rain]]''|| Lina Lamont ||[[Sadler's Wells Theatre]], London
|-
| 2005 || ''[[The Hypochondriac]]''  || Belline || [[Almeida Theatre]], London<ref name=":15"/>
|-
| 2014 || ''Little Revolution'' || Jane / various || Almeida Theatre
|-
| 2015 || ''The Tale of [[Mr Tumble]]''|| Unsmiling Principle || [[Manchester Opera House]]<ref name="tumble"/>
|-
| 2016 || ''Carry On [[Iraq Inquiry|Chilcot]]'' || || Duke of Wales Theatre, London
|-
| 2019 || ''Just Checking In'' || || [[Edinburgh Fringe]]
|}

==Writer==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title
|-
| ''[[The Week That Wasn't]]''
|-
| ''[[Ronni Ancona & Co]]''
|-
| ''[[Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show]]''
|-
| ''[[The Sketch Show]]''
|-
| ''[[The Big Impression]]''
|-
| ''Pulp Video''
|-
| ''[[Comedy Nation]]''
|-
| ''[[Monkey Trousers]]''
|-
| ''[[Standing Room Only (1991 TV programme)|Standing Room Only]]''
|-
| ''Miss Conceptions''
|-
| ''Just Checking In''
|}

==Producer==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title
|-
| ''Posh & Beck's Big Impression: Behind the Scenes & Extra Bits''
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Notelist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/talent/a/ancona_ronni.shtml | publisher = BBC | work = Comedy guide | title = Ronni Ancona }}
* {{IMDb name | id = 0025852 | name = Ronni Ancona }}
* {{Twitter}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ancona, Ronni}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Scottish impressionists (entertainers)]]
[[Category:Scottish film actresses]]
[[Category:Scottish radio actresses]]
[[Category:Scottish stage actresses]]
[[Category:Scottish television actresses]]
[[Category:Scottish voice actresses]]
[[Category:People from Louth, Lincolnshire]]
[[Category:People from Troon]]
[[Category:Scottish Jews]]
[[Category:Scottish people of English descent]]
[[Category:Scottish people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:British people of Italian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:British Sephardi Jews]]
[[Category:People educated at Marr College]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish comedians]]
[[Category:Scottish people of Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Alumni of Saint Martin's School of Art]]
[[Category:Scottish women comedians]]
[[Category:Jewish Scottish comedians]]
[[Category:Actresses from Lincolnshire]]
[[Category:Comedians from Lincolnshire]]
[[Category:Scottish sketch comedians]]
[[Category:Jewish women comedians]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Actresses from South Ayrshire]]
[[Category:Actors from East Lindsey District]]