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Jo Joyner
Joyner in 2011
Born
Joanne Mary Joyner

(1977-05-24) 24 May 1977 (age 47)
Harlow, Essex, England
Alma materRoyal Welsh College of Music & Drama
OccupationActress
Years active1999–present
Television
Spouse
Neil Madden
(m. 2007)
Children2

Joanne Mary Joyner (born 24 May 1977)[1] is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Tanya Branning in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and Mandy Carter in the Channel 4 school drama Ackley Bridge.[2] From 2018, she has starred as Luella Shakespeare in the BBC crime drama series Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.[3]

Early life

Joyner was born in Harlow, Essex to Anne (née McCormick) and Peter Joyner. She has one older brother, Daniel. In 1999, she graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff with a BA in Acting.[4]

Career

After a stint of guest roles in shows such as Always and Everyone, The Cops, Heartbeat and Clocking Off, Joyner came to prominence after playing Beth Nicholls in Channel 4 comedy drama No Angels between 2004 and 2006. She later appeared in four episodes of North & South as Fanny Thornton and in two episodes of Doctor Who as Lynda Moss. In June 2006, Joyner began appearing as Tanya Branning in BBC One soap opera EastEnders. Joyner originally turned down the role on the show as she had doubts over whether she could work in a soap opera.[5] She said "It was a massive decision. I said no originally. Playing someone in a soap is a big responsibility. People are very protective of the soap and if you are rubbish you can't get away from it."[5] Also, having worked quietly and successfully in the industry for eight years, Joyner was unsure if she would be comfortable with the level of fame being on EastEnders would bring her.[6] Joyner won the Most Popular Actress award at the Digital Spy Soap Awards in 2008 for the part of Tanya[7] and also went on to win Best Dramatic Performance at the 2008 British Soap Awards, as well as making the final four in the Best Actress category. Joyner was nominated for the Best Actress award at the All About Soap Awards in 2012[8] and later won the award.[9] In 2012, Joyner and co-star Jake Wood won the Best On-Screen Partnership category at the British Soap Awards.[10] On Digital Spy's 2012 end of year reader poll, Joyner was nominated for Best Female Soap Actor and came fourth with 13.4% of the vote.[11]

Whilst still appearing in EastEnders in 2011, Joyner appeared in BBC One comedy drama Candy Cabs as Jackie O’Sullivan.[12] On 1 May 2012, it was reported that Joyner would take a prolonged break from EastEnders at the end of her current contract to spend time with her family.[13] However, on 1 April 2013, it was announced that Joyner's departure would be indefinite as she wished to try new career paths. Speaking of this, Joyner said: "I love playing Tanya and being part of such a great show, but she has been on quite a rollercoaster over the past seven years and I have come to realise that it's right for her to step away from Walford for a bit longer than originally planned. I have been very fortunate to have been part of some fantastic storylines over the years, and I have worked with some wonderful people during my time on the show which I will always be very grateful for, but I feel that as a mother and an actress it is time for me to explore some other avenues for a while."[14] Joyner filmed her final scenes on 15 May 2013.[15] She departed the show on 28 June 2013. Joyner reprised the role of Tanya in EastEnders for the 30th anniversary specials in February 2015 and again on Christmas Day 2017 as part of the storyline surrounding the exits of her onscreen daughters.[16]

In June 2017, Joyner began portraying Mandy Carter in Channel 4’s drama Ackley Bridge.[17] She departed from the series in the fourth series in 2021.[18] In February 2018, she started to play Luella Shakespeare, alongside Mark Benton, in the BBC One comedy drama Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.[19] In December 2021, Joyner appeared in the Netflix drama series Stay Close as Erin Cartwright.[20] Then in 2022, she starred in the Channel 5 drama series Riptide.[21]

Personal life

Joyner announced in July 2009 that she was pregnant as a result of IVF treatment.[22] She gave birth to fraternal twins in December 2009.[23]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Always and Everyone Nurse 2 episodes
2001 The Cops Carly Eaden
Heartbeat Anna Young Episode: "The Buxton Defence"
2002 Night Flight Brigitte Television film
Clocking Off Tina Episode: "Gary's Story"
2002–2003 Ed Stone Is Dead Lisa Main role
2003 Serious & Organised Louise Adamson Episode: "Unfaithful"
Spooks Stephanie Mills Episode: "I Spy Apocalypse"
Silent Witness Cathy Mottram 2 episodes
2004 Fat Friends Kirsty Grigg Episode: "Bacon, Bagels and the Bishop"
2004–2006 No Angels Beth Nicholls Main role
2004 Pretending to be Judith Shop Assistant Television film
Three Ivans, Two Aunts and an Overcoat Masha Main role
North & South Fanny Thornton
2005 Doctor Who Lynda Moss 2 episodes: "Bad Wolf" / "The Parting of the Ways"
Swinging Various roles Main role
2006–2013, 2015, 2017–2018 EastEnders Tanya Branning 679 episodes
2010, 2014 Loose Women Herself 5 episodes
2011 Candy Cabs Jackie O'Sullivan Main role
2013 Moving On Theresa Episode: "The House"
2014 Trying Again Meg Main role
Murdoch Mysteries Cecily McKinnon 2 episodes
2015 Ordinary Lies Beth Main role
The Interceptor Lorna
2015–2016 Marley's Ghosts Vicar
2016 The Confessions of Dorian Gray Constance Wilde 4 episodes
2016–2017 Mount Pleasant Jayne Main role
2017–2021 Ackley Bridge Mandy Carter
2017 Be Lucky Ruth
Porters Dr Kelly
2018–present Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators Luella Shakespeare
2018 Hang Ups Clare Maynard 1 episode
2019 The Reluctant Landlord Sarah Episode: "Christmas Special"
2020 Queen Bee Laura / Stella Film
2021 Stay Close Erin Cartwright Main role
2022 Riptide Alison
2023 For Her Sins Laura Conroy
2024 The Wives Beth Morgan

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama 'Friends’ prize for acting' The woman who walked into doors Won [24]
2006 Rose d'Or Best Female Comedy Performer Swinging Won
2007 MEN Theatre Awards Best Fringe Performer Raw Nominated [25]
National Television Awards Most Popular Newcomer EastEnders Shortlisted
Inside Soap Awards Best Newcomer EastEnders Shortlisted
TV Quick and Choice Best Soap Actress EastEnders Longlisted [26]
Best Newcomer Shortlisted [27]
2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards Most Popular Actress EastEnders Won [28]
British Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders Nominated [29]
Best Dramatic Performance EastEnders Won
All About Soap Bubble Awards Best Slap (with Lacey Turner) EastEnders Won
Best Tearjerker EastEnders Won
Fatal Attraction (with Rob Kazinsky) EastEnders Nominated [30]
TV Quick and Choice Awards Best Soap Actress EastEnders Nominated
Best Soap Newcomer EastEnders Nominated
Inside Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders Longlisted [31]
Best Dramatic Performance EastEnders Shortlisted [32]
2009 All About Soap Bubble Awards I'm A Survivor EastEnders Nominated
British Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders Nominated [33]
TV Now Awards Favourite Female Soap Star EastEnders Nominated [34]
2010 TV Now Awards Favourite Soap Family EastEnders Nominated [35]
2011 Inside Soap Awards Best Wedding EastEnders Longlisted [36]
Sexiest Female EastEnders Shortlisted
RTS North West Awards Best Performance in a Comedy Candy Cabs Nominated [37][38]
Digital Spy Readers' Awards Best Soap Actress EastEnders Won [39]
2012 TRIC Awards TV Soap Personality EastEnders Nominated [40]
Digital Spy Readers' Awards Best Female Soap Actor Eastenders Nominated [41]
All About Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders Won [42]
Best Couple (with Jake Wood) EastEnders Won
British Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders Shortlisted [43]
Best Dramatic Performance EastEnders Won
Best On-Screen Partnership (with Jake Wood) EastEnders Won
TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress EastEnders Shortlisted [44]
2015 RTS North West Awards Best Performance in a Single Drama or Drama Series (Female) Ordinary Lies Shortlisted [45]
Digital Spy Readers Awards Funniest Soap Moment Eastenders Won [46]
2018 RTS Midlands Awards Female Acting Performance Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators Nominated [47]
2021 TV Choice Awards Best Actress Ackley Bridge Nominated [48]

References

  1. ^ Joyner, Jo [@dollyjoyner] (30 May 2013). "@paulinsky Nope. Sorry Paul Wikapedia has put Tanya's birthday down?! Mine is May 24th x" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Dainty, Sophie (15 March 2019). "Where are EastEnders' Branning family now?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  3. ^ "When is Shakespeare and Hathaway on TV?". Radio Times. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  4. ^ "11 reasons why the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is top of the class for acting". Wales Online. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  5. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel (20 May 2007). "'EastEnders' star Joyner turned down role". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  6. ^ "Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan". Richard & Judy (Interview). 26 February 2007.
  7. ^ "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: Jo Joyner". Digital Spy. 21 March 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  8. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (12 February 2012). "2012 All About Soap Awards – full nominations list". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  9. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (25 March 2012). "All About Soap Awards 2012: Full winners list". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  10. ^ British Soap Awards. "Winners – British Soap Awards". Britishsoapawards.tv. Archived from the original on 1 May 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  11. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (22 December 2012). "'EastEnders', Corrie, 'Hollyoaks' all win in Digital Spy's 2012 poll". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  12. ^ "Carry on Candy Cabs".
  13. ^ Goodacre, Kate (1 May 2012). "'EastEnders' Jo Joyner 'to take break from soap in 2013'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  14. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (1 April 2013). "'EastEnders': Jo Joyner announces departure from show". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  15. ^ Joyner, Jo (15 May 2013). "Twitter / dollyjoyner: That's a wrap! I am officially ..." Twitter. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  16. ^ "EastEnders star Jo Joyner reveals why she returned for a guest role in Christmas episodes". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Meet the cast of Channel 4 school drama Ackley Bridge". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  18. ^ Jones, Allison (13 April 2021). ""Ackley Bridge is like a brand-new show!" says star Sunetra Sarker". Inside Soap. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  19. ^ "BBC - Shakespeare & Hathaway - Private Investigators - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk.
  20. ^ "EastEnders star Jo Joyner and Eddie Izzard join Netflix's new adaptation of Harlan Coben drama Stay Close". Digital Spy. 3 February 2021.
  21. ^ Warner, Sam (14 July 2022). "Former EastEnders star Jo Joyner signs up for new Channel 5 drama with Neighbours cast members". Digital Spy. (Hearst Communications). Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  22. ^ 'EastEnders' star pregnant with twins – EastEnders News – Showbiz – Digital Spy
  23. ^ Minn, Hayley (12 September 2020). "'I feel like the luckiest person alive!' Jo Joyner opens up on why she feels so blessed to have children after undergoing years of IVF". GoodtoKnow. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  24. ^ "Biography". JoJoyner.co.uk. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Nominations for the M.E.N Theatre Awards". Manchester Evening News. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
    "Theatre award winners". Manchester Evening News. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Welcome to the TVQuick & TVChoice Awards 2007!". TV Quick. Archived from the original on 3 June 2007. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Inside Soap Awards- Shortlist". Digital Spy. 20 September 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  28. ^ "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  29. ^ "The British Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy. 4 May 2008. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  30. ^ "All About Soap Bubble Awards". 19 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  31. ^ "British Soap Awards Nominations: Panel Shortlist". Walford Web. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  32. ^ "Inside Soap Awards 2008 – Nominations". msntvsoapsuk.wordpress.com. 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  33. ^ "British Soap Awards 2009: The Winners". Digital Spy. 10 May 2009. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  34. ^ "Favourite Female Soap Star 2009". TV Now. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  35. ^ "Favourite Soap Family 2010". TV Now. Archived from the original on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  36. ^ "In Full: Inside Soap Awards 2011 Nominees". Digital Spy. 11 July 2011. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  37. ^ "RTS 2011 Shortlist". rts.org.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  38. ^ "Bumper year for RTS TV awards as MediaCity makes its mark on the north west". menmedia.co.uk. 28 September 2011. Archived from the original on 9 December 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  39. ^ "Digital Spy readers' awards 2011: The winners!". Digital Spy. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  40. ^ "TRIC 2011 Awards Nominees". tric.org.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  41. ^ Kilkelly (25 March 2012). "'EastEnders', Corrie, 'Hollyoaks' all win in Digital Spy's 2012 poll". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  42. ^ "All About Soap Awards 2012: Full winners list". Digital Spy. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  43. ^ "British Soap Awards 2012 – winners in full". Digital Spy. 29 April 2012. Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  44. ^ "TV Choice Awards 2012 – soap nominees in full". Digital Spy. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  45. ^ "RTS North West Award Winners Unveiled". 4RFV. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  46. ^ Eames, Tom (25 December 2015). "Your Soap Winners of 2015: Emmerdale, EastEnders whodunit and Hollyoaks classroom clinch". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  47. ^ "RTS MIDLANDS AWARDS 2018". RTS. 29 November 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  48. ^ "Welcome to the 25th TV Choice Awards!". TV Choice. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.