Jenny Galloway (born 1959) is a British actress and singer best known for her stage career, which includes Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables.
Career Galloway has been nominated for several accolades for her work in theatre.
Galloway can be heard on the cast recordings of Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert, Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert, Oliver!, Mamma Mia! and Mary Poppins.
In the 2001 ITV children's series Weirdsister College, Galloway portrayed the college porter known as the Beetle.
Her film credits include In Transit, About a Boy, Fierce Creatures and the role of the Foreign Secretary in Johnny English. She appeared in Madame de Sade alongside Judi Dench and Deborah Findlay as Charlotte in 2008.
Galloway had a principal role in a fifth series episode of Marple, The Pale Horse, alongside Julia McKenzie. Her role was Bella Ellis – the town's local witch and cook to Thyrza Grey (played by Pauline Collins) – who are considered prime suspects at many points during the episode. The episode aired as the first part of the fifth series in the UK in August 2010, before the fourth series had finished airing.
She reprised her role as Madame Thénardier in the 25th Anniversary Concert of Les Misérables at the O2 Arena in October 2010. She was briefly reunited with her former co-star Alun Armstrong at the end of the performance, when he appeared alongside the rest of the original cast of the musical for the finale. She and Armstrong had appeared as the Thénardiers in the 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Galloway also played the character in the 2006 Broadway revival of the show.
Galloway worked at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury, Berkshire in 1982, returning periodically, to assist stage management, drive the van, and lead sing-alongs.
In 2013, she appeared as Sister Thomas in the Father Brown episode "The Bride of Christ". She has also voiced characters for video games, such as additional voices for Lego The Hobbit, released in 2014. In 2017, she featured as the Nanny in the film adaptation of Agatha Christie's Crooked House, alongside Glenn Close, Max Irons and Terence Stamp. In March 2023, she appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Mrs Garton-Hill.
Filmography Film +Title Role Year Notes Little DorritN/A1987Oscar-nominated filmBroken LivesN/A1994TV movieMary Shelley's FrankensteinVendor's wife1994Fierce CreaturesAquarium Keeper1997The Clandestine Marriage Mrs Trusty1998The HuntMrs Jenkins2001TV movieAbout a BoyFrances2002Johnny EnglishForeign Secretary2003In TransitLiudmilla2008London RoadMargaret2015Crooked HouseNanny2017Mamma Mia! Here We Go AgainEnsemble Performer2018Come AwayHannah O'Farrell2020HunchElf2020Short filmWicked Little LettersLizzie Bayliss2023MagpieMaid2024
Television +Title Role Year Notes Within These WallsGlenda19761 episodeCannon and BallDierdrie19791 episodeTherese RaquinSuzanne Michaud1980TV mini-series; 3 episodesComicsRebecca19932 episodesGreat PerformancesMadame Thernardier19951 episodeThe BillVarious roles1992–19964 episodesThere's a Viking in My BedMrs Tribblewaite2001TV mini-seriesArmadilloKomelia20013 episodesWeirdsister CollegeThe Beetle2001–20029 episodesCasualtyApril KingEve 1993, 20022 episodesGrange HillMrs Davenport1999–200221 episodesThe Last King Woman2003TV mini-seriesMarpleBella20101 episodeA Young Doctor's NotebookLidka's Grandmother20121 episodeFather BrownSister Thomas20131 episodeHolby CitySusan BoyleAnnie Dawson 2007, 20132 episodesBreathlessLily Pearson2013TV mini-series AmbassadorsMrs Petrova20133 episodesTrolliedHead Judge20131 episodeCuffsFrannie20151 episodeHank ZipzerGovernor20152 episodesThe CoronerEthel Blackstone20151 episodeFleabagRetreat Leader20161 episodeJack and Dean of All TradesPam20171 episodeSilent WitnessRosie Blackfield20182 episodesGood OmensBrenda Ormorod20191 episodeLiar Hotel Receptionist20202 episodesThe Queen's GambitMatron20201 episodeThe SplitJeanette20222 episodesEndeavourMrs Pat Treadle 20231 episodeDoctorsMrs Garton HillCath LowenIris Millard2010–20233 episodesLockerbie: A Search for TruthSusan Cohen2025TV mini-series; 3 episodesOnly ChildBeth2026Series 2; 6 episodes
Theatre Sandra – Zigger Zagger (1967) – National Youth Theatre Madame Thénardier – Les Misérables (1992–1994, 1995, 2006–2008 and 2010) Widow Corney – Oliver! (1994; revival cast) Rosie – Mamma Mia! (1999; original cast) Mickey – My One and Only 2002; Original West End Cast Mrs. Lovett – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Mrs. Brill – Mary Poppins (2004; original cast, 2009) Mrs. Pearce – My Fair Lady (Paris production, 2010) Nana – Ballet Shoes (Royal National Theatre, original cast, 2024)
Awards and nominations
Galloway has won two Laurence Olivier Awards for her performances in theatre and was nominated for a third in 2003. +Year Organisation Award Work Result 1992Laurence Olivier AwardsBest Supporting Role in a MusicalThe Boys from SyracuseWin2000Laurence Olivier AwardsBest Supporting PerformanceMamma Mia!Win2003 Laurence Olivier AwardsBest Performance in a Supporting RoleMy One and OnlyNominated
References
External links