Tracy-Ann Oberman

Tracy-Ann Oberman (born Tracy Anne Oberman; 25 August 1966) is an English actress, playwright and narrator. She is known for roles including Chrissie Watts in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' (2004–2005, 2024) and Valerie Lewis or "Auntie Val" in the Channel 4 sitcom ''Friday Night Dinner'' (2011–2020).

Following training at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, Oberman spent four years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, before joining the National Theatre. Her theatrical experience includes appearing with Kenneth Branagh in David Mamet's ''Edmond'' (2003) and a run in the West End revival of ''Boeing-Boeing'' (2007–2008). She appeared in a production of ''Earthquakes in London'' in its 2011 run as Sarah Sullivan. Oberman has performed in more than 600 radio plays since the mid-1990s.

Oberman's TV credits have also included ''Doctor Who'', ''Mistresses'', ''Robin Hood'', and ''Doctors''. Before ''EastEnders'', Oberman appeared in a variety of television programmes including ''Casualty'' (1997–1998), ''Kiss Me Kate'' (1998), and ''The Bill'' (2000), and carved out a comedic niche with leading roles in ''Bob Martin'' (2000–2001), ''Lenny Henry in Pieces'' (2000–2003), ''Big Train'' (2002), and ''Toast of London'' (2013–2015). She had a recurring role in the penultimate and last series of procedural comedy-drama ''New Tricks'' (2014–2015) as Fiona Kennedy, a forensic pathologist. Oberman appeared in ''Tracey Ullman's Show'' and ''Tracey Breaks the News'' from 2016 to 2018.

Oberman has contributed to several radio sketch shows and, in 2008, co-authored with Diane Samuels the play ''3 Sisters on Hope Street''. In 2010, she wrote and starred alongside Catherine Tate in her BBC Radio 4 play ''Bette and Joan and Baby Jane'' and, in 2012, wrote the BBC Radio 4 play ''Rock and Doris and Elizabeth''. In 2015, she wrote and starred in the third part of her Hollywood Trilogy for BBC Radio 4, ''Mrs. Robinson, I Presume'', alongside John Simm and Kevin Bishop. Oberman was a regular columnist for ''The Guardian'' newspaper during 2007, for which she is still an occasional contributor. She was a regular contributor to ''The Jewish Chronicle'' (2009–2017) and also contributes to ''Red'' magazine. Provided by Wikipedia