Emily Sian Joyce (born 12 April 1969) is an English actress, known for playing the role of Janet Dawkins in the BBC comedy series My Hero between 2000 and 2006.
Early life Joyce was born in London, England. When she was fifteen years old, she was accepted at the National Youth Theatre. She worked at Vogue, afterward enrolling in drama school.
Career After drama school, Joyce joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her first television role was in the ITV drama Cracker, in which she played the murderer in a 1995 episode. She also starred in another ITV1 drama series, Grafters, in 1999, and in 2003 she played DC Havers' new boss in The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.
Joyce appeared in the British comedy series My Hero. She played the character of Janet Dawkins, opposite superhero Thermoman, originally played by Ardal O'Hanlon and followed by James Dreyfus.
In 2003, she appeared in series 2 episode 6 of Ultimate Force, playing Nicky Strong.
Also in 2003, Joyce played vengeful serial killer Anna Marchent/Sarah Herd in the two-part BBC crime drama Messiah 2: Vengeance Is Mine starring Ken Stott.
In 2007, she appeared in the light-hearted drama Hotel Babylon, playing Estelle. She also played Kate in the comedy drama Little Devil.
In the first half of 2008, she appeared in Happy Now?, a new play by Lucinda Coxon at the National Theatre, London. Also in 2008, she appeared in the six-part BBC comedy drama series Mutual Friends as Martin's (Marc Warren) boss Sarah Fletcher.
In 2010, Joyce played Dr Sandra Fleming in Universal Soldier: Regeneration. In the same year, she appeared as the Prime Minister's special policy adviser, Claire Sutton, in Antony Jay's and Jonathan Lynn's stage version of Yes, Prime Minister, which premiered at the Chichester Festival in May 2010 and moved to the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End in September 2010. In 2011, Joyce appeared in series 7 episode 19 of the BBC school-based drama Waterloo Road as local superstar DJ Viv O'Donnell. In 2013, Joyce appeared in an episode, "Down Among the Fearful", of the ITV drama Lewis as Jane Grace. In 2011, Joyce starred in the one-off BBC Christmas show Lapland. In 2024, she appeared in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors as Katie Elton, the wife of established character Graham Elton (Alex Avery).
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1997 The Woodlanders Libby 2007 National Treasure: Book of Secrets Palace Guide 2009 Universal Soldier: Regeneration Dr. Sandra Flemming
Television Year Title Role Notes 1995 Cracker Janice Serial: "True Romance" 1997 Jane Eyre Miss Temple Television film Wycliffe Morna Petheric Episode: "Seen a Ghost"1997-2017 Casualty Various 3 episodes 1998 In Exile Ellen 7 episodes Grafters Laura 8 episodes 1999 Trial by Fire WDC. Scott Television film 2000 Hero of the Hour Sylvie 2000–2006 My Hero Janet Dawkins 51 episodes; main role 2001 Comic Relief: Say Pants to Poverty The Glass Emma Rice 6 episodes; mini-series2001-2013 Midsomer Murders Bernadette Sullivan/Valerie Fergus-Johnson 2 episodes 2003 Messiah 2: Vengeance is Mine Anna Marchent The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Emily Barlow Episode: "Deception on His Mind" Ultimate Force Nicky Strong Episode: "Dead Is Forever" 2006 Doctor Who Alien (voice) Episode: "The Girl in the Fireplace" Dalziel and Pascoe Natalie Lawson Episodes: "Fallen Angel" 2007 Hotel Babylon Estelle Episode: #2.4 Little Devil Katie Bishop 3 episodes 2008 Fairy Tales Joyce Fletcher Episode: "Rapunzel" Mutual Friends Sarah 6 episodes 2009 My Almost Famous Family Jill 9 episodes 2010 Silent Witness Muriel Episode: "Voids" The Bill Jane Wallace 1 episode: "Deadly Consequences"2010-2024 Doctors Diana Hardcastle/Katie Elton 2 episodes 2011 Holby City Kate Cahill 3 episodes Waterloo Road Viv O'Donnell Series 7 Episode 19 Lapland Miranda Episode: "Lapland" 2013 Lewis Jane Grace Episode: "Down Among the Fearful" New Tricks Daniella Yates Episode: "Wild Justice" 2016 EastEnders Dr Janice May 2 episodes Agatha Raisin Juliet Episode: "Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage" Friday Night Dinner Melissa Episode: "For Sale" Filcher & Crook Evangeline De'Salle TV Mini Series2016-2017Jack and Dean of All TradesJack's Mum2 episodes 2017VeraCaroline AndersenEpisode: "Natural Selection"Sunset DreamsAnne TillerJudge Rinder's Crown CourtAbby Fry - Defence CounselTV Mini Series2020 Father BrownEdith DobsonEpisode: "The Wisdom of the Fool"2021 McDonald & DoddsDianeEpisode: "The War of Rose"2022 Call the MidwifeNorma JohnsonEpisode: Series 11 Episode 7
Radio Year Title Role Notes2005-2008The SpaceshipMelissa Paterson2009AccomplicesHattieAfternoon Play2013Shooting AnimalsFranPilot
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