Michelle Gomez
Quick Facts
Biography
Michelle Gomez is a Scottish actress. She is best known for her comedy roles in Green Wing, The Book Group and Bad Education, as well as playing a female incarnation of the Master known as Missy, in the long running British science-fiction programme, "Doctor Who".
Early life
Gomez was born in Glasgow to Tony and May Gomez. Her father is originally from Montserrat and is of Portuguese descent. Her father was a photographer, while her mother ran a modelling agency. From the moment she saw a production of Kiss Me, Kate at the age of seven, Gomez wanted to be an actress, which her parents encouraged. She attended Shawlands Academy from 1978 to 1983 and trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Career
Gomez's first major role was in The Acid House, based on three Irvine Welsh short stories. She went on to star in the cult Channel 4 comedy drama The Book Group before landing her role as staff liaison officer Sue White in the Channel 4 comedy Green Wing. She played Michelle in Carrie and Barry for the BBC (which coincidentally debuted the same night as Green Wing), and starred as PC Sally Bobbins in the BBC 2 sitcom Feel the Force. She appeared in Gunslinger's Revenge.
In 2005, Gomez appeared in the film Chromophobia. In 2006, she starred in the film The Good Housekeeping Guide. In 2007 she starred in a drama by Irvine Welsh and Dean Cavanagh called Wedding Belles, and starred in Boeing-Boeing at the Comedy Theatre in London. Also in 2007, she guest-starred in the Doctor Who audio play Valhalla. In 2008 she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, and performed as Kate in The Taming of the Shrew at the Courtyard Theatre and the Novello Theatre.
In 2012, Gomez starred in the British film, The Wedding Video, portraying the psychologically unstable wedding planner. In the same year, she appeared in the British comedy series Bad Education, portraying the deputy-head Isobel Pickwell, which returned for a second series in 2013. In 2014, she began producing comedy sketches as "Heather" an agony aunt for YouTube channel Wildseed Studios.
She guest starred in the eighth series of Doctor Who, as a character initially called the "Gatekeeper of the Nethersphere". Despite initial belief she would only be appearing in the series finale, Gomez made surprise cameo appearances in some episodes in the eighth series, and appeared in the finale two-parter. She portrayed Missy, who was revealed to be a new female incarnation of the Doctor's longstanding nemesis, the Master, in the penultimate episode "Dark Water". Gomez returned in the 2-part opening story of Series 9, "The Magician's Apprentice" / "The Witch's Familiar" broadcast in September 2015. Her portrayal of Missy earned her a nomination for the Best Actress (Television) award at the 2015 British Academy Scotland Awards. Later, Gomez also received a nod as Best Supporting Actress at the British Academy Television Awards. Gomez has confirmed that she will be returning in Series 10.
Personal life
Gomez has been married to actor Jack Davenport since 1 May 2000. She gave birth to their son, Harry, in early 2010.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | First and Last | Nurse | Television film |
1998 | The Acid House | Catriona | A Soft Touch segment |
1998 | Gunslinger's Revenge | Leather girl | |
1999 | New World Disorder | Annika "Amethyst" Rains | |
1999 | The Escort | Hostess | |
1999 | Ticks | Stressed girl on phone | Short film |
2000 | Offending Angels | Baggy's ex-girlfriend | |
2001 | Subterrain | ||
2003 | Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill | Judy | Television film |
2005 | Chromophobia | Bushey | Incorrectly credited as Michele Gormez |
2005 | Meat the Campbells | Mrs. Campbell | Short film |
2006 | The Good Housekeeping Guide | Jenny | Television film |
2006 | Secret Policeman's Ball sketch | Sue White | Television film; Green Wing special |
2007 | Wedding Belles | Amanda | Television film |
2009 | Svengali | Francine Hardy | |
2012 | The Wedding Video | The Wedding Planner |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Taggart | Hairdresser | Episode: "Nest of Vipers" |
1996 | The Bill | Penny Grice | Episode: "Toe the Line" |
1998 | Carrie Bennett | Episode: "Dog Eat Dog" | |
1999 | Taggart | Harriet Bailes | Episode: "Bloodlines" |
1999 | Highlander: The Raven | Talia Bauer | Episode: "Inferno" |
2001 | Rebus | Caro Rattray | Episode: "Mortal Causes" |
2002 | My Family | Sharon | Episode: "The Second Greatest Story Ever Told" |
2002–2003 | The Book Group | Janice McCann | Main cast |
2003 | Manchild | Kitty | Series 2, episode 2 |
2005 | Murder in Suburbia | Anita Green | Episode: "Estate Agents" |
2004–2005 | Carrie and Barry | Michelle | Main cast |
2004–2007 | Green Wing | Sue White | Main cast - 18 episodes |
2006 | Feel the Force | Sally Bobbins | Lead role |
2007 | Oliver Twist | Mrs. Sowerberry | Miniseries |
2012–2013 | Bad Education | Isobel Pickwell | 11 episodes |
2013 | Playhouse Presents | Mary, Queen of Scots | Psychobitches sketch (Episode: "Psychobitches Part Four") |
2014, 2015, 2017 | Doctor Who | Missy | Recurring, 11 episodes to date |
2015 | The Brink | Vanessa | Recurring, 3 episodes |
2015 | Gotham | The Lady | Guest, 2 episodes |
2016 | The Collection | Eliette |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Lego Dimensions | The Master (voice) |