Why we love Tamsin Greig

By Jess Meaden

Tamsin Greig took on the role of Pepa in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown back in November 2014 - marking her musical theatre debut.

Despite being most recognised for her roles in hit TV shows Black Books, Green Wing, Friday Night Dinner and Episodes (to name but a few); she's no stranger to the stage. In 2007 she won an Olivier award for playing Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing and has also appeared in Gethsemane (2008) The Little Dog Laughed (2010), Jumpy (2011) and Longing (2013).

With Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown having now extended booking August 2015, there's no better time to look at all the reasons why we love this talented leading lady - and there are a fair few of them!

She’s a versatile actress:

Whether it’s donning a stethoscope as Dr. Caroline Todd in Green Wing, playing high-flying director Beverly Lincoln in Episodes or ... impersonating farm animals on a popular TV talk show, there's no limit to her talent.

She’s full of wisdom:

‘I try not to look any further ahead than the next cup of tea. You never know if that cuppa will come or not, do you?’

‘We’re all just children pretending to be grown-ups.' - The Express, 2014

She's doesn't mind sharing:

Even during TV interviews, with the likes of Jim Carey and Jude Law in company, she’s quite happy to give away all her best acting tips:

And she gave the best Olivier Awards acceptance speech...EVER:

If announcing to the whole of the Royal Opera House (oh, and the other few thousands of people watching later on TV) that you’ve wet your rented frock in excitement - during your Olivier Awards acceptance speech - isn’t memorable, we don’t know what is!


Nominated for Best Actress in a Musical at this years Olivier Awards (with fellow cast member Haydn Gwynne up for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical), she's demonstrated that she really can sing. If you don't believe us, check this out:

She loves London as much as we do:

Despite temporarily trading old Blighty for a glamorous LA, she insists that there is truly no place like home. 





‘I love the seasons here, I love public transport, I love being able to walk around London. I grew up here and my family lives here and my children go to school here. I have an incredible fondness for this country and I feel privileged to be able to dip into LA and dip out again.’ - The Independent, 2014

She’s Friends with a 90s icon:

She stars alongside Stephen Mangan and Matt ‘Joey Tribbiani’ Le Blanc in BAFTA award-winning TV show Episodes, and has become great friends with the pair in doing so.

Grieg on Le Blanc: ‘I can’t tell him when things are making me laugh because he’s really naughty with making it worse!’ - BBC, 2014

As far as group interviews go, this one is probably the funniest we’ve read in while.

If at first she doesn’t succeed, she tries and tries again:

Can you believe that this Olivier Award winner was once rejected for both the National Youth Theatre and then drama school? We can’t either.





She instead went on to university and graduated with a first in Drama and Theatre Arts. How’s that for proving them wrong?

‘I think hearing the word ‘no’ can be quite creative.’ - The Independent, 2010

And, as with all good actresses, she’s got the moves too:

We’re not kidding. Those hips don't lie.

Seriously though...

You can see Tamsin in action at the Playhouse Theatre, where she’ll be starring as Pepa in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown until August.





Have you seen the show yet? What did you make of it? Tweet us with your thoughts! Tweet #WeLoveTamsinGreig