30 Facts About Ronni Ancona

1.

Veronica "Ronni" Jane Ancona was born on 4 July 1966 and is a British actress, comedian, impressionist and writer best known for The Big Impression, which she co-wrote and starred in and was, for four years, one of BBC One's top-rated comedy programmes, winning numerous awards, including a BAFTA in 2003.

2.

Ronni Ancona has appeared in the BAFTA-winning Last Tango in Halifax since its creation in 2012.

3.

Ronni Ancona is a co-director, alongside Sally Phillips and Nick Hamson, of the production company Captain Dolly.

4.

Ronni Ancona was born in Louth, Lincolnshire, but moved to Scotland when she was a few days old and was brought up in Troon.

5.

Ronni Ancona's father was a commander in the Royal Navy and her mother was an artist who painted the sets at the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr and the Theatre Royal in Glasgow.

6.

Ronni Ancona is the youngest of three children, with two older brothers.

7.

Whilst working as a teacher, Ronni Ancona started a comedy career on the live circuit.

8.

Ronni Ancona won the Time Out Hackney Empire New Act of the Year in 1993.

9.

For many years Ronni Ancona worked extensively in radio and on television shows such as Fist of Fun, as well as performing stand-up comedy.

10.

Ronni Ancona co-wrote and performed in shows such as Comedy Nation, Pulp Video, and The Sketch Show alongside Lee Mack.

11.

Ronni Ancona has appeared several times on the BBC celebrity panel show QI.

12.

Ronni Ancona appeared on the Channel 4 comedy show TV Heaven, Telly Hell discussing her preferences in television shows.

13.

Ronni Ancona appeared as the mother of Katie and Emily Fitch in the third and fourth series of Skins.

14.

Ronni Ancona appeared on the 2010 Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special where she was paired with Anton Du Beke.

15.

Ronni Ancona took part in Comic Relief's Desert Trek 2011 alongside Craig David, Olly Murs, Dermot O'Leary, Scott Mills and Lorraine Kelly.

16.

Ronni Ancona won Pointless Celebrities in January 2021 with Jan Ravens.

17.

In 2005, Ronni Ancona played the role of Anita in Michael Winterbottom's A Cock and Bull Story.

18.

Ronni Ancona had a cameo role in the 2006 fantasy romantic comedy Penelope.

19.

In 2013, Ronni Ancona was cast as Mrs Spencer in The Devil Went Down to Islington, a horror film following two hapless Londoners who sell their souls to Satan.

20.

Ronni Ancona played Donna, Rob Brydon's agent, in the 2014 film The Trip to Italy.

21.

In 2004 Ronni Ancona was cast in Singin' in the Rain, the first production with Adam Cooper.

22.

Ronni Ancona played the role of Lina Lamont, the silent-movie starlet, in the Sadler's Wells production.

23.

Ronni Ancona then played the gold-digging temptress Belline in Richard Bean's 2005 production of Moliere's The Hypochondriac, alongside Carey Mulligan and Henry Goodman.

24.

Ronni Ancona returned to the Almeida to perform in Little Revolution, set during and after the 2011 London riots, alongside Lucian Msamati and Imogen Stubbs.

25.

In June 2015 Ronni Ancona was cast to play the role of Paula in the musical adaptation of Bend It Like Beckham at the West End's Phoenix Theatre.

26.

Ronni Ancona co-wrote The Big Impression, which won numerous awards including a BAFTA in 2003.

27.

Ronni Ancona was nominated for Best Comedy Newcomer in 2000 and Best Comedy actress in 2002, as well as winning The Best TV comedy Actress in 2003.

28.

Ronni Ancona had a seven-year relationship with Alistair McGowan which ended shortly before they started working together professionally.

29.

Ronni Ancona is married to Gerard Hall, a consultant rheumatologist with whom she has two daughters.

30.

Ronni Ancona is an ambassador to the Environmental Investigation Agency, Marie Curie and Sightsavers.