Person Biography:
Jemma was born into a family of actors and writers. Her parents, Pauline Yates and Donald Churchill, were well-known in the industry, with Donald writing over 30 plays for television in the 60's and 70's, and Pauline working extensively, perhaps most famously as Reggie's wife in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin starring Leonard Rossiter.
Jemma began her acting career at the renowned Royal Court Youth Theatre in London in the 1970s, working alongside notable individuals such as Danny Boyle, Katrin Cartlidge, and Simon Curtis. She then trained at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London before leaving to work on Mai Zeterrling's feature film Scrubbers.
Throughout her career, Jemma has worked in all areas of film and television, including appearing in popular shows such as Doctors, Holby, and Waterloo Road. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Nanny Lyons in the BBC's Upstairs Downstairs, and her recent appearance in the Sky TV crime comedy Agatha Raisin as Freda.
Jemma has also been involved in various independent projects, including producing and starring in the short film Beached, and creating Two Tree Island Productions with screenwriter Elizabeth Heery, which won the Best Short Fiction Film at The Southend Film Festival 2012. The judging panel included Ray Winston and Perry Benson.
Jemma has also made connections with the world of Doctor Who, appearing in Peter Davisons' 50th Anniversary Doctor Who spoof, Five(ish)Doctors Reboot, in which she plays herself.
