EMMA-JANE PORTCH:
Actor


Biography

"In school I always played men. It was an all-girls establishment and I had a deeper voice than some and less inhibitions to wear false moustaches. I took part in a few shows, until the sixth form when I became all shy and left the acting to the others." Emma-Jane went on to University to study Spanish and French, avoiding all drama and singing, convincing herself it was not her thing. The only piece of creative work she did was in the final month of her degree - presenting a campus version of Blind Date. She then realised how much she had been suppressing and missing - but had left it a bit late.

Emma-Jane Portch as Rachel
in Sky TV's "Mile High"
After two years of singing/dance/acting/improvisation training, Emma-Jane graduated from college, having performed in a number of shows in Bristol theatres - The Tobacco Factory, The Redgrave and Bristol old Vic. While at college, a friend and had written and performed in a pilot childrens’ TV show. When he was meeting London agents, in the hope of being represented, one of them asked to see a showreel, so he showed her the tape. She offered him representation and asked if “the girl on the tape” was represented too. Emma-Jane got a call to audition. After reading for the agent, she offered Emma-Jane representation and she has been her sole agent ever since.

Future plans include re-launching a company called "On That Note", which specialises in the “posh end” of music theatre and improvised musical comedy, and doing more theatre work in general. Her biggest role yet came from playing "Rachel" in Sky One's "Mile High".

Credits include:

Employment History: Television
· Feb-Sept 2004 “Rachel”, Mile High, Hewland International, Sky One
· Oct-Dec 2003 “Emma”, Magick Eve, Lesley Ann Morgan, ITV West
· Sept-Oct 2003 “Kitchen Staff”, Passer By, David Morrissey, BBC 1
· August 2003 “Woman 2”, Teachers, Andrew Lincoln, Channel 4
· Sept-Oct 2002 “Lady Catherine Francombe”, Servants, Tim Whitby, BBC 1
· Sept 2002 “Backpacker”, Defra commercial, C.O.I, Nick Bye, BBC 1

Employment History: Theatre
· Feb-April 2005 “The Actress” (Understudy) Insignificance, Sheffield Theatres Tour, Samuel West / Maria Pattinson
· July 2002 “Anita” West Side Story, Tobacco Factory, Peter Nicholas
· Jan-April 2002 “Leading Lady”, The DuX Files, Kinetic Theatre Company Tour
· 2002- On That Note Entertainment, (Musical Theatre & Improvisation co.)
· May 2001 “Helena” A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tobacco Factory, Kim Begley
· 2001 “40 days” One Woman Show written by Emma-Jane Portch, Bristol Old Vic
· 2001 “Sarah”, Company, Stephen Sondheim, Edinburgh Festival, Jon Sheerman

Employment History: Film
· 2008 "Emma Roberts" The Angel in the Snow, (Short) Hanover Pictures, Paul Dudbridge
· 2007 "Sarah Parker" The Perfect Date, (Short) Hanover Pictures, Paul Dudbridge
· 2005 “Mother” The Christmas Eve Snowfall, (Short.) Hanover Pictures, Paul Dudbridge
· 2001 “Girl On Date” Six Ways to Mess up a Date, (Short.) Jack Davies

Hobbies and Interests:
Writing Scripts/novels
Musical Theatre and Musical Comedy
Impersonation and improvisation