Helen Baxendale
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Helen Victoria Baxendale (born 7 June 1970) is an English actress of stage and television, known for her roles as
Rachel Bradley Rachel Louise Bradley is a fictional character portrayed by Helen Baxendale in the British comedy-drama television series ''Cold Feet''. Rachel is introduced in Pilot (Cold Feet), the pilot episode (1997), where she begins a relationship with ...
in the British comedy drama '' Cold Feet'' (1997–2003), and
Emily Waltham Various characters appeared in the sitcom '' Friends'' and its spin-off series ''Joey'', which respectively aired for ten seasons and two seasons on NBC from 1994 to 2006. ''Friends'' featured six main cast members: Rachel Green-Geller (Jennifer ...
in the American
sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...
'' Friends'' (1998–1999). Baxendale's early stage credits include ''
The Soldiers The Soldiers is a singing trio consisting of serving British Army soldiers, whose debut album, ''Coming Home'', was released on 26 October 2009, and who have since continued their singing career whilst remaining full-time army personnel. Signe ...
'' at Glasgow's
Citizens Theatre The Citizens Theatre, in what was the Royal Princess's Theatre, is the creation of James Bridie and is based in Glasgow, Scotland as a principal producing theatre. The theatre includes a 500-seat Main Auditorium, and has also included various ...
, which earned her a 1993
Ian Charleson Award The Ian Charleson Awards are theatrical awards that reward the best classical stage performances in Britain by actors under age 30. The awards are named in memory of the renowned British actor Ian Charleson, and are run by the '' Sunday Times'' n ...
nomination. Her other television credits include ''
Cardiac Arrest Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is a medical emergency that, without immediate medical intervention, will result in sudden cardiac death within minutes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and possib ...
'' (1994–1996), ''
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman ''An Unsuitable Job for a Woman'' is the title of a detective novel by P. D. James and of a TV series of four dramas developed from that novel. It was published by Faber and Faber in the UK in 1972 and by Charles Scribner's Sons in the US. The ...
'' (1997–1999), '' Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years'' (2001), ''
Cuckoo Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes . The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals and anis. The coucals and anis are sometimes separ ...
'' (2012–2019), and ''
Noughts + Crosses File:2000s decade montage3.png, From top left, clockwise: The World Trade Center on fire and the Statue of Liberty during the 9/11 attacks in 2001; the euro enters into European currency in 2002; a statue of Saddam Hussein being toppled during t ...
'' (2020).


Early life

Baxendale was born on 7 June 1970 in
Pontefract Pontefract is a historic market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England, east of Wakefield and south of Castleford. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is one of the towns in the City of Wake ...
,
West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county County of York, West Riding (the area under the control of West Riding County Council), abbreviated County ...
. Baxendale's parents were teachers at a comprehensive school, her sister is the screenwriter Katie Baxendale. She grew up in
Shenstone, Staffordshire Shenstone is a village and civil parish in The Lichfield District, Staffordshire, England, located between Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield. The parish also contains the village of Stonnall. Transport Shenstone is very well served with buses t ...
, and attended
King Edward VI School, Lichfield King Edward VI School, Lichfield, is a Mixed-sex education, co-educational secondary school and sixth form located near the heart of the city of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is a Community school (England and Wales), community school mai ...
. She wanted to be a ballet dancer and trained at the
Elmhurst School for Dance Elmhurst Ballet School is an independent school for professional classical ballet in the United Kingdom. It takes students aged 11–19 years who intend to pursue a career in professional classical ballet. Elmhurst provides a full academic day in ...
, until dropping out aged 17 in favour of an acting career. She moved to the
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is a drama school in Bristol, England. The institution provides training in acting and production for careers in film, television and theatre. BOVTS is an affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama. I ...
, then worked at the
Glasgow Citizens' Theatre The Citizens Theatre, in what was the Royal Princess's Theatre, is the creation of James Bridie and is based in Glasgow, Scotland as a principal producing theatre. The theatre includes a 500-seat Main Auditorium, and has also included various s ...
from 1992 to 1995.


Career


Television

Via her work at
Glasgow Citizens' Theatre The Citizens Theatre, in what was the Royal Princess's Theatre, is the creation of James Bridie and is based in Glasgow, Scotland as a principal producing theatre. The theatre includes a 500-seat Main Auditorium, and has also included various s ...
, Baxendale was cast in hospital TV series ''
Cardiac Arrest Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is a medical emergency that, without immediate medical intervention, will result in sudden cardiac death within minutes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and possib ...
'', though it was not her first television role. Her performance as Dr Claire Maitland earned her a
Scottish BAFTA BAFTA in Scotland is the Scottish branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Formed in 1986, the branch holds two annual awards ceremonies recognising the achievement by performers and production staff in Scottish film, televis ...
nomination in 1995. Her role as
Rachel Bradley Rachel Louise Bradley is a fictional character portrayed by Helen Baxendale in the British comedy-drama television series ''Cold Feet''. Rachel is introduced in Pilot (Cold Feet), the pilot episode (1997), where she begins a relationship with ...
in the TV series '' Cold Feet'' garnered her a
British Comedy Award The National Comedy Awards (known as the British Comedy Awards from 1990 to 2014) is an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom, celebrating notable comedians and entertainment performances of the previous year. The British Comedy Awards ( ...
nomination. She starred in ''
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman ''An Unsuitable Job for a Woman'' is the title of a detective novel by P. D. James and of a TV series of four dramas developed from that novel. It was published by Faber and Faber in the UK in 1972 and by Charles Scribner's Sons in the US. The ...
'', playing
Cordelia Gray Cordelia Gray is a fictional character created by English author P. D. James. Gray is the protagonist of two novels, ''An Unsuitable Job for a Woman'' and of ''The Skull Beneath the Skin''. Cordelia Gray is a young woman who works as a private dete ...
.
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
stated: "her early roles were defined by icy cool, sleek bobs and ironic detachment." Aged 27 Baxendale was cast in a recurring role in '' Friends'' as
Ross Geller Ross Geller, portrayed by David Schwimmer, is one of the six main characters of the NBC sitcom ''Friends''. Ross is considered by many to be the most intelligent member of the group and is noted for his goofy but lovable demeanor. His relations ...
's girlfriend, wife and ultimately ex-wife
Emily Waltham Various characters appeared in the sitcom '' Friends'' and its spin-off series ''Joey'', which respectively aired for ten seasons and two seasons on NBC from 1994 to 2006. ''Friends'' featured six main cast members: Rachel Green-Geller (Jennifer ...
. She appeared in fourteen
episodes Episodes may refer to: * Episode An episode is a narrative unit within a larger dramatic work or documentary production, such as a series intended for radio, television or streaming consumption. The noun ''episode'' is derived from the Gree ...
throughout
Season 4 Season 4 may refer to: * "Season 4" (''30 Rock'' episode), an episode of ''30 Rock'' See also * * Season One (disambiguation) Season One may refer to: Albums * ''Season One'' (Suburban Legends album), 2004 * ''Season One'' (All Sons & Daughte ...
and early
Season 5 A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and po ...
. Speaking to
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
in 2022, Baxendale said ''I saw those people in Friends, for example, and thought: I don’t think that life is really what I want. They were hounded. They weren’t able to walk into a supermarket and buy something....'' (On the attention she received for being in Friends) ''This thing… this programme that I happened to be in for a few episodes. The whole thing was bonkers.'' Other notable roles include Lorna Johnson in ''Truth or Dare'' alongside John Hannah, Caroline Meagher in ''The Investigator'' alongside
Laura Fraser Laura Fraser (born 24 July 1975) is a Scottish actress. She has played Door in the urban fantasy series ''Neverwhere'', Kate in the film ''A Knight's Tale'', Cat MacKenzie in the BBC Three drama series ''Lip Service'' and Lydia Rodarte-Quayle i ...
, and Julie Matthews in
Curt Truninger Curt Truninger (born 1957) is a Swiss filmmaker, screenplay writer and Film producer, producer. He also works as a visual artist, journalist and occasional actor. He divides his time between Toronto and Zurich. Curt Truninger is a Member of the ...
's ''Dead by Monday''. She was nominated for another
Scottish BAFTA BAFTA in Scotland is the Scottish branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Formed in 1986, the branch holds two annual awards ceremonies recognising the achievement by performers and production staff in Scottish film, televis ...
in 1997 for her role as Lorna Johnson. ''Dead by Monday'' won the Angel Award for Best Film at the
Monaco International Film Festival The Monaco International Film Festival is an annual international special interest film festival held in Monaco. It is a non-profit organization, formed in December 2003 and founded by Rosana Golden and Dean Bentley The festival focuses on non-viol ...
in 2003 and the Portland Festival of World Cinema award for best feature film in 2001. She played
Pandora Braithwaite Dr Pandora Louise Elizabeth Braithwaite is a fictional character in the ''Adrian Mole'' series of books by Sue Townsend. In the books, Pandora is the love of Adrian's life. Pandora is beautiful (Adrian especially loves her 'treacle-coloured' hai ...
in '' Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years'' in 2001 and "Maggie" in the multiple award-winning ''Bolse Vita''. She appeared in ''Saving Nellie'', a physics programme running on
Teachers TV Teachers TV was a UK government–funded website and former free-to-air distance education television channel which operated from 2005–2011. The website provided video and support materials for those who work in education, including teachers ...
. From 2007 to January 2008 she starred in ''
Swimming with Sharks ''Swimming with Sharks'' (also known as ''The Boss'' and ''Buddy Factor'') is a 1994 American black comedy / thriller drama film written and directed by George Huang and starring Kevin Spacey, Frank Whaley and Michelle Forbes. Plot Buddy Acker ...
'' alongside
Christian Slater Christian Michael Leonard Slater (born August 18, 1969) is an American actor and producer. He made his film debut with a leading role in ''The Legend of Billie Jean'' (1985) and gained wider recognition for his breakthrough role as Jason "J.D." D ...
at London's Vaudeville Theatre. In 2010, Baxendale appeared in the pilot episode of ''
Dirk Gently Dirk Gently (born Svlad Cjelli, also known as Dirk Cjelli) is a fictional character created by English writer Douglas Adams and featured in the books '' Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency'', ''The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul'' and '' T ...
'' as Susan Harmison. In January 2011, she co-starred with
Trevor Eve Trevor John Eve (born 1 July 1951) is an English film and television actor. In 1979 he gained fame as the eponymous lead in the detective series '' Shoestring'' and is also known for his role as Detective Superintendent Peter Boyd in BBC telev ...
in the three-part ITV drama ''
Kidnap and Ransom ''Kidnap and Ransom'' is a British television three-part miniseries, originally shown on ITV in January 2011 with a second series following in February 2012. The series follows the work of a British hostage negotiator Dominic King, played by ...
'', filmed on location in South Africa. Later in 2011, she starred as DCI Marion Bettany in
Val McDermid Valarie "Val" McDermid, (born 4 June 1955) is a Scottish crime writer, best known for a series of novels featuring clinical psychologist Dr. Tony Hill in a grim sub-genre that McDermid and others have identified as Tartan Noir. Biography ...
's radio crime drama ''Village SOS''. In 2012 she reprised her role in the second episode. She then appeared in the ''
Inspector George Gently ''Inspector George Gently'' (also known as ''George Gently'' for the pilot and first series) is a 2008 British television crime drama series produced by Company Pictures for BBC One, set in the 1960s and loosely based on some of the Inspector G ...
'' episode "The Lost Child" alongside
Mark Gatiss Mark Gatiss (; born 17 October 1966) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, director, producer and novelist. His work includes writing for and acting in the television series ''Doctor Who'', '' Sherlock'', and '' Dracula''. Together with ...
. From 2012 to 2019, she starred in ''
Cuckoo Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes . The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals and anis. The coucals and anis are sometimes separ ...
'' as Lorna, the mother in-law of the titular Dale 'Cuckoo' Ashbrick. In 2020 she played housekeeper Meggie McGregor in ''
Noughts + Crosses File:2000s decade montage3.png, From top left, clockwise: The World Trade Center on fire and the Statue of Liberty during the 9/11 attacks in 2001; the euro enters into European currency in 2002; a statue of Saddam Hussein being toppled during t ...
''.


Stage

Baxendale starred as Christine in
Patrick Marber Patrick Albert Crispin Marber (born 19 September 1964) is an English comedian, playwright, director, actor, and screenwriter. Early life Marber was born and raised in a middle-class Jewish family in Wimbledon, London, the son of Angela (Benjam ...
's ''
After Miss Julie ''After Miss Julie'' is a 1995 play by Patrick Marber which relocates August Strindberg's naturalist tragedy, ''Miss Julie'' (1888), to an English country house in July 1945. The re-imagining of the events of Strindberg's original are transposed ...
'', and in 2005 appeared as Romy, the title role in ''The Woman Before'' at the
Royal Court A royal court, often called simply a court when the royal context is clear, is an extended royal household in a monarchy, including all those who regularly attend on a monarch, or another central figure. Hence, the word "court" may also be appl ...
alongside
Nigel Lindsay Nigel Lindsay (born 17 January 1969) is an English actor. He is best known on television for his roles as Sir Robert Peel in the first two seasons of ''Victoria'', Jo Jo Marshall in the Netflix series '' Safe'' and as Barry in the BAFTA-winnin ...
,
Saskia Reeves Saskia Reeves (born 16 August 1961) is an English actress, best known for her roles in the films '' Close My Eyes'' (1991) and ''I.D.'' (1995), the 2000 miniseries ''Frank Herbert's Dune'' and the 2016 film '' Our Kind of Traitor''. Early lif ...
, Tom Riley and
Georgia Taylor Georgia Taylor (born Claire Jackson; 26 February 1980) is an English actress. Her TV roles include Toyah Battersby in the ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'' (1997–2003, 2016–present), Ruth Winters in the BBC One medical drama series ' ...
. She played Ophelia in ''
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
'' (the Marovitz Hamlet) alongside
Henry Ian Cusick Henry Ian Cusick (born 17 April 1967) is a Peruvian-Scottish actor of television, film, and theatre and a television director. He is best known for his role as Desmond Hume in the ABC television series ''Lost'', for which he received a Primet ...
. She was nominated for an
Ian Charleson Award The Ian Charleson Awards are theatrical awards that reward the best classical stage performances in Britain by actors under age 30. The awards are named in memory of the renowned British actor Ian Charleson, and are run by the '' Sunday Times'' n ...
(best classical actor under 30) for her 1993 performance in ''Soldiers'' at the
Glasgow Citizens Theatre The Citizens Theatre, in what was the Royal Princess's Theatre, is the creation of James Bridie and is based in Glasgow, Scotland as a principal producing theatre. The theatre includes a 500-seat Main Auditorium, and has also included various ...
. In 2009 Baxendale played Lara in ''Amongst Friends'' alongside
Aden Gillett John Aden Gillett is a British actor. He is best known for playing the role of Jack Maddox on the BBC series '' The House of Eliott''. Biography and career Gillet was born in the city of Aden, Yemen, from which he got his name. He attended ...
and
Emma Cunniffe Emma Cunniffe (born 3 July 1973) is an English film, stage and television actress. Early life Cunniffe was raised in Frodsham, Cheshire and attended Frodsham High School. She was in the local Frodsham panto group whilst growing up and was on ...
at
Hampstead Theatre Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in South Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. Roxana Silbert has been the artistic director since ...
.


Radio

In 2008, Baxendale guest starred in episode three of the award winning BBC radio comedy ''
Cabin Pressure Cabin pressurization is a process in which conditioned air is pumped into the cabin of an aircraft or spacecraft in order to create a safe and comfortable environment for passengers and crew flying at high altitudes. For aircraft, this air is ...
''.


Personal life

Baxendale has been with her boyfriend David L. Williams since her Glasgow days. Together they have three children.Laws, Roz (13 April 2009) including actress
Nell Williams Nell Marmalade Baxendale-Williams (born 13 September 1998), known as Nell Williams, is an English actress. In 2015 she portrayed a teen version of Cersei Lannister (portrayed by Lena Headey as an adult) in flashback sequences of the opening epis ...
.
Helen Baxendale gets the balance right after Cold Feet and Friends
. ''Birmingham Post'' (Trinity Mirror Midlands). Retrieved 26 May 2018.
Her first pregnancy was written into ''
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman ''An Unsuitable Job for a Woman'' is the title of a detective novel by P. D. James and of a TV series of four dramas developed from that novel. It was published by Faber and Faber in the UK in 1972 and by Charles Scribner's Sons in the US. The ...
'' and her second was written into the fourth series of '' Cold Feet''. Baxendale's oldest child is the actor
Nell Williams Nell Marmalade Baxendale-Williams (born 13 September 1998), known as Nell Williams, is an English actress. In 2015 she portrayed a teen version of Cersei Lannister (portrayed by Lena Headey as an adult) in flashback sequences of the opening epis ...
. Due to Baxendale's first pregnancy, and the fact that she lived in the UK rather than the US, her character was written out of '' Friends'' earlier than the writers had originally intended. She appeared in only 14 episodes, despite her character dating, marrying, and divorcing
Ross Geller Ross Geller, portrayed by David Schwimmer, is one of the six main characters of the NBC sitcom ''Friends''. Ross is considered by many to be the most intelligent member of the group and is noted for his goofy but lovable demeanor. His relations ...
(
David Schwimmer David Lawrence Schwimmer (born November 2, 1966) is an American actor, director and producer. He gained worldwide recognition for portraying Ross Geller in the sitcom '' Friends'', for which he received a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Prime ...
), one of the show's six leads.Bright, Kevin S.; Marta Kauffman; David Crane. (2004). ''Friends: The Complete Fourth Season'' DVD audio commentary for "
The One with Ross's Wedding "The One with Ross's Wedding" is the two-part fourth-season finale of the American television sitcom ''Friends'', comprising the 96th and 97th episodes of the series overall. Originally broadcast by NBC on May 7, 1998, the episode features Ross, Mo ...
". VD Warner Home Video.


Filmography


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Baxendale, Helen 1970 births Living people People from Shenstone, Staffordshire Alumni of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School English film actresses English stage actresses English television actresses Actors from Pontefract 20th-century English actresses 21st-century English actresses People educated at the Elmhurst School for Dance People educated at King Edward VI School, Lichfield Actors from Staffordshire Actresses from Yorkshire Actors from Wakefield