Josette Simon

Josette Simon is a British actress who trained at London's Central School of Speech and Drama. She was talent-spotted there for Blake's 7, playing Dayna Mellanby from 1980 to 1981. She has appeared in 50 Royal Shakespeare Company productions; in 1982 she became the first Black woman to perform in an RSC play in Salvation Now. Her first leading RSC role was Rosaline in Love's Labour's Lost, and she later played Isabelle in Measure for Measure, Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra. Her After the Fall performance won Evening Standard, Critics' Circle, and Plays and Players awards. On television she appeared in Seekers and played senior police officers in Silent Witness, Minder, and Broadchurch. Her films include Cry Freedom (1987), Milk and Honey (1988), and Detective Pikachu (2019). She was appointed an OBE in 2000 for services to drama.