Biography

At Home

Ask Ann Michelle when she started acting and she’ll tell you from the day she was born. Quite simply, acting is in her blood.

Born in London on 11^th August into a theatrical family, her first real memory of performing was at the age of four in a charity theatre production for a friend of her mother’s. Along with her sister, she performed in the Peter Sellers, Sophia Loren duet, Goodness Gracious Me and the stage, so to speak, was set. With a high IQ and natural extrovert tendencies, it was clear at a young age that the mundane routine of a normal education was not for Ann, so she transferred to The Aida Foster Stage School to pursue her chosen vocation and follow in her mother’s footsteps as an actress.

Ann’s professional acting debut saw her playing as a schoolgirl in the classic Prime of Miss Jean Brodie starring the now Dame Maggie Smith. She quickly developed a fascination for the film industry in general and fed her insatiable curiosity for a better understanding of the film world by working as an extra on sets. During this time she acquired a skill for lighting angles and photography, which in later days was to serve to enhance her perception of directors demands.

Her first leading role in a movie came swiftly but was not an experience Ann cares to remember. It did however, open the door to another lead role this time in the cult horror movie Psychomania, directed by Don Sharp, also of Puppet on a Chain. The most auspicious cast list included George Sanders, Beryl Reid and Robert Hardy. This was hotly followed by two more films, House of Whipcord and Mistress Pamela the latter being a particular favourite of Ann’s. The auditioning process for this film by Merlot Productions was extensive and began with four thousand photographs of actresses being scrutinised by the production company who met and auditioned just fifty including Ann. Having been short listed to one of twenty, she was then asked to learn part of the script and filmed in the role. The rest, as they say, is history. It was the beginning of one of the happiest and most successful periods of Ann’s career. Promotion for the film took her to Cannes and later to Boston New York where she appeared on numerous chat shows including that of Johnny Carson. She was also flown to Las Vegas by Adnan Kashogi where she was guest of honour along with Wayne Newton at a gala charity event. However, things did not go completely to plan when the promise of a five year film contract with Merlot Productions failed to reach fruition due to  the company folding but Ann had been approached by an American agent to make a series of films in the USA and so came the big move to Hollywood where Ann was to star in three movies, two dramas; Young Lady Chatterley based on the original D.H.Lawrence novel and The French Quarter. The third, a horror movie The Haunted, also known as The Glass Cage was set in Arizona and centered around witchcraft. It was a time Ann relishes to this day and greatly admires the American film industry for what she calls ‘Daring to take chances’. She makes no secret of the fact that it is an experience she would very much like to repeat. Meanwhile on the personal front, Ann had married famous speedway rider Eddie Reeves and become mother to their son named Eddie-Blue. Home in Los Angeles was next door to screen tough guy Aldo Ray but glamorous as it was, when Ann was offered the lead role of Pauline in the CEE film A Place Beyond whilst on a visit back to England, she had little hesitation in accepting. More film roles followed in Déjà vu for Yugoslavia International; Struck, Power Films Productions and Composed, for  River Productions and so it was decided to make home permanently in England.

In addition to her film career, Ann has appeared extensively on television. Performances on the comedy front include working with comedian Jimmy Tarbuck in Tarbuck’s Luck and the incomparable Ronnies, Barker and Corbett in numerous episodes of their show The Two Ronnies. She has also appeared in the hugely successful situation comedy The Liverbirds and was cast in the lead role of Scarth Dare in the David Croft, Jimmy Perry series Come Back Mrs Noah. Ann was later to follow this with a role in another of their works, that of a Resistance Leader in Allo Allo.

Mistress Pamela

In Hollywood

In drama, Ann has appeared in various episodes of Casualty and added several mini series to her credit including Dark Edge, for Mandell Productions, in which she played Lutheria the she devil; Izuru an Egyptian Ghost in Shadows, for Margolis Productions, the role of Jackie Rawlings in Widows II for Euston Films and the leading role of Nicola in ITV’s The Levkas Man also starring Kenneth Cope. In recent weeks,  she has completed recording the new hour long drama All In The Game for Channel 4 Television. the film takes a scorching look at the ruthless behind-the-scenes wheeling and dealings of a football club. Playing Tracey, sister-in-law of club manager Frankie, played by Ray Winstone, the programme is scheduled to be screened in the late spring of 2006. Further details can be found by following the News link.

Constantly striving to broaden her career horizons, Ann is always exploring new avenues. Of course she will always act, her striking good looks of dark brown hair and eyes making her an obvious choice for Middle Eastern and Mediterranean roles. She is no mean impersonator and excelling at numerous accents is ideal for voice over work at which she is highly experienced. Truly multi talented, not only can she add the role of TV presenter to her CV but in recent years, Ann has nurtured a passion for writing and it is in this field that she now devotes a great deal of her time. In fact, today she considers herself to be as much a writer as actress. Together with sister Suzie, using a combination of life’s experiences and vivid imagination, they have written a variety of screenplays which range from a psychological thriller, currently in pre production, to a children’s special effects movie centred around a group of youngsters destined to save the Earth.

Added to this, she has developed an ability as an astute businesswoman and negotiator which, coupled with her showbiz knowledge and connections, prove invaluable in her role of Company Director in the family celebrity broker business. With a reputation for being highly organised and professional in all aspects of her working life, Ann can lay claim to playing a part in the structuring of some immensely prestigious corporate events.

Ann describes herself as being straight to the point with a sense of humour that’s ‘off the wall’. Amongst her hobbies; singing, dancing, swimming, aerobics, squash, bowling and fishing with a natural flare for photography and a profound interest in architecture. As for ambitions? Well with all her technical knowledge behind the camera and countless performing experiences in front, it will come as know surprise to learn that Ann has something of a burning desire to direct. Surely with her qualifications and drive it is only a matter of time.

The Levkas Man

A casual pose