Actress Sian Brooke was born Sian Phillips in 1980 in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. Although her family name is really Phillips, she was forced to change it to Brooke for the actor’s Equity, in order to avoid being confused with veteran actress, Sian Phillips. She got the name Brooke from an English Civil War general who served at her home town of Lichfield. In 2002, Brooke graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where she developed her talents and interests in the field of acting. She is also a member of the National Youth Theatre.
Sian Brooke was soon seen playing a number of roles on television. She was cast as Krista on the series Dinotopia, first a miniseries produced by Disney Television and Hallmark Entertainment. It was based on the work of American author James Gurney, and the series received an Emmy award for Best Visual Effects. It was later turned into a TV series lasting for only one season. Sian Brooke was next seen on several episodes of All About George, portraying the character Laura in the comedy. The show enabled her to work with Rik Mayall, Lorraine Burroughs, Penny Downie and Julia Ford. Brooke soon got a role in the TV production Under the Greenwood Tree, released in 2005. She was next seen on A Touch of Frost, playing the music teacher Carol Haymarsh. In 2006, she was cast in the drama Housewife, 49 and followed it up with an appearance on the mystery series Foyle’s War. After being seen on an episode of Hotel Babylon, she landed the role of Lori Marcuse on the series Cape Wrath, known as Meadowlands in the United States. The British series shot her to fame, and she later got roles in The Fixer and an episode of The Midsomer Murders titled “The Magician’s Nephew.”
(Photo courtesy of Showtime)