Education
Gemma Craven"s family moved from Dublin to England in 1960, and she attended the same school as Helen Mirren, Street Bernard"s Convent High School for Girls in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex.
Gemma Craven"s family moved from Dublin to England in 1960, and she attended the same school as Helen Mirren, Street Bernard"s Convent High School for Girls in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex.
She is best known for her role as Joan Parker, the frigid wife of Arthur (Bob Hoskins), in the British Broadcasting Corporation television drama Pennies From Heaven (1978). She appeared as Cinderella in the film The Slipper and the Rose (1976) opposite Richard Chamberlain. Cast as an unknown, she was spotted by one of the producers while performing at the Bristol Old Vic in a production of The Threepenny Opera.
The local press touted the event as her own "Cinderella" story.
The musical gave Craven an opportunity to shine with her impressive singing talents. She also played Josie in Boy George"s Taboo and features on the Optical Character Recognition singing "Independent Woman".
She appeared as Joan Parker, the frigid wife of Arthur (Bob Hoskins), in the original television version of Dennis Potter"s Pennies From Heaven (1978). She has since talked about the difficulty the role presented in undertaking a nude scene, which was seen as counter to her public image. in the popular English drama Midsomer Murders episode, "Shot at Dawn" as Judy Hicks, the wife of Dave Hicks (Brian Capron).
Her most substantial film role was as Minna Wagner opposite Richard Burton"s Richard Wagner, in the 1983 film Wagner.
She also made an appearance in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1993). On radio, she played the part of Helen in the British Broadcasting Corporation Radio 4 comedy Clare in the Community. She appeared on Irish television in the popular medical drama series The Clinic which runs weekly on RTÉ One.
In November/December 2008, Craven appeared in Hollyoaks Later as Erin "Ma" Fisher - Mother to Malachy, Kris and Bernadette.