Suzanne Packer
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Suzanne Packer | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg/1280px-Suzanne_Packer_at_the_Chsiwick_Book_Festival_(51449023075)_(cropped).jpg) Packer in 2021 | |
| Born | Suzanne Jackson 26 November 1962 Cardiff, Wales |
| Education | Llanedeyrn High School; Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Alma mater | University of Warwick |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse | Jesse Newman (divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Colin Jackson (brother) |
Suzanne Packer (born Suzanne Jackson on 26 November 1962)[1] is a Welsh actress, known for playing the role of Tess Bateman in the BBC medical drama Casualty from September 2003 to August 2015. She later returned to the series as a guest for the 30th-anniversary episodes in 2016. Since departing from Casualty, she has appeared in various television series including Bang, In My Skin and The Pembrokeshire Murders.
Early life
[edit]Packer is the daughter of Jamaican and Panamanian immigrant parents who moved to Abergavenny, Wales, where her mother Angela worked as a nurse. She is the older sister of the hurdler Colin Jackson.[2][3]
While studying at Llanedeyrn High School in Cardiff, she showed an interest in acting, playing the lead in school plays including Oklahoma and The King and I.[4] Packer attended the National Youth Theatre of Wales before earning a BA in theatre and drama at the University of Warwick. She then trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.[5] Prior to acting professionally, Packer worked as a drama supply teacher. After working at one particular school for three months, she was offered a permanent contract, which she declined due to wanting to pursue acting full-time.[6]
Career
[edit]In 1991, Packer co-founded BiBi Crew, Britain's first comedy theatre troupe made up entirely of Black women.[7] After she gained an audition for the BBC drama Casualty and was cast as Tess Bateman, she began appearing onscreen from September 2003.[8] On 22 August 2015, she announced her decision to leave Casualty after playing the character of Tess for over 11 years.[9]
Packer appeared with her brother Colin on the first series of Pointless Celebrities on 6 July 2011. They were eliminated in the first round.[10] In 2018, she began portraying the role of Nurse Digby in the BBC Three series In My Skin.[11] On 4 November 2018, Packer played Eve Cicero in the Doctor Who episode, "The Tsuranga Conundrum".[12] In 2021, she starred in the ITV miniseries The Pembrokeshire Murders.[13]
Personal life
[edit]Packer met American actor Jesse Newman while on a tour in Europe, and the pair later married, and had a son together.[14] The pair divorced.[2]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–1993, 2000 | Brookside | Josie Johnson/Brooks | Channel 4 | Recurring roles |
| 1992 | Crime Story | Barbara Pilkington | ITV | Episode: "All Good Friends" |
| 1994 | The Lifeboat | Helen Mitchell | Unknown | Episode: "Shadow of Doubt" |
| 1995 | Grange Hill | Miss Foster | BBC | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Some Kind of Life | Dr. Judson | Unknown | |
| 1996 | Wales Playhouse | Veronica | BBC Wales | Episode: "Strangers in the Night" |
| 1996 | Porkpie | Trish | Channel 4 | Episode: "Fatal Distraction" |
| 1996 | Casualty | Candice Francis | BBC1 | Episode “Trapped” |
| 1997 | Tiger Bay | Marie | Unknown | 4 episodes |
| 1998 | Brothers and Sisters | Siobhan Etienne | Unknown | |
| 1999 | The Bill | Katherine Adams | ITV | Episode: "Treading Water" |
| 2000 | Dirty Work | Rhiannon | Unknown | 6 episodes |
| 2002 | Third Watch | Dr. Sharon Reid | NBC | Episode: "The Greater Good" |
| 2003–2015, 2016, 2021 | Casualty | Tess Bateman | BBC | Series regular |
| 2004–2005 | Holby City | 2 episodes | ||
| 2005 | Casualty @ Holby City | 3 episodes | ||
| 2014 | Under Milk Wood | Mrs. Beynon | Television film | |
| 2015 | Doctors | Rose Blair | Episode: "The Heart of England" | |
| 2016 | Stella | Carol | Sky 1 | Series 5 |
| 2016 | The Level | Teresa Devlin | ITV | Recurring role |
| 2017 | Vera | Sophia | Episode: "Natural Selection" | |
| 2017 | Bang | Layla | S4C/BBC | Main role |
| 2017, 2019, 2021 | Un Bore Mercher / Keeping Faith | Delyth Lloyd | Main role | |
| 2018 | Death in Paradise | Maya Oprey | BBC | 1 episode |
| 2018 | Hold the Sunset | Mrs. Pool | Episode: "Roger the Carer" | |
| 2018 | Doctor Who | Eve Cicero | Episode: "The Tsuranga Conundrum" | |
| 2018 | The ABC Murders | Capstick | 3 episodes | |
| 2018–2021 | In My Skin | Nurse Digby | BBC Three | Recurring role |
| 2020 | Cyswllt (Mewn COVID) | Ruth | S4C | |
| 2021 | The Pembrokeshire Murders | Chief Constable Tyler | ITV1 | Miniseries |
| 2023 | Silent Witness | Miriam Harper | BBC1 | s26 Southbay pt1&2 |
| 2024 | Midsomer Murders | Olivia Dent | ITV | Episode: "Dressed to Kill" |
| 2024 | The Night Caller | Rosa | Channel 5 | 4 episodes |
| 2024 | The Bay | Anne Jackson | ITV | Series 5 |
Packer featured in the 2024 documentary Colin Jackson: Resilience, talking about her upbringing with her brother and his athletics career.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ Wightwick, Abbie (28 September 2018). "Brilliant, Black and Welsh: A celebration of 100 African Caribbean and African Welsh people". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Colin Jackson and his sister, Suzanne". Sunday Times. 17 December 2006. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ^ Lewis, Anthony (10 August 2015). "Famous siblings visit day therapy unit". Penarth Times. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Casualty tales shrugged off by fun mum". Wales Online. 11 November 2006. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Hayward 1996, p. 193.
- ^ "Suzanne Packer talks about her experiences as a teacher". BBC. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Abram, Nicola (2020). "Theatre of Black Women". Black British Women's Theatre : Intersectionality, Archives, Aesthetics. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, Springer. pp. 23–84. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-51459-4_2. ISBN 978-3-030-51459-4. S2CID 226651462. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "Characters & Cast: Tess Bateman". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
- ^ "Ex Casualty star Suzanne Packer: 'I've all the power in my new drama!'". What's on TV. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Episode 3". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ "BBC orders a dark comedy about a teen and her mentally ill mum". Chortle. 28 June 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ Ling, Thomas (4 November 2018). "Doctor Who series 11 episode 5: meet the guest cast of The Tsuranga Conundrum". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ Bond, Kimberley (12 January 2021). "Viewers Praise Luke Evans' Performance in 'Gripping' Serial Killer Drama Pembrokeshire Murders". Tyla. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Casualty Pack" (PDF). BBC. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Colin Jackson - Record Breaker". BBC. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
- 1962 births
- 20th-century Welsh actresses
- 21st-century Welsh actresses
- Living people
- Actors from Abergavenny
- Actresses from Cardiff
- Actresses from Monmouthshire
- Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London
- Alumni of the University of Warwick
- Alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art
- Black British actresses
- Black British schoolteachers
- People of Jamaican Maroon descent
- Welsh people of Jamaican descent
- Welsh people of Panamanian descent
- Welsh people of Scottish descent
- Welsh schoolteachers
- Welsh soap opera actresses
- Welsh television actresses
Suzanne Packer | |
|---|---|
Packer in 2021 | |
| Born | Suzanne Jackson 26 November 1962 Cardiff, Wales |
| Education | Llanedeyrn High School; Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Alma mater | University of Warwick |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Spouse | Jesse Newman (divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Colin Jackson (brother) |
Suzanne Packer (born Suzanne Jackson on 26 November 1962)[1] is a Welsh actress, known for playing the role of Tess Bateman in the BBC medical drama Casualty from September 2003 to August 2015. She later returned to the series as a guest for the 30th-anniversary episodes in 2016. Since departing from Casualty, she has appeared in various television series including Bang, In My Skin and The Pembrokeshire Murders.
Early life
Packer is the daughter of Jamaican and Panamanian immigrant parents who moved to Abergavenny, Wales, where her mother Angela worked as a nurse. She is the older sister of the hurdler Colin Jackson.[2][3]
While studying at Llanedeyrn High School in Cardiff, she showed an interest in acting, playing the lead in school plays including Oklahoma and The King and I.[4] Packer attended the National Youth Theatre of Wales before earning a BA in theatre and drama at the University of Warwick. She then trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.[5] Prior to acting professionally, Packer worked as a drama supply teacher. After working at one particular school for three months, she was offered a permanent contract, which she declined due to wanting to pursue acting full-time.[6]
Career
In 1991, Packer co-founded BiBi Crew, Britain's first comedy theatre troupe made up entirely of Black women.[7] After she gained an audition for the BBC drama Casualty and was cast as Tess Bateman, she began appearing onscreen from September 2003.[8] On 22 August 2015, she announced her decision to leave Casualty after playing the character of Tess for over 11 years.[9]
Packer appeared with her brother Colin on the first series of Pointless Celebrities on 6 July 2011. They were eliminated in the first round.[10] In 2018, she began portraying the role of Nurse Digby in the BBC Three series In My Skin.[11] On 4 November 2018, Packer played Eve Cicero in the Doctor Who episode, "The Tsuranga Conundrum".[12] In 2021, she starred in the ITV miniseries The Pembrokeshire Murders.[13]
Personal life
Packer met American actor Jesse Newman while on a tour in Europe, and the pair later married, and had a son together.[14] The pair divorced.[2]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–1993, 2000 | Brookside | Josie Johnson/Brooks | Channel 4 | Recurring roles |
| 1992 | Crime Story | Barbara Pilkington | ITV | Episode: "All Good Friends" |
| 1994 | The Lifeboat | Helen Mitchell | Unknown | Episode: "Shadow of Doubt" |
| 1995 | Grange Hill | Miss Foster | BBC | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Some Kind of Life | Dr. Judson | Unknown | |
| 1996 | Wales Playhouse | Veronica | BBC Wales | Episode: "Strangers in the Night" |
| 1996 | Porkpie | Trish | Channel 4 | Episode: "Fatal Distraction" |
| 1996 | Casualty | Candice Francis | BBC1 | Episode “Trapped” |
| 1997 | Tiger Bay | Marie | Unknown | 4 episodes |
| 1998 | Brothers and Sisters | Siobhan Etienne | Unknown | |
| 1999 | The Bill | Katherine Adams | ITV | Episode: "Treading Water" |
| 2000 | Dirty Work | Rhiannon | Unknown | 6 episodes |
| 2002 | Third Watch | Dr. Sharon Reid | NBC | Episode: "The Greater Good" |
| 2003–2015, 2016, 2021 | Casualty | Tess Bateman | BBC | Series regular |
| 2004–2005 | Holby City | 2 episodes | ||
| 2005 | Casualty @ Holby City | 3 episodes | ||
| 2014 | Under Milk Wood | Mrs. Beynon | Television film | |
| 2015 | Doctors | Rose Blair | Episode: "The Heart of England" | |
| 2016 | Stella | Carol | Sky 1 | Series 5 |
| 2016 | The Level | Teresa Devlin | ITV | Recurring role |
| 2017 | Vera | Sophia | Episode: "Natural Selection" | |
| 2017 | Bang | Layla | S4C/BBC | Main role |
| 2017, 2019, 2021 | Un Bore Mercher / Keeping Faith | Delyth Lloyd | Main role | |
| 2018 | Death in Paradise | Maya Oprey | BBC | 1 episode |
| 2018 | Hold the Sunset | Mrs. Pool | Episode: "Roger the Carer" | |
| 2018 | Doctor Who | Eve Cicero | Episode: "The Tsuranga Conundrum" | |
| 2018 | The ABC Murders | Capstick | 3 episodes | |
| 2018–2021 | In My Skin | Nurse Digby | BBC Three | Recurring role |
| 2020 | Cyswllt (Mewn COVID) | Ruth | S4C | |
| 2021 | The Pembrokeshire Murders | Chief Constable Tyler | ITV1 | Miniseries |
| 2023 | Silent Witness | Miriam Harper | BBC1 | s26 Southbay pt1&2 |
| 2024 | Midsomer Murders | Olivia Dent | ITV | Episode: "Dressed to Kill" |
| 2024 | The Night Caller | Rosa | Channel 5 | 4 episodes |
| 2024 | The Bay | Anne Jackson | ITV | Series 5 |
Packer featured in the 2024 documentary Colin Jackson: Resilience, talking about her upbringing with her brother and his athletics career.[15]
References
- ^ Wightwick, Abbie (28 September 2018). "Brilliant, Black and Welsh: A celebration of 100 African Caribbean and African Welsh people". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Colin Jackson and his sister, Suzanne". Sunday Times. 17 December 2006. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
- ^ Lewis, Anthony (10 August 2015). "Famous siblings visit day therapy unit". Penarth Times. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Casualty tales shrugged off by fun mum". Wales Online. 11 November 2006. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Hayward 1996, p. 193.
- ^ "Suzanne Packer talks about her experiences as a teacher". BBC. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Abram, Nicola (2020). "Theatre of Black Women". Black British Women's Theatre : Intersectionality, Archives, Aesthetics. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, Springer. pp. 23–84. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-51459-4_2. ISBN 978-3-030-51459-4. S2CID 226651462. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "Characters & Cast: Tess Bateman". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
- ^ "Ex Casualty star Suzanne Packer: 'I've all the power in my new drama!'". What's on TV. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Episode 3". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
- ^ "BBC orders a dark comedy about a teen and her mentally ill mum". Chortle. 28 June 2019. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ Ling, Thomas (4 November 2018). "Doctor Who series 11 episode 5: meet the guest cast of The Tsuranga Conundrum". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ Bond, Kimberley (12 January 2021). "Viewers Praise Luke Evans' Performance in 'Gripping' Serial Killer Drama Pembrokeshire Murders". Tyla. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Casualty Pack" (PDF). BBC. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Colin Jackson - Record Breaker". BBC. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
External links
- Suzanne Packer at IMDb