Jayne Wisener (born 19 May 1987) is an actress and singer from Northern Ireland. She played Johanna in the British-American film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. She also appeared in an episode of The Inbetweeners, as Lauren Harris.

Jayne Wisener
Wisener in 2008
Born (1987-05-19) 19 May 1987 (age 37)
Alma materRoyal Conservatoire of Scotland
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active2006–present
Spouse
Wayne Austin
(m. 2012)
Children2

Personal life

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On 6 July 2012, Jayne married Wayne Austin in her hometown of Coleraine, Northern Ireland. In January 2019, Jayne gave birth to their first child, Michael.

Background

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Wisener was born in Ballymoney and grew up in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, where she attended the Coleraine High School for girls.[1]

In 2005, she represented Antrim in the Rose of Tralee competition and finished 32nd out of 32 entries.[2] Wisener also was part of Musical Theatre 4 Youth, and appeared in a workshop production of Falling.[3]

While performing in a youth production of West Side Story at the Millennium Forum in Derry, Wisener was spotted by a talent scout, who asked her to audition for a role in Sweeney Todd. Wisener was, at age 19, deemed to look too old to play the 15-year-old Johanna Barker. When told this, Wisener "e-mailed them some pictures [of herself] without make-up. Usually looking young does [an actress] no favours at all, but [she was] quite pleased this time".[4]

She trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama for one year but left after landing the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd.

Wisener made her stage debut in the UK premiere of the musical Parade at the Donmar Warehouse theatre in 2007.

She appeared in Boogeyman 3 playing the role of Amy and in November 2008 created the role of Sophie in a West End showcase of the new musical The Lost Christmas by Laurence Mark Wythe at the Trafalgar Studios, London.

In 2009, she appeared in an episode of The Inbetweeners – "The Field Trip" Series 2 Episode 1.

In late 2009, until early 2010 she appeared on stage playing the role of Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

In March 2011 she played Sally, a young woman in a centre for female juvenile delinquents, in The Runaway, based on Martina Cole's novel.

From 2012 to 2015 she played the role of student Sandie Morrow, in the BBC Northern Ireland drama Six Degrees.[5]

Jayne also played the lead character 'Jay' in 2012 UK feature film, Life Just Is. She starred alongside Paul Nicholls and the two play a couple trying to work out their complex relationship. The film was not a success.[6]

From December 2012 to January 2013, Jayne starred as Cinderella in The Grand Opera House, Belfast pantomime.

Select credits

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Year Film Role Notes
2007 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Johanna Barker Film debut
2008 Boogeyman 3 Amy
2009 Minder Maria Grant Episode: A Matter of Life and Debt
The Inbetweeners Lauren Harris Episode: 'The Field Trip'
Bullets Train passenger Music video
2010 Casualty Simone Lewis 7 episodes
Vexed Lucy B Episode Three
2011 Jane Eyre Bessie Lee
Injustice Lucy Wilson 4 episodes
Misfits Stacie 1 episode
A Kiss for Jed Orla
The Runaway Sally 1 episode
2012 Life Just Is Jay
Nick Nickleby Kat Nickleby Main role (5 episodes)
2012-2015 Six Degrees Sandie Morrow Main role (18 episodes)
2013 London Irish Caoimhe 1 episode
2016 Doctors Michelle Jardine Episode: I Know She Lies
2017 Son of Perdition The Woman Short; post-production
2024 Unsinkable Maggie Malloy

References

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  1. ^ "Jayne Wisener goes back to DH Christie". Coleraine Times. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  2. ^ Henry, Lesley-Anne. "Ulster girl lands role of a lifetime" Belfast Telegraph. 23 December 2006.
  3. ^ Hetherington, Mhari. "Impassioned, experiential theatre." Scottish Theatre. March, 2006. Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ McDaid, Brendan. "Black Pearl." Black Pearl. 15 September 2006.
  5. ^ "How the crisis in TV drama here is easing by degrees – News Analysis, Opinion". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 21 February 2012. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Life Just Is – Cast". Lifejustisfilm.com. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
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