Joanna Vanderham
Tonight’s The Paradise sees the BBC once again going back in time, with the period drama aiming to make the most of the launch of Downton Abbey’s third series and capture a Tuesday night audience.
Perhaps the biggest story of all though is the rise of its star, Joanna Vanderham, the 20 year old from Perth who merely a year ago was a drama student in college and is now the face of a major BBC drama.
It all started with her role in Sky’s Martina Cole adaptation The Runaways. Plucked out of only her second year at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Vanderham was thrust into the limelight as joint lead Cathy, caught in a tragic love story with her lifelong companion Eamonn.
For the outside viewer, it was impossible to see that it was her first role on TV, as right out of the gate she was stunning in the role, never showing anything like nerves.
Joanna didn’t show any signs of stopping from there, snaring a role in the BBC’s Young James Herriot drama as the antagonistic love interest Jenny. Jenny was all aloof disdain and high expectations, delivered in smooth style by Vanderham, yet again belying her inexperience.
With a bit part in ITV’s crime drama Above Suspicion to tide her over, it was only a short wait until she was leading a cast list one again in her fledgling career.
Now, playing the earnest and go-getting Denise, Joanna’s set to become a mainstay of BBC One for the next two months as the emotional heart of The Paradise.
The future looks incredibly bright for her too, as she’s secured roles in both the BBC’s massive Stephen Poliakoff drama Dancing On The Edge (alongside such stars as Chiwetel Ejiofor and Jenna-Louise Coleman) and movie What Maisie Knew, which will see her working with Julianne Moore and Alexander Skarsgard.
This could be the start of something very big indeed for the young Scot. Remember the name.
Tagged in BBC