Miranda Jane Richardson
1958 -
American born Waycross
Height 5' 5" (1.65 m) . Miranda Richardson was born in England on March 3, 1958. She comes from Southport in Lancashire (near Liverpool), and has one sister, eight years her senior. Her parents and sister are not involved in the performing arts. At an early age she performed in school plays, having shown a talent and desire to "turn herself into" other people. She has referred to it as "an emotional fusion; you think yourself into them". This mimicry could be of school friends or film stars. She left school (Southport High School for Girls) at the age of 17, and originally intended becoming a vet. She also considered studying English literature in college, but decided to concentrate on drama and enrolled at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (as did many well-known British actors). After three years she graduated and moved into repertory theatre. She became affiliated with the Library Theatre in Manchester in 1979, where she became an assistant stage manager. She obtained her Equity card, and after several regional productions, first appeared on the London stage (Moving at Queens Theatre) in 1981. British television roles soon followed, and then film. Since then, Miranda has moved into the international arena, and has made films in America, France and Spain. Television work (on both sides of the Atlantic) continues, as does some stage work. Her roles are diverse, but powerful and engaging. She has been quoted as stating "what I basically like is doing things I haven't done before" and this continually comes through in the variety of roles she has played in her career. She is also selective in the roles she takes, being uninterested in performing in the standard Hollywood fare, and preferring more offbeat roles. She was approached to play the Glenn Close role in Fatal Attraction (1987), but found it "regressive in its attitudes". Her attitude is summed up by a quote from an interview that appeared in the New York Times (Dec 27 1992): "I would rather do many small roles on TV, stage or film than one blockbuster that made me rich but had no acting. And if that's the choice I have to make, I think I've already made it". According to "1994 Current Biography Yearbook", she resides in South London with her two Siamese cats, Otis and Waldo. She has now moved to West London. Her hobbies include drawing, walking, gardening, fashion, falconry, and music. She, by her own admission, is a loner and lives rather modestly. An actor who studied with Ms Richardson at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre in the late 1970s described her as "a strong minded, specially gifted, rather pretty young woman who enjoys wearing jewelry. She wore toe rings, which in the late 1970s and especially in England, were a rarity and considered rather racy." He also remarked on her drive, even then, to be an actress of the highest caliber.
Caitlin (2006) , Telepathy (2007) , Fred Claus (2007) , Puffball (2006) , Spinning Into Butter (2007) , Southland Tales (2006) , Provoked (2006) , Paris, je t'aime (2006) , "Merlin's Apprentice" (2006) , Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) , Gideon's Daughter (2005) , Starry Night (2005) , Wah-Wah (2005) , Sueño de una noche de San Juan, El (2005), "Absolutely Fabulous" (1994), The Phantom of the Opera (2004) , Churchill: The Hollywood Years (2004) , The Prince & Me (2004) , Falling Angels (2003) , The Rage in Placid Lake (2003) , The Actors (2003) , Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do (2003) , The Lost Prince (2003) , The Hours (2002) , Spider (2002) , Snow White (2001) , Chicken Run (2000) , Get Carter (2000) , Chicken Run (2000) , The Miracle Maker (2000) , The Magic of Vincent (2000) , Blackadder Back & Forth (1999) , Sleepy Hollow (1999) , Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang (1999) , The Big Brass Ring (1999) , The King and I (1999) , Alice in Wonderland (1999), Ted & Ralph (1998) , St. Ives (1998) , Merlin (1998/II) , Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Not! (1998) , The Scold's Bridle (1998) , "A Dance to the Music of Time" (1997) , The Apostle (1997) , The Designated Mourner (1997) , The Evening Star (1996) , Swann (1996) , Kansas City (1996) , The Night and the Moment (1995) , Fatherland (1994) , Tom & Viv (1994) , "The Comic Strip Presents..." (1990) , "Saturday Night Live" (1993) , Century (1993) , The Line, the Cross & the Curve (1993) , Damage (1992) , The Crying Game (1992) , "True Adventures of Christopher Columbus" (1992) , Mr. Wakefield's Crusade (1992) , Enchanted April (1992) , Redemption (1991) , Mio caro dottor Gräsler (1991) , Old Times (1991) , Broken Skin (1991) , "Kinder, Die" (1990) , The Fool (1990) , Sueño del mono loco, El (1989) , "Alas Smith & Jones" (1989) , "Blackadder Goes Forth" (1989) , Ball-Trap on the Cote Sauvage (1989) , "The Storyteller" (1988) , Blackadder's Christmas Carol (1988) , Empire of the Sun (1987) , "Blackadder the Third" (1987) , After Pilkington (1987) , Eat the Rich (1987) , Sweet as You Are (1987) , "Unnatural Causes" (1986) , The Dream Lover (1986) , "Blackadder II" (1986) , Dance with a Stranger (1985) , The Innocent (1985) , Underworld (1985) , The Death of a Heart (1985) , "Sorrell and Son" (1984) , "A Woman of Substance" (1983) , "Agony" (1981) , The First Day (1980)