Ruth Connell

Ruth Connell (born 20 April 1979) is a Scottish actress and producer. She is also a former professional dancer and choreographer. Connell is known for her recurring role as Rowena MacLeod in the CW series ''Supernatural'' (2014–2019). She was nominated as "Best Leading Actress" in the 2013 Broadway World Los Angeles Awards for her portrayal of Mrs Darling and Captain Hook at the Blank Theatre, Los Angeles in their award-winning production of ''Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers''.

Early life

Born in Falkirk and raised outside Bonnybridge, she is the only child of football manager and coach David Connell and teacher Fiona Murray. Connell was sent to dancing lessons at an early age to keep her cousin company; she showed promise and was accepted onto the Scottish Ballets Vocational Dance Education Scheme. She performed many child roles with Scottish Ballet including the lead role of Clara in their ''Nutcracker''. She won the titles of Scottish Junior Ballet Champion and Scottish Senior Ballet champion at Stage Festivals in Scotland as a teenager.

Career

After working as a professional dancer with companies The Curve Foundation, Jazz Art UK, and with Leah Stein at Dancebase Edinburgh, Connell attended the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in London where she gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Acting. She was picked as the "Critics Choice" by the adjudicator from ''The Stage'' newspaper for her graduation showcase. After leaving drama college, she performed the lead role of Grusha in Bertolt Brecht's ''The Caucasian Chalk Circle'', which toured for The Palace Theatre, Watford in 2004.

Connell toured the UK in 2005 with the Oxford Stage Company's revival of '' Men Should Weep'' in the role of Isa. In 2006 she played the lead female roles of Gretchen and Helen of Troy in ''Faust'' at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. The production was CATS-nominated Critics Awards for theatre in Scotland. In 2007 Connell played ballroom dancer Lily at the Citizens Theater's sell out production of Alex Norton's ''No Mean City'' and in 2008, Connell played the dual roles of Mrs. Beaver/Mrs. Mcready to glowing reviews ''The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'' at The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh.

Connell was cast as a series regular in the ITV sitcom pilot ''Above Their Stations'' in 2009, which also starred Denis Lawson, Ashley Madekwe, Andrew Brooke and Simon Dudley shown on BBC Three. Connell is also credited with producing ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' and ''Hansel and Gretel'' at the Avenue Theatre Company based in Greenwich during this time period as well as the short film ''Sapphire Strange'' and web series ''John and Jane''.

Since moving to the United States in 2011, Connell has had lead roles in the award-winning independent film ''Folklore'' as well as in the feature films ''The Cursed Man'', based on the cult novel by Keith Rommel, and ''Hara Kiri'', a punk infused love story of two street skaters, directed by Aitch Alberto. She has replaced Kelly Macdonald as the voice of Merida in several productions, such as the video game '' Disney Infinity 3.0'', ''Disney Dreamlight Valley'' and the ''Sofia the First'' episode "The Secret Library". From 2014 to 2020 Connell played Rowena, a powerful witch and also the mother of the King of Hell, Crowley ( Mark A. Sheppard), on the TV series ''Supernatural'' starting in season 10 up until its fifteenth and final season and has been one of the longest running female characters on the show.

Personal life

Connell is in a relationship with her ''Supernatural'' co-star, Rob Benedict. They have a daughter, who was born in January 2024.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Connell, Ruth
1979 births
Living people
Alumni of Rose Bruford College
Broadway theatre people
People educated at Graeme High School
People from Bonnybridge
People from Falkirk
Scottish ballerinas
Scottish film actresses
Scottish stage actresses
Scottish television actresses