Last updated July 2006
Category: The Archers
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Tamsin Greig
plays Debbie Aldridge (formerly Gerrard, née Travers-Macy) in BBC Radio 4's The Archers.
She was born in Kent in 1966 and describes herself as having been the temperamental and noisy middle child of an expressive mother and a much older father.
She took part in numerous school plays so it seemed logical to continue her interest in drama by studying the subject at the University of Birmingham – which was just across the road from the BBC studios where The Archers was recorded.
Upon graduating, Tamsin's first job was for the Family Planning Association - "I used to know everything about contraception!"
She then worked at the Midland Art Centre's Children's Theatre and, after 115 performances of the same show, got her Equity Card and consequently more offers of work.
Tamsin describes the offer of the role as Debbie in The Archers as "coming completely out of the blue" in 1991.
She is still amazed by her good fortune so, although she now lives in London, commutes back to the Birmingham - which she regards as her second home - for the programme's recordings.
Tamsin has undertaken theatre roles, voice-over, television and film work.
Television includes BBC productions Happiness (with Paul Whitehouse), People Like Us and The World Of Pub; Channel 4's comedy series Black Books; HTV's Wycliffe and LWT's Blind Men.
She has filmed Miranda and Glasses Break and has narrated for the National Geographic and History and channels.
Tamsin has also been seen as a quirky character in a well-known carbonated drink advertisement.
Other TV work includes: The Green Wing (Channel 4); The Lenny Henry Show; Love Soup; When I'm 64 (a television film for the BBC); and films include: Shaun Of The Dead; and Cheese Makes You Dream.
Tamsin lives in London with her husband and actor Rick Leaf, whom she met while working on television series Neverwhere for the BBC. They have three children and enjoy going to the park.
