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Sophie Hunter

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Sophie Hunter
Hunter in December 2014
Born
Sophie Irene Hunter

(1978-03-16) 16 March 1978 (age 46)
London, United Kingdom
EducationSt Paul's Girls' School
Alma materOxford University
L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq
Occupation(s)Theatre and opera director, playwright, actress, singer
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2015)​
FamilyMichael James Gow GCB
(maternal grandfather)
J. E. B. Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone
(maternal great-grandfather)

Sophie Irene Hunter (born 16 March 1978)[1] is an English theatre and opera director, playwright, actress, and singer. She directed the revival of Henrik Ibsen's play Ghosts (2010), the New York performance art Lucretia (2011) based on Benjamin Britten's opera The Rape of Lucretia, the African tour of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera The Magic Flute (2011) and the avante-garde plays The Terrific Electric (2007) and 69° South (2013) among others.

Hunter released a French-language music album in 2005 titled The Isis Project in collaboration with songwriter Guy Chambers followed by an English-language album, again with Chambers, titled Songs for a Boy in 2011. Earlier in her career, she has performed in television, film and theatre, appearing in the films Vanity Fair (2004), and Burlesque Fairytales (2009); and the television series Midsomer Murders (2004), and Keen Eddie (2004). She is married to actor Benedict Cumberbatch.

Early life and education

Hunter grew up in Hammersmith, west London.[2][3][4][5] Her mother, Anna Katharine (née Gow), worked as an administrator, and her father, Charles Hunter, was an insurance executive who later became a professional card player; the couple later divorced.[6] She has two younger brothers, Patrick and Timothy.[7] Her maternal grandfather is the General Sir Michael James Gow GCB, Knight Grand Cross, Order of the Bath, who worked with Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester in the 1950s and was Aide-de-Camp General to the Queen from 1981 to 1984.[8][9] Hunter is a maternal great-granddaughter of World War I politician J. E. B. Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone.[10]

Hunter attended St Paul's Girls' School in Hammersmith before studying Modern Languages with a concentration in French and Italian at Oxford University.[11] After graduating from Oxford, Hunter resided in Paris to study avant-garde theatre for two years at the L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq. She then trained at the Saratoga International Theatre Institute in New York City under the mentorship of theatre and opera director Anne Bogart.[12]

Career

Theatre

Hunter co-founded the Lacuna Theatre Company, and was an associate director at Royal Court Theatre in the West End and Broadhurst Theatre in Broadway.[12] In addition, she also serves as collaborating director and dramaturge on marionette and puppetry production with the Phantom Limb Company.[13]

Known for her avant-garde plays,[14][15] she has directed, performed and conceived theatre productions throughout Europe, the Middle East and North America.[16][17] She directed the experimental play 69° South (2013),[18][19] the New York performance art titled Lucretia (2011) based on Benjamin Britten's opera The Rape of Lucretia,[20] the African tour of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Magic Flute (2011),[21][21] the 2010 revival of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts as well as the Italian production of Leoš Janácek's The Cunning Little Vixen and Palestinian production of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fidelio.[22][23]

Hunter is the artistic director of the Boiler Room, which won the 2007 Samuel Beckett Award for the avant-garde play The Terrific Electric with Hunter as co-director.[24][25][26] She is also a member of the performance collective Militia Canteen.[27]

In 2015, she is set to direct two pieces written by British composer Benjamin Britten. One will debut at the Aldeburgh Festival and the other at Happy Days Enniskillen International Beckett Festival.[28]

Creative arts

Hunter also works as creative director and has developed projects including 2012's Don't Major In Debt Student House and Loma Lights (2013), one of the largest public arts programs in New York.[27][29]

Music

In 2005, Hunter recorded a French-language music album titled The Isis Project in collaboration with songwriter Guy Chambers.[30][31] In 2011, she released an English-language album titled Songs for a Boy, again with Chambers.[32]

Film and television

Earlier in her career, Hunter has acted in film and television. She has had supporting roles in the television series Midsomer Murders (2004), Keen Eddie (2004), Mumbai Calling (2007) and Torchwood (2009). In 2004, she played Maria Osborne in the costume drama film Vanity Fair and played Annabel Blythe-Smith in the 2009 thriller film Burlesque Fairytales.

Personal life

Hunter previously had a long-term relationship with sculptor Conrad Shawcross whom she met while studying at Oxford. The couple split in early 2010.[33][34]

Hunter's engagement to actor Benedict Cumberbatch was traditionally announced in the "Forthcoming Marriages" section of The Times on 5 November 2014.[35][36] In January 2015, a spokesperson for the couple confirmed that they are expecting their first child later in the year.[37][38] On 14 February 2015, the couple married at the 12th century Church of St. Peter and St. Paul on the Isle of Wight followed by a reception at Mottistone Manor.[39][40]

Selected credits

Theatre

As director

Year Production Venue Notes Refs.
2007 The Terrific Electric Barbican Centre, London Also playwright [30]
2010 Ghosts Access Theatre, New York City [23]
2010 Enron Royal Court Theatre, Broadhurst Theatre Associate director [41]
2011 Lucretia New York [23]
2011 The Magic Flute African tour [21]
2013 69° South North American tour [18]

As actor

Year Production Role Venue Refs.
2005 Hamlet Ophelia Al Bustaan Festival, Beirut [42]
2007 Silverland Ellen Brits Off Broadway, Arcola, New York City [43][44]
2008 Macbeth Witch Lyceum Theatre [41]

Film and television

Year Title Role Notes Refs.
2004 Midsomer Murders Bella Monday TV series (Episode: "The Maid in Splendour") [6]
2004 Keen Eddie Lois TV series (Episode: "Citizen Cecil") [citation needed]
2004 Vanity Fair Maria Osborne [6]
2004 My Life in Film Anna TV series (Episode: "Rear Window") [citation needed]
2004 Traffic Warden The Girlfriend Short [6]
2005 Friends & Crocodiles Christine TV film [citation needed]
2007 Mumbai Calling Tiffany Glass TV series (Episode: "Pilot") [25]
2008 The Curse of Steptoe Maureen Corbett TV film [45]
2009 Henry VIII: The Mind of a Tyrant Anne Boleyn TV series [citation needed]
2009 Torchwood Vanessa TV series (Episode: "Children of Earth: Day Four") [6]
2009 Burlesque Fairytales Annabel Blythe-Smith [6]

Discography

Title Album details
The Isis Project

(written by Guy Chambers)

  • Released: June 6, 2005 (2005-06-06)
  • Label: Sleeper Sounds LLP
  • Format: EP, Audio CD
  • Language: French
Songs for a Boy

(written by Guy Chambers)

  • Released: June 26, 2011 (2011-06-26)
  • Label: Sleeper Sounds LLP
  • Format: EP
  • Language: English

References

  1. ^ Mosley, Charles (1 December 2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage. p. 3680. ISBN 978-0971196629. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  2. ^ O'Neill, Lorena. "Meet Sophie Hunter, Benedict Cumberbatch's Impressive Fiancee". The Hollywood Reporter.
  3. ^ "Ms. Sophie Hunter of west London, we presume?". The Star Phoenix.
  4. ^ "Benedict Cumberbatch And Sophie Hunter Engagement: The 'Sherlock' Lead Star Proposed With A £300,000 Diamond Ring? Who Is Sophie Hunter, The Envy Of All Cumbertbatch's Die Hard Fans?". Franchise Herald.
  5. ^ Sykes, Tom (5 November 2014). "Meet the Future Mrs. Benedict Cumberbatch". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 5 November 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f Hawkes, Rebecca (5 November 2014). "Sophie Hunter: who is Benedict Cumberbatch's fiancée?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 November 2014. ...she is a 36-year-old Oxford graduate...
  7. ^ Mcginty, Stephen. "Benedict Cumberbatch to marry Scots theatre boss". The Scotsman.
  8. ^ "General Sir Michael Gow". Telegraph. 1924-06-03. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
  9. ^ Malec, Brett (5 November 2014). "Benedict Cumberbatch Engaged! 5 Things to Know About His Fiancée Sophie Hunter". E!. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  10. ^ Nelson, Jeff. "All About Benedict Cumberbatch's New Wife, Sophie Hunter".
  11. ^ "Londoners Diary: Off to bed now, Newsnight tells sleepy viewers". London Evening Standard. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  12. ^ a b Calabrese, Laura (5 November 2014). "Who is Sophie Hunter? Everything you need to know about Benedict Cumberbatch's fiancée". National Post. Retrieved 10 November 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ The Guardian, 2 November 2006, You review: Faustus, Retrieved 1 October 2014
  14. ^ "The Cumby Show". Vogue.
  15. ^ "What Fame Looks Like Inside a Meme". Vulture.
  16. ^ "Sophie Hunter Theatre Credits". Broadway World. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  17. ^ Jason Zinoman (21 May 2007). "Exploiting a Convenient Truth: There's Profit in Eco-Disaster". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  18. ^ a b Don Aucoin (10 February 2012). "'69° S.' is entrancing". Boston Globe. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  19. ^ Eric Grode (3 November 2011). "Tale of Antarctic Explorers, Lives Hanging by a Thread". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  20. ^ http://www.location1.org/lucretia/
  21. ^ a b c Hawkes, Rebecca. "Benedict Cumberpatch engaged: who is Sophie Hunter?". msn. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  22. ^ "Life after Robbie". The Guardian. 25 May 2005. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  23. ^ a b c Samantha Toy (14 October 2010). "Extant Arts Company Presents New Version of Ibsen's GHOSTS 11/5-11/21". Broadway World. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  24. ^ "The Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust Award 2007". The Oxford Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust. 15 September 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  25. ^ a b Ella Alexander (5 November 2014). "Sophie Hunter: Who is Benedict Cumberbatch's fiancée?". Independent. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  26. ^ Jane Edwardes (3 September 2007). "Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust award". Time Out. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  27. ^ a b "69 Degrees South Program Notes" (PDF). Krannert Center.
  28. ^ Diderich, Joelle. "Front Row at Valentino". Women's Wear Daily.
  29. ^ Vagnoni, Anthony. "The Field (social) Taps Immersive Smarts as Part of Larger Offering". Source Creative.
  30. ^ a b Jane Edwardes (3 September 2007). "Samuel Beckett Theatre Trust award". Time Out. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  31. ^ Williams, Kathryn (5 November 2014). "Benedict Cumberbatch engagement: Who is Sophie Hunter?". Walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  32. ^ Andy Gill (8 July 2011). "Album: Guy Chambers & Sophie Hunter, Songs for a Boy (Sleeper Sounds)". Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  33. ^ Sooke, Alistair (29 November 2005). "In the studio: Conrad Shawcross". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  34. ^ Williams-Akoto, Tessa (31 May 2006). "My Home: Conrad Shawcross". The Independent. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  35. ^ Alex Ritman. "Benedict Cumberbatch Engagement News Sends Twitter Ablaze". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  36. ^ "Benedict Cumberbatch announces engagement to director Sophie Hunter". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  37. ^ "Benedict Cumberbatch expecting first child with fiancee Sophie Hunter". Vanity Fair.
  38. ^ "Sophie Hunter and Benedict Cumberbatch expecting baby". The Guardian.
  39. ^ Fowler, Tara. "Benedict Cumberbatch Marries Sophie Hunter". People Magazine.
  40. ^ Dowd, Katey Erich. "Get the Details on Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter's Wedding". People Magazine.
  41. ^ a b "Sophie Hunter". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  42. ^ Emma Whitelaw. "Reworked revenge in Sincera's Hamlet". Indie London. Retrieved 10 October 2014. Another noteworthy performance would be that given by Sophie Hunter. Her Ophelia is most commendable, encompassing every bit the fragility of her heroine's love-torn heart.
  43. ^ Alexis Soloski, 22 May 2007, Village Voice, London Broil: Grim news for England in Benjamin Davis's eco-drama Silverland, Retrieved 3 October 2014, "...Artist Ellen (Sophie Hunter) muses..."
  44. ^ Zinoman, Jason (21 May 2007). "Exploiting a Convenient Truth: There's Profit in Eco-Disaster". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 November 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  45. ^ Daniella Graham (5 November 2014). "Who is Benedict Cumberbatch's bride-to-be? Everything you need to know about Sophie Hunter". Metro. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
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