The Knock Out The First Lucy Punch Website

This unofficial site highlights the work of one of Britain's greatest young actresses, Lucy Punch, who plays some wonderful comic characters: she's done stage & radio drama, film & TV, and period & contemporary sitcoms.  It's the primary purpose of this site to guide fans, new and old, to finding more of her work.

Any additions, corrections or other submissions may be sent to the kingkong webmaster.

Recent News

Details on these can be found in their entries below:

• Her episode of Wainy Days is available for viewing on YouTube.
• She has a supporting rôle in the pilot of an HBO drama 1%.
• She has a supporting rôle in a new film, now retitled Young Americans, possibly to be released this year.
• St Trinian's is now out on DVD in the UK.
• Are You Ready for Love? had its world premiere at the Cardiff Film Festival 2006, and is still awaiting distribution.

Productions Past, Present & Future

2009 - coming

Candace in 1%, the pilot of an HBO drama, written by Michael Tolkin, directed by Alan Taylor.

2009 - coming

An unknown rôle in an untitled feature film, written by Catherine DiNapoli & Jonathan Parker, directed by Jonathan Parker, with Adam Goldberg & Marley Shelton.

2008 - coming

Shelly in Young Americans, a comedy drama feature film, written by Jackie Filgo & Jeff Filgo, directed by Michael Dowse, with Topher Grace as Matt Franklin, Anna Faris as Wendy Franklin & Dan Fogler as Barry Nathan.

2008 August 11

The Angel in Wainy Days, series 3 episode 5: Angel, an 8 min independent comedy sketch, written by Jordan Rubin, directed by Danny Leiner, with David Wain as David.

[Available for free viewing on YouTube.]

2008 January 17

Fenola Gay in Fairy Tales: Cinderella, a BBC1 comedy drama, adapted by Anil Gupta & Richard Pinto, directed by Peter Lydon, with James Nesbitt as Professor Hans M Prince, Harriet Walter as Charlotte Brookes & Lucinda Raikes as Phoebe Levy.

There's a BBC website page on the production here.

[Not available on video.]

2007 December 21

Verity Thwaites in St Trinian's, a comedy feature film, written by Piers Ashworth & Nick Moorcroft, directed by Oliver Parker & Barnaby Thompson, with Colin Firth as Geoffrey Thwaites.

[UK: Available on Region 2 PAL DVD, ASIN: B0012RN02K £20.]

2007 November 24

Miss Fanny Dashett in The Omid Djalili Show, series 1 episode 2, a 30 min BBC1 sketch show, written by Omid Djalili & others, directed by Michael Cumming, with Omid Djalili as Mr Farsi & Alison Steadman as Mrs Dashett.

[Not available on video.]

2007 October 12

Mrs Alice Fairfax in Comedy Showcase: Ladies & Gentlemen, a Channel 4 comedy drama, written by Jesse Armstrong & Sam Bain, directed by Becky Martin & Phil Bowker, with Darren Boyd as Horatio Densborough, & Rosie Cavaliero as Louisa Stokes.

[Not available on video.]

2007

Irene in Two Families, a pilot for a sitcom series from CBS, written by Barbara Wallace & Thomas R Wolfe, with Beau Bridges, Christopher Denham & Geneva Carr.

2007 April 6

Unknown role in Grindhouse, segment Don't Scream, a short film, written by Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright, directed by Edgar Wright, with a raft of famous British actors.

2007 February 16

Eve Draper in Hot Fuzz, a comedy feature film, written by Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright, directed by Edgar Wright, with Simon Pegg as Sgt Nicholas Angel, Nick Frost as PC Danny Butterman, and a raft of famous British actors.

There is an official website, where you can see the trailer, which features a quick scream from Ms Punch.

[UK: Available on Region 2 DVD, £26.
N America: Available on Region 1 DVD, in a variety of formats.]

2006 November 12 - coming

Melanie, a hopelessly romantic 32-year-old photographer, in Are You Ready for Love?, a feature film from Carnaby Films, written by Helen Grace, Trudy Sargent & Roberto Trippini, directed by Helen Grace, with Denise Van Outen as Rita, Leigh Zimmerman as Candy & Michael Brandon as Randy.

Shot in London in September & October 2005.  It has a promotional website at www.areyoureadyforlove.co.uk, where there's a trailer coming soon.

2006 September 18 to 2007 January 8

Holly Ellenbogen Pearl, one of the main roles, in The Class, a 13-episode sitcom series from Warner Bros for CBS, with Jason Ritter as Ethan Haas, Sam Harris as Perry Pearl & Sean Maguire as Kyle Lendo.

On the CBS.com/innertube site, US-based computers can watch the pilot episode, and anyone can watch interview with her about the character, her getting the part and having to adopt an American accent.  At TV.com anyone can watch the series trailer.

1 – The Class Reunites (Sep 18)
2 – The Class Visits a Hospital (Sep 25)
3 – The Class Learns About Hurricanes (Oct 2)
4 – The Class Blows the Whistle (Oct 9)
5 – The Class Gets Frozen Yogurt (Oct 16)
6 – The Class Goes Trick-or-Treating (Oct 23)
7 – The Class Goes To a Bar (Nov 6)
8 – The Class Celebrates a Birthday (Nov 13)
9 – The Class Gives Thanks (Nov 20)
10 – The Class Runs Into a Convenience Store (Nov 27)
11 – The Class Celebrates an Anniversary (Dec 11)
12 – The Class Visits a Bad Neighborhood (Jan 8)
13 – The Class Hits It (Jan 15)
14 – The Class Has to Go to a Stupid Museum (Jan 22)
15 – The Class Eats Moroccan Chicken (Feb 5)
16 – The Class Has a Snow Day (Feb 12)
17 – The Class Springs a Leak (Feb 19)
18 – The Class Rides a Bull (Feb 26)
19 – The Class Goes Back to the Hospital (Mar 5)

Notices included:

• Molly Willow of The Columbus Dispatch said here: “British actress Lucy Punch is a delight as an uptight TV personality...”
• Again, Molly Willow of The Columbus Dispatch said here: “British actress Lucy Punch steals the premiere as prim and repressed TV reporter...”
• Andrew Lyons of Media Life Magazine said here: “Holly is as high energy as Kat is understated. She’s type-A squared, bouncing off the walls with her pinched, manic demeanor. But Punch, playing up Holly’s self-doubt, manages to keep her just one shade shy of a caricature. Alas, these are the only two characters who feel fully formed.”

[Not available on video.]

2006 Summer - still downloadable

Lucy, a teacher and the lead female role, in Stingray, a 10 min short film from Priority Pictures, written by Charlie Gee, directed by Neil Chordia, with Mat Horne as Kurt Flint.

It showed at festivals over the summer, and is available for download from LoveFilm for 49p (lower-resolution) or 79p (higher-resolution).  There's a page reviewing it here.

2006 February

She was chosen as the British Shooting Star 2006 at the Berlin International Film Festival.  There's a video interview with her at here, the text of an interview with her at here, and another webpage here.

2005 December 11

Susannah Henderson, in Poirot: After the Funeral, a 120 min ITV 1 drama, written by Philomena McDonagh, from the novel by Agatha Christie, directed by Maurice Phillips, with David Suchet as Hercule Poirot.

[UK: Available on Region 2 PAL DVD as part of Agatha Christie's Poirot - Set 6, ASIN:B000EGCDD2, £25.]

2005 October 15

Included in The Times Talent List: “This is Lucy Punch’s moment.  After paying her dues in television, this brilliant comic actress caught casting directors' attentions with small but very funny performances in Ella Enchanted and Being Julia, with Jeremy Irons and Annette Bening, while in Festival, Punch, 27, shone as a fiercely ambitious young comedian at Edinburgh.”

2005 August 4

Juliet Savage, in Survivors, episode 3: In Deep Water, a 30 min ITV 1 drama-documentary reconstruction of a real-life Caribbean shipwreck, written by James Dowdall, with Craig Giovanelli as Timmy Attard.

[Not available on video.]

2005 July 12

Nicky Romanowski, an aspiring would-be-Jewish stand-up comic, in Festival, a 107 min feature film written & directed by Annie Griffin, with Stephen Mangan as Sean Sullivan.

Shot during the Edinburgh Festival of 2004, it got its world premiere at the following year's Festival on July 12.  There is a webpage about the production here, and a review in The Scotsman here.  Ms Punch apparently partly wrote the stand-up routine which she delivers in the film.

Notices included:

• Natasha Tripney of the MusicOMH site said here: “...all the performances are strong but Lucy Punch stands out...”
• Philip Concannon of the Phil on Film site said here: “...perfectly-judged supporting performances from Lucy Punch...”
• Gemma Graham of the XFM Online site said here: “...the hilarious Lucy Punch...some genuinely funny scenes (particularly between Mangan and Punch)...”
• Jonathan Romney of The Independent said here: “Punch and Mangan are mesmerisingly gruesome together...”
• Natasha Tripney of musicOMH.com said here: “...Lucy Punch stands out as a sexually manipulative stand-up, destined for success...”
• Mike Davies of The Birmingham Post said here: “...an excellent Lucy Punch...”

[UK: Available on Region 2 DVD, P917901000, £20.]

2005 February 22 to April 12

Alice Hastings and Phoebe Barton, in episodes 1 & 6 and 4 & 8, respectively, of What a Carve Up!, an 8 x 30 min Radio 4 comedy drama, an adaptation by David Nobbs of the novel by Jonathan Coe, with Robert Bathurst as Michael Pearce.

2004 September 9

Avice Crichton, an aspiring starlet, in Being Julia, a feature film written by Ronald Harwood from the 1937 novel Theatre by Somerset Maugham, directed by István Szabó, with Annette Bening as Julia Lambert, Jeremy Irons as Michael Gosselyn & Shaun Evans as Tom Fennel.

It was filmed in Budapest, Hungary and Maidenhead, England in the summer of 2003, and is described as: “a delicious tale of amorous folly and revenge set in the world of the London stage during the late 1930s.”

Had its premiere as the opener for the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival, attended by Ms Punch and other members of the cast, since when she has been touring the world promoting it, including to Vancouver, Bangkok & Budapest.  The DVD is reviewed here, where there are links to trailers of the additional content, which includes a brief interview with her.  There's a promotional website for the film at www.beingjuliamovie.com, which contains several goodies, and where you can view the smaller version of the trailer, containing several shots of her. Alternatively you can view the trailer directly, in a choice of sizes & formats, from here:

Quicktime	Real	Windows
larger size / broadband smaller size / modem	larger size / broadband smaller size / modem	larger size / broadband smaller size / modem

Notices included:

• Annette Bening said in an interview that “she is terrific”.
• István Szabó in an interview called her a “fantastic talent”.
• Alex Manugian of the Bolton Common site said here: “Lucy Punch gives a breakout comic performance as the sweetly conniving Avice.”
• David Neman of the Richmond Times-Dispatch said here: “...special notice going to Lucy Punch as a young and ambitious actress who does not know what she is getting herself into.”
• John Boonstra of the New Haven Advocate said here: “And there's splendid support throughout, including...Lucy Punch in what must be the most daunting role, an acting-challenged ingenue who sleeps her way nearly to the top.”
• Kristian Lin of FW Weekly said here: “The scene is stunningly played by both Bening and Punch...”
• Amanda DeWees of the DVD Verdict site said here: “The movie turned out to be a good one, and quite fun, not least because of...the performance by Lucy Punch, who was funny in Ella Enchanted and is even funnier here and in larger doses.”
• The Cinerina site said here: “Jeremy Irons...thunder is completely stolen by Evans and Punch.  Lucy Punch has the enviable (or unenviable) task of trying to out-crazy-actress Bening, and it’s clear that both the actresses and the actresses they are portraying are a fine match for each other.”
• David Edelstein of Slate said here: “...Lucy Punch has a delicious combination of guile and tremulousness...”
• Mike Clark of USA Today said here: “...the biggest surprise is the contributions by others:...Lucy Punch as an outwardly innocent ingénue...”
• Nathaniel R of The Film Experience site said here: “...hilarious supporting turns from Lucy Punch...” and here: “Lucy Punch has the thankless role in Being Julia as Annette's punching bag...but she's very good and funny too.”
• Hank Yuloff of the Film Monthly site said here: “Also notable is Lucy Punch, whose lines in a play within the movie are delivered with such humor as to make me want to see the play that is being put on in its entirety.”
• Robert Waldman of the Hollywood North site said here: “...Lucy Punch...spot on [as] a social climber...”
• Kaizaad Kotwal of the Gay People's Chronicle site said here: “Lucy Punch as the aspiring ingénue is funny and gorgeous to watch.”
• Kirven Blount of CNN said here: “...Lucy Punch rips into the dotty-ingenue role”
• Jean Lowerison of the San Diego Metropolitan said here: “...fine supporting performances by...Lucy Punch...”
• Tim Robey of The Daily Telegraph said here: “...the excellent Lucy Punch...”
• Joe Pollack of KWMU said here: “ Lucy Punch...does well.  Her timing and sense of the absurd are good...”
• Joel Johnson of Wolf Moon Press Journal said here: “Her sunny comedic character keeps the film buoyant.”
• Sarah Chauncey of Reel DVD Review said here: “Up-and-comers Evans, Lucy Punch, and Tom Sturridge hold their own against a formidable group of elders”
• Jack Moore of the Moore Movies site said here: “...two good performances by Jeremy Irons and Lucy Punch...”
• The Northwest Indiana Times said here: “...fine supporting turns by...Lucy Punch...”
• The Norman Transcript said here: “...Lucy Punch's hilarious turn as ambitious Avice Crichton.”
• Bailey Henderson of The Z Review said here: “Lucy Punch makes good...”
• Arthur Lazere of the Culture Vulture site said here: “Lucy Punch shows comic talent...”
• Jason Funderburk of The Charlotte Observer said here: “Supporting turns by Lucy Punch and Michael Gambon...are amusingly effective.”
• The Low Expectation site said here: “...Lucy Punch holds her own...”
• Time Out said: “...the amusing Lucy Punch.”

[UK: Available on Region 2 DVD, CDR36845, £20.
N America: Available on Region 1 DVD, ASIN:B0007G89FK from Columbia Tristar, US$27.]

2004 September 2 to October 7

Elaine Denham, a doctor's receptionist, in the first series of Doc Martin, an ITV1 comedy series of 6 x 1-hr episodes, written by Dominic Minghella directed by Ben Bolt, with Martin Clunes as Dr Martin Ellingham & Joe Absolom as Al Large.

There's still a webpage where she talks about the character here.  It was shot in Port Isaac, Cornwall, in 2004 April.

1 – Going Bodmin
2 – Gentlemen Prefer
3 – Sh*t Happens
4 – The Portwenn Effect
5 – Of All The Harbours in All Of The Towns
6 – Haemophobia

[UK: Available on double Region 2 DVD, MP396D, £20.]

2004 August 26

Lead Stewardess in The Life and Death Of Peter Sellers, a BBC & HBO TV movie, written by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely from the book by Roger Lewis, directed by Stephen Hopkins, with Geoffrey Rush as Peter Sellers.

The HBO website has a section on the film, including a trailer which includes a clip of the highlight of her scene with Rush as Sellers as Clouseau (which you can listen to an audio clip of here), and a featurette (mini 'making-of' documentary) which includes a slightly longer clip from this scene.  (This longer clip is also included in HBO's Golden Globe Awards promo video, which can be viewed by: go to this page, pick any episode's trailer to view, stop it when it's started playing, under 'Select a Category', click on 'Special Events', and under 'Featured Clips for Special Events', click on 'Golden Globe Awards'.)

Notices included:

• A reviewer at the amazon.com site said: “See the hilarious scene...Sellers transforms his outer image into French Clouseau in an airplane, deceiving the bewildered flight attendant.  It's a small gem.”

[UK: Available on Region 2 DVD, D025396, £16.
N America: Available on Region 1 DVD, ASIN:B0007R4SX6, US$27.]

2004 April 16

Sarah in My Family, series 5 episode 4: Luck Be a Lady Tonight, a 30 min sitcom from BBC1, written by Ian Brown & James Hendrie, directed by Dewi Humphreys, with Robert Lindsay as Ben Harper & Keiron Self as Roger Bailey, Jr.

[UK: Available on BBC double Region 2 DVD, ASIN: B000FTJ6T2, price £20.]

2004 April 9

Hattie, one of the nasty step-sisters, in Ella Enchanted, a feature film (budget US$35M) written by Laurie Craig, Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith from the 2000 novel by Gail Carson Levine, directed by Tommy O'Haver, with Anne Hathaway as Ella, Hugh Dancy (again) as Prince Charmont, Joanna Lumley as the stepmother Dame Olga, & Jennifer Higham as the other step-sister Olive.

This is a post-modern retelling of the Cinderella story, with Ms Punch reprising her rôle of one of the step-sisters, done so well in Channel 4's Cinderella.  Shot in Ireland at Ardmore Studios and Kiltegan Castle in the Autumn of 2002.  Miramax have an official promotional site here, and a QuickTime trailer here.  There are 2 sets of images, some of them official stills and some on-set amateur photos, including half-a-dozen of Ms Punch, here & here.  There's also more about the production at the fansite www.annehathaway.com.

There were two 'making-of' documentaries, which contain brief clips of an interview with her: Ella Enchanted: A Red Carpet Premiere Special and The Magical World of 'Ella Enchanted' both of which are included on the DVD.

Notices included:

• Tim Robey of the The Daily Telegraph said here: “Being Julia's Lucy Punch stands out for bringing a plummy malice to her every line.”
• Amanda DeWees of the DVD Verdict site said here: “...Lucy Punch is one of the most excruciatingly effective supporting characters, turning in a performance of perfect hideousness (and I mean that as a compliment).”
• What's On said: “...a delightfully bitchy Lucy Punch...”
• Robert Waldman of the Hollywood North site said here: “Lucy Punch is particularly noticeable...”

[UK: Available on Region 2 DVD, BED881493, £18.
N America: Available on Region 1 DVD, ASIN:B00029RT2G (fullscreen) & ASIN:B00005JM5Q (widescreen), US$30, and NTSC VHS video, ASIN:B000286RMA, US$25.]

2004 February 15

Featured in The Mail on Sunday's 'Best of British' supplement on the BAFTAs, with a couple of photos and a mini-interview:

Most famous for  Greenfingers.
Soon to be seen in  Ella Enchanted.
Favourite film  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, because I like chocolate.
Best moment  Working recently with Annette Bening in Hungary on the set of Being Julia.
Worst moment  The same one as Hugh [Dancy] - working on The New Adventures of Robin Hood, with a very bad script.  For example, one of my lines was "Why, oh why, did my parents die in that carriage accident when I was a baby!"

2003 July 27

Mia (or Shayna?) in Dinotopia episode 7 (or 10 in UK order): Night of The Wartosa, a 13 x 1-hr fantasy drama series from Carnival Film & Hallmark Entertainment for ABC and Sky One, written by Simon Moore, directed by David Winning.

This was a full 13 x 1-hr series, only partly shown on ABC in the US in Winter 2002/03, though aired in full on Sky One in the UK in Summer 2003, that followed the 3 x 2-hr mini-series first broadcast on ABC in the US from 2002 May 12 to 14 and on Channel 4 in the UK over New Year 2003.

There is a tie-in website at www.VisitDinotopia.com, though it has nothing on her or her character.

[UK: Available as Dinotopia - The Series on Region 2 double DVD, Warner Vision International 5046663582, £35, and quadruple PAL VHS video, Warner Vision International 5046663583, £25.
N America: Available as Dinotopia - The Series on Region 1 triple DVD set, ASIN:B0000YEE6W, US$20.]

2003 April 16

Car Rental Girl in Second Nature, a 90-min TV movie, written by E Max Fry, directed by Ben Bolt.

[N America: Available on Region 1 DVD, ASIN:B0000CDL3Z, US$15.]

2002 May 15 to June 15

Kate in A Carpet, A Pony and A Monkey, the 2002 play by Mike Packer, at the Bush Theatre, directed by Mike Bradwell, with Clint Dyer as Alan (pictured right), Philip Jackson as Barry & Nicolas Tennant as Tosser. 

Notices included:

• Crystal Lindsay of Online Review London said here: “Lucy Punch is a knockout, her comic timing... impeccable...”
• Amanda Hodges of The London Theatre Guide Online said here: “...apparently ditzy girlfriend Kate, superbly realised by Lucy Punch in a bravura performance of comic verve.”

2002 April 16

Esther in the first episode of I Saw You, a 3 x 60 min ITV1 romantic comedy drama, written by David Nicholls, directed by Tom Vaughan, with Alexander Armstrong as Peter & Fay Ripley as Grace Bingley.

[Not available on video.]

2002 February 2

Amy in Come Together, a 90 min made-for-TV comedy drama from Working Title, adapted from their novel by Josie Lloyd & Emlyn Rees, directed by Graham Theakston, with James D'Arcy as Jack & Alexandra Staden as H.

[Not available on video.]

2001 November 15

Rose Matthews, the lead female role, in It’s Not You, It’s Me, a 20 min short film from Hopskotch Films for the BBC, written by Tony Basgallop, directed by Clara Glynn, with James Lance as Henry Gardner.

The synopsis is “Before Rose gets officially engaged she has some unfinished business to clear up.”  It premiered at the Brief Encounters short-film festival, and has been aired on BBC Three.  There is a webpage about the production here.

[Not available on video.]

2001 November 1 to December 15

Herriet in Boy Gets Girl, the 1999 play by Rebecca Gilman, at the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs at the Royal Court Theatre, directed by Ian Rickson, with Katrin Cartlidge (again) as Theresa.  The reviews are summarised here.  For this rôle she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress in the 2002 Theatregoers' Choice Awards.

Notices included:

• Susannah Clapp of the Observer said: “...an unreconstructed, boob-thrusting secretary... Lucy Punch... act[s] with superb and humorous momentum.”
• Philip Fisher of The British Theatre Guide said: “...her not very bright PA, played hilariously by Lucy Punch...”
• Charles Spencer of The Daily Telegraph said: “...a dim blonde bimbo secretary, marvellously played by Lucy Punch...”
• Ian Shuttleworth of the divento.com site said here: “Fine performances by Cartlidge, and by Karl Johnson and Lucy Punch ”

2001 September 30

Linda Mortimer in Goodbye Mr Steadman (working title: Dead), a 90 min comedy thriller from Alibi Productions for ITV1, written by Lenny Barker, directed by Sandy Johnson, with Jason Thorpe as Chris Mortimer.

[Not available on video.]

2001 September 23

Melissa Townsend in Midsomer Murders, series 4 episode 5: Tainted Fruit, a 120 min drama from Bentley Productions for ITV1, written by David Hoskins, directed by Peter Smith, with John Nettles as Det Ch Insp Tom Barnaby & Daniel Casey as Det Sgt Gavin Troy.

There are two fan sites run by Joan Street and Trace Williams.  There's also my episode guide here.

[UK: Available on PAL video, Acorn Media AV0229, price £13.]

2001 June 10

Kate, an actress, in People Like Us, series 2 episode 4: The Actor, a 30 min BBC2 sitcom, written & directed by John Morton, with Chris Langham as Roy Mallard & David Tennant as Rob Harker.

[Not available on video.]

2000 November 8

Voice of the teenage future Queen Elizabeth I in A History of Britain by Simon Schama program 7: The Body of the Queen.

[UK: Available on BBC PAL video Simon Schama, A History of Britain, vol 3: 1348-1603 (BBCV7044), included in Simon Schama, A History of Britain – Part One triple box set, BBCV7053, price £30; and in Simon Schama, A History of Britain – The Complete Series six-tape box set, BBCV7366, price £50; and on BBC Region 2 PAL DVD set Simon Schama, A History of Britain – the Complete Series, BBCDVD1127, price £60.]

2000 September 12

Holly in Greenfingers, a 91 min feature film, written & directed by Joel Hershman, with Danny Dyer as Tony.

This film was premiered at the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival, followed by a limited release in the UK and N America.  The promotional website www.greenfingersmovie.com is no longer active, but there's still a review here.

[UK: Available on PAL video, MGM 22945, price unknown, and widescreen Region 2 DVD, MGM 22945DVD, price £16.
N America: Available on NTSC video, ASIN:B00005RYPB, price unknown, and Region 1 DVD, ASIN:B00005RYKX, price US$25.]

2000 July 31 to 2001 February 10

Elaine Robinson in The Graduate, the 2000 play adapted by Terry Johnson from the 1963 novel by Charles Richard Webb and the 1967 film screenplay by Calder Willingham & Buck Henry, at the Gielgud Theatre, London, directed by Terry Johnson, with Jerry Hall as Mrs Robinson & Josh Cohen as Benjamin Braddock.

The director said about working with her: “Lucy is fab as well – quite a find.”  She was part of the major cast renewal for the second part of its run, taking over from Kelly Reilly, and the others from Kathleen Turner & Matthew Rhys.  The cast changed again from February 12, with the replacements being Coral Beed (her understudy), Amanda Donohoe & Andrés Williams, respectively.

Notices included:

• Yvonne Murray of the Sunday Business Post said: “The Graduate's best asset is West End debutante, Lucy Punch, who, as Elaine Robinson, exudes the right mixture of virginal purity, enthusiastic innocence and charming playfulness.  Against the backdrop of a seedy pool hall, the venue of her first date with the hostile Benjamin, Punch's Elaine plays up palpable and pitiable mortification at being teased by a ballsy stripper.  Punch delivers the full range of emotions from sadness to elation to confusion and frustrated anger, and all in the right doses.  She's even a convincing drunk.”
• Robert Gore-Langton of the Daily Express said: “The two new members, though, are terrific... Lucy Punch makes a bold and brilliant West End debut of real clout as Elaine, the damaged-goods daughter of Mrs Robinson.”
• Michael Coveney of the Daily Mail said: “...the energy radiating from newcomer Lucy Punch, who is stunning as her daughter Elaine” and “...newcomer Lucy Punch delivers a knockout performance...”
• Robert Butler of the Mail On Sunday said: “The younger members of the new cast are actually better than the old ones.  ...Lucy Punch makes a thrilling West End debut.  She mixes extreme bafflement with affection and dismay, as she gasps with disbelief...  A real comic talent.”
• Nicholas de Jongh of the Evening Standard said: “...daughter – all gauche and disturbed in Lucy Punch's convincing performance...”
• Charles Spencer of The Daily Telegraph said: “...the funny, touching Lucy Punch...”
• Jenny Parks of the LondonNet site said: “Lucy Punch also does a good job of fleshing out the drab, colourless Elaine.”
• Matt Wolf of The Associated Press said: “...Cohen and Punch... make the play their own...”
• Variety said: “...Punch's Elaine is the particular revelation... opening night crowd bestowing upon Punch and Cohen their real cheers.”
• Ian Shuttleworth of the divento.com site said: “Only Lucy Punch as a ditzy but formidable Elaine Robinson suggests that there's more to this evening than one big marketing ploy.”
• Michael Coveney of the Daily Mail said: “Lucy Punch is stunning.”

2000 July 4

Annie, a customer care agent in a telephone sales call centre, in Don't Forget to Breathe, a 45 min Radio 4 drama, written by Debbie Kent, directed by Peter Kavanagh, with Benedict Sandiford as Jez and Carolyn Jones as Rina Mason.

2000 February 27

Sally Peep, in the fifth & sixth episodes of The 10^th Kingdom, a 10-episode x 60 min fantasy drama from Carnival Film & Hallmark Entertainment for NBC & SkyOne (costing $40m), written by Simon Moore, and directed by David Carson & Herbert Wise, with Scott Cohen as Wolf & Peter Vaughan as Wilfred Peep.

Notices included:

• Frederick C Szebin of the Cinescape site said here: “...the cute performance by Lucy Punch...”

[UK: Available on Warner Video International triple PAL video, 8573827283, price £40; & on Region 2 double DVD, price £44 .
N America: Available on double NTSC video, ASIN:6305818282, price US$50 & on Region 1 double DVD, ASIN:6305818398, price US$30 (both the latter are cut by nearly 20%, so may also be missing some of her scenes).]

2000 February 4

Molly Sutton, a literary agent's assistant, in The Pitch, a 45 min Radio 4 drama, written by Jeremy Front, directed by Peter Kavanagh, with Richard Briers as Howard Black.

This play contains the best arranged and funniest scene I've ever heard in a radio drama, in which Howard, a famous scriptwriter, has invited Molly, his new assistant literary agent and a would-be scriptwriter herself, round to dinner to discuss his thoughts on her first effort: 780KB 2½ min MP3 file.

2000 January 1

Regan, one of the two step-sisters, in Cinderella, a 90 min Channel 4 drama, written by Nick Dear, directed by Beeban Kidron, with Kathleen Turner as Claudette, the wicked stepmother, Marcella Plunkett as Cinderella & Katrin Cartlidge as Goneril, the other step-sister.

A fabulous modern version of the classic fairy tale, gorgeously filmed on the Isle of Man in late 1999 (see this page on its production).  As one of the wicked/ugly step-sisters, she wonderfully plays a character who, while she may be beautiful on the outside, is really simpering, greedy & vain.

[UK: Available on PAL video from here, price £20.]

1999 October

Photo and mini-interview in Sky Magazine:

    Lucy Punch,  21
    BBC1's costume drama queen
Your character?  I play Eveline in Let Them Eat Cake.  She's a bit dim.
Have we seen you before?  In Big Bad World with Ardal O'Hanlon.  And I'm in a new film called Greenfingers with Danny Dyer from Human Traffic.
Retro crush?  Elvis, and Morton Harket.  That's really dodgy isn't it?
Now crush?  Jude Law.  He's gorgeous.
Sex in front of the TV?  I haven't had a TV for ages.  I've just got one, so we'll see.
Childhood favourite?  Let's Pretend – with that caterpillar thing that makes a weird noise.
Annoying advert?  The L'Oreal ones, where they say, “Because I'm worth it.”
Dawson's or Buffy?  Dawson's Creek of course.  I don't understand Buffy.
Ian Beale and Melanie: why?  She must be on drugs.

1999 September 9 to October 14

Eveline de Plonge in 3 episodes of Let Them Eat Cake, a 6-episode x 30 min BBC1 sitcom, written by Peter Learmouth, directed by Christine Gernon, with Alison Steadman as Mme de Plonge.

1 – The Pox
2 – Murder
3 – The Portrait
4 – Making Voopee
5 – A Marriage of Convenience
6 – The Royal Command Performance

Playing the delightfully naïve & dim daughter of the scheming Mme de Plonge, she was the most watchable aspect of this series.  There was talk of a second series of six episodes, but it never materialised.  There's my episode guide here, but it does not have much further on her or her character.

[Australia: Available on Region 2&4 PAL DVD, A$30 (order from EzyDVD).]

1999 June 20 to July 25

Melissa, in 4 parts of the first series of Big Bad World, a 6-part x 60 min Carlton comedy drama series, written by Nicholas Martin, directed by Udayan Prasad & Sandy Johnson, with Steve Nicholson as Patrick Dempsey & Michael Cochrane as George Lacey.

1 – She's a Lovely Girl
2 – Don't Shoot the Cows
3 – What's Wrong With Bees
4 – Be Nice to Posh People
5 – Happy Nappy
6 – Don't Shred My Rabbit

There's my episode guide here, but it does not have much further on her or her character.

[UK: Available on Carlton double PAL video 30074 03043, price £22.]

1999 February 22 to March 10

Sue White in the second series (episodes 14 to 26) of Renford Rejects, 30 min children's comedy dramas from Helion Pictures for Nickelodeon (UK):

14 – Hello Sue
15 – Pizza di Gradi
16 – Go Kart Go!
17 – Boom and Bust
18 – Boy Band
19 – Action
20 – They Thought It Was All Over
21 – The Great Escape
22 – Scout’s Honour
23 – Faust XI
24 – Colonel Phillips
25 – We Love You Stoker
26 – No Thank You Sven

There's my episode guide here, and Nickelodeon (UK) has a website on the series that can be reached from www.renfordrejects.co.uk, but neither has much further on her or her character.

[Not available on video.]

1999 February 19, June 2, June 16 & 2002 January 10

Helen Forman in 4 episodes of Days Like These, a 13-episode x 30 min ITV sitcom, written by Jesse Armstrong & Sam Bain, directed by Bob Spiers, with Max Wrottesley as Eric Forman, Ann Bryson as Kitty Forman & Trevor Cooper as Ron Forman.

1 – Batteries Not Included
2 – Eric's Birthday
3 – Crown Jewels
4 – Disco Knights
5 – Double Bill
6 – I Hate Sundays
7 – Grandma's Dead
8 – Stolen Car
9 – The Pill
10 – Equal Rites
11 – Eric the Burger Chef
12 – [unknown title]
13 – [unknown title]

There's an episode guide here, but it does not contain anything further on her or her character.

[Not available on video.]

1998 November 15

Queen Stephanie in The New Adventures of Robin Hood, series 3 episode 9: Orphans, a 60 min TNT drama, written by Sandra Weintraub & Cornelia Gink, directed by Adrian Carr, with John Bradley as Robin Hood, Hugh Dancy as Kyle, Bennett Jones as Sir Mortimer & Lydie Denier as her maid Emily.

The official site on the series has gone; there's my episode guide here, though it contains nothing further on her or her character.

[Not available on video.]

1993-1997

In various National Youth Theatre productions.

1993

National Youth Theatre Foundation Course.