Eva Pope

Eva Rebecca Pope (born 16 November 1967) is an English actress, best known for her portrayal of longest-serving headmistress Rachel Mason in Waterloo Road, and appearances in Coronation Street, Dream Team, Bad Girls and Hetty Feather.

Early life and education Eva Pope was born in Appley Bridge, Wigan, Lancashire on 16 November 1967. She trained to be an actress at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1988.

Career Pope's first major role was playing the villainous Tanya Pooley in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 1993 to 1994. Since then, she has made appearances in Cold Feet, The Bill, Heartbeat, Peak Practice (as Claire Brightwell), Men of the World, Four Fathers, Holby City, Casualty, Strictly Confidential, Adventure Inc., Vincent (as Cathy Gallagher), Bad Girls as G-Wing Governor, Frances Myers, Life on Mars, Sorted, Spooks: Code 9 and the film Shadow Man. From November 2007 to July 2010, she appeared as headteacher Rachel Mason in the BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road.

Pope's theatre credits include roles in The Comedy of Errors, Turkey Time and Hobson's Choice. She is a regular performer and was part of the original cast of Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners and in November 2007, appeared at the Théâtre Princesse Grace, Monte Carlo, directed by Marc Sinden, as part of his British Theatre Season, Monaco.

In March 2011, Pope starred as Ellie in the BBC One daytime drama 32 Brinkburn Street. She starred in Being Sold the Movie, which premiered on 19 June 2011. On 13 August 2011, Eva Pope starred as policewoman Simone Grayson on Casualty in the first episode of series 26. She appeared in the third series of Moving On on 16 November 2011 playing Michelle. In 2017, she appeared in Season 20 Episodes 5 and 6 of the BBC forensic drama series Silent Witness as DI Heather Ashton. From 2015 to 2020, she played Matron Gertrude Bottomly in CBBC's adaptation of Hetty Feather, based on the book of the same name by Jacqueline Wilson.

In 2019, Pope appeared in Deep Cuts as Bridget McFadden.

Pope is also a noted voice-over artist whose credits include Raymond Blanc's Kitchen Secrets and a number of audiobooks.

Personal life In 1994, Pope was married to graphic designer Laurence Lassalle, with whom she has a daughter. They divorced in 2004. Pope is a grandmother. She is a vegan.

Filmography

Film

Television

Year Title Role Notes 1993–1994 Coronation Street Tanya Pooley Regular role; 142 episodes 1995 Men of the World Becky 5 episodes 1996 Ellington Lara Episode: "Matchmaker" Under the Skin Lisa Television film Casualty Josie Barker Episode: "Do You Believe in Fairies?" 1997 Heartbeat Sharma Episode: "Peace and Quiet" Peak Practice Sally Gillespie Episode: "Lost Feelings" 1997–1998 Dream Team Stephanie Jacobs Regular role; 64 episodes 1998 Grafters Janice 2 episodes Cold Feet Trixie Series 1: Episode 3 McCallum Dr. Charley Fielding Episode: "Beyond Good and Evil" 1999 Four Fathers Kathy Starkie TV mini-series; all 3 episodes 2000 Peak Practice Karen Episode: "And Then There Were Two" The Bill Geraldine/Linda Episode: "Scoop" My Fragile Heart Ruby Mason Television film 2001–2002 Peak Practice Claire Brightwell Main role; 13 episodes 2002 Nice Guy Eddie Susannah King Series 1: Episode 3 2003 Adventure Inc. Fiona Gray Episode: "Legacy of a Pirate" The Eustace Bros. Catherine Series 1: Episode 2 Holby City Caroline Dewer Episodes: "Love Nor Money" and "Just Getting By" 2004 Bad Girls Frances Myers Main role; Series 6 (12 episodes) 2005 Vincent Cathy Gallagher 2 episodes 2006 Dalziel and Pascoe Jane Caulfield Episodes: "Guardian Angel: Parts 1 & 2" Sorted Kathy All 6 episodes Strictly Confidential DS Angie Morton 2007 Life on Mars Carol Twilling Series 2: Episode 4 2007–2010 Waterloo Road Rachel Mason Regular role; 52 episodes 2008 Spooks: Code 9 Hamilton Series 1: Episode 52010–2011Raymond Blanc's Kitchen SecretsNarratorTelevision series 2011 32 Brinkburn Street Ellie TV mini-series; all 5 episodes Casualty Simone Grayson Episode: "Partners" Law & Order: UK Renay Everett Episode: "Line Up" Moving On Michelle Episode: "Punter" 2013 Holby City Laura Edison 3 episodes 2015 New Tricks Clara Bishop Episode: "The Fame Game" 2015–2020 Hetty Feather Matron Bottomly Regular role; 33 episodes 2016 The Dumping Ground Episode: "Floss the Foundling" 2017 Silent Witness DI Heather Ashton Episodes: "Remembrance: Parts 1 & 2" 2019 Deep Cuts Bridget McFadden TV mini-series; all 3 episodes 2022 Somewhere Boy Angie Series 1 episode 2 2023 Maternal Sally Thomason Series 1 episode 2 A Murder in Venice Aunt Rosa TV Movie