Martine McCutcheon

Martine Kimberley Sherrie McCutcheon (born Martine Kimberley Sherrie Ponting, 14 May 1976) is an English singer, television personality and actress. She began appearing in television commercials at an early age and made her television debut in the children's television drama Bluebirds in 1989. In the early 1990s, she had minor success as one third of the pop group Milan, but it was her role as Tiffany Mitchell in the BBC's soap opera EastEnders and her role in the 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually that brought her stardom. For the former she won the National Television Award, while the latter earned her the Empire and MTV Movie awards. She was written out of EastEnders at the end of 1998 and then embarked on a pop career, this time as a solo artist.

Martine McCutcheon
McCutcheon in 2010
Born
Martine Kimberley Sherrie Ponting

(1976-05-14) 14 May 1976
Hackney, London, England
EducationItalia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1988–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2012)​
Children1
Musical career
GenresPop
Years active1995–present
LabelsInnocent, Virgin, Liberty, BMG

McCutcheon's debut studio album, You Me & Us (1999), peaked at number two in the UK, and spawned the UK number one single "Perfect Moment" and two UK top 10 entries, "I've Got You" and the double-sided "Talking in Your Sleep/"Love Me". Its follow-up, Wishing (2000), was less commercially successful but produced two UK top 10 singles: "I'm Over You" and "On the Radio". Her pop career stalled because of the poor reception of her 2002 third album, Musicality (2002). She returned to music in 2017 with the album Lost and Found. Outside of music, McCutcheon continued to appear on television, in films and on stage in My Fair Lady, where her portrayal of Eliza Doolittle won her a Laurence Olivier Award in 2002. She released her autobiography Who Does She Think She Is? in 2000.

Early life

Martine Kimberley Sherrie Ponting[1] was born on 14 May 1976 at the Salvation Army Mothers' Hospital in the London Borough of Hackney[2] to Jenny Ponting and Thomas "Keith" Hemmings.[3] While in a relationship with Keith, Jenny experienced domestic violence, which continued for many years after their split.[4] After one of many incidents in which he attempted to kill both Jenny and Martine, he was arrested and later charged and remanded in custody for six months.[5] Jenny then met John McCutcheon, whom she later married.[6][7] When Martine was nine, Keith contacted Jenny and asked for access to her. Jenny refused, prompting him to seek sole custody of Martine through the courts. He eventually lost the case, was denied any access to Martine until she was 18 and told that he could not apply for it again due to his past behaviour.[7] Shortly after, her surname was changed to her stepfather's, McCutcheon.[8] When Martine was sixteen, her mother gave birth to her half-brother, Laurence "LJ".[9] Jenny and John eventually divorced and she married Alan Tomlin in 2000.[10][11]

McCutcheon attended a nursery school in Colchester, Essex,[12] and later the Shacklewell Infants' School in Hackney, where she performed in her first play Away in a Manger before progressing to the Shacklewell Juniors' School at the age of six, where she appeared in more plays, including Noah's Ark.[13] At the age of five, she began attending extra dance classes and later enrolled in a dance school in Stoke Newington.[14] Shortly before her tenth birthday, she successfully auditioned for a place at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.[15] However, due to the changing policy of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA), she was no longer eligible for the grant she was supposed to receive for coming second in the audition and, with no financial support, she was forced to withdraw.[16] Instead, she began to attend Italia Conti's Saturday lessons.[17] Later, the Reeves Foundation, a Church of England charity based in Moorgate, offered McCutcheon a grant and she was able to enrol at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.[18] She finished school with nine GCSEs.[19]

Career

Early career

At the age of 12, McCutcheon obtained her first acting role and was paid £350 to appear in an American television commercial for the drink Kool-Aid, which was followed by modelling assignments and bit parts in television shows.[20] She was given the part of Mandy in the television series Bluebirds (1989) alongside Barbara Windsor and played Susan, Jane's sister (played by Denise van Outen), in the Anthony Newly-directed production of Stop the World – I Want to Get Off, at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, London, which was later transferred to the West End Lyric Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue.[21] This was followed by two guest appearances on the ITV police drama The Bill in 1991 and 1992. McCutcheon also appeared in the music video for the song "Caribbean Blue" by Irish singer Enya. By the time she was 15, she was part of an all-girl group, Milan, with two fellow pupils, and landed a record contract with Polydor and a gig touring as the warm-up act for the British boyband, East 17. Milan were reasonably successful. Three of their singles: "Is It Love You're After", "Affectionately Mine" and "Lead Me On", charted in the top ten of the dance charts, with the latter also making it to the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart.[22] However, they were not successful enough to make a living and disbanded.[23][20]

EastEnders

In 1994, McCutcheon was offered the small part of Tiffany Raymond on the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. The role of Tiffany grew as did McCutcheon's popularity and 22 million viewers tuned in to see her final scenes in Albert Square in 1998 when her character was killed off in a special episode screened on New Year's Eve.[24] In reality, McCutcheon had decided to leave the soap in order to embark on a pop career and the death of her character was not viewed favourably by the actress as she had intended to return.[25] Since leaving the show, McCutcheon has publicly slammed the BBC's "Controller of Continuing Drama Series", Mal Young, who made the decision to kill her character. She accused him of treating her unfairly and bringing her role in the soap to an end so irrevocably, merely as punishment for leaving.[20] In turn, Young has hit back at McCutcheon, saying her anger only arose because she wanted him to keep her role in EastEnders open as a "safety net", in case her pop career failed, and he was not prepared to do this.[20]

For her portrayal of the character, she received the 1997 National Television Award for Most Popular Actress,[26] and the 1998 TV Quick Award for Best Actress.[27]

Pop career

McCutcheon's first appearance on the charts occurred in 1995 on a minor dance song "Are You Man Enough" with the dance producers Uno Clio. A promotional video was also produced. In 1999, she debuted as a solo pop artist with Virgin Records and scored a number one on the UK Singles Chart with the ballad "Perfect Moment" (originally recorded by Edyta Górniak in 1997). Her debut album, You Me & Us, was released that September. It peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The album spawned two more top 10 entries, reaching number six with two singles: "I've Got You" and later with "Talking in Your Sleep", which featured the double A-side "Love Me", an album track that was re-recorded for the Children in Need appeal with all proceeds being donated to that cause. She was nominated for the Brit Award for Best Pop Act in 2000.[28]

In 2000, McCutcheon released her second album, Wishing, which was less successful, charting at number 25 in the UK. The album spawned two singles – the number two hit "I'm Over You" and the follow-up song, a cover of the Donna Summer classic "On the Radio" which peaked at number seven. Despite peaking at only number 25, the album still managed to sell around 250,000 copies, and received a gold certification from BPI. McCutcheon released her third album, Musicality, a Broadway-influenced cover album, in 2002. It reached number 55 in the UK and was certified silver by BPI. Due to poor sales, her recording contract was cancelled and her pop career stalled.[20] Her two-CD best-of-album called The Collection was released in September 2012.[29]

McCutcheon returned to music in 2017 with her fourth studio album, Lost and Found, released in August by BMG. Its lead single, "Say I'm Not Alone" was released on 30 May 2017.[30] The album peaked at number 17 in the UK, becoming McCutcheon's highest-charting record since You Me & Us.[31]

Film, stage and television

McCutcheon regularly appears in pantomimes.[32] She appeared in ITV's The Knock as well as the British film Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) in 2000. She went on to play Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at the National Theatre in London. Despite missing many performances (citing health problems) and withdrawing nearly five months early from the production's transfer to the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane,[33] she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical at the 2002 ceremony.

In 2002, McCutcheon presented the National Music Awards for ITV1 and in 2003 she featured in her only major film role. She appeared as tea-lady Natalie in the Richard Curtis romantic comedy Love Actually, where the British Prime Minister played by Hugh Grant, falls in love with McCutcheon's character. The film received positive reviews and was a box office success. McCutcheon went to America in the wake of the film's success, but a Hollywood career did not materialise. Nevertheless, she won the MTV Movie Award for Best Trans-Atlantic Breakthrough Performer and the Empire Award for Best Newcomer at the 9th Empire Awards for her performance.

In September 2005, she appeared in two episodes of BBC drama series Spooks. Screened on the UK television network ITV1 in December 2005, McCutcheon appeared in The English Harem, playing a woman in love with a Muslim man (Art Malik), who marries him, despite knowing he already has two wives. That same year, she presented and performed on ITV's entertainment programme, Moviemusic Mania. In 2007, McCutcheon was seen in two independent films, Withdrawal and Jump!, as well as the Agatha Christie's Marple television series episode "At Bertram's Hotel". She was also a judge for the second series of ITV1's Soapstar Superstar. Her appearance on the show drew criticism, with reports alleging that she was becoming a hate figure for the contestants, who were said to have found her comments relentlessly critical and at times patronising.[34] She performed in an Art Plus fundraising event at the Whitechapel Art Gallery opposite Natalie Press, Samantha Morton and Rhys Ifans, and in January 2008, she featured in the ITV soap Echo Beach as the character Susan Penwarden.[35]

In September 2016, McCutcheon was announced as a panelist on the ITV daytime show Loose Women, after making a few guest appearances on the show earlier in the year.[36] Then in 2021, she competed on the second series of The Masked Singer as Swan, and was the third contestant to be unmasked.[37]

Other work

McCutcheon released her autobiography, Who Does She Think She Is? in 2000, and in 2003 Martine McCutcheon: Behind the Scenes – A Personal Diary, was published by HarperCollins. McCutcheon was one of many celebrities who featured in a 2004 promotional film for London's successful bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics. A fitness DVD, Martine McCutcheon: Dance Body, was released in December 2005.

In 2006, the supermarket chain Tesco announced that they would be using McCutcheon in a series of adverts to promote a new green scheme for recycling used plastic carrier bags.[38] In 2009, her first novel, The Mistress, was published by Pan MacMillan.[39] From 2010 to 2011, she was the face on Danone's UK advertising campaign for its Activia yogurt brand.[40]

Personal life

McCutcheon was engaged to DJ Gareth Cooke, but broke off the relationship in 1996.[41] She was also in a relationship with Jonathan Barnham,[42] with whom she became pregnant in 1999, but did not carry the child to full term.[43] McCutcheon married singer Jack McManus at Lake Como in September 2012.[44] The couple had been dating since 2009.[45] On 4 February 2015, she gave birth to a son, Rafferty Jack McManus.[46]

In 2013, she was declared bankrupt by the Kingston upon Thames County Court with creditors including HM Revenue and Customs.[47] In July 2014, she was awarded an Honorary Degree by the University of Bolton for her services to entertainment.[48]

Filmography
Films
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Martine McCutcheon: This Is My Moment Herself Documentary television film
2001 Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) Mia
2002 Martine Herself Television film
2003 Love Actually Natalie 2004 Empire Award for Best Newcomer
2004 MTV Movie Award for Best Trans-Atlantic Breakthrough Performer
2005 The English Harem Tracy Pringle Television film
2006 Withdrawal Bonnie Short film
2008 Jump! Liuba Halsman
2013 The Home Office Jane Television film
2017 Red Nose Day Actually Natalie Short television film
2018 The Bromley Boys Gertie Roberts
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1989 Bluebirds Mandy 6 episodes
1991 The Bill Paper Girls Series 7, Episode 53 "Skeletons"
1992 Amanda Jones Series 8, Episode 57 "A Scandalous Act"
1995–1998 EastEnders Tiffany Mitchell 364 episodes
1997 National Television Award for Most Popular Actress[26]
1998 TV Quick Award for Best Actress[27]
Nominated—1999 British Soap Award for Best Exit
2000 The Knock Jenny Foster Series 5, Episode 2
2005 Spooks Tash Series 4, 2 episodes (uncredited)
2007 Agatha Christie's Marple Jane Cooper Series 3, Episode 1 "At Bertram's Hotel"
Soapstar Superstar Herself/Judge Series 2
2008 Echo Beach Susan Penwarden Series 1, 12 episodes
Moving Wallpaper Herself Series 1, 4 episodes (uncredited)
Moving Wallpaper: The Mole Herself Series 1, 2 episodes (uncredited)
2012 Let's Get Gold Herself/Judge
2013 Midsomer Murders Debbie Moffett Series 15, Episode 6 "Schooled in Murder"
2016–2017 Loose Women Herself/Panellist Series 21
2021 The Masked Singer Herself/Swan Series 2, Finished in 10th place
Video
Year Title Role Notes
2005 Martine McCutcheon: Dance Body Herself Fitness DVD

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[49]
You Me & Us 2
Wishing
  • Released: 13 November 2000
  • Label: Innocent, Virgin
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 25
Musicality
  • Released: 2 December 2002
  • Label: Liberty
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 55
Lost and Found
  • Released: 11 August 2017
  • Label: BMG
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 17

Extended plays
Title Details
Home for Christmas[51]
  • Released: 4 December 2020
  • Label: Chameleon Music Limited
  • Formats: digital download, streaming

Compilation albums
Title Details
The Collection[29]
  • Released: 18 September 2012
  • Label: Music Club Deluxe
  • Formats: CD, digital download

As lead artist
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[49]		 GER
[52]		 IRL
[53]
"Perfect Moment" 1999 11003 You Me & Us
"I've Got You" 6—17
"Talking in Your Sleep"/"Love Me" 6—26
"I'm Over You" 2000 2—23 Wishing
"On the Radio" 2001 7—18
"Say I'm Not Alone" 2017 ——— Lost and Found
"Any Sign of Life" ———
"Maybe I Should Run" ———
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[49]
"Are You Man Enough"
(Uno Clio featuring Martine McCutcheon)		 1995 62 Non-album single

Other appearances
Title Year Album
"Mamma Mia" 1999 ABBAmania
"I Could Have Danced All Night" 2001 My Fair Lady (2001 London Cast Recording)

References

Footnotes
  1. McCutcheon 2001, p. 11.
  2. McCutcheon 2001, p. 1.
  3. McCutcheon 2001, p. 2, 4.
  4. McCutcheon 2001, p. 6–7.
  5. McCutcheon 2001, p. 56–61.
  6. McCutcheon 2001, p. 61, 63.
  7. McCutcheon 2001, p. 65–69.
  8. McCutcheon 2001, p. 69.
  9. McCutcheon 2001, p. 5, 118–119.
  10. McCutcheon 2001, p. 274, 358.
  11. "Anguish of Martine's mum". Evening Standard. 18 April 2005. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  12. McCutcheon 2001, p. 28.
  13. McCutcheon 2001, p. 42–44.
  14. McCutcheon 2001, p. 72–74.
  15. McCutcheon 2001, p. 77–79.
  16. McCutcheon 2001, p. 79.
  17. McCutcheon 2001, p. 80.
  18. McCutcheon 2001, p. 81-84.
  19. McCutcheon 2001, p. 117–119.
  20. Hattenstone, Simon (15 November 2003). "It's got to be perfect". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  21. McCutcheon 2001, p. 99-102.
  22. "Milan". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  23. McCutcheon 2001, p. 116.
  24. "Martine McCutcheon: By George she's got it". BBC News. 16 March 2001. Retrieved 13 January 2007.
  25. White, Adam (24 March 2017). "From nation's sweetheart to pariah: why Love Actually's Martine McCutcheon needs a happy ending". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  26. "Winners 1997". National Television Awards. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  27. "EastEnders cleans up". BBC News. 3 September 1998. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2009.
  28. "Brits 2000: The winners". BBC News. 3 March 2000. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  29. "Collection". Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  30. White, Jack (30 May 2017). "Martine McCutcheon releases new single Say I'm Not Alone and announces comeback album Lost and Found". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  31. "Ed Sheeran pips Elvis Presley to Albums Number 1 in one of the year's closest chart races". Official Charts Company. 18 August 2017. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  32. McCutcheon 2001, p. 260.
  33. Reynolds, Nigel (3 November 2001). "McCutcheon quits show over fears for her voice". Telegraph. London, UK. Archived from the original on 30 August 2006. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  34. "Martine a "hate figure" for soap singers Archived 5 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine", Digital Spy; retrieved 17 January 2007.
  35. 'Echo Beach' and 'Moving Wallpaper' lineup revealed Archived 21 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  36. "Three new Loose Women revealed!". Hello!. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  37. "The Masked Singer UK's Swan unmasked as Martine McCutcheon leaving fans stunned". Daily Mirror. 9 January 2021.
  38. "Martine in Tesco advert Archived 30 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine", Tesco. URL last Retrieved 13 January 2007.
  39. The Mistress Archived 5 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, PanMacmillan.com; accessed 4 July 2015.
  40. "2010 is officially the Year of TLC – Tummy Loving Care". Activia promotion. Danone Plc. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  41. "MARTINE MCCUTCHEON ON WHY SHE'S NOT GIVEN UP ON ROMANCE Archived 31 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine", The People. URL last Retrieved 13 January 2007.
  42. "Martine McCutcheon: 'I think because of childhood stuff I've always wanted fantasy'". Irish Independent. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  43. McCutcheon 2001, p. 352-354.
  44. Martine McCutcheon marries Jack McManus Archived 24 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine, express.co.uk; accessed 4 July 2015.
  45. "A piece of my mind: Martine McCutcheon". The Herald. 16 November 2009. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  46. "Martine McCutcheon and Jack McManus welcome baby son". 4 February 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  47. "Martine McCutcheon declared bankrupt". The Guardian. London, UK. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  48. "Former Eastenders star Martine McCutcheon and former Bolton Wanderers star Chris Eagles get honorary degrees from University of Bolton". The Bolton News. 2 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  49. "Martine McCutcheon". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  50. "British certifications – Martine McCutcheon". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 November 2017. Type Martine McCutcheon in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  51. "Home For Christmas / Martine McCutcheon". Tidal. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  52. Peak chart positions for singles in Germany:
  53. "Enter the keywords "Martine Mc Cutcheon" in the "Search by Artist" section and click search". The Irish Charts. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2015.

Sources
  • McCutcheon, Martine. Who Does She Think She Is?: My Autobiography. Martine McCutcheon with Matthew Wright Arrow Books; 2001. ISBN 978-0-09-956918-3.
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