Joanne Mitchell (born 30 July 1971) is an English actress, director, and producer. In 2011 she co-founded Mitchell Brunt Films with husband and Emmerdale colleague Dominic Brunt and has worked as producer, writer, and/or director on several of the company's films.
Career Mitchell trained at The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where she met future husband Dominic Brunt. After graduating she embarked on a varied career in theatre and TV, including four roles in TV soap Emmerdale. Mitchell's theatrical roles have included Macbeth's Lady McDuff, Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Rosaline in Love's Labours Lost. She has also played Valerie in Conor McPherson's The Weir and Jenny in Alan Ayckbourn's Family Circles.
Since forming Mitchell-Brunt Films, Mitchell has expressed a desire to push boundaries and to merge drama and horror in unique ways. She wrote and produced four short films The Mighty Witch Killers of Pendle Hill, Shell Shocked, Sybil, The Outing - the latter two she also Directed. She then co-starred in the claustrophobic chiller White Settlers (2014) and the Manchester-set Habit (2016). She conceived, produced and starred in the zombie drama Before Dawn (2013) and 'female revenge' thriller Bait (2015).She also produced Attack of the Adult Babies, Evie and Wolf Manor (aka Scream of The Wolf). Her first directed feature film, Broken Bird, was released in 2024.
Emmerdale Mitchell has had four roles in Emmerdale. Her first in the long-running rural soap was in 2003, when she played DS Karen Barnborough in two episodes. She had further roles as Midwife Yeo and Susan Davies and, in 2016, took over the role of Sandra Flaherty.
Filmography +Television Programme Episode Role Year Notes Justice “There for the Grace of ...” Jenny Woods 2011 Coronation Street Marsha WestbrookSonographer 20182009 Waterloo Road Series 3 #6Series 5 #7 TV ReporterMrs Turner 20072009 Doctors "Scrub Away, Scrub Away""Who Do You Think You're Kidding?""Born Again" Rosie RichardsonCarmen PerryJosie Maray 200720082016 A Touch of Frost "Dead End" Joan Atkins 2008 Holby City "Is There Something I Should Know?" Heather 2007 Bodies Series 2 #6 Jo Lyons 2005 Heartbeat "Daniel" Paediatric Nurse 2004 Emmerdale #17,434 onwards#15,291/94;#143,00/12#13,492/94 Sandra FlahertySusan DaviesMidwife YeoDC Barnborough 2016200920062003 Bad Girls "Common Criminal" Jude2001 The Maze House Jo Holding On Series 1 #4 Caroline Casualty "Duty of Care" Louise Austin 1995
+Film Film Role Year Notes Licence to Live Paula 1994TV movie The Way of the Monkey's Claw Matka Draak 2011 Shortcuts to Hell (Vol 1) Hannah2013 Before Dawn Meg/Writer/Producer White Settlers Flo 2014 Bait Dawn Greenwood 2015 Porridge Prosecuting Counsel2016 Habit Katy Pandora MarthaAttack of the Adult BabiesProducer2017SybilDirector/Producer/Writer2018EvieProducer2021Wolf Manor (Scream of the Wolf)Producer2022The OutingDirector/ProducerBroken BirdDirector/Writer2024
+Theatre Production Role Venue Year Notes Alma and Gustav Mahler Alma Mahler Bridgewater Hall, Manchester A Sense of Justice Millie Perth Theatre 2005 84 Charing Cross Road Megan/Maxine Nick Brooke No.1 Tour2004 The Weir Valerie Bolton Octagon Fallen Angels Jane Salisbury Playhouse A Phoenix Too Frequent Dynamene Salisbury Playhouse Betrayal Emma Nick Brooke No.1 Tour Hamlet Ophelia Hedda Gabler Hedda Gabler The Weir Valerie Royal Court 1997 Melonfarmer Kathy Plymouth Theatre Royal 2000 Macbeth Lady MacDuff Orange Tree, Richmond Family Circles Jenny Orange Tree, Richmond 1996 Romeo and Juliet Juliet Orange Tree, Richmond All In the Wrong Belinda Orange Tree, Richmond 1991 Black Sea Sarah Paines Plough Jungle Book Mother Wolf The Swan Stratford Mansfield Park Julia Bertram The Redgrave Stags and Hens Maureen Edinburgh Festival
+Radio Production Role Broadcaster Year Notes Writing the Century II Ada Reese BBC Radio Four 2016 Edward Elgar's The Crown of India India BBC Radio Three 2015 The Treehouse Clare BBC Radio Four2014 Writing the Century I Mrs Trim / Tracy Clarke BBC Radio Four The Testament of Jessie Lamb Mum BBC Radio Four 2013 The Journey Sophie BBC Radio Four 2010 Caesar Price Our Lord Mum BBC Radio Four 2008 The Paston Letters Joan / Alice / Emily BBC Radio Four 2006 On It Jo Woolly Back Productions
References
External links Mitchell-Brunt Films website
Mitchell-Brunt Films at BFI