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Rebecca Pidgeon

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Rebecca Pidgeon
Pidgeon at the premiere of Redbelt, April 2008
Born (1965-10-10) October 10, 1965 (age 59)
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
NationalityAmerican, British
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, songwriter
Years active1986–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1991)​
Children2; including Clara Mamet
Musical career
GenresFolk, pop
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
LabelsChesky, Decca
Websiterebeccapidgeonmusic.com

Rebecca Pidgeon (born October 10, 1965) is an American-British actress who has appeared on stage and in feature films. She is also a singer, songwriter and recording artist.

Early life

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Pidgeon was born to English parents in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while her father, Carl R. Pidgeon, was a visiting professor at MIT.[1][2] Her mother, Elaine, is a yoga teacher. Her paternal grandmother, Monica Pidgeon, the editor of Architectural Design, was the sister of artist Olga Lehmann and academic Andrew George Lehmann.[3][4]

Pidgeon moved to Edinburgh, Scotland in 1970 with her parents. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London with classmates Clive Owen and Liza Tarbuck.[5]

Career

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From 1986 to 1990, Pidgeon was the lead singer of the British folk/pop band Ruby Blue. She left the group shortly after they signed to a major record label. She released the album The Raven in 1994, followed by The New York Girls' Club (1996), and The Four Marys (1998), a collection of traditional Celtic folk songs. Tough on Crime (2005) featured Walter Becker on guitar and Billy Preston on keyboards. Behind the Velvet Curtain (2008) included a cover version of the Beach Boys song "Wouldn't It Be Nice". Slingshot was released in 2012.[6]

She appeared in her first feature film, The Dawning, in 1988, then starred in David Mamet's plays and films, beginning with the movie Homicide and the play Oleanna, a part Mamet wrote for her. She composed the music for the film version, which starred Debra Eisenstadt in her role.[7]

Pidgeon has had roles in additional Mamet films, including The Spanish Prisoner (1997), The Winslow Boy (1999), State and Main (2000), Heist (2001) and Redbelt (2008). She had a supporting role in Red (2010). In the 2013 television movie Phil Spector, she played a supporting role and also sang "Spanish Harlem" over the closing credits. She appeared in the U.S. television series The Unit as Charlotte Ryan, and in the 2007 television film Jesse Stone: Sea Change as Leeann Lewis, a murder/bank robbery suspect.[7]

Personal life

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Pidgeon is married to American writer and director David Mamet, whom she met while appearing in his play Speed-the-Plow at the National Theatre, London. Pidgeon and Mamet have two children, actress Clara and Noah, in addition to Mamet's two older children, Willa and Zosia.

Pidgeon, who was born to a non-practising Christian family, is a student of yoga as taught by B.K.S. Iyengar.

She holds dual American/British citizenship.

Discography

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  • The Raven (Chesky, 1994)
  • The New York Girls' Club (Chesky, 1996)
  • The Four Marys (Chesky, 1998)
  • Tough on Crime (Fuel 2000, 2005)
  • Behind the Velvet Curtain (Great American Music, 2008)
  • Slingshot (Toy Canteen, 2011)
  • Blue Dress On (Toy Canteen, 2013)
  • Bad Poetry (Toy Canteen, 2014)
  • Sudden Exposure to Light/Comfort (Toy Canteen, 2019)
  • Parts of Speech Pieces of Sound (Toy Canteen, 2022)[8]
  • Songs of LA (2024)

With Ruby Blue

  • Glances Askances (Red Flame, 1987)
  • Down From Above (Fontana, 1990)
  • Broken Water (Red Flame 1992)
  • Remasters (Universal 2011)

As guest

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1988 The Dawning Nancy Gulliver
1991 Uncle Vanya Sonya
Homicide Miss Klein
1997 The Spanish Prisoner Susan Ricci
1999 The Winslow Boy Catherine Winslow
2000 Catastrophe The Director's Assistant
State and Main Ann
2001 Heist Fran Moore
2002 Advice and Dissent Ellen Goldman
2005 Shopgirl Christie Richards
Edmond Wife
2006 Provoked Miriam Taylor
2007 Jesse Stone: Sea Change Leeann Lewis
2008 Redbelt Zena Frank
How to Be Mother
Cat City Victoria Compton
2009 The Lodger Dr. Jessica Westmin
2010 Red Cynthia Wilkes
Two Painters Announcer Short
2013 Come Back to Sorrento
2014 Two-Bit Waltz Anita
2016 Allegiant Sarah
2018 Bird Box Lydia

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 Bust Sarah 2 episodes
1988 Campaign Sally Byfleet
1989 Screen One: She's Been Away Young Lillian Episode: "She's Been Away"
1992 The Water Engine Connie TV movie
2004–2005 The Shield Joanna Faulks 3 episodes
2006 In Justice Charlotte Conti 3 episodes
2006–2009 The Unit Charlotte Ryan 14 episodes
2007 Jesse Stone: Sea Change Leeann Lewis TV movie
2010 Glenn Martin, DDS Unknown Episode: "Jackie of All Trades"
Voice
2013 Phil Spector Dr. Fallon TV movie

References

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  1. ^ Winters, Laura (5 April 1998). "FILM; A Deft Stage Presence Moves Into the Movies". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  2. ^ Carl Pidgeon biodata
  3. ^ "Monica Pidgeon". The Daily Telegraph. London. 20 October 2009.
  4. ^ Rowntree, Diana (21 September 2009). "Monica Pidgeon obituary". The Guardian. London.
  5. ^ "Hollywood previews". hollywoodpreviews.com. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  6. ^ "Discography". Rebecca Pidgeon Music. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  7. ^ a b Rebecca Pidgeon at IMDb
  8. ^ "Album Premiere: Rebecca Pidgeon Explores Connection Between Yoga and Music on Compelling 'Parts of Speech Pieces of Sound'". Glide Magazine. 21 September 2022.
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