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Georgia Taylor, the actress who stars
as Toyah, was born Claire Jackson on 26th February 1980 in Billinge nr. Wigan,
Lancashire.
Georgia's Mum, Caroline is
from Clontarf, Dublin and her Dad, Geoff is an accountant. She has one younger brother, David.
Her acting began early when at
the age of 10 a progressive primary school teacher at her school, St. Mary's,
encouraged her pupils to
perform Shakespeare. Claire's role was Lady Macbeth!!
A serious bout of pneumonia
at the age of 11 gave Claire her determination to succeed.
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Having enjoyed the acting
experience, Claire continued with appearances in plays at her High School, St.
Peters.
Achieving 11 GCSEs (including Drama
and an A in Art) at school she moved on to Winstanley sixth form college in Wigan
taking A-level Theatre Studies, English Language and Psychology.
Her first role was as a singer
alongside Darren Day in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the
Palace Theatre Manchester. She also acted in "The Red Shoes" at the
Linarce Theatre as well as attending the Willpower Youth Theatre and Summer
School.
She didn't have a Battersby-like
upbringing and her only rebellish behavior involved dying her fringe red and
having her nose pierced!
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Claire was turned down for the role of Zoe Tattershall on Coronation Street
but landed the part of Toyah Battersby whilst still at sixth form college. "When I got the call to say I'd got the part I just
sat there, open-mouthed, hugging my best friend". Having got the part
Claire changed her name to Georgia Taylor*.
With only an initial 5 month contract though she was still
unsure whether to abandon her university ambitions but 3 years on she is now
attending university as Toyah!
The highlight of Georgia's career so far was her nomination for the Best Young Actress at
the 1998 National TV Awards for her superb acting whilst being held hostage by Neil Flynn.
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Georgia has now bought her own 2
bedroom flat,
in Castlefield, Manchester (within walking distance
of Granada Studios), and is a bit of a cleanliest freak when it comes to
tidying it. She owns 2 furbies, one of which doesn't get on with Tracy Shaw's
furby, and a cat called Maggie (now 2 kittens called Hari and Bo).
Georgia also admits to being a bit of a white liar
teller when it comes to encouraging others! She plays the piano and has
interests in football (supports Everton like her Dad), music and films.
She likes Johnny Depp, Madonna and the Simpsons but
dislikes sharks. Maybe Johnny "Scissorhands" Depp could get a job
at Audrey's salon.
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As Georgia turns 21 she's very much in love with
boyfriend Mark Eyden a musician from the band Marlo (now with the Jackdaws). They met by chance at a
nightclub in Hanley, Stoke and with the help of Georgia's best friend,
Nicole, Georgia made the move that led to their ongoing romance.
Although in love they have no current engagement plans
and just want to continue to have fun. They still look back on their first
meeting dancing to the strains of "The Time is Now" by Moloko.
Georgia has now taken the plunge and gone for the
brunette look which of course means Toyah has become a brunette
also!
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Georgia has faced her toughest career challenge yet having
to portray the attack and rape of Toyah. Her accomplished performance was
both moving and realistic and led to a British Soap Award nomination.
On the evening on 26th May 2001 Georgia eclipsed her
1998 achievement as a nominee for best young actress by winning a British
Soap award, beating EastEnder's Natalie Cassidy, for "Most
Dramatic Performance".
Congratulations Georgia you deserved it!
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Georgia has continued the year 2001
by completing a hat-trick of awards, winning Best Actress at both the Royal
Television Society and Manchester Evening News awards. She also was nominated
for a prestigious National TV Award.
Christmas Day saw Georgia with
her family in Yorkshire and Boxing Day with her boyfriend's Mark's family.
Georgia and Mark are also planning a well-deserved holiday somewhere hot!
As the year 2001 ends Georgia is
extremely happy with both her professional and personal lives. She is also
very happy with the new kitchen recently installed in her flat.
Hopefully 2002 will bring even
more happiness and success.
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| On July 30th 2002, after 5 years of
playing Toyah, Georgia Taylor made the brave decision to leave
Coronation Street behind and pursue acting roles elsewhere. She will
film her last episodes in January 2003.
Georgia stated that "I have had the most
amazing time working on Coronation Street but the time has come to move
on and try my hand at other things. "I have made some wonderful
friends that I know I will have for life. I will be sad to leave but I
am very excited about the future."
A boss at the show's makers Granada said:
"Nobody wants to see her go." Georgia
passed her driving test at the first attempt on the 12th October 2002 and she named her first car,
Majorie. |
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Georgia filmed her final Corrie
episode in mid-January 2003 which was transmitted on the 5th February
2003.
Her colleagues organised a
very special leaving present - they named a star Kitty after her on-set nickname that Angela Lonsdale (Emma Watts) gave Georgia based on Toyah's
"Hello Kitty" trademark tee shirts.
Georgia is now starting her
acting career afresh with a new London agent and looking for new exciting roles such
as costume dramas, comedy or even theatre.
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| Since finishing Corrie in January
2003, Georgia has already undertaken two new projects. The first was
starring alongside former Minder actor, Dennis Waterman as a pregnant
student in a "Where The Heart Is" special to be broadcast over
Christmas. The second is a sit-com pilot set in Newcastle, based on the lives
and loves of three young girls.
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| Early 2004
sees Georgia appearing in episodes of BBC1's military drama, Red Cap,
and ITV1's sixties nursing drama, The Royal. During this spring she is
filming a 6-part series for the BBC titled Blackpool. The series is a
musical drama in the style of the Singing Detective and is to be
screened in the Autumn.
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Blackpool was one of the major TV hits of 2004 and
it put Georgia in the acclaimed company of the likes of David Morrissey
and Sarah Parish. She is fast becoming the next Sarah Lancashire.
At the end of 2004 Georgia lives in her
Manchester flat with boyfriend Mark and cats Hari and Bo with Jane Danson
living very close by.
A brief return to Corrie as Toyah
could be on the
cards for 2005.
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| May and June 2005 has
seen Georgia making her professional stage debut in "The Woman
Before" at the Royal Court Theatre in London's West End. Her
portrayal of the young Tina in the Roland Schimmelpfennig play has
received excellent reviews and could herald the start of a successful
stage career.
Georgia has now landed the role of school
secretary in the screen version of Alan Bennett's play "The History
Boys", filming from July 2005.
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November 2005 sees Georgia appearing in her first
play in her adopted home city of Manchester. She plays Julie Bridges in
Christmas is Miles Away at the Royal Exchange Studio. Julie is a love
rival between two teenage boys in a play set in the Stone Roses period
of the early nineties.
Georgia was nominated for a Manchester Evening
News theatre award for Christmas Is Miles Away and after a sell out run
in Manchester the play is being restaged at the Bush Theatre, London in
the Spring of 2006 with the original cast.
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| Georgia
began 2006 by filming a one-off special of her Shyanne Holden role for
Viva Blackpool. This was immediately followed by her 2nd run of
Christmas Is Miles Away.
Georgia's lead in the BBC Afternoon play,
Molly, was shown in January and she has also filmed guest roles in Life
on Mars and most recently, this June, in Lilies as a 1920's Olympic
swimmer.
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Georgia recently filmed an episode of
the BBC1 legal drama, New Street Law, a short film called Soul Shutter
and at the start of 2007 is filming a British crime thriller called
Baker Street.
Georgia and Mark split in early 2007.
Georgia has now landed the continuing role of
junior doctor, Ruth Winters in BBC1's BAFTA winning medical drama, Casualty. Georgia
starting filming in June 2007 and her first screen appearance was on 8th
September 2007.
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February 2008 Georgia's Casualty character, Dr Ruth Winters, attempted
suicide by hanging herself. Georgia's performance in these episodes deservedly
won her widespread critical acclaim. As Ruth lies in a coma we have to wait
and see if she recovers and returns to being a doctor.
Ruth did survive as Georgia had extended her
Casualty contract up to the end of 2008.
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Georgia's performances as the suicidal Ruth
Winters earned her a richly deserved nomination for a prestigious Most
Popular Newcomer title at the 2008 National Television Awards.
After renting in Bristol for a year Georgia has
now purchased a Victorian house in Bristol which she is renovating
herself. So it looks as if Dr Ruth Winters is here to stay!
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Georgia's Agents:
CONWAY VAN GELDER LIMITED
3rd Floor
18/21 Jermyn Street
London SW1Y 6HP
Tel: 0207 287 0077
Email: info@conwayvg.co.uk
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*After getting the Corrie part Claire
needed a name for her equity card. Claire Jackson was already taken so she
chose her recently departed grandfather's surname, Taylor. Unfortunately Claire
Taylor was also taken so it was either keep Claire or keep Taylor. She liked
the idea of using her grandfather's name so she decided to choose a different
first name, Georgia.
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