Jemima Rooper

Jemima Rooper (roʊpər/ROH-pur) (born 24 October 1981) is an English actress. Having started as a child actress in television series, she has appeared in numerous film and theatre roles.

Early life Born in Hammersmith, London, Rooper is the daughter of TV journalist Alison Rooper. She attended Redcliffe Gardens School in Chelsea and the Godolphin and Latymer School. While working on The Famous Five, she passed eight GCSEs with A* and A grades. From there she went to MPW sixth form college where she got three A-grade A levels. Rooper bought her first home at the age of 19.

Career Rooper expressed a wish to be an actress at the age of nine and contacted an agent. Her first professional roles were in the 1993 film The Higher Mortals and the 1994 film Willie's War. In 1996, she appeared in all episodes as George in Enid Blyton's The Famous Five.

She said: I remember writing "I want to act" on my bed in lipstick. I think I told my mum I wanted to be an actress and she said I needed an agent to do that. I must have said: "Well, I'm going to get one"—and I think that's why. She was devastated. She said: "Please don't be an actress, be a doctor or lawyer." But I was very tunnel-visioned about it all. I'm an only child and I spent a lot of time alone. I played a lot of imaginary games. I just wanted to dress up and be weird, I suppose.| | Having been featured in films including The Railway Children, A Sound of Thunder, Kinky Boots, One Chance and The F Word (as the on-screen sister of Daniel Radcliffe's character) since 2003, she has since appeared in numerous guest roles on British series including Father Brown. As a voice actress, Rooper voiced companion Izzy Sinclair in Doctor Who, in Big Finish Productions audio dramas.

In September 2023, Rooper starred in the Channel 5 drama series The Inheritance, appearing alongside Samantha Bond, Rob James-Collier, Gaynor Faye and Adil Ray.

Stage Rooper was seen on stage in One Man, Two Guvnors, which was favourably reviewed. She has since appeared in Blithe Spirit and Breeders in the West End.

Filmography Film Year TitleRole Notes 1993 The Higher Mortals Vicky 1994 Willie's War Annabel 1998 Owd Bob Maggie Moore 2002 Snapshots Narma (20 years old) 2005 A Sound of Thunder Jenny Krase Kinky Boots Nicola 2006 The Black Dahlia Lorna Mertz 2011 Hotel Caledonia Casey Wright 2013 One Chance Hydrangea The F Word Ellie 2022 Matriarch Laura The People We Hate at the Wedding Mimzy 2024 Here Virginia

Television Year TitleRole Notes 1996–1997 The Famous Five George Series regular 1998 Animal Ark Rachel Farmer Episode; "Guinea Pig in the Garage" 1999 Junk Gemma Brogan TV film The Passion Alice TV series Shockers: Dance Anne TV film Wives and Daughters Lizzie Goodenough Miniseries 2000 Summer in the Suburbs Judie Lyle TV film The Railway Children Bobbie TV film Life Force Siren Episode: "Siren Song" Urban Gothic Nik Episode: "Dead Meat" 2001 Love in a Cold Climate Jassy Miniseries 2001–2004 As If Nicki Sutton Series regular 2004 Midsomer Murders Jo Clifford Episode: "The Straw Woman" 2005 The Brief Mia Ottway Episode 2.2 2004–2005 Hex Thelma Bates Series regular 2006 Sugar Rush Montana Episode 2.5 Silent Witness Claire Ashen 2 episodes; "Schism: Part 1", "Schism: Part 2" Sinchronicity Fi Series regular Perfect Day: The Millennium Amber TV film Random Quest Gerry TV film 2007 Life Line Catt TV film The Time of Your Life Emma Series regular 2008 Agatha Christie's Poirot Norma Restarick Episode: "Third Girl" Lost in Austen Amanda Price Miniseries, 4 episodes 2010 Reunited Sophie TV movie Bouquet of Barbed Wire Sarah Francis Miniseries, 3 episodes 2011 Frankenstein's Wedding Justine Mortiz Television film 2013–2015 Atlantis Medusa Main role 2014 Blandings Lesley Drabble Episode: "Hallo to All This" 2017 Fearless Maggie 3 episodes 2018 Death in Paradise Karen Marston Episode: "Murder From Above" Trauma Nora Baker 3 episodes 2019 Father Brown Lilith Crowe Episode: "The Whistle in the Dark“ Silent Witness Amy Marlow Episode: "Two Spirits" Part 1 & 2 Gold Digger Della Day Miniseries, 6 episodes 2021 The Girlfriend Experience Leanne Season 3; 7 episodes 2022 The Split India Series 3 Flowers in the Attic: The Origin Olivia Winfield Miniseries 2023 Sister Boniface Mysteries Verity Martin Episode: "The It Girl" Grantchester Josephine Hanlan Season 8; Episode 3 The Inheritance Chloe 4 episodes 2024 Geek Girl Annabel Manners Main role The Famous Five Angela Clutterbuck Episode: "Mystery at the Prospect Hotel"

Video games YearTitleRoleNotes 2023 The Isle Tide Hotel Rebecca Price Interactive film

Theatre Where Do We Live – Royal Court Theatre, Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, May 2002 (playing Lily) Us and Them – Hampstead Theatre, June 2003 (playing Izzie) A Respectable Wedding (part of The Big Brecht Fest) – Young Vic, April 2007 (playing Bride) Her Naked Skin – National Theatre, July 2008 (playing Eve Douglas) The Great Game: Afghanistan – Tricycle Theatre, April – June 2009 The Power of Yes – National Theatre October 2009 All My Sons – Apollo Theatre, May – October 2010 (playing Ann Deever) Me and My Girl – Jan 2011 (playing Sally) Blithe Spirit – Gielgud Theatre, March 2014 (playing Elvira) Breeders by Ben Ockrent – St James Theatre, September 2014 Blithe Spirit – Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, December 2014 – January 2015 (playing Elvira) Hand to God – Vaudeville Theatre, London, February 2016 Little Shop of Horrors – Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London, August – September 2018 (playing Audrey)