Biography of Gemma Craven (Ireland)

Born:  Rita Gemma Gabriel, 1 June 1950 (age 74), Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

active:  1972–2012

Occupation:  Actress, performer, singer, musician

Awards:  Society of West End Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical

Rita Gemma Craven 

(born 1 June 1950) is a retired Irish actress. She is best known for her role as Joan Parker, the frigid wife of Arthur (Bob Hoskins), in the BBC TV drama Pennies From Heaven (1978).

Craven's family moved from Dublin to Britain in 1960, and she attended the same school as Helen Mirren, St Bernard's Convent High School for Girls in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex. She was cast as an unknown, having been spotted by one of the producers while performing at the Bristol Old Vic in a production of The Threepenny Opera. 

She co-starred in the acclaimed 1982 British TV version of East Lynne. On the same Victorian theme she also appeared on BBC TV's long running old time music hall show The Good Old Days.

Her most substantial film role was as Minna Wagner opposite Richard Burton's Richard Wagner, in the 1983 film Wagner. She also appeared in Why Not Stay for Breakfast? (1979), Double X: The Name of the Game (1992), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1993), Words Upon the Window Pane (1994) and The Hole (2001).

Family Life

She was briefly married to fellow actor, Frazer Hines. But she remarried David Beamish in 1990, and they separated six years later.

Gemma Craven's family moved from Dublin to England in 1960, and she attended the same school as Helen Mirren, St Bernard's Convent High School for Girls in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex. 

She appeared as Cinderella in the film The Slipper and the Rose (1976) opposite Richard Chamberlain. Cast as an unknown, she was spotted by one of the producers while performing at the Bristol Old Vic in a production of The Threepenny Opera.

Her most substantial film role was as Minna Wagner opposite Richard Burton's Richard Wagner, in the 1983 film Wagner. She also made an appearance in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1993). On radio, she played the part of Helen in the BBC Radio 4 comedy Clare in the Community.