Jessica Plummer
Plummer in 2019
Born
Jessica Kate Plummer

(1992-09-16) 16 September 1992 (age 31)
London, England
Alma materIdentity School of Acting
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active2012–present
Children1

Jessica Kate Plummer (born 16 September 1992)[1] is an English actress and singer. From 2013 to 2015, she was a member of the British girl group Neon Jungle, with whom she released an album that peaked at number eight on the UK Albums Chart. She is also known for her roles as Chantelle Atkins in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2019–2020) and as Emma in the BBC drama series The Girl Before (2021) for which she was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Aside from her singing and acting career, Plummer has also ventured into reality television; she appeared in the twentieth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in 2020.

Early life

Plummer was born in London on 16 September 1992 to a Jamaican father and English mother.[2] She went to Burntwood School[3] and the Hayes School for secondary education.[4]

Career

In November 2012, music manager David Cooper began a three-month process of auditions for a new girl group to be signed to RCA Records UK. Plummer, as well as Amira McCarthy, were separately scouted while shopping in London, while Shereen Cutkelvin and Asami Zdrenka were found via their solo YouTube videos. In February 2013, it was announced that Plummer, alongside Cutkelvin, McCarthy, and Zdrenka made the line-up of new British girl group Neon Jungle.[5][6] They chose the name Neon Jungle, which was derived from their song "Welcome to the Jungle", to reflect that the members were "all individual and quite different".[7] According to Plummer, "it's like neon is bold, bright, strong individual characters and then the jungle part is the madness".[8] In July 2013, Neon Jungle released their debut single "Trouble", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 12 and reached the top 10 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs chart.[9]

In October 2013, Plummer, with Neon Jungle, supported Jessie J on select dates of her Alive Tour. The following month, the group performed at the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.[10][11] Also in October 2013, Plummer made her television debut in British science fantasy television series Wizards vs Aliens as Chloe Martin.[12] She portrayed the role for two episodes. In November 2013, Neon Jungle's second single, "Braveheart", was released in the UK. The song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and at number 19 on the ARIA charts. On 28 July 2014, Neon Jungle released their debut album Welcome to the Jungle, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number eight.[13] The album also entered the ARIA charts, debuting at number 48. On 6 July 2015, Neon Jungle announced via their Facebook page that they were disbanding.[14][15]

In November 2015, it was announced that Plummer has joined the cast of John Cameron Mitchell's directed romantic-comedy film How to Talk to Girls at Parties opposite Ruth Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning and Matt Lucas.[16] It premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival in May 2017.[17][18] In March 2019, Plummer joined the BBC soap opera EastEnders, portraying the role of Chantelle Atkins.[19] While on the soap, her character was involved in a high-profile domestic abuse storyline, with her on-screen husband Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) abusing Chantelle. In September 2020, it was announced that as part of the storyline, Gray would murder Chantelle, in order to reflect the mortality rates displayed in abusive relationships and highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence.[20]

In November 2020, Plummer began competing in the twentieth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.[1] She became the sixth celebrity to be eliminated alongside Russell Watson on 1 December 2020.[21] Plummer starred as Emma in the 2021 miniseries The Girl Before, which earned her a nomination for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress.[22][23]

Personal life

In July 2016, Plummer gave birth to her daughter, Noa.[1]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Wizards vs Aliens Chloe Martin 2 episodes
Reflections Kaitlin Short film
2017 How to Talk to Girls at Parties Celia Film
2019–2020 EastEnders Chantelle Atkins Series regular; 127 episodes
2020 EastEnders: Secrets from the Square Herself Episode: "Karen, Chantelle and Gray"
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! Series 20 contestant
2021 The Girl Before Emma Matthews Main role

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2019 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Newcomer EastEnders Nominated [24]
2019 Inside Soap Awards Best Newcomer EastEnders Shortlisted [25]
2019 I Talk Telly Awards Best Soap Newcomer EastEnders Nominated [26]
2019 Digital Spy Reader Awards Best Soap Newcomer EastEnders Second [27]
2020 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress EastEnders Nominated [28]
2020 I Talk Telly Awards Best Soap Partnership (shared with Toby-Alexander Smith) EastEnders Nominated [29]
2020 Inside Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders Won [30]
2020 Digital Spy Reader Awards Best Soap Female Actor EastEnders Won [31]
2022 British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actress The Girl Before Nominated [22]
2022 27th National Television Awards Drama Performance The Girl Before Nominated [32]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Crick, Clair (12 November 2020). "Jessica Plummer – things you didn't know about the I'm A Celebrity star". What's on TV. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  2. ^ "50 Red Hot Neon Jungle Facts!". thehits. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Who is I'm a Celebrity star Jessica Plummer? Age, daughter, exit". Digital Spy. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  4. ^ Palmer, Jim (4 February 2014). "Neon Jungle star and ex-Hayes School pupil Jess Plummer talks Valentine's Day, festivals and the Fresh Prince". News Shopper. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Exclusive Interview – Neon Jungle". loudmag.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Neon Jungle Interview". thestudentpocketguide.co.uk. 2 June 2014. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  7. ^ Corner, Lewis (30 August 2013). "Neon Jungle interview: 'We're shocked people like us'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  8. ^ Law, Seb (25 June 2013). "Planet Notion " Introducing: Neon Jungle". planetnotion.com. Attic London Ltd. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  9. ^ Murray, Gordon (19 December 2013). "Donna Summer Returns 'MacArthur Park' To Top of Dance Chart After 35 Years". Billboard. Nielsen Inc. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Neon Jungle Join Jessie J on UK Arena Dates!". metroradio.co.uk. 14 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  11. ^ Lansky, Sam (14 November 2013). "What To Expect From The 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (From Someone Who Was There)". idolator.com. SpinMedia. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  12. ^ Episodes cast for "Wizards and Aliens" Archived 14 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  13. ^ "NEON JUNGLE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  14. ^ "Neon Jungle Breaks Up: U.K. Girl Group Splits After One Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on 11 October 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Neon Jungle have split up: "This is a heartbreaking reality"". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  16. ^ Jaafar, Ali (3 November 2015). "Jessica Plummer Joins Cast Of 'How To Talk To Girls at Parties' Opposite Nicole Kidman – AFM". Deadline. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  17. ^ "The 2017 Official Selection". Cannes. 13 April 2017. Archived from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  18. ^ "2017 Cannes Film Festival Announces Lineup: Todd Haynes, Sofia Coppola, 'Twin Peaks' and More". IndieWire. 13 April 2017. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  19. ^ Warner, Sam (5 March 2019). "EastEnders casts former Neon Jungle singer as Chantelle Baker". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  20. ^ Hegarty, Tasha (6 September 2020). "EastEnders' domestic abuse storyline for Chantelle ends in tragedy as she is killed by husband Gray". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  21. ^ Chase, Stephanie (1 December 2020). "I'm a Celebrity reveals fifth and sixth campmates to leave the castle in another double elimination". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Bafta TV awards 2022: full list of nominations". The Guardian. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  23. ^ Kanter, Jake (16 March 2021). "'The Girl Before': 'EastEnders' Actress Jessica Plummer Joins HBO Max-BBC Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  24. ^ "TVCA Long List 2019". TV Choice. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  25. ^ Harp, Justin (30 September 2019). "Inside Soap Awards 2019 full shortlist revealed – which stars are up for prizes?". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  26. ^ Gonzalez, Elliot (2 November 2019). "I TALK TELLY AWARDS 2019 Nominees". I Talk Telly.
  27. ^ Robinson, Abby (28 December 2019). "It's (nearly) a clean sweep for Hollyoaks in the Digital Spy Reader Awards for soaps 2019". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  28. ^ "TV Choice Awards 2020 nominations revealed". Heat. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  29. ^ Gonzalez, Elliot (8 November 2020). "I TALK TELLY AWARDS 2020 Nominees". I Talk Telly.
  30. ^ "EastEnders wins big at Inside Soap Awards". BBC News. 24 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  31. ^ Robinson, Abby (25 December 2020). "EastEnders triumphs at Digital Spy Reader Awards 2020". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  32. ^ Morris, Lauren (24 May 2022). "NTA 2022 longlist revealed as David Tennant and Sex Education nominated". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 May 2022.

External links

Neon Jungle
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