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Audiences were first introduced to Ullman via her diverse performances opposite Meryl Streep in Fred Schepisi's haunting film, "Plenty" (1985), and the music video of her hit song, "They Don't Know" with Paul McCartney (1984)
At age 12 she received a scholarship to stage school and at age 16 she made her first professional appearance dancing in "Gigi" in Berlin. Returning to England, she joined the popular "Second Generation" dance troupe and appeared on numerous television variety programs. This exposure led Ullman to a succession of roles in the West End musicals: as a backup singer in "Elvis", as Frenchy in "Grease" and as Janet in "The Rocky Horror Show". Her first non-musical leading role was in "Talent" at The Everyman Playhouse. Her breakthrough came at the avant garde Royal Court Theatre when she created the role of the bizarre club singer Beverly in the improvised play, "Four in a Million". Ullman's performance won her the London Theatre Critics' Award for Most Promising New Actress of 1981.
As a singer, Ullman has placed five singles in the top ten of the British pop chart, and her album, "You Broke My Heart in Seventeen Places", was certified gold. In the States, her single "They Don't Know" reached number eight on the Billboard Charts. In 1990 she starred in "I Love You To Death" with Kevin Kline, directed by Lawrence Kasdan. She has also appeared in "Household Saints", directed by Nancy Savoca, "I'll Do Anything", directed by James Brooks, Woody Allen's "Bullets Over Broadway" and Robert Altman's "Pret a Porter". Tracey Ullman returned to American television in 1993 with "Tracey Ullman...A Class Act" and "Tracey Takes On New York". Together with her husband Allan McKeown, Ms. Ullman created, wrote, executive produced and starred in the specials. The shows were critically acclaimed and won CableACE awards and numerous Emmys. The series "Tracey Takes On" was commissioned by HBO and to date 67 episodes have been produced. The series has won 8 Emmys, including one in 1997 for Outstanding Music, Comedy and Variety Show, a CableACE award in 1996 for Best Comedy Variety Series, and GLAAD Media Awards for 1998 and 1999. 1998 saw the release of Tracey Takes On...Home Video and the show has inspired a best selling book, Tracey Takes On. Tracey herself has won the 1999 SAG Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series, and three American Comedy Awards, Funniest Female Performer in a Television Series in 1998 and again in 1999, as well as Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a Television Series for "Ally McBeal". This summer Tracey starred alongside Woody Allen and Hugh Grant in the Woody Allen film "Small Time Crooks". Currently she is working on her internet project an online clothing boutique called purpleskirt.com.
The Show | The Characters | Tracey
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