Tessa has spent her life in show business. From ballet school to touring the world with her solo dance show, she appeared on the West End stage at 16 and continued her career in TV and film.
A comedy/character actress her roles have been as varied as comic scenes with The Goodies to secretary for Judge John Deed, Stunt Witch in Harry Potters to various roles in the Rosamund Pilcher series. She has appeared in Vogue, The Daily Mail and numerous other publications.
She is an advanced yogi, body-builder and swimmer and fronts women’s and marine rescue charities.
She is a regular cast member of the rep company in her hometown of Polruan, Cornwall.
Nominated Best Supporting Actress 2014 'Private Lives'
Nominated Best Actress 2017 'Fresh Winds From the Willows'
Cornwall Drama Association (CDA)
Her Equity number is: M00087233 and she is available for work in all locations.
She is an ‘A’ member of the CAA (Club for Acts and Actors).
FILM
DATE -------- CHARACTER ---------- TITLE -------- PROD COMPANY ------- DIRECTOR
2016. Mathilda, Planetarium manager. Rosamund Pilcher - Like From Another Planet. FFP New Media (d.Marco Serafini)
2016 Rosamund Pilcher - The Safe House, Nurse. BBC (d. Dieter Kehler) (WALK ON)
2015. Museum Curator. Bad Education. Film 4 (d. Elliot Hegarty)
2013. Ada the Fishwife. The Adventurer: Curse of the Midas Box. E-Motion (d. Jonathan Newman) (WALK ON)
2002. Ebony the Witch. Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets. Warner Bros. (d. Chris Columbus)
2002. Affronted lady. Possession. Focus Features. (d. Neil LaBute) (WALK ON)
2002. Anita. The Four Feathers. Paramount Pictures. (Shekhar Kapur) (WALK ON)
2001. Griselda, stunt witch. Harry Potter & the Philosophers Stone. Warner Bros. (d. Chris Columbus)
2001. High Priestess. The Mummy Returns. Universal. (d. Stephen Sommers)
2001. Anna. High Heels and Low Lifes. Touchstone Pictures. (d. Mel Smith) (WALK ON)
1979. GI’s girlfriend. Yanks. Warner Bros. (d. John Schlesinger)
1978. Tina Tennis Player. The Adventures of a Plumber’s Mate. Rank (d. Stanley Long)
1972. Seven of Diamonds. Alice in Wonderland. Joseph Shaftel Productions (d. William Sterling)
TV
2020. Documentary "100 Beds" Rosewood Publications Ltd (d.Geoff Woodbridge)
2018. Delicious. SKY ( d.Robin Sheppard)
2015-2017. Elize. Doc Martin (Series 9-11). BBC (d. Nigel Cole)
2016. Sonia- family friend. Delicious. SKY ( d.Clare Kilner)
2015-2017. Solicitor. The Coroner. BBC (d. Piotr Szkopiak / Adrian Bean) (WALK ON)
2016. Interviewee. The Chrissy B Show. SKY
2011. Paramedic. Casualty BBC. (d. Declan O’Dwyer)
2012. This Morning, book tour interview with Eamon Holmes. ITV
2006. Annette - tea room owner. HG Wells. Wall to Wall. ITV. (d. James Kent)
2005. Tanya, Inmate. Nighty Night. Channel 4 (d. Dewi Humphreys)
2005. Margaret, the Home Secretaries secretary. Judge John Deed. BBC (d. Steve Kelly)
2004. Singer. Wild West. BBC. (d. Juliet May)
2004. Pub Landlord. Down to Earth. BBC. (d. Simon Meyers) (WALK ON)
2002. Annette. Killing Me Softly. MGM (d. Kaige Chen) (WALK ON)
2002. Customer. Harp "Pint of Harp & a Packet of dates" commercial
2001. Dance mistress, Myrtle. Nicholas Nickelby. BBC (d. Stephen Whittaker)
2001. Lady diner. The Way We Live Now, BBC (d. David Yates) (WALK ON)
2001. Vagrant. Murder One. BBC (WALK ON)
2000. Nurse. The Bill. ITV (WALK ON)
1999. Susan News reporter. Grange Hill. BBC (d. Phil Redmond)
1999. Dance instructor. Sophisticats. SKY ONE.
1996. Road Drill Lady. Guinness "Fish Out of Water' Commercial. (d. Ogilvy & Mather)
1995. This Morning, Yoga demo with Godfrey Devereaux. ITV
1995. Yoga Instructor. Looking Good with Toyah Willcocks. BBC
1994. Heiress. Harvey’s Bristol Cream
1994. Exotic Dancer. Two Golden Balls. BBC. (d. Anya Camilleri)
1992. Jim Hopkins Live Show. Canterbury. TV New Zealand.
1992. Herself. The South Bank Show (S05 EP 18). ITV (d. Jack Bond)
1982. Morning Aerobics with Jackie Genova,. TV AM. ITV
1980. Dancer. Rumpole of the Bailey. ITV (d. Donald McWhinnie) (WALK ON)
1980. Marvel TV commercial.
1977. Dance Instructor. The Goodies. BBC. (d. Bob Spiers)
1977. Bikini Lady. Cadbury’s Fruit & Nut Advert.
1973. Bee Gees, Saw a New Morning - music video.
1974. Lucy the teenager. Candid Camera. ITV (d. Johnathan Routh)
1971. Lyon’s Maid TV commecial.
STAGE
2019. Flora. Humble Boy (Tour). incl STERTS THEATRE, TAVISTOCK THEATRE
2018. Myra. Deathtrap. Polruan Theatre (d.Mary Rashleigh) (UNPAID)
2017. Sabrina. Inspector Drake. Polruan Theatre (d.Pat Cummings) (UNPAID)
2017. Denise. The Last Bread Pudding. The Lerryn Players (d.Nick Warburton) (UNPAID)
2016. Eve. Holiday Snap. Polruan Theatre (Pat Cummings) (UNPAID
2016. Mole. Fresh Winds From The Willows. Polruan Theatre (Tony Cotrell) (UNPAID)
2016. Judy. Proscenphobia. Polruan Theatre (d. Pat Cummings) (UNPAID)
2014. Louise. Private Lives. Polruan Theatre (d. Mary Rasleigh)
2014. Felicity. Farndale. Polruan Theatre (d. Pat Cummings)
RADIO
2020. Radio Cornwall Debbie McCrory interview
2011. March Cornwall & Devon BBC Radio John Darvall interview
2011. April Radio Cornwall David White Show interview
1992. South island radio New Zealand Mike Hosking Live
1986. Oslo Radio City Show interview
TRAINING
2000-04 COACHED BY EXETER UNIVERSITY DRAMA SCHOOL JENNY CLEVERLEY
1976 - 80 COACHED BY JOHN SCHLESINGER & NOEL DAVIS
1971 - 75 BROOKING SCHOOL OF BALLET & DRAMA
1970 - ROYAL BALLET SCHOOL, RICHMOND
STATISTICS
MEAUREMENTS - 36, 29, 35”
DRESS SIZE - 10-12
SHOE - 37.5
HEIGHT - 5ft 4ins
EYES - Blue
RANGE - 40-60yrs
HAIR - Shoulder length, mid brown
fringe or centre parting
FEATURES - Tattoo on left arm small
heart and pentagram
LANGUAGES - French
NATIONALITY - British/Latvian
Full UK driver’s licence
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A PUBLISHED AUTHOR, TESSA HAS JUST RELEASED HER SECOND BOOK, 'THE SEA'. TESSA SHARES HER PROFOUND KNOWLEDGE OF NATURE AND ITS HEALING EFFECTS. THE BOOK'S EVOCATIVE LANGUAGE INSPIRES READERS TO TAP INTO THE STRENGTH AND SUPPORT THEY WILL FIND WHEN THEY RECONNECT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD.
YOU CAN BUY A SIGNED COPY USING THE PAYPAL LINK BELOW, WITH FREE P&P AND £4 FROM EACH PURCHASE donated to the NHS. OR YOU CAN BUY A REGULAR COPY FROM AMAZON.
YOU CAN READ AN INTERVIEW WITH ME ABOUT THE BOOK IN THE 2020 September Spirit & Destiny magazine.
HER FIRST NOVEL, 'BARE - A CABARET DANCER'S LIFE' - AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL TALE OF THE LIFE OF A CABARET DANCER, IS AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE - INCLUDING A SIGNED COPY, FREE P&P AND A £2 DONATION TO CANCER RESEARCH
OR YOU CAN PURCHASE IT FROM AMAZON.
“GLAMOROUS!” “EXCITING!” – Bare is the world of international cabaret as seen from the tables. But what is it really like for the artistes? Tessa Skola, a girl born to dance, was part of this scene for 24 years. In this honest and shocking account she reveals exactly what it was like, both in her professional and private life, to travel the world as a solo act within the sometimes seedy and dangerous club circuit, in pursuit of her dreams.
“Shocking and fascinating – Tessa wears her heart on her sleeve” - CORNWALL TODAY
“She contrasts the sheer preoccupied joy of dance and its maintenance of her self-esteem with her unremittingly grim working environment” - CURTAIN CALL
Tessa is available for interviews, talks and signings. Previously she has spoken at: The Du Maurier Festival – Fowey, Sunnnyside Festival, Polruan, Tolmen Centre, Constantine, Penzance Literary Festival, Plymouth Ladies Luncheon Club, Open Doors Lectures, Mevagissey.
Tessa supports the charity Skoodhya (Cornish for “shoulder to lean on”) and is a full member of The Society of Authors. She says: “I hope that whoever reads my book receives a positive message about the importance of following your dreams, working hard, sticking to your principles, forgiving your mistakes and, above all, treasuring love and friendship.”
TESSA SKOLA ACTRESS/AUTHOR
CHARACTER / COMEDY
CONTACT TESSA'S AGENT DEBBIE BURDON
AT TAKE 1 CASTING ON: 01579 343141
OR SPEAK WITH TESSA DIRECTLY ON: 07779 297209