Nicola Walker (born 15 May 1970) is an English actress, known for her
starring roles in various British television programmes from the 1990s
onwards, including that of Ruth Evershed in the spy drama Spooks from
2003 to 2011. She has also worked in theatre, radio and film. She won
the 2013 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for the play The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and has twice been
nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress for the
BBC drama Last Tango in Halifax.Walker was born in Stepney in the East
End of London and has an older brother. She attended Saint Nicholas
School, Old Harlow, and Forest School, Walthamstow, and undertook
acting classes from age 12 in order to speak to boys. Interviewed in
2014 by The Guardian, she said, "I was really encouraged by my mother.
My dad thought it was a ridiculous thing to do."Walker then attended
New Hall, Cambridge, where she started her acting career with the
Cambridge Footlights. Her contemporaries included Spooks writer David
Wolstencroft and comedian Sue Perkins, who were all part of the 1990
national tour. Perkins, then an older undergraduate, was assigned to
be her "college mother", although Walker later said: "She was the
worst college mother I could have had. They're meant to hold your
hand. She asked to borrow my bike, got drunk, and I never saw it
again." Walker acted on stage as Perkins's stooge and years later
their partnership was resumed when Perkins cast Walker in her sitcom
Heading Out.
starring roles in various British television programmes from the 1990s
onwards, including that of Ruth Evershed in the spy drama Spooks from
2003 to 2011. She has also worked in theatre, radio and film. She won
the 2013 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for the play The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and has twice been
nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress for the
BBC drama Last Tango in Halifax.Walker was born in Stepney in the East
End of London and has an older brother. She attended Saint Nicholas
School, Old Harlow, and Forest School, Walthamstow, and undertook
acting classes from age 12 in order to speak to boys. Interviewed in
2014 by The Guardian, she said, "I was really encouraged by my mother.
My dad thought it was a ridiculous thing to do."Walker then attended
New Hall, Cambridge, where she started her acting career with the
Cambridge Footlights. Her contemporaries included Spooks writer David
Wolstencroft and comedian Sue Perkins, who were all part of the 1990
national tour. Perkins, then an older undergraduate, was assigned to
be her "college mother", although Walker later said: "She was the
worst college mother I could have had. They're meant to hold your
hand. She asked to borrow my bike, got drunk, and I never saw it
again." Walker acted on stage as Perkins's stooge and years later
their partnership was resumed when Perkins cast Walker in her sitcom
Heading Out.
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