Jane Horrocks
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
As well known for her stage and screen roles as for her ability to mimic the singing voices of the 20th century's greatest vocalists, Jane Horrocks was a delicate force of nature on both stage and screen. Born in the village of Rawtenstall in England in 1964, Horrocks attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and soon joined with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She would later go on to appear in a number of prominent plays at the Hampstead Theatre between 1985 and 1989, including "Ask for the Moon," "A Collier's Friday Night," "Valued Friends," and "The Debutante Ball." She broke into film in a big way with her role in the comedy drama "Life is Sweet" (1991) in 1991, and took on the memorable role of Bubble on the beloved British comedy series "Absolutely Fabulous" (BBC, 1992-2012) the following year. She would also find her career-defining role that year, when Sam Mendes wrote the role of LV in the play "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice" for her, utilizing her staggering ability to mimic the singing voices of vocalists like Shirley Bassey, Judy Garland, and Marilyn Monroe. The play was a great success, and she followed it with still more impressive stage roles, such as the lead in "Cabaret" at the Donmar Warehouse. Horrocks reprised the role of LV for the big screen adaptation "Little Voice" (1998), but soon returned to the stage with a starring role in "Sweet Panic" on the West End. She would memorably star in the mini-series "The Amazing Mrs Pritchard" (BBC, 2006), and earned major praise for her starring role in "Annie Get Your Gun" at the Young Vic in 2009. In 2016, Horrocks appeared in the West End production "If You Kiss Me, Kiss Me," which featured her singing songs from the bands that inspired her during her youth, including The Smiths, The Buzzcocks, and The Human League. That same year, she reprised her best known TV role in "Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie" (2016).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Music (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1985
Spent a year with the Royal Shakespeare Company after graduating from RADA
1986
Had featured role in Jim Cartwright's stage play "Road" at the Royal Court Theatre; production filmed for broadcast on British TV in 1987
1988
Feature film debut, "The Wolves of Willoughby Chase"
1989
Appeared with Anthony Hopkins in the BBC telecast "Heartland"
1990
Co-starred with Anjelica Huston in "The Witches"
1991
Breakthrough stage role as Little Voice in Cartwright's play "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice"
1991
Breakthrough film role, "Life is Sweet"
1994
Received critical raves for her performance as Sally Bowles in the Sam Mendes-directed environmental staging of "Cabaret" in London; production co-starred Alan Cumming
1994
Made cameo appearance in Cumming's short film "Butter"
1994
Appeared in support of William Hurt and Cumming in "Second Best"
1996
Played Lady Macbeth in a stage production of "Macbeth"
1996
Starred in own British TV special "Never Mind the Horrocks"
1997
Provided the voices for the characters in the animated British children's series "The Blobs"
1998
Recreated breakthrough stage role in film "Little Voice"
2000
Had co-starring role in the ensemble comedy-drama "Born Romantic"
2000
Lent her voice to the character of a dim-witted hen in the blockbuster Claymation film "Chicken Run"
2001
Brought back to the new "Absolutely Fabulous"
Family
Companions
