Juliet Stevenson CBE

Juliet Stevenson

Areas of Interest

Arts

Honorary Award

Honorary Doctor of Arts, 2010

Biography

Juliet Stevenson, once a 'Promising New Actor', is now a name known nationwide.

Essex-born, she was educated in Surrey before joining the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). It was from here she emerged a strong and talented young actress, who shortly after began her remarkable career with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Although best known for her stage acting, Juliet has starred in many other roles for both film and television and combined this work with various roles for the BBC Radio, all of which highlight her immense strength and versatility. Significant stage roles include her lead performance as Anna in the UK premiere of Burn This in 1990, and as Paulina in Death and the Maiden, for which she was awarded the 1992 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress.

Ranked among Great Britain's most esteemed stage actresses, she is best known for her leading role in the film Truly, Madly, Deeply in 1990. Her other film successes include The Secret Rapture, Emma, Mona Lisa Smile, Infamous, Breaking and Entering and, one of her personal favourites, Bend It Like Beckham which had a huge impact on teenagers across the country. Last Year, she had a starring role in ITV's A Place of Execution, for which her performance was awarded at the 2009 Crime Thriller Awards.

She was awarded a CBE for her services to drama.



Citation

"Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to read the citation for Juliet Stevenson for the award of Honorary Doctor of Arts.

Juliet Stevenson, once a 'Promising New Actor', is now a name known nationwide.

The loving wife and mother of two wonderful children came from an unsuspecting background. Her mother a teacher and her father an army officer, helped set her up for success in developing the self-sufficient attitude which has proven a crucial backbone to her love of acting.

Being a famous actress has not always been her ambition. During her childhood, she revealed that she 'wanted to be a waitress or an air hostess', focusing on the happiness of others - and she is certainly still focused on spreading that happiness today.

Essex-born, she was educated in Surrey before joining the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). It was from here she emerged a strong and talented young actress, who shortly after began her remarkable career with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Although best known for her stage acting, Juliet has starred in many other roles for both film and television and combined this work with various roles for the BBC Radio, all of which highlight her immense strength and versatility. Significant stage roles include her lead performance as Anna in the UK premiere of Burn This in 1990, and as Paulina in Death and the Maiden, for which she was awarded the 1992 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress.

Ranked among Great Britain's most esteemed stage actresses, she is best known for her leading role in the film Truly, Madly, Deeply in 1990. Her other film successes include The Secret Rapture, Emma, Mona Lisa Smile, Infamous, Breaking and Entering and, one of her personal favourites, Bend It Like Beckham which had a huge impact on teenagers across the country.

Last Year, she had a starring role in ITV's A Place of Execution, for which her performance was awarded at the 2009 Crime Thriller Awards.

Juliet Stevenson is without a doubt one of our country's 'greats'.

She was awarded a CBE for her services to drama, which she was given alongside many other famous faces including Julie Walters and Simon Callow.

It is clear to see that Juliet Stevenson is a very down to earth person despite her fame and wealth. For her, happiness is riding her bike in Suffolk and admiring her prized possessions - clay sculptures, handmade by her daughter.

She is a passionate supporter of many well deserving causes. One example being when she appeared as the campaigning mother of an autistic child in the drama Hear the Silence which was based on the issue of autism which she felt strongly about in connection to the argument against the MMR Vaccine.

'Hectic, privileged, blessed, challenging, happy' are the words that Stevenson uses to describe her life. Any fans of hers will know that these are exactly the feelings that her audience experience when they are watching her perform.

Among many characteristics, she admires joyfulness, a sense of energy and a positive outlook on life. She also prizes confidence and individuality - qualities she herself demonstrates in everything she does.

Juliet Stevenson is a born star. She combines all of the desired elements for success - pure talent, passion and determination which countless Anglia Ruskin University arts students would indeed love to emulate.

Vice Chancellor, it is my pleasure to present Juliet for the award of Doctor of Arts, honoris causa."