Mia McKenna-Bruce

Last updated

Mia McKenna-Bruce
Mia mckenna bruce 2022 1.jpg
McKenna-Bruce in 2022
Born
Mia Sasha McKenna-Bruce

(1997-07-03) 3 July 1997 (age 26)
London, England
OccupationActress
Years active2006–present
PartnerTom Leach (2017- present)
Children1

Mia Sasha McKenna-Bruce [1] (born 3 July 1997) is an English actress. She gained prominence through her role as Tee Taylor in Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground . Her films include Persuasion and How to Have Sex . For the latter, she won a British Independent Film Award, the BAFTA Rising Star Award and was nominated for the European Film Award for Best Actress.

Contents

On television, McKenna-Bruce also appeared in the iPlayer series Get Even and the Peacock series Vampire Academy .

Early life

McKenna-Bruce was born on 3 July 1997 [2] in London and was raised in Chislehurst, Bromley. [3] [1] [4] [5] [6] McKenna-Bruce took dance classes at Liz Burville Performing Arts Centre in Bexley and was a student at Belcanto London Academy. [4] [1] McKenna-Bruce also attended the Sapphire Dance Academy in Bexleyheath, [7] as well as the Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. [8] McKenna-Bruce has two sisters, Anya and Ellis. [9]

Career

McKenna-Bruce's first role was a ballet girl in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical . [10] [11] Her first TV role was the minor role of Ester, Small Dark Places. [12] She then starred in Holby City as Abi Taylor for one episode. [13] McKenna-Bruce then appeared in EastEnders as Penny Branning. [7] She had a two episode guest in January 2008 and then another three episode guest stint in April 2008. McKenna-Bruce next starred in The Bill in 2009 as Keira Curtis for one episode. [14] She then moved on to Doctors for three episodes. [15]

Later in 2009, McKenna-Bruce starred in her first film role, The Fourth Kind , playing Ashley Tyler. [16] [17] [18] Her next role was as main character Tee Taylor in Tracy Beaker Returns from 2010 to 2012. [19] In 2011, McKenna-Bruce appeared in the TV series Spy for one episode, [20] and in five episodes of The Tracy Beaker Survival Guide. McKenna-Bruce reprised the role of Tee Taylor from 2013 until 2016 (and again as a guest in 2017 and 2018) in the spin-off series The Dumping Ground . [21] McKenna-Bruce played Tee Taylor in a The Dumping Ground spin-off, The Dumping Ground: I'm... , a webisode series. [22] She guest starred in another episode of Holby City as Asia Lucas, as well as guest starring in BBC Three's Josh . [23] [24] [25] McKenna-Bruce was cast as the lead in a feature film, The Rebels. [26] In 2020, she began portraying the role of Bree Deringer on the iPlayer teen thriller series Get Even . [27] In 2021, she appeared in an episode of Vera , [28] later being cast in the Netflix film Persuasion . [29] In August of that same year, she was cast as Mia Karp in the PeacockTV fantasy series Vampire Academy . [30]

In 2021, McKenna-Bruce successfully auditioned for the role of Tara in Molly Manning Walker's film How to Have Sex . Her performance as an inexperienced schoolgirl grappling with issues of consent while on holiday in Crete was widely praised [31] [32] [33] and led to her being identified as a Screen Star of Tomorrow by Screen Daily. [34] She was also nominated for Best European Actress at the 2023 European Film Awards, [35] and won Best Breakthrough Performer of the Year at the 2023 London Film Critics Circle Awards. [36] She also won the BAFTA Rising Star Award at the 77th British Academy Film Awards. [37]

Personal life

In February 2022, McKenna-Bruce became engaged to actor Tom Leach. [38] In August 2023, they welcomed their first child, a son Leo. [39]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef(s)
2009 The Fourth Kind Ashley Tyler [16] [17] [18]
2017MiloMiaShort film [28]
2019Hit It and Quit ItNikki [28]
Watch What I DoNikki [40]
2021Smudged SmileZoe [41]
Last Train to Christmas Linda
2022 Persuasion Mary Musgrove [29]
2023 Kindling Lily [42]
How To Have Sex Tara [43]
2024Sister WivesTBAUpcoming film [44]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef(s)
2008Small Dark PlacesEster1 episode [12]
Holby City Abi TaylorEpisode: "Physician, Heal Thyself" [13]
EastEnders Penny Branning5 episodes [7]
2009 The Bill Keira CurtisEpisode: "Little Girl Lost: Part 1" [14]
Doctors Pearl Snow3 episodes [15]
2010–2012 Tracy Beaker Returns Tee TaylorMain role [19]
2011SpyAshleyEpisode: "Codename: Blood" [20]
The Tracy Beaker Survival FilesTee Taylor5 episodes [28]
2013–2018 The Dumping Ground Main role [21]
2014 The Dumping Ground Survival Files [45]
2016 The Dumping Ground: I'm... [46]
2017 Holby City Asia LucasEpisode: "Growing Pains" [23] [24]
Josh BabysitterEpisode: "Bicycles & Babies" [25]
2019Piss Off, I Love YouTeen Snogger1 episode [28]
Cleaning Up Emily
The RebelsEnicaMain role [26] [47]
The Witcher MarilkaEpisode: "The End's Beginning" [28]
2020 Get Even Bree DeringerMain role [48]
2021 Vera Maya Draper1 episode [28]
2022 Vampire Academy Mia KarpMain role [49]

Video games

YearTitleRole
2011Tracy Beaker Returns: You ChooseTee Taylor
2013–2014The Dumping Ground Game
2015The Dumping Ground: You're the Boss [50]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2023 British Independent Film Awards Best Lead Performance How to Have Sex Won [51]
Breakthrough Performance Nominated
2023 European Film Awards European Actress Nominated [52]
2024 London Film Critics' Circle Breakthrough Performer of the YearWon [53]
2024 British Academy Film Awards BAFTA Rising Star Award Won [54]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neil Morrissey</span> British actor, voice actor, businessman, presenter and narrator

Neil Anthony Morrissey is an English actor, businessman, narrator and presenter. He is known for his role as Tony in Men Behaving Badly. Other notable acting roles include Deputy Head Eddie Lawson in the BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road, Nigel Morton in Line of Duty, and Rocky in Boon. Morrissey also provided the voice of the titluar character, Roley, Lofty, and others in Bob the Builder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patsy Kensit</span> British actress and pop singer

Patricia Jude Kensit is an English actress and singer, best known as the frontwoman of the 1980s pop group Eighth Wonder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janet McTeer</span> English actress (born 1961)

Janet McTeer is an English actress. She began her career training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before earning acclaim for playing diverse roles on stage and screen in both period pieces and modern dramas. She has received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, a Olivier Award, a Golden Globe Award and nominations for two Academy Award and Primetime Emmy Award. In 2008 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to drama.

<i>Holby City</i> British medical drama television series

Holby City is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999; the show ran until 29 March 2022. It follows the lives of medical and ancillary staff at the fictional Holby City Hospital, the same hospital as Casualty, in the fictional city of Holby, and features occasional crossovers of characters and plots with both Casualty and the show's 2007 police procedural spin-off HolbyBlue. It began with eleven main characters in its first series, all of whom subsequently left the show. New main characters were then periodically written in and out, with a core of around fifteen main actors employed at any given time. In casting the first series, Young sought actors who were already well known in the television industry, something which has continued throughout its history, with cast members including Patsy Kensit, Jane Asher, Robert Powell, Ade Edmondson and John Michie.

Melanie Jane Hill is a British actress, known for playing Hazel Redfern in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1985–1986), Aveline in Bread (1989–1991), Rita Dolan in Kay Mellor drama Playing the Field (1998–2002), Maggie Budgen in the BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road (2012–2015), Julie Travers in BBC One drama series The Syndicate (2015), Cathy Matthews in ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2015–2022) and Siobhan McKenzie in Casualty (2024).

Joseph McFadden is a Scottish actor, best known for his roles in The Crow Road,Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll, Heartbeat and Holby City. He won the 2017 series of the BBC One series Strictly Come Dancing with professional dance partner Katya Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BAFTA Rising Star Award</span> British film award for upcoming actors

The EE British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Rising Star Award, currently styled as the EE Rising Star Award for commercial reasons and previously known as the Orange Rising Star Award, is an award that acknowledges new talents in the acting industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Jackson</span> Fictional character in Holby City

Donna Jackson is a fictional character from BBC medical dramas Holby City and Casualty, played by actress Jaye Jacobs. Donna entered Holby City in its sixth series as a staff nurse, characterised as a wild-child with a chaotic personal life. During her tenure, she grew to take her work more seriously, becoming a ward sister and accepting more personal responsibilities by adopting her half-niece Mia. A tart with a heart character, Donna had many romantic liaisons with her colleagues, including a one-night stand with midwife Mickie Hendrie. She ultimately fell in love with agency nurse Kieran Callaghan, and departed to be with him after he was injured in Afghanistan as part of the Territorial Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlene McKenna</span> Irish actress

Charlene Lee McKenna is an Irish actress. She became a household name in Ireland after starring as Jennifer Jackson in the miniseries Pure Mule (2005). She appeared on Irish television in Single-Handed 2 (2008), Whistleblower (2008), and Raw (2008–2013). For Raw, she won Best Actress (Television) at the Irish Film & Television Awards, and for Whistleblower, she won Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series at the Monte Carlo Television Festival.

<i>The Dumping Ground</i> British childrens television drama series

The Dumping Ground is a British children's television drama series that focuses on the lives and experiences of young people who live in a children's home with their care workers in care. The series has broadcast ten series, the show has continuously aired on CBBC since its inception in 2013. The series is a continuation of Tracy Beaker Returns, which aired from 2010 to 2012, and is the third television series in the Tracy Beaker franchise.

<i>The Dumping Ground</i> series 1 Season of television series

The first series of the British children's television series The Dumping Ground began broadcasting on 4 January 2013 on CBBC and ended on 15 March 2013. The series follows the lives of the children living in the fictional children's care home of Elm Tree House, nicknamed by them "The Dumping Ground". It consists of thirteen, thirty-minute episodes. It is the ninth series in The Story of Tracy Beaker franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kia Pegg</span> English actress and presenter

Kia May Pegg is an English actress and television presenter. She portrayed Jody Jackson in the British children's drama show Tracy Beaker Returns (2012), as well as the spin-off series The Dumping Ground (2013–2022). Then in 2022, Pegg began appearing in the BBC soap opera Doctors as receptionist Scarlett Kiernan. She also began occasionally presenting episodes of Saturday Mash-Up! for CBBC in 2022, having previously appeared on their live links.

<i>The Dumping Ground</i> series 3 Season of television series

The third series of the British children's television series The Dumping Ground began broadcasting on 16 January 2015 on CBBC and ended on 8 December 2015. The series follows the lives of the children living in the fictional children's care home of Ashdene Ridge, nicknamed by them "The Dumping Ground". It consists of twenty, thirty-minute episodes, airing in two halves in January and October 2015. It is the eleventh series in The Story of Tracy Beaker franchise.

<i>The Dumping Ground</i> series 4 Season of television series

The fourth series of the British children's television series The Dumping Ground began broadcasting on 29 January 2016 on CBBC and ended on 2 December 2016. The series follows the lives of the children living in the fictional children's care home of Ashdene Ridge, nicknamed by them "The Dumping Ground". It consists of twenty, thirty-minute episodes, airing in two halves in January and October 2016. It is the twelfth series in The Story of Tracy Beaker franchise.

<i>The Dumping Ground</i> series 5 Season of television series

The fifth series of the British children's television series The Dumping Ground began broadcasting on 20 January 2017 on CBBC and ended on 15 December 2017. The series follows the lives of the children living in the fictional children's care home of Ashdene Ridge, nicknamed by them "The Dumping Ground". It consists of twenty-two, thirty-minute episodes, airing in two halves in January–March and October–December 2017. It is the thirteenth series in The Story of Tracy Beaker franchise.

The Dumping Ground: I'm... is a television spin-off of British children television series The Dumping Ground. It is a webisode series that began airing prior to series 4. The series consisted of 10 episodes.

The nineteenth series of the British medical drama television series Holby City commenced airing in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 11 October 2016 and concluded airing in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 December 2017. The series consists of 64 episodes; an increase from the previous series.

<i>Holby City</i> series 20 Season of television series

The twentieth series of the British medical drama television series Holby City began airing on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 2 January 2018, and concluded on 27 December 2018. The series consists of 52 episodes; a decrease from the previous series. Kate Hall serves as the series producer, while Simon Harper continued his role as the executive producer. Fifteen cast members reprised their roles from the previous series. Four actors departed during the series, including long-standing cast member James Anderson. Catherine Russell reprised her role as Serena Campbell from episode six. Throughout the series, multiple characters returned for guest stints, including Zosia March, Bernie Wolfe and Mo Effanga.

<i>The Dumping Ground</i> series 6 Season of television series

The sixth series of the British children's television series The Dumping Ground began broadcasting on 12 January 2018 on CBBC and ended on 7 December 2018. The series follows the lives of the children living in the fictional children's care home of Ashdene Ridge, nicknamed by them "The Dumping Ground". It consisted of twenty-four, thirty-minute episodes, airing in two halves in January and September; ten episodes for the second half premiered a week early on BBC iPlayer. It is the fourteenth series in The Story of Tracy Beaker franchise.

References

  1. 1 2 3 French, Matthew (29 December 2006). "Vying for the top". News Shopper. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  2. ↑ "Could this day get any better🔞🙌🙌🙌 @WickedUK". Twitter. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "Mia McKenna-Bruce Spotlight CV". Spotlight. 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Mia McKenna-Bruce child star has a big connection" (PDF). Hello Chislehurst. 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "Mia McKenna-Bruce on Instagram: Happy Father's Day to our amazing daddy". 18 June 2017. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  6. ↑ Three Sisters on YouTube
  7. 1 2 3 "Talented Sapphire Dance Academy youngsters excel at UK's biggest show". Kent Online. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  8. ↑ "Mia Mckenna-Bruce". Mandy.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  9. ↑ Mia McKenna-Bruce - Biography - IMDb
  10. ↑ "Photos: Billy Elliot Gobbles Second Birthday Cake". WhatsonStage. 16 May 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  11. ↑ French, Matthew (29 December 2006). "Vying for the top". News Shopper. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Small Dark Places". BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  13. 1 2 "Holby City Series 10–15. Physician, Heal Thyself". Radio Times. 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  14. 1 2 "The Bill Series 25 – 2. Little Girl Lost – Part One". Radio Times. 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  15. 1 2 Muppala, Vaman (2 November 2009). "Close encounters of The Fourth Kind". The Diamondback. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  16. 1 2 Nelson, Rob (4 November 2009). "Review: 'The Fourth Kind'". Variety. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  17. 1 2 Murray, Joel (16 November 2009). "Film review: The Fourth Kind". The Linc. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  18. 1 2 FUCHS, CYNTHIA (6 November 2009). "The Fourth Kind". PopMatters. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  19. 1 2 "Going Home, Series 3, Credits". BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  20. 1 2 "Spy Episode 1.5 – Codename: Blood". British Comedy Guide. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  21. 1 2 "The Dumping Ground: S4-E1 Lost and Found". RadioTimes . Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  22. ↑ "The Dumping Ground I'm...Tee". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  23. 1 2 "Holby City – Growing Pains". BBC. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  24. 1 2 "Mia McKenna-Bruce on Twitter: @anthonyy7890 im filming an episode for Holby City next week and in the new year working on @TheMarshlandsTV 🤗 Vvvv excited!!". 3 December 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  25. 1 2 "Josh - Series 3, Bicycles & Babies, Credirs". BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  26. 1 2 "Tornado Studios on Twitter: Very excited to have Mia McKenna Bruce on board in our upcoming feature film 'The Rebels'. #TheRebels @MiaMBruce". 18 January 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  27. ↑ "TV teen drama filmed in town coming to BBC iPlayer this week". The Bolton News . Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rodrigues, Charlotte (9 April 2021). "EastEnders: Penny Branning actress Mia McKenna-Bruce looks unrecognisable 13 years after leaving soap". Entertainment Daily. Digitalbox. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  29. 1 2 Wiseman, Andreas (17 May 2021). "'Persuasion': Cosmo Jarvis To Star Opposite Dakota Johnson In Netflix & MRC Jane Austen Movie; Richard E. Grant, Suki Waterhouse, Nikki Amuka-Bird & More Join". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  30. ↑ Keheller, Patrick (18 September 2022). "Vampire Academy's resident queer couple explains simple reason TV needs more LGBTQ+ characters". PinkNews . Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  31. ↑ Ide, Wendy (5 November 2023). "How to Have Sex review – two stars are born with this searing study of consent". the Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  32. ↑ "How to Have Sex's Mia McKenna-Bruce: 'Consent is not yes or no'". The Independent. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  33. ↑ Flood, Alex (26 October 2023). "Mia McKenna-Bruce on her buzzy British breakout 'How To Have Sex'". NME. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  34. ↑ Gant, Charles (28 June 2023). "Stars of Tomorrow 2023: Mia McKenna-Bruce (actor)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  35. ↑ "Main Categories Nominees 2023". European Film Academy . Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  36. ↑ Szalai, Georg (4 February 2024). "'Zone of Interest' Wins Best Film at London Critics' Circle Awards, Emma Stone Named Best Actress". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  37. ↑ "Winners Announced: EE BAFTA Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts . 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  38. ↑ Mia McKenna-Bruce [@mia_mbruce] (24 February 2022). "When you see it...happiest girl in the world💍" – via Instagram.
  39. ↑ Mia McKenna-Bruce [@mia_mbruce] (28 September 2023). "A month of our little champ. 🫶 After a rough start we are finally out and seeing the world, I couldn't be prouder to be your mama💙" – via Instagram.
  40. ↑ "Our latest new short 'Watch What I Do' stars up and coming talent Isidora Fairhurst, @MiaMBruce (The Dumping Ground), Rita Bernard (Shiro's Story) and @Dani_MasDyer (winner of ITV's Love Island 2018). With the world premiere just 9 days away, the trailer drops tomorrow on #MYM!!". Twitter. Fully Focused. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  41. ↑ "'Get Even' Star Mia McKenna-Bruce Leads Cast of 'Smudged Smile,' First Film in Mental Health Anthology (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . 17 February 2021.
  42. ↑ Grater, Tom (6 August 2021). "'Sex Education' Star Boards UK Feature 'Kindling'; Venice Passion For Film Award; ITV Hub Record – Global Briefs". Deadline. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  43. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (21 October 2022) [21 October 2022]. "MK2 Boards Film4 & BFI-Backed 'How To Have Sex'; 'Vampire Academy' & 'Persuasion' Actress Mia McKenna-Bruce Among Cast". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  44. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (11 December 2023). "'How to Have Sex' Star Mia McKenna-Bruce, Louisa Connolly-Burnham, Michael Fox to Lead Queer Drama 'Sister Wives' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  45. ↑ "The Dumping Ground Survival Files, S2-E2 Challenges". Radio Times. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  46. ↑ "The Dumping Ground: I'm...- Series 1, Tee Credits". BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  47. ↑ "Mia McKenna-Bruce on Instagram: Day 1 of rehearsals taking on the role of ENICA in this amazing feature for the next month IM TOO EXCITED #therebelsfilm". 8 February 2017. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  48. ↑ "New BBC Thriller 'Get Even' Looks Seriously Chilling". Tyla . 6 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  49. ↑ Del Rosario, Alexandra (30 August 2021). "'Vampire Academy': Sisi Stringer, Daniela Nieves & Kieron Moore Among 10 Cast In Peacock YA Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  50. ↑ Stearman, Nicki (28 January 2015). "You're the Boss: new game for CBBC's The Dumping Ground". BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  51. ↑ "British Independent Film Awards 2023: the winners in full". British Film Institute . Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  52. ↑ "The winners of the European Film Awards 2023". European Film Academy . Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  53. ↑ Cline, Rich (4 February 2024). "London critics name The Zone of Interest as Film of the Year". The Critics' Circle. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  54. ↑ "Bafta Awards 2024: The complete list of winners and nominees". BBC News . 18 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.