Kate Ashfield

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Kate Ashfield bigraphy, stories - Film

Kate Ashfield : biography

28 May 1972 –

Kate Ashfield (born 28 May 1972) is a British actress, best known for her award-winning roles as Jody in the Anglo-German film Late Night Shopping, as Sadie MacGregor in the British film This Little Life and as Liz in the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead.

Biography

Ashfield was born Kate Ashfield in Birmingham, England. She was educated at the King Edward VI Camp Hill, in Birmingham, and was one of the first girls to join the sixth form of King Edward VI Five Ways.

Ashfield appeared in As You Like It and was involved in a number of local youth theatre groups. She trained at Rose Bruford College.

Career

She has since appeared in many films, television and theatre productions. Her first film role came in 1994 as Ella in John Wells’ film Princess Caraboo.

One of Ashfield’s first stage appearances was in the 1995 Royal Court Theatre production of Blasted by Sarah Kane. She has since performed in numerous plays associated with the In-yer-face theatre movement, and was invited to speak on the subject at the University of the West of England’s 2002 Theatre’s Shock Therapy conference.

In 2009 she appeared in a short film "War School", raising awareness on the use of child soldiers. The film won the CTRL.ALT.SHIFT film competition, where the public were able to ‘Take action’ and buy a football, in which all proceeds went to the Coalition to Stop the use of Child Soldiers.

She has featured in The Diary of Anne Frank and Collision, and will next work on the thriller Hush.

In April 2011, she appeared as the then Manchester United club secretary Alma George in the BBC TV drama United, which was centred on the Munich air disaster in 1958.

Filmography

  • Nymphomaniac (2013)
  • Line of Duty (2012, TV series) – Jools Gates
  • 7lives (2011) – Cynthia
  • New Tricks (2011, TV series) – Hilary Newell
  • Silent Witness (2011, TV drama) – Chief Inspector Rebecca Woods
  • United (2011, TV drama) – Alma George
  • Late Bloomers (2011) – Giulia
  • Three Act Tragedy (2010, TV adaptation of Agatha Christie novel) – Muriel Wills
  • Collision (2009, five part ITV drama) – Ann Stallwood
  • The Diary of Anne Frank (2009, five-part BBC drama) – Miep Gies
  • The Children (2008 three-part ITV drama) – Natasha
  • Never Better (2008, TV series) – Anita Merchant
  • The Baker (2007) – Rhiannon
  • Talk To Me (2007, TV series) – Kelly
  • Random Quest (2006, TV) – Ottilie/Kate
  • Leave Before the Lights Come On Video – Arctic Monkeys (2006) – Suicidal Lady
  • Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006, TV) – Ellen
  • The Best Man (2005, TV – released as Unhitched on US DVD) – Becka
  • Secret Smile (2005, TV) – Miranda
  • Fakers (2004) – Eve Evans
  • Spivs (2004) – Jenny
  • Shaun of the Dead (2004) – Liz
  • Beyond Borders (2003) – Kat
  • Pollyanna (2003) – Nancy
  • Collusion (2003) – Sally Waterville
  • Killing Hitler (2003, TV) – Rachel
  • This Little Life (2003, TV) – Sadie MacGregor
  • The Trouble with Men and Women (2003, TV) – Susie
  • Pure (2002) – Helen
  • Crime and Punishment (2002, miniseries) – Dounia
  • Late Night Shopping (2001) – Jody
  • Do or Die (2001, miniseries) – Samantha
  • The Low Down (2000) – Ruby
  • Guest House Paradiso (1999) – Mrs Simpson
  • Storm Damage (1999, TV) – Kay
  • The War Zone (1999)
  • Watership Down (TV series) (1999, TV series) – Primrose (Series 1/2 only)
  • Sweetnight Goodheart (2001) – Juliet
  • Please! TV Series (1999) – Molly
  • (Love Is) A Many Splintered Thing (1998, TV series) – Elly Jackson
  • Closer (1998, stage) – Alice
  • Woyzeck (1997, stage) – Marie
  • Shopping and Fucking (1996, stage) – Lulu
  • Blasted (1995, stage) – Cate

Awards

  • British Independent Film Award – Best actress (2001)
  • Royal Television Society Television Award – Best actor: female (2004)