Alex Kingston
Alex Kingston, a compelling figure known for her regal bearing and cascade of curly red hair, started acting at a young age and would go on to star in some of the world's top-rated TV shows. She caught the acting bug at school, performing with Surrey County Youth Theatre (coincidently their production of "Tom Jones" also featured a young Sean Pertwee) before training with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. She made her TV debut at the age of 15 in three episodes of the long-running soap opera "Grange Hill" (BBC 1978-2008) followed by a tiny role in the comedy feature "The Wildcats of St Trinian's" (1980). She followed this with several years on the stage as a member of the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company before starring in Peter Greenaway's critically acclaimed art house film "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover" (1989). In 1993 she married fellow actor Ralph Fiennes, whom she had met at RADA. She also appeared in several British TV productions including "Soldier Soldier" (ITV 1991-97) and police drama "Crocodile Shoes" (BBC 1997) before landing the title role in the saucy period miniseries "The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders" (ITV 1996). Her feisty portrayal of 'the wickedest woman in England' won Kingston a BAFTA nomination. Unfortunately just as her career was taking off, Fiennes and Kingston separated, divorcing in 1997. Most American viewers first saw Kingston as Dr Elizabeth Corday in "ER" (NBC 1994-2009). Despite her heavy filming commitments with the hit medical drama, Kingston found time to appear in several feature films including "Croupier" (1998), "Essex Boys" (2000) and playing Boudicca in "Warrior Queen" (2003). She stayed with "ER" for seven seasons, leaving in 2004. 2008 saw her first appearance as the bewitching River Song in the reboot of sci-fi action adventure "Doctor Who" (BBC 1963-1989, 2005-). A regular guest star reappearing at various key points in the Doctor's timeline, her cryptic origins were one of the biggest mysteries of the show. Other TV work included short lived sci-fi series "FlashForward" (ABC 2009-2010), a recurring role in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC 1999-) and lead roles in UK dramas "Hope Springs" (BBC 2009), "Marchlands" (ITV 2011), and the revival of 1970s favorite "Upstairs Downstairs" (BBC 2010-12).