Catherine Jane Ford (born 5 December 1969), known professionally as Catherine Tate, is a British Comedian, Actress and Singer. Having played guest roles in The Bill (who hasn't in the UK?), her big break came with The Catherine Tate Show. Her most notable character from that was schoolgirl Lauren, with her catchphrase "Am I bovvered?"
Her next well-known role was playing Donna Noble in a well-received Doctor Who Christmas Special in 2006. She was brought back in 2008 as a full-time companion of the Doctor; and again in 2023 for the 60th anniversary specials, and ended up becoming a fan-favourite character thanks to her truly excellent performance and her character's much-needed Character Development.
She had a similar experience with the American version of The Office, first making a guest appearance as Nellie Bertram in the final episode of season 7 then returning in season 8 as a major character.
After playing bit parts for the Royal Shakespeare Company in her younger years, she returned as a leading lady in 2011, playing Much Ado About Nothing's Beatrice opposite longtime friend and former Doctor Who co-star David Tennant. She's also joined the cast of DuckTales as iconic villainess Magica De Spell, once again playing opposite Tennant.
Is great friends with David Tennant, as seen here.
Her work includes:
- The Catherine Tate Show (2004-07) as various characters, including Joanie Taylor/Nan
- Nan's Christmas Carol (2009) as Joanie Taylor/Nan
- Catherine Tate's Nan (2014-15) as Joanie Taylor/Nan
- The Nan Movie (2022) as Joanie Taylor/Nan
- Bleak House (2005) as Mrs Chadband
- Marple: A Murder Is Announced (2005) as Mitzi Kosinki
- Starter for 10 (2006) as Julie Jackson
- Doctor Who (2006, 2008-10, 2023) as Donna Noble
- Never Mind the Buzzcocks (2009, 2010) as guest host (2 episodes)
- Gulliver's Travels (2010) (2010) as the Queen of Lilliput
- Monte Carlo (2011) (2011) as Alicia Winthrop-Scott
- The Office (US) (2011-13) as Nellie Bertram
- Nativity 3: Dude Where's My Donkey (2014) as Sophie Ford
- The Mansions of the Gods (2014) as Dulcia (voice)
- DuckTales (2017-21) as Magica de Spell (voice)
- Monster Family (2017) as Baba Yaga (voice)
- Monster Family 2: Nobody's Perfect (2021)
- Queen Of Oz (2023) as Queen Georgiana
- Rally Road Racers as Juni (voice)
Tropes associated with this actress include:
- Cloud Cuckoo Lander: Catherine occasionally guests on panel shows and similar (allegedly) "real life" appearences. It's hard to tell whether or not she's playing a character, but she regularly comes across as this or The Ditz - see her appear on Nevermind the Buzzcocks or 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown for prime examples.
- Fiery Redhead: Plays a lot of these — see Donna Noble, Beatrice, and Lauren Cooper for starters.
- Large Ham: A staple of her acting style, with this being how she spends most of Donna's debut in "The Runaway Bride".
- Those Two Actors: With David Tennant, first in Doctor Who, Big Finish Doctor Who, followed by Much Ado About Nothing, Comic Relief, The Catherine Tate Show, other Shakespeare adaptations, DuckTales, back to Doctor Who again, and many other shows.Tennant: ... for me, the thinking was “I’d like to do a play; I’d like to do Much Ado About Nothing; and it just so happens that the perfect Beatrice in my head is Catherine”.