Emma Jane Connell is an English Actress, born October 1st 1986 in Kelvedon, North Essex to parents John Shelley and Amanda Jane Connell. Also the birth place of Olivier award-winning actress Juliet Stevenson. Emma is best known for her role as Anne Boleyn in the television series - Henry and Anne: The Lovers Who Changed History (2014), Jane in Ecosse Films - A Royal Night Out (2015) starring Sarah Gadon, Rupert Everett and Emily Watson, and Helen in - Late Shift (2016) the first interactive feature film of its kind. Other television credits include Melissa Bailey in BBC Doctors and Anne Mylner in - Tony Robinson's Gods and Monsters - (2012) for Channel 4.
Emma began her acting career at the age of 15 whilst attending Hedingham Secondary School in the small, Essex village of Sible Hedingham. Whilst focusing on her GCSE examinations, achieving A grades in Drama, she continued her studies at the Sixth Form College in A-level Drama, English Literature, Biology and Chemistry in 2005 where she achieved A grades for her Drama and Performance. Emma went on to study a Drama and Theatre degree at the University of Essex, Colchester. Emma was cast in her first leading role in a production of 'Fen' by Caryl Churchill, she also directed an adaptation of Harold Pinter's 'Party Time' at the Lakeside Theatre, Colchester in 2009. After graduating University with first class honours Emma met Uri Roodner, actor and Head of BA Contemporary Theatre at East 15 Acting School in Loughton who both inspired and encouraged her to audition for a place on the MA Acting course. After a successful audition Emma was offered a place at East 15 Acting School in 2009. Emma went on to play Russian modernist poet, Anna Akhmatova in a production directed by Andrea Brooks at Battersea Arts Centre in 2010 and Lady Macbeth in a performance directed by Simon Usher who has also staged major productions for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court Theatre and the National Theatre. Since finishing her training with first class honours and a successful showcase at BAFTA in London, Emma has been represented by Wintersons Talent Agency of Covent Garden and worked extensively in commercials for big brands including Mini, LG, Netflix, Bulmers, and Phones 4U. She was also flown out to Vancouver in 2014 where she filmed the leading role in a pharmaceutical campaign, which is now airing all over American and Canada.
Emma's theatre credits include Anne Boleyn in - Fallen in Love (2013) which was staged at The Tower of London. It was this role as Queen Anne that landed Emma the task of playing her once more for the television series later that year. Emma received critical acclaim for her performance as Anne Boleyn by the Telegraph who reported "Emma Connell's performance is beguilingly playful, intelligent, graceful, momentarily imperious before her downfall but above all she remains a tantalising enigma. And that's as it should be." May 19 2013. Including a star review in What's On Stage "Emma Connell is superb as Anne, effortlessly imbuing this complex character with a naivety and ambition that are clearly at odds with each other and a sure sign that Anne's time as queen consort will not end well." May 18 2013 "Emma Connell is the finest actress that I have seen play Anne Boleyn."
Other theatre credits include Caitlin in - Darkness (2011) directed by Gari Jones at the Lakeside Theatre Colchester and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Just So Stories (2011) at The Pleasance, Islington and Jenkins in - He's Much to Blame (2010) at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds which became Emma's first professional stage role before training at East 15 Acting School.
Emma still lives in North Essex with fiancé James Valentine and is currently attached to two feature films in-development which are to begin filming in 2016.
