Victoria Wood
Victoria Wood CBE (19 May 1953, Prestwich, Lancashire – 20 April 2016, Highgate, North London)[1] was an English comedienne, actress, singer, writer and television presenter.
| Victoria Wood | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 19 May 1953 Prestwich, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 20 April 2016 (aged 62) Highgate, London, England |
| Medium | Actress, comedienne, singer-songwriter, screenwriter, director, presenter |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1974–2015 |
| Genres | Stand-up, Observational humour |
| Spouse | (separated) |
| Children | Grace Durham, Henry Durham |
| BAFTA Awards | |
| Best Television Actress 2007 Housewife, 49 Best Single Drama 2007 Housewife, 49 Best Light Entertainment Performance 1989 An Audience With Victoria Wood Best Light Entertainment Performance 1986 Victoria Wood As Seen On TV | |
| British Comedy Awards | |
| Best Live Stand Up 1991 2001 Best Female Comedy Performer 1995 Writer of the Year 2000 dinnerladies Lifetime Achievement Award 2005 | |
Career
Victoria Wood went to Bury Grammar Girls' School.[2] She wrote and starred in sketches, plays, films and sitcoms. She was a stand-up comedian. She sang and accompanied herself on the piano.[3]
Her humour was usually about everyday life, known as observational comedy. It was often satirical. It referred to popular British media and brand names of British products.[4]
She started her career in 1974 by winning the ATV talent show New Faces. It was not until the 1980s that she began to be known as a comedy star, with the award-winning television series Victoria Wood As Seen On TV and became one of Britain's most popular stand-up comedians.
In 1998, she wrote and starred in the sitcom dinnerladies (deliberately spelt with a small-case "d") which ran for 16 episodes over two seasons.
Wood often worked with Anne Reid, Maxine Peake, Julie Walters, Duncan Preston and Celia Imrie.
She won many awards, including the BAFTA award. She was made a CBE in 2008.[5]
Personal life
Wood married magician Geoffrey Durham in March 1980.[6] They separated in October 2002 and divorced in 2003. They had a daughter, Grace (born 1988) who is a singer and son Henry (born 1992).
Wood's brother is the politician Chris Foote Wood.
Death
Wood was diagnosed with terminal cancer in late 2015, but kept her illness private.[7] She died on 20 April 2016 at her Highgate home, aged 62.[8]
BAFTA nominations
- Wood had four wins from fourteen nominations ( she also had a special Bafta that she received at a Bafta tribute evening in 2005, taking her total to five )
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Best Light Entertainment Performance | Victoria Wood As Seen On TV | Won |
| 1987 | Best Light Entertainment Performance | Victoria Wood As Seen On TV | Nominated |
| 1988 | Best Light Entertainment Performance | Victoria Wood As Seen On TV | Nominated |
| 1989 | Best Light Entertainment Performance | An Audience With Victoria Wood | Won |
| 1990 | Best Light Entertainment Performance | Victoria Wood | Nominated |
| 1995 | Best Actress | Pat and Margaret | Nominated |
| Best Single Drama | Pat and Margaret | Nominated | |
| Best Light Entertainment Performance | Victoria Wood: Live in Your Own Home | Nominated | |
| 1999 | Best Comedy Programme or Series | Dinnerladies | Nominated |
| 2000 | Best Situation Comedy | Dinnerladies | Nominated |
| 2001 | Best Comedy Programme or Series | Victoria Wood with All The Trimmings | Nominated |
| 2007 | Best Actress | Housewife 49 | Won |
| Best Single Drama | Housewife 49 | Won | |
| 2011 | Best Single Drama | Eric and Ernie | Nominated |
- Victoria Wood As Seen On TV won the BAFTA for "Best Entertainment Programme" in 1986, 1987 and 1988, these awards went to the producer, Geoff Posner.
- An Audience With Victoria Wood won the BAFTA for "Best Entertainment Programme" in 1989, this award went to David G. Hillier.
References
- ↑ "Comedian Victoria Wood dies aged 62". BBC News. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ↑ "Manchester Television Broadcasters and Media Celebrities including Cannon and Ball, Alistair Cooke, Mike Yarwood, Joanne Kilmer Whalley, Victoria Wood, Peter Skellern, Bernard Wrigley and John Mahoney". www.manchester2002-uk.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
- ↑ Brandwood, Neil (2002). Victoria Wood – The Biography (1st ed.). London: Boxtree. ISBN 1-85227-982-6.
- ↑ Duguid, Mark (July 2003). "Wood, Victoria (1953–)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
- ↑
- ↑ Comic Wood splits from husband. BBC News. 25 October 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2360153.stm. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
- ↑ "Victoria Wood Was Determined To Battle Cancer Privately, Says Brother". The Huffington Post. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ↑ Saul, Heather (20 April 2016). "Victoria Wood dead: Actress and comedian dies from cancer aged 62". The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/victoria-wood-dead-actress-and-comedian-dies-from-cancer-a6992966.html. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
Other websites
Media related to Victoria Wood at Wikimedia Commons- Victoria Wood on IMDb
- Victoria Wood at the British Film Institute's Screenonline