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{{short description|British actress|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Joanna Foster
| nationality = British
| alma_mater = Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
| occupation = Actress
| notable_works = Diary of A Desperate Woman, The Eve of Saint Venus, Brezhnev's Children
▲| years_active = 1979–present
| television = Coronation Street
| parents = Barry Foster
| relatives = Miranda Foster (sister)
}}
'''Joanna Foster''' is a British actress active in theatre and television since 1978. On stage, she created roles in the world premieres of [[Andrew Davies (writer)|Andrew Davies]]'s ''Diary of A Desperate Woman'' (1979), [[Anthony Burgess]]'s ''[[The Eve of Saint Venus]]'' (1979), and [[Olwen Wymark]]'s ''Brezhnev's Children'' (1991), and has performed leading roles with the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]], [[Royal National Theatre]], [[The Young Vic]], [[Leicester Haymarket Theatre]], and [[The Dukes, Lancaster]] among other theatre companies. She was the fourth and final actress to portray [[Susan Barlow]] in ''[[Coronation Street]]''.
==Career==
===Education and stage work===
She was the fourth actress to portray the role of [[Susan Barlow]] in ''[[Coronation Street]]'', after Katie Heannau, [[Wendy Jane Walker]] and [[Suzy Patterson|Suzy Paterson]]. She played the character for one month from January 2001 until the character's death in a car crash in February 2001. She also starred in the [[Five (channel)|Five]] soap ''[[Family Affairs]]'' between 2002 and 2003, where she played [[List of Family Affairs characters#Ginny Davenport|Ginny Davenport]]. She also played the role of Miriam, the sister of [[Moses]] in the [[History (U.S. TV channel)|History Channel]]'s ''[[The Bible (TV miniseries)|The Bible]]''.▼
Foster is the daughter of the actor [[Barry Foster (actor)|Barry Foster]] and the sister of the actress Miranda Foster.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/feb/12/guardianobituaries|title=Barry Foster: Versatile actor best known for his portrayals of Orde Wingate and a Dutch detective|work=[[The Guardian]]|author=Philip Purser|date=11 Feb 2002}}</ref><ref name="people">{{cite journal|title=SHOW PEOPLE: ACCESS ALL AREAS|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=6102|date=March 26, 1998|page=10}}</ref> She was trained at the [[Royal Central School of Speech and Drama]].<ref name="Philanthropist"/> While as a student, she performed the role of Celia in the Central School's January 1978 production of [[Christopher Hampton]]'s ''[[The Philanthropist (play)|The Philanthropist]]''.<ref name="Philanthropist">{{cite news|title=PLAY REVIEWS: THE PHILANTHROPIST|author=O'Brien, Susan|work=[[The Stage]]|issue=5050|date=January 26, 1978|page=17}}</ref> She made her professional stage debut at the [[Mercury Theatre, Colchester]] in September 1978 as Valeria in [[Aphra Behn]]'s 1677 play ''[[The Rover (play)|The Rover]]''. It was the first un-censored staging of the play since the 1750s; restoring much of the original bawdy language.<ref>{{cite news|title=ON THIS WEEK AT: COLCHESTER|author=Mullen, Liz|work=[[The Stage]]|issue=5082|date=September 7, 1978|page=23}}</ref>
In 1979, Foster starred in the world premiere of [[Andrew Davies (writer)|Andrew Davies]]'s ''Diary of A Desperate Woman'' at the [[Belgrade Theatre]] in Coventry, England.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Play Reviews: Diary of A Desperate Woman|author=Linsie, John|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5106|date=February 22, 1979|page=11}}</ref> That same year she became a resident actress at the [[New Wolsey Theatre]]; making her debut with the company in a production of [[Carlo Goldoni]]'s 1746 play ''[[The Servant of Two Masters]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=WHOLSEY THEATRE: Artistic policy: a plan for all seasons|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5136|date=September 20, 1979|page=28}}</ref> Other roles she performed at that theatre included Diana in the world premiere of [[Anthony Burgess]]'s ''[[The Eve of Saint Venus]]'' (1979),<ref>{{cite journal|title=Play Reviews: Deconstruction Of The Countdown|author=Nugent, Ann|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5147|date=December 6, 1979|page=11}}</ref> Gerda in a stage adaptation of [[Hans Christian Andersen]]'s ''[[The Snow Queen]]'' (1980),<ref>{{cite news|title=Christmas Show Reviews: IPSWICH|author=Glenn, Alfred|work=[[The Stage]]|issue=5153|date=January 17, 1980|page=8}}</ref> and [[Hermia]] in [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (1980).<ref>{{cite journal|title=Regional Reviews: A Midsummer Night's Dream|author=Glenn, Alfred|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5162|date=March 20, 1980|page=26}}</ref>
== External links ==▼
In 1980, Foster portrayed the role of Cheppi / Ilona in János Nyiri's ''If Winter Comes'' at the [[Leicester Haymarket Theatre]].<ref>{{cite journal|title= PRODUCTION NEWS: If Winter Comes|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5186|date=September 4, 1980|page=2}}</ref> She had a critical triumph as Nora Helmer in [[Henrik Ibsen]]'s ''[[A Doll's House]]'' at [[The Dukes, Lancaster]] in 1981; a production which used a new contemporary English language translation by playwright [[Pam Gems]]. ''[[The Stage]]'' theatre critic Robin Duke wrote "Given the contemporary nature of the new translation, the play compounds its earlier feminist ideals and clenches a new iron fist in a velvet glove. Much of the thanks goes to a remarkable performance by Joanna Foster as the trapped Nora Helmer. She positively trembles with nervous energy, hands desperately seeking somewhere to rest, eyes too busy to settle."<ref>{{cite journal|title=Regional Reviews: Remarkable Ibsen play on morals|author=Duke, Robin|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5218|date=April 16, 1981|page= 13}}</ref> She returned to The Dukes in successive seasons as Laura Wingfield in [[Tennessee Williams]]'s ''[[The Glass Menagerie]]'' (1981),<ref>{{cite journal|title=Lancaster: The Glass Menagerie|author=Duke, Robin|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5246|date=October 29, 1981|page=23}}</ref> Juliet in Shakespeare's ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' (1981),<ref>{{cite news|title=Regional Reviews: Romeo and Juliet|author=Duke, Robin|work=[[The Stage]]|issue=5249|date=November 19, 1981|page=25}}</ref> and Stella in ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire]]'' (1983).<ref>{{cite journal|title=REGIONAL REVIEWS: Desire, death, violence and success in 'Streetcar'|author=Duke, Robin|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5333|date=June 30, 1983|page= 23}}</ref> Reviewing the latter performance, ''[[The Guardian]]'' theatre critic Robin Thornber stated, "Joanna Foster makes Stella a true star of the play, all sweet reason and patience, torn for compassion both for her sister's sensitivity and her husband's animal pride."<ref>{{cite news|title=A Streetcar Named Desire|author=Thornber, Robin|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=10 June 1983|page=14}}</ref>
In 1982, Foster starred as Armand in the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]]'s production of [[Mikhail Bulgakov]]'s ''[[The Cabal of Hypocrites|Molière]]'' at [[The Other Place (theatre)|The Other Place]] in Stratford-upon-Avon;<ref>{{cite journal|title=THEATRE WEEK; Thursday August 12, Molière|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5287|date=August 12, 1982|page=34}}</ref> a performance described as "alluring" by ''[[The Observer]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Spectacular Tempest|author=Cushman, Robert|journal=[[The Observer]]|date=15 August 1982|page=27}}</ref> Her other performances with the RSC included the Gentlewoman in ''Macbeth'' (1982) and [[Hero (Much Ado About Nothing)|Hero]] in ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'' (1983).<ref>{{cite book|title=Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon: A catalogue-index to productions of the Royal Shakespeare Company, 1979-1993, Volume 1|author=Michael Mullin|year=1994|publisher=[[Greenwood Press]]|isbn=9780313250286}}</ref> In 1984 she performed in [[David Pownall]]'s ''Music to Murder By'' at the Nuffield Southampton Theatre.<ref>{{cite journal|title=REGIONAL PRODUCTION NEWS: Music To Murder By|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5401|date=October 18, 1984|page= 16}}</ref> In 1985, she appeared at the [[Young Vic]] as Isabella in [[David Thacker]]'s staging of Shakespeare's ''[[Measure for Measure]]'' with [[Peter Guinness (actor)|Peter Guinness]] as the Duke and [[Margot Leicester]] as Mariana.<ref>{{cite journal|title=PLAY REVIEWS: Measure for Measure|author=Marriott, R B.|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5432|date=May 23, 1985|page= 11}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' theatre critic Desmond Christy wrote, <blockquote>"The great scenes between Isabella and Angelo are outstanding. Joanna Foster's Isabella is not the best spoken sister of mercy we have seen but she is one of the most feeling. This is not a neurotic novice obsessed with chastity but one who sincerely believes that her immortal soul is worth more than her brother's life. This moral absolutism, pitted against Angelo's lustful casuistry, makes for superb drama."<ref>{{cite news|title=Harsh times: Desmond Christy on the Young Vic's Measure for Measure|author=Desmond Christy|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=8 May 1985|page=9}}</ref></blockquote>
In 1986, Foster starred as Lucy in [[Peter Wood (director)|Peter Wood]]'s staging of [[Bertolt Brecht]]'s ''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'' at the [[Royal National Theatre]] (RNT) with [[Tim Curry]] and [[Sally Dexter]],<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[London Theatre Record]]|date=March 12, 1986|page=30|title=National Theatre, Threepenny Opera}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=PRODUCTION NEWS: The National Theatre|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5466|date=January 16, 1986|page=38}}</ref> and performed in a special concert of Brecht's music entitled "Sung and Unsung", also with the RNT.<ref>{{cite news|title=Brecht at the Royal National Theatre|work=[[Country Life (magazine)|Country Life]]|volume=180|page=468}}</ref> That same year she appeared as [[Lady Macbeth]] in Shakespeare's [[Macbeth|1606 tragedy]] at the [[Torch Theatre, Milford Haven]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Macbeth/ Deals|author=Adams, David|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=28 October 1986|page=13}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Regional Reviews: Macbeth|author=Stoddart, Vivien|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5513|date=December 11, 1986|page= 26}}</ref> In 1988, she portrayed Ann Deever in [[Arthur Miller]]'s ''[[All My Sons]]'' at the [[Theatre Royal, Manchester]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=Regional Reviews: All My Sons|author=Anglesey, Natalie|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5582|date=April 7, 1988|page=18}}</ref>
In 1991, Foster created the role of Galina in the world premiere of [[Olwen Wymark]]'s ''Brezhnev's Children'' with the Moving Target Theatre Company; a work based on [[Julia Voznesenskaya]]'s 1987 Russian novel ''The Women's Decameron''.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Theatre Record]]|volume=11|date=February 27, 1991|title=Brezhnev's Children}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Play Reviews: Brezhnev's Children|author=Maureen Paton Maguire|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5736|date=March 21, 1991|page=13}}</ref> In 1995, she portrayed Abigail Brodsky in the UK premiere of Carole Braverman's ''The Yiddish Trojan Women''; a work mounted by the [[Soho Theatre Company]] at the [[Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone|Cockpit Theatre]] in London.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Theatre Reviews: Pieces fail to fit in this emotional jigsaw|author=Hepple, Peter|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5938|date=February 2, 1995|page=14}}</ref> That same year she portrayed Keely in the United Kingdom première of [[Jane Martin]]'s ''[[Keely and Du]]'' at the [[Royal & Derngate|Royal Theatre, Northampton]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=THEATRE REVIEW: Keely & Du|author=Rigby, Neville|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5974|date=October 12, 1995|page=14}}</ref> In 1996, she toured internationally as a member of the Actors of the London Stage; performing Shakespeare plays with a minimal cast of five actors who played multiple parts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.nd.edu/Scholastic/VOL_0137/VOL_0137_ISSUE_0015.pdf|title=From London's West End to Hollywood's West Coast, The Bard's Words are Still Full of Sound and Fury|author=Aaron Nolan|work=[[Scholastic (Notre Dame publication)|Scholastic]]|date=February 22, 1996|pages=22–26}}</ref> In 1998, she starred opposite her sister Miranda for the first time in their careers in a production of [[José Triana (poet)|José Triana]]'s ''The Criminals'' at the [[Lyric Theatre (Hammersmith)|Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith]]; with Joanna portraying the role of Beba and Miranda in the part of Cuca.<ref name="people"/><ref>{{cite journal|title=THEATRE REVIEW: The Criminals|author=John Thaxter|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=6104|date=April 9, 1998|page= 12}}</ref>
In 2006 she portrayed Zise Feige in [[Isaac Bashevis Singer]]'s ''The Dead Fiddler'' at the [[New End Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/d0k/the-dead-fiddler/production/sey|title=The Dead Fiddler|work=Theatricalia|accessdate=November 9, 2022}}</ref>
===Television and film===
Foster's first television role was as Theresa in the 1979 BBC television drama ''[[Testament of Youth (TV series)|Testament of Youth]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Television Drama Series Programming: A Comprehensive Chronicle, 1980-1982, Volume 4|isbn=9780810816268|year=1983|publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]]|author= Larry James Gianakos|page=130|chapter=Testament of Youth}}</ref> The following year she portrayed Clara Brewer in the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] television series ''[[Flickers (TV series)|Flickers]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=TELEVISION TODAY: Flickers format was an acquired taste|author=Lovelace, Jennifer|journal=[[The Stage and Television Today]]|issue=5189|date=September 25, 1980|page=24}}</ref> In 1982, she starred as Fran in "The Visitor"; a supernatural thriller made for the British horror anthology series ''West Country Tales''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=BBC South west lines up play and music|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5196|date=November 13, 1980|page=22}}</ref> In 1988, she portrayed Ellen Thompson in the BBC television series ''Blind Justice'';<ref>{{cite journal|title=PRODUCTION: Blind Justice (BBC)|journal=[[Screen International]]| issue= 628|date=November 28, 1987|page=24}}</ref> an award winning television series produced by [[Michael Wearing]] which "exposed the inadequacies of the British criminal justice system".<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NUXIAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Blind+Justice%22+%22BBC%22+1988&pg=PA2507|author=Millington, Bob|chapter="Michael Wearing"|title=Encyclopedia of Television|page=2507|publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]]|isbn=9781135194727|year=2014|editor=Horace Newcomb}}</ref>
▲[[Casualty (series 7)|Between 1992 and 1993]], Foster played staff general manager Kate Miller in the hospital drama ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Television People: Casualty's scope makes it more than just soap|author=Barrow, Tony|journal=[[The Stage]]|issue=5815|date=September 24, 1992|page=21}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Guinness Book of Classic British TV|chapter=Casualty|author1=Paul Cornell |author2=Martin Day |author3=Keith Topping|year=1996|isbn=9780851126289|page=61|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]}}</ref> She
==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{IMDb name|0287886}}
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama]]
[[Category:English stage actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
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