Josette Simon
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Josette Patricia Simon OBE (born c. 1960) is a British actress. She trained for the stage at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London.[1]
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[edit] Career
She is best known for her portrayal of Dayna Mellanby in the third and fourth seasons of the television sci-fi series Blake's 7. Her recent television work includes roles in Lewis, Casualty, Skins, Midsomer Murders, The Last Detective and the Poirot episode "The Mystery of the Blue Train".
Simon's film appearances include Cry Freedom and Milk and Honey, for which she was nominated for a Best Actress award.
Simon is also a notable stage actress who has performed frequently with the Royal National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, being cast a one of the three 'weird sisters' in Macbeth alongside Kathy Behean, Lesley Sharp and Bob Peck who played the lead.
As a black actress, she has been at the forefront of 'colour-blind' or 'non-traditional' casting, frequently taking roles traditionally considered white.[2][3] One example is Maggie in Arthur Miller's After the Fall, which has been said to have been based on Marilyn Monroe, former wife of Miller, a performance which won Simon the Evening Standard's Best Actress award in 1990,[4] as well as several Best Actress nominations.
She was also nominated for a Best Actress award for her performance in Golden Girls at the RSC. In 1992 she starred alongside Brenda Fricker in the TV film Seekers, produced by Sarah Lawson.
[edit] Awards and honours
Simon was awarded the OBE for services to drama in 2000,[5] and also received an honorary Master of Arts degree from the University of Leicester in 1995.
