Amanda Drew (born 21 December 1969) is a British actress from Boston, England, with extensive credits in theatre, television and film.
Biography One of four children, Drew was born in Boston. Drew's mother was a nurse and her father was a vicar. When her parents moved to Leicestershire for work, Drew was educated at Beauchamp College in Oadby, where she joined a youth theatre, playing Charity in Sweet Charity. She later attended King's School, Ottery St. Mary, when her family moved to Devon.
After graduating from RADA in 1992, Drew made her name on stage at the Royal Court Theatre and various other West End productions in both drama and comedy roles. In 2001, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In March 2009 she starred in the UK premiere of Parlour Song at the Almeida Theatre. In July 2009 she took the role of Claudia Roe, a fictional amalgamation of female executives of the failed Enron Corporation, in ENRON at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester, transferring to Royal Court Theatre in October 2009 and the West End in January 2010. She made her Broadway debut in Florian Zeller's play The Height of the Storm in 2019.
Her television credits include A Very British Scandal, The Girl Before, Broadchurch, The Last Post, Chernobyl, Wednesday, and the Black Mirror episode "Smithereens". In 2025, Drew starred in The Bombing of Pan Am 103 (also known as Lockerbie) as a victim's mother. In real life, the incident took place on Drew's 19th birthday.
EastEnders Drew played the part of Dr. May Wright in the BBC One soap opera, EastEnders, between September 2006 and June 2007, and again in June 2008. Drew was involved in one of largest storylines of the year, a love triangle between May, her husband Rob Minter (Stuart Laing), and Dawn Swann (Kara Tointon).
The personality of the character has earned her the nickname "Mad May" and "Psycho Doctor" from the media. Drew has described the role as "a gift of a role for any actor because of her complexity." Of her return to EastEnders, she has stated: "I'm so excited to be playing her again. It'd be a shame to give too much away, but she has changed in many ways." Executive producer Diederick Santer has said: "It's great to have Amanda back. May is a hugely popular character. I'm sure viewers will be keen to see what she gets up to and how she's changed."
In May 2007, it was decided that the ending of a current storyline featuring characters of May, Dawn and Rob would be substantially rewritten due to the disappearance of toddler Madeleine McCann. The storyline would have seen May ran off with Dawn and Rob's baby shortly after it had been born. The move attracted some criticism as to how it relates directly to the disappearance of the toddler; the BBC said that "In the current circumstances it was felt any storyline that included a child abduction would be inappropriate and could cause distress to our viewers." May holds Dawn hostage, intending to steal her baby by performing a caesarean section. May is arrested and Drew left the series.
Trailers for Drew's return to EastEnders, had been shown in the weeks running up to her return on BBC channels; on 6 June 2008. She reprised her role as May, under the assumed name of "Jenny". She was seen smoking a cigarette and drinking alcohol, two new activities for the character. May was killed-off on 18 June 2008 when she causes a gas explosion at the Miller house.
Awards Drew won the "Outstanding Newcomer" at the 2003 London Evening Standard Theatre Awards for her performance in Eastward Ho! at the Gielgud Theatre.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1997Remember Me?Woman Police ConstableMrs DallowayLucy1999This Year's LoveOld Friend2004Between UsLukas' MotherShort film2008The Other ManJoy2010JerusalemKate BlakeShort film2012Elfie HopkinsSusannah HopkinsAnonymousHelenShort film2014CharityMumShort film2015Blue BorsalinoDonnaShort film2018A Private WarAmy Bentham2021The Hitman and HerMrs. PierceShort film2023DriftSonia
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1992Between the LinesAngelaSeries 1; episode 9: "Watching the Detectives"1993Full StretchNatashaEpisode 1: "Ivory Tower"PerformanceDaisySeries 3; episode 2: "The Maitlands"Paul Calf's Video DiaryEmmaTelevision film1994The BillMrs. SandersSeries 10; episode 26: "Business as Usual"Soldier SoldierNurse Siobhan MitchellSeries 4; episodes 3 & 4: "Damage" & "Second Sight"1995The BillHeather CarneySeries 11; episode 86: "Presumed Guilty"Degrees of ErrorCordell Hospital Nurse(unknown episodes)1998The BillKay RichardsSeries 14; episode 72: "Stop"Men Behaving BadlyWendySeries 7; episodes 1–3: "Performance", "Gary in Love" & "Delivery"2002SpooksBBC WomanSeries 1; episode 5: "The Rose Bed Memoirs". Uncredited roleTough LoveWDC Jilly BarnesTelevision film2003M.I.T.: Murder Investigation TeamRuth TaylorSeries 1; episode 6: "Lambs to the Slaughter"The BillAnnabelle JamesonSeries 19; episodes 81 & 82: "Antecedent" & "Fatality"2004No AngelsDr. Jane SalterSeries 1; episode 52005The Golden HourPeta LarkinsonMini-series; episode 32006–2008EastEndersDr. May WrightRegular role; 97 episodes2008HolbyBlueJudy BurrowsSeries 2; episodes 4–62011Britain's Fattest ManHerself - NarratorTelevision filmMidsomer MurdersLiz GerrardSeries 13; episode 7: "Not in My Back Yard"2012When Paddy Met SallyHerself - NarratorTelevision filmSwitchJanetEpisodes 1, 2, 4 & 5Paddy and Sally's Excellent Gypsy AdventureHerself - NarratorEpisodes 1–4: "Spain", "Hungary", "Ireland" & "Borneo"2013Silent WitnessDI ReedSeries 16; episodes 3 & 4: "Trust: Parts 1 & 2"Life of CrimeBeverley ReidMini-series; episodes 1–3: "1985", "1997" & "2013"New TricksLaura HighsmithSeries 10; episode 1: "The Rock: Part One"SouthcliffeJacqui WhiteheadMini-series; episodes 1–42013–2015BroadchurchCate GillespieSeries 1; episode 6, & series 2; episode 1 & 3–62014The Passing BellsAnnie EdwardsMini-series; episodes 1–5HorizonHerself - NarratorSeries 51; episodes 8 & 13: "Where Is Flight MH370?" & "Inside the Dark Web"2017The Last PostMary MarkhamMini-series; episodes 1–62018TrustBelinda6 episodes2019Father BrownMiss Cynthia RosewoodSeries 7; episode 4: "The Demise of the Debutante"ChernobylKremlin Aide FemaleMini-series; episodes 2 & 3: "Please Remain Calm" & "Open Wide, O Earth"Black MirrorHayleySeries 5; episode 2: "Smithereens"Master Moley: By Royal InvitationTracey / Signora Maria / Melanie (voice)Television short film2019–2020The Trial of Christine KeelerJulie Ellen PayneEpisodes 2–62020Criminal: UKAlex's SolicitorSeries 2; episode 2: "Alex"2020–2025Gangs of LondonMiss KaneSeries 1–3; 6 episodes2021Doctor WhoVoice of the Mouri (voice)Series 13: episode 3: "Flux: Chapter Three - Once, Upon Time"The Girl BeforeCarol Younsen (Psychotherapist)Mini-series; episodes 1–4A Very British ScandalYvonne MacPhersonMini-series; episodes 1–32021–2024The OutlawsRuthSeries 1–3; 11 episodes2022Vampire AcademyDiane5 episodesThe PeripheralMrs. WestEpisode 3: "Haptic Drift"WednesdayEsther SinclairSeason 1; episode 5: "You Reap What You Woe"2023The PowerMrs. ElmsEpisode 3: "A New Organ"WolfSupt. Harper DriscollMini-series; episodes 1 & 5: "Watching" & "Death Roll"The Lazarus ProjectDr. HarrisonSeries 2; episode 62023–2024The GoldCS/Asst. Commissioner Cath McLeanSeries 1; episodes 1–6, & series 2; episode 12024EricCarolineMini-series; episodes 4 & 5EllisDCI CottonSeries 1; episode 3: "Brindleton"2025A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis StoryBertha NeilsonMini-series; episodes 1–4The Bombing of Pan Am 103Linda BurmanMini-series; episodes 1–6LynleyValerieEpisode 1. Post-productionBookishNerina BeanEpisodes 3 & 4: "Deadly Nitrate: Parts 1 & 2". In production
Video games YearTitleRoleNotes2018Hitman 2Nancy Burnwood (voice)
Selected stage appearances
The Memory of Water The Man of Mode (1994) The Way of the World (1995) John Gabriel Borkman (1996) Taking Sides (1997) The School of Night (1999) The House of Bernarda Alba (1999) Top Girls (2000) Jubilee (2001) Eastward Ho! (2002) The Island Princess (2002) Blithe Spirit (2004) Otherwise Engaged (2005) Parlour Song (2009) ENRON (2009–2010) House of Games (2010) Butley (2011) Twelfth Night (2011) A Streetcar Named Desire (2012) Three Days in the Country (2015)
References
External links