Ruth Gemmell: everything you need to know about the Bridgerton and EastEnders actress

Mama Bridgerton!

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by Hannah Mellin |
Updated on

Ruth Gemmell is probably best known for playing the matriarch of the Bridgerton family Lady Violet, mother to eight siblings, but you have definitely seen her face on telly before.

Here’s everything you need to know about Ruth…

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Who is Ruth Gemmell?

She’s an English actress, best known for her role in nineties classic Fever Pitch and more recently as Lady Violet Bridgerton in Netflix series Bridgerton.

Ruth has also enjoyed a colourful career in television, appearing in some of the best British TV shows around, including Doctors, Silent Witness, Inspector George Gently, Home Fires, Penny Dreadful and Midsomer Murders.

She also appeared as Tracey Beaker’s mum in Tracy Beaker’s ‘The Movie of Me’ in 2004, playing Tracy’s absent mum Carly Beaker.

When the hit Netflix series Bridgerton aired late in 2020, fans soon twigged that they had seen Lady Violet before and took to social media to express their excitement that Tracy Beaker’s mum is now a mega-star.

“I absolutely LOVED #Bridgerton on Netflix but I could not see Lady Violet Bridgerton as anyone but Tracy Beaker’s mum - she really was a famous actress after all,” wrote one.

How old is Ruth Gemmell?

She was born on the 2 January 1967, making her 54 years old.

Where is Ruth Gemmell from?

Ruth was born in County Durham in the North of England.

CHECK OUT TV's most emotional moments over the past decade... and more!

Gallery

10 most emotional TV moments in the past decade - slider

Tommy Fury Love Island1 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/ITV2

2019: Tommy Fury holds Ellie-Belly

This was totally the cutest thing ever. Love-struck Tommy Fury held on to Molly-Mae Hague's beloved Ellie-Belly teddy bear while he revealed to the Love Island group that he was choosing to "stick" with Molly, instead of "recoupling" with a different girl. And Molly-Mae was SO relieved that she fell to the floor crying. The whole scene had our hearts in our throats.

Olivia Bentley2 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/E4

2019: Olivia Bentley and Digby Edgley's post break-up chat

Usually-cool-as-ice Liv Bentley crumbled into tears after revealing to her ex-beau, Digby Edgley, how "hard it is" to witness him partying all over the city on their friends' social media accounts. She even confessed to hiding herself away in the countryside. Hun, checking what an ex is up to while you're in the middle of nowhere is not the way to deal with a split. Block, delete, move on – and tell him to get his own friends.

Love Island Amy Hart3 of 10
CREDIT: ITV2

2019: Amy Hart leaves the Love Island villa

Air hostess Amy Hart's heart plummeted to the floor when Curtis Pritchard admitted there was something missing in their Love Island romance and broke off their relationship. Totally infatuated with ballroom dancer Curtis, Amy decided it'd be best for both of them if she took flight (sorry, not sorry), enabling her to heal her shattered self and for Curtis to move on. Bet she didn't think he'd jump straight to Maura Higgins, though… ouch.

Yazmin Oukhellou4 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/ITV2

2018: Yazmin Oukhellou has heart-to-heart with her mum

Such a touching moment between Yazmin Oukhellou and her mum. During a heart-to-heart conversation, Yaz opened up about how alone she felt. Choked up and fighting back tears, Yaz's mum went on to tell her daughter – in her Essex twang – how she'll support her during the difficult time to get back to "how I know ya". Just proves that no matter your age, your mum is always going to be there for you.

Megan McKenna5 of 10

2017: Megan McKenna rages at Pete Wicks

Try to stop your eyes popping out from your sockets with this eye-opening scene. Megan McKenna truly went in at boyfriend-at-the-time Pete Wicks. Screaming, shouting, ranting and hissing, Meg really kicked off following Pete's dirty sexting scandal. Even the producers had to get involved to stop the altercation turning physical. Sh-t.

Kim Kardashian6 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/E!

2017: Kimmy K sobs over Kayne's meltdown

Sobbing uncontrollably, Kim Kardashian-West couldn't catch her breath when she learnt of hubby Kanye West's mental breakdown, resulting in him being hospitalised. Not long after her own unnerving Parisian robbery, Kimmy K was understandably still shaken by events – and this was just the cherry on top. Emotions came bubbling to the surface in an instant.

Tiffany Pollard7 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/Channel5

2016: CBB's Tiffany Pollard mistakenly believes David Guest is dead

It was sad times for Angie Bowie (and the world), when legendary artist David Bowie passed away, but Celebrity Big Brother co-star Tiffany Pollard really got the wrong end of the stick upon hearing the news. After Angie told Tiffany that "David's dead", the American reality star assumed she was on about fellow CBB contestant David Guest. Hysterical, Tiff goes on to spread the CONFIDENTIAL word that their housemate died from cancer. With all that panting, raving and swearing that ensues, you'd think that it was Tiffany who suffered a personal loss…

Nadiya Hussain8 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/BBC

2015: Nadiya Hussain wins The Great British Bake Off

The Great British Bake Off is one sweet treat to watch on TV, and the moment when Nadiya Hussain won the competition was truly the icing on the cake. Fairly timid, and noticeably lacking confidence in her own abilities, it was so wonderful to see her gain the recognition she deserved. Delivering her lovely buns, raspberry millefeuilles and triple-tiered lemon drizzle wedding cake, you can bet that was one tasty win.

Sandro Masmanidi9 of 10
CREDIT: YouTube/Hayu

2013: Sandro Masmanidi's backstage meltdown on Project Runway

Drama queen Sandro Masmanidi just could NOT believe that the judges didn't give him the constructive feedback he was craving on his bow-inspired gown (FYI, fellow contestant Helen Castillo had just got ripped to pieces and Sandro was declared safe). Furious, the hot-head snatched the microphone away from this clothes, stormed out the studio, pulled down a curtain, pushed over a mannequin and put his middle finger up at the camera crew. Needless to say, he wasn't welcomed back on to the show.

Charlotte Crosby Geordie Shore10 of 10
CREDIT: MTV

2013: Geordie Shore’s Charlotte tells Gary that she loves him

Oh, the embarrassment. To be vulnerable and admit to the person who you're seeing that you love them… only for it not to be returned. Eesh. Now, that's torture. Poor Charlotte Crosby has been trying to win over Gary Beadle for ages… and just when she thought the pair were moving forward. THUMP. Rejected, once again. Wine, anyone?

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Is Ruth Gemmell married?

Ruth married actor Ray Stevenson in 1995 after meeting during filming of TV drama Band of Gold. However, they divorced in 2005 and Ruth has kept her love life private ever since.

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Wait, was Ruth Gemmell in EastEnders?

Yep, she was was! Back in 2009, Ruth made an appearance in BBC soap EastEnders as Debra Dean, the mum of Whitney Dean and Ryan Malloy. She appeared in eleven episodes throughout that year as Whitney tried (and failed) to patch up her relationship with her estranged parent.

How did Ruth Gemmell get cast in Bridgerton?

In 2020, Ruth was cast as Lady Violet Bridgerton, a main character in Netflix series Bridgerton, alongside Pheobe Dynevor, Jonathan Bailey, Regé-Jean Page and Nicola Coughlan.

It was recently revealed that Ruth will be back for the second series that will focus on her son Anthony’s quest to find a wife.

Speaking to You magazine, Ruth teased that Lady Violet will have a big part to play in the second series, "Violet is very determined to marry her kids off and that is my main goal I think in series two. My darling son Anthony will be off on his pursuit of love and I’ll be there watching all the time."

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