Joanne Heywood
Joanne Heywood is an English television actress, probably best known for her role as Jessica Lovelock in Grace & Favour, a spin-off series of Are You Being Served?.
Early life and career
Born in York, Heywood was educated in York, Guildford and in Sydney, Australia. She studied Musical Theatre at the Guildford School of Acting and, after graduating, made her professional stage debut in 1985 production of the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at York's Theatre Royal. For the next decade, she regularly appeared in pantomime at the same venue, often in the coveted role of Principal Boy. During this period, she also performed in stage musicals, including regional productions of Annie, Gypsy and Camelot, as well as the world premieres of Scrooge: The Musical and the stage adaptation of High Society.
Heywood's television debut was in the role of Dilys on the short-lived BBC series First of the Summer Wine. In 1991, she made guest appearances on the television shows The New Statesman and The Brittas Empire. In addition to her role as Jessica Lovelock, Heywood played Sally Bennett in the Gerry Poulson film Stanley's Dragon. She has also guest-starred in Knightmare, Next of Kin, two episodes of Coronation Street and A Prince Among Men.
In recent years, her television appearances have become less regular. She has appeared in Heartbeat, Emmerdale Farm as Lady Tara Thornfield for three years and My Hero. Since then, Heywood has continued to perform frequently in regional and West End theatre productions, including plays, musicals and pantomimes.
Television roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1988-89 | First of the Summer Wine | Dilys |
| 1992-93 | Grace & Favour | Jessica Lovelock |
| 1994 | Knightmare | Stiletta |
Stage roles
| Year | Title | Venue | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Theatre Royal, York | - |
| 1987 | High Society (musical) | Victoria Palace, London | - |
| 1988-89 | Camelot (musical) | Liverpool Playhouse, Liverpool | - |
| 1992 | Scrooge: The Musical | Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham | Isabel |
| 1998 | Out of Order (play) | Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye | Jane Worthington |
| 1999 | The Strange & Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe | Palace Theatre, Watford | Dolly |
| 2000 | Behind the Scenes at the Museum (play) | Theatre Royal, York | Patricia |
| 2000-01 | Dick Whittington (pantomime) | Theatre Royal, York | - |
| 2001 | All for Mary (play) | Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye | Mary Millar |
| 2002-03 | Babbies in the Wood (pantomime) | Theatre Royal, York | Principal Boy |
| 2003-04 | Mother Goose's Silver Jubilee (pantomime) | Theatre Royal, York | Principal Boy |
| 2005 | Sleeping Beauty (pantomime) | City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds | Vulgaria |
| 2007 | Waiting for Gateaux (play) | Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne | - |
| 2007-08 | Sleeping Beauty (pantomime) | Gala Theatre, Durham City | Carabosse |
| 2008 | Birthday Suite (play) | Mill at Sonning, Sonning Eye | Kate |
| 2008-09 | Sleeping Beauty (pantomime) | Octagon Theatre, Yeovil | Carabosse |
| 2010 | Nightfright: The Nightmare of Your Life (play) | Connaught Theatre, Worthing | Jacqui |
| 2010 | Legacy Falls (musical) | New Players Theatre, London | Taylor Taylor |