Tracey Ullman
Biography
Tracey Ullman (born Trace Ullman) is a multiple award-winning television, stage and film actress who performs as a comedian, singer, dancer, as well as works as a screenwriter, producer, director, author, and businesswoman. She holds dual British and American citizenship.
Ullman's early appearances were on British television sketch comedy shows A Kick Up the Eighties (with Rik Mayall and Miriam Margolyes) and Three of a Kind (with Lenny Henry and David Copperfield). After a brief singing career, she appeared as Candice Valentine in Girls on Top with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.
She emigrated from the United Kingdom to the United States where she starred in her own network television comedy series, The Tracey Ullman Show, from 1987 until 1990. She later produced programmes for HBO, including Tracey Takes On... (1996-99), for which she garnered numerous awards. Ullman's sketch comedy series, Tracey Ullman's State of the Union, ran from 2008 to 2010 on Showtime. She has also appeared in several feature films. Ullman was the first British woman to be offered her own television sketch show in both the United Kingdom and the United States and in 2016 stars in her own BBC sketch comedy show Tracey Ullman's Show, her first project for the broadcaster in over thirty years.
Family
Allan McKeown (27 December 1983 - 24 December 2013) ( 2 children)
Trivia
Dropped out of high school.
Hit the Billboard top 100 twice in 1984 with 'They Don't Know' (US #8) and 'Breakaway' (US #70). Both singles also peaked at #2 and #4 respectively in the UK in 1983. Also had 3 further UK top hits with 'Move Over Darling' (UK #8) in 1983 and 'My Guy' (UK #23) and 'Sunglasses' (UK #18) in 1984. She also claims her original record company, Stiff Records, "stiffed" her by not paying her proper royalties.
Once played Frenchy in a London stage production of "Grease". She also played a character named Frenchy in Small Time Crooks (2000).
The phenomenally successful animated series The Simpsons (1989) is actually a spin-off of The Tracey Ullman Show (1987). The animated show began as 30 second segments aired between comedy sketches. In 1992, she filed a lawsuit asking for a share of the merchandise related profit from "The Simpsons". The lawsuit was unsuccessful.
Ended her American TV shows by telling the audience to "Go Home."
Announced that she was performing at a tribute concert for the late singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl. It was MacColl who wrote Ullman's 1983 hit song, "They Don't Know."
Attended the renowned Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London from the age of 12
She was awarded the 1981 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Most Promising New Actress of 1980 for her performance in Four in a Million.
After she appeared in his film Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984), Paul McCartney returned the favor by appearing at the very end of her video for the hit song "They Don't Know". He played a character named Paul.
According to the British press, she and her husband Allan McKeown have a net worth of between $50-100 million.
Personal Quotes
I'm not jealous over the success of The Simpsons (1989). Not at all. They used to appear for 30 seconds in the middle of my show. Maybe they'll let me appear for 30 seconds in the middle of their show.
After spending two months in France where the air is great, I genuinely noticed how ill I felt returning to Los Angeles. The way we're going, if they keep building and building, there will be no space any more.
As I get older, I just prefer to knit.
As you get older, you realize it's work. It's that fine line between love and companionship. But passionate love? I'd love to know how to make that last.
Chic is the character my family least likes to see me as. It is the most uncomfortable make-up. The beard is vile. It's made of yak hair and itches horribly.
A lot of stand-up comedy is embarrassing: too many idiots doing it in orange neckties against brick walls. I find most sitcoms embarrassing too, because they seem so forced.
I am not fearful. There's no point.
I did a crap impersonation of J.K. Rowling a few years ago. Sorry, J.K.. Can this apology put me on a casting list for your next mega-franchise?
