Martha Howe-Douglas
Martha Howe-Douglas (born 19 September 1980) is an English actress and writer.[2] She is a member of the British Horrible Histories troupe, in which she starred in the TV series Horrible Histories. She also starred in and co-created Yonderland and Ghosts. She also played receptionist Donna Parmar in the BBC One daytime soap Doctors.[3]
Martha Howe-Douglas | |
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![]() Howe-Douglas signing Horrible Histories books at Abingdon County Hall Museum in July 2012 | |
Born | Martha Howe 19 September 1980[1] |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1997–present |
Early life and education
Martha Howe-Douglas was born and raised in Moseley, a suburb of south Birmingham, England. She attended Edgbaston High School.[4]
Career
Howe-Douglas graduated from RADA in 2003,[5][6] in the same year she appeared in the Christmas Special of The Office, replacing Dawn as the receptionist at Wernham-Hogg.
From 24 April 2006 until 11 May 2007, Howe-Douglas played receptionist Donna Parmar in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors. For her role as Donna, Howe-Douglas received nominations for Best Comedy Performance and Best Newcomer at the 2007 British Soap Awards.[7]
In 2009, she landed one of the main multi-role parts on a new children's TV history sketch show programme, CBBC's Horrible Histories,[8] where over five years / series, she played numerous characters including the queens Cleopatra, Elizabeth I, Boudicea and Victoria — see Horrible Histories for list of characters. In 2011, she appeared in The Proms, in a special live "Horrible Histories Big Prom Party" performance.[9]
In 2013, she co-created, co-wrote and co-starred in Sky1's series Yonderland, and played lead character Debbie Maddox[10] in all three series.
Other acting roles have included appearing in The Armstrong & Miller Show on BBC One and playing Flora Dies-Early in the hit radio comedy show Bleak Expectations as well as Lady Anne Woodstock in the radio show The Castle.
In 2018, she appeared in EastEnders as Annie Pritchard.[11]
From 15 April 2019, Howe-Douglas co-wrote, produced and starred in the BBC sitcom Ghosts, which sees her reunited with the Horrible Histories cast.[12]
Filmography
Year | Project | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Armstrong and Miller | Various | 1 episode |
2003 | The Office | Mel the receptionist | The Office Christmas specials |
2005 | All About George | Helen | |
2005 | Doctors | Ms Larson | 2 episodes |
2006–2007 | Donna Parmar | 199 episodes | |
2007 | Freezing | Leon's P.A. | |
2009 | The Armstrong and Miller Show | Various | |
Nativity! | Oakmoor Parent | ||
2009–2013 | Horrible Histories | Various | 46 episodes |
2011 | The Proms | Prom 20: Horrible Histories Big Prom Party | |
2012 | Shakespeare's Wart | Pavlina | Short |
2013–2015 | Crackanory | Various | 4 episodes |
2013–2014 | WPC 56 | Abigail Fenton | 5 episodes |
2013–2016 | Yonderland | Debbie Maddox | 25 episodes; also creator |
2014 | Psychobitches | Pocahontas | 1 episode |
2015 | Bill | Various | |
Doctor Foster | Becky | 6 episodes | |
2016-2017 | Noddy, Toyland Detective | Pat Pat | Voice only; 4 episodes |
2017 | Tracey Breaks the News | Various | 1 episode |
2018 | EastEnders | Annie Pritchard | 3 episodes |
2019–present | Ghosts | Lady Fanny Button/Plague Ghost | 27 episodes; also creator and writer |
2020 | Breeders | Amber | 1 episode |
2021 | Motherland | Ashley | 1 episode |
2022 | Friday Night Live | Rebekah Vardy | 1 episode |
References
- "Martha Howe-Douglas". IMDb. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- "Martha Howe-Douglas". IMDb. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- "Martha Howe-Douglas". curtisbrown.co.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
- Laws, Roz (9 July 2015). "Why the Sky1 comedy Yonderland is set in a Selly Oak kitchen". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- "Martha Howe-Douglas". Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
- "Martha Howe-Douglas". Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- Green, Kris (27 May 2007). "The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- West, Naomi (25 May 2010). "How Horrible Histories grew up to be a hit comedy show". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
- Laws, Roz (26 June 2011). "Behind the scenes of Horribles Histories with its Birmingham star". BirminghamLive.
- "Yonderland (TV series)". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- Sandwell, Ian (27 March 2018). "EastEnders fans are just realising where they know Annie from". Digital Spy.
- Sporn, Natasha (15 April 2019). "Ghosts BBC: Cast, trailer and all you need to know about the series from the team behind Horrible Histories". Evening Standard.