Cush Jumbo

British actress and writer (born 1985)

Cush Jumbo

OBE

Cush Jumbo in Balestra (2024)

Born|  (1985-09-23) 23 September 1985 (age 39)

Denmark Hill, London, England

Alma mater| Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation(s)| Actress, writer, executive producer
Years active| 2006–present
Spouse|

Sean Griffin

(m. 2014; div. 2023)​

Children| 1
Awards| Evening Standard Theatre Award

Cush Jumbo OBE (born 23 September 1985) is a British actress and writer. She is best known for her leading role as attorney Lucca Quinn in the CBS drama series The Good Wife (2015–2016) and the Paramount Plus spin-off series The Good Fight (2017–2021) and most recently June Lenker in the Apple TV+ series Criminal Record (2024).

Jumbo starred as DC Bethany Whelan in the ITV crime drama series Vera (2012, 2015–16) and as Lois Habiba in the third series of Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood in 2009.

In theatre, Jumbo received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for playing Mark Antony in Julius Caesar in 2013, and also wrote and performed in the play Josephine and I. She was awarded an Evening Standard Theatre Award for her one-woman show, and reprised her performance Off-Broadway in 2015.[1] Jumbo made her Broadway debut in Jez Butterworth's The River in 2014, and received her second Olivier nomination upon her 2021 return to the London stage as Hamlet.

## Early life

[edit]

Jumbo was born in King's College Hospital in the Denmark Hill area of London to parents Angela (née Hall) and Marx Jumbo. Her mother is British and her father is Nigerian.[2]

The second of six children, she grew up in Lewisham and Southwark.[3] She began dance classes at the age of three.

As a child, she attended Adamsrill Primary School in Sydenham. During this time she trained at Glenlyn Stage School (now Glenlyn Academy). From the age of 11 to 15, she trained at the Francis Cooper School of Dance whilst attending Cator Park School for Girls, but at 14 she left Cator Park to pursue acting more seriously at the BRIT School in Croydon.[citation needed]

She graduated with a first from the BA (Hons) Acting course at Central School of Speech and Drama before starting her career. She considered undertaking teacher training in London before finally settling on a career as an actress.[4][5]

## Career

[edit]

Jumbo's theatre credits include Brixton Stories at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, Liquid Gold at the Almeida and Love's Labour's Lost at Shakespeare's Globe.[citation needed] She has also appeared in productions of The Cherry Orchard, The Crucible, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Richard III[6] and Pygmalion at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester for which she received MEN and Ian Charleson Award nominations. In 2012 she won the Ian Charleson Award for her performance as Rosalind in William Shakespeare's As You Like It at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. Clare Brennan of The Guardian wrote of Jumbo's performance in As You Like It: "If these performances truly reflect her talent, Jumbo looks set to become one of the best actresses of her generation." Jumbo played Constance Neville in She Stoops to Conquer at the National Theatre in 2012 and Mark Antony in an all female production of Julius Caesar at the Donmar Warehouse for which she received a nomination for an Olivier Award.[7] She took part again in the production when it was revived in New York in October 2013. In May 2013, she played the role of Nora in A Doll's House at the Royal Exchange Theatre. In October 2013, she won a UK Theatre Award for this performance.[8]

In July and August 2013, Jumbo performed in her own debut play Josephine and I, a one-woman play about jazz singer Josephine Baker, which premiered at the Bush Theatre, London.[9][10] This performance won Jumbo an Emerging Talent Award at the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards in November 2013.[11] The show was developed for transfer[12] and began previews on 27 February 2015 at The Public Theater in New York.

She made her Broadway debut in the autumn of 2014 when she appeared in the transfer of the Royal Court Theatre production of The River by Jez Butterworth, alongside Laura Donnelly and Hugh Jackman.[13]

Jumbo also co-wrote the musical Rebels and Retail, a shortlisted entrant in the Perfect Pitch West End Showcase 2008.[14]

Jumbo is the co-author of 101 Dance Ideas for 5–11 yr Olds, which is published by A & C Black.

On television, Jumbo has appeared in My Family, Harley Street, as receptionist Hannah Fellows, as Lois Habiba in all five episodes of Torchwood: Children of Earth, as Becky on BBC Three's drama series Lip Service, Casualty and as Nurse Damaris in Getting On Series 2 and 3, written by Jo Brand, Jo Scanlon and Vicki Pepperdine in which Jumbo was directed by fellow Torchwood actor Peter Capaldi. She appeared as DC Bethany Whelan in series 2 of ITV's Vera, starring Brenda Blethyn, and returned to the show for series 5, broadcast in 2015, and for episode 1 of series 6 in 2016. She has also appeared several times on BBC Radio 4 in dramas and as a guest on the panel show Dilemma. She became a regular cast member in the 2015–2016 season of the CBS series The Good Wife until the series ended in 2016. She reprised her role in the series' spin-off The Good Fight. On 29 May 2020, Jumbo announced that she was departing the series after four seasons.[15]

In October 2021, Jumbo played the title role in a production of Hamlet at the Young Vic Theatre in London, directed by Greg Hersof. The Guardian's Arifa Akbar praised her interpretation of the character as a "clear-eyed son" in a performance of "shining clarity".[16] In 2022, she received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress and Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Shakespearean Performance.[17]

Starting on 8 December 2023, Jumbo played the role of Lady Macbeth opposite David Tennant, in Donmar Warehouse's production of Macbeth, directed by Max Webster. She played the role until the show's closing on 10 February 2024.[18]

In August 2025, it was announced that Jumbo would be voicing the narrator in Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions, a production of Audible and J.K. Rowling's Pottermore.[19]

## Personal life

[edit]

Jumbo married Sean Griffin in 2014 and they have a son, born in 2018.[20][21] They divorced in 2023.[22]

## Filmography

[edit]

### Film

[edit]

Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes

|
|
|

2011  | The Inbetweeners Movie | Check In Woman  |
2012  | National Theatre Live: She Stoops to Conquer | Miss Neville  |
2015  | Remainder | Catherine  |
2016  | City of Tiny Lights | Melody Chase/Laura  |
2020  | The Postcard Killings | Dessie Lombard  |
2024  | Balestra[23] | Joanna  |
TBA | Angels in the Asylum † | TBA | Filming[24]

### Television

[edit]

Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes

|
|
|

2007 | My Family | Girlfriend | Episode: "Dutch Art and Dutch Courage"
2008 | Harley Street | Hannah Fellows | 6 episodes
2009 | Torchwood | Lois Habiba | Main cast (series 3: Children of Earth)
Casualty | Zara Finchley | Episode: "Every Breath You Take"
2010 | Lip Service | Becky Love | 6 episodes
Getting On | Damaris Clarke | 5 episodes
2012, 2015–2016 | Vera | DC Bethany Whelan | Main cast (series 2, 5–6)
2015–2016 | The Good Wife | Lucca Quinn | Main cast (season 7)
2017–2021 | The Good Fight | Main cast (season 1-4), Guest (Season 5)
2020 | Deadwater Fell | Jess Milner | TV miniseries
2020 | Trying | Jane | 2 episodes
2021 | The Beast Must Die | Frances Cairnes | TV miniseries
Stay Close | Megan
2023  | Derren Brown: Showman | Herself[25] | She is selected from the audience, apparently at random, and participates in a series of tricks following off stage training.
2023 | RuPaul's Drag Race UK | Herself | Guest judge (Series 5)
2024 | Criminal Record | Detective Sgt. June Lenker | Main role, executive producer

## Awards and honours

[edit]

Jumbo was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 Birthday Honours for services to drama.[26]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Work  | Result

|
|
|
|

2011  | Ian Charleson Award | Best Performance in a Play  | As You Like It | Won
2013  | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Julius Caesar | Nominated
Evening Standard Theatre Award | Emerging Talent | Josephine and I | Won
UK Theatre Award | Best Performance in a Play  | A Doll's House | Won
2014  | Laurence Olivier Awards | Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre | Josephine and I | Nominated
2018  | Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | The Good Fight | Nominated
2022  | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actress | Hamlet | Nominated
Critics' Circle Theatre Award | Best Shakespearean Performance | Won

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "One-woman show with a cast; Cush Jumbo soars in a solid Ibsen revival, says Dominic Maxwell; Theatre." Times [London, England] 9 May 2013: 10. Academic OneFile. Web. 19 Mar 201
2. ^ Henderson, Kathy (13 November 2014). "Cush Jumbo on Her Unusual Name, Her New Buddy Hugh Jackman & Starring in the 'Shocking' Drama The River". Broadway.com.
3. ^ Henderson, Kathy (13 November 2014). "Cush Jumbo on Her Unusual Name, Her New Buddy Hugh Jackman & Starring in the 'Shocking' Drama The River". Broadway.com.
4. ^ Shore, Robert (11 July 2013). "My childhood idol Josephine Baker saved my career". Metro.
5. ^ Day, Elizabeth (24 November 2012). "'I'm not interested in being in Heat magazine'". The Guardian.
6. ^ "Harley Street Press Pack" (DOC). ITV. Retrieved 11 July 2009.
7. ^ "Olivier awards 2013 – full nominations". The Guardian. 26 March 2013.
8. ^ Youngs, Ian (24 November 2012). "This Is My Family musical wins two UK Theatre Awards". London: BBC News.
9. ^ "Bush Theatre". Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
10. ^ Shakespeare, Sebastian (8 August 2013). "Talk about life imitating art …". Londoner's Diary. London Evening Standard. p. A17. Retrieved 9 August 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ Jury, Louis (17 November 2013). "Dame Helen Mirren crowned best actress at Evening Standard Theatre Awards". London Evening Standard. London.
12. ^ Phyllida, Lloyd (27 April 2014). "Me and Meryl Streep, by Phyllida Lloyd". The Yorkshire Post. Leeds.
13. ^ Merrfield, Niccola (9 May 2014). "Hugh Jackman, Cush Jumbo and Laura Donnelly to star in The River on Broadway". The Stage. London.
14. ^ "Perfect Pitch Music Musicals – Rebels and Retail". Archived from the original on 4 July 2009.
15. ^ Petski, Denise (29 May 2020). "Cush Jumbo Exiting 'The Good Fight' Ahead Of Season 5". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
16. ^ Akbar, Arifa (5 October 2021). "Hamlet review – Cush Jumbo is a remarkable prince". The Guardian. p. 17 Jumbo played Megan Pierce in Stay Close, a TV adaptation of Harlan Coben's novel of the same title. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
17. ^ Frost, Caroline (3 April 2022). ""Cabaret" Takes Top Honors At Critics Circle Theatre Awards: Jessie Buckley, Ben Daniels, Cush Jumbo Win Acting Prizes". Deadline. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
18. ^ Gans, Andrew (8 December 2023). "Donmar Warehouse Macbeth, Starring Cush Jumbo and David Tennant, Begins December 8". Playbill. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
19. ^ Spangler, Todd (5 August 2025). "Audible's 'Harry Potter' Series Unveils Premiere Dates and Cast: Hugh Laurie as Dumbledore, Matthew Macfadyen as Voldemort, Riz Ahmed as Snape and More". Variety.
20. ^ Martin, Annie (12 January 2018). "'The Good Fight' star Cush Jumbo expecting first child". upi.com. United Press International, Inc. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
21. ^ Juneau, Jen (27 April 2018). "The Good Fight's Cush Jumbo Welcomes Son Maximilian". people.com. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
22. ^ Butter, Susannah (14 September 2024). "Cush Jumbo: 'I'm glad to be leaving my thirties behind'". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
23. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (17 February 2022). "Cush Jumbo, Manny Jacinto & James Badge Dale Lead New Regency's 'Balestra'; Fencing Thriller Lined Up As Movie & Series". Deadline. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
24. ^ Popp, Olivia (31 January 2025). "Cameras rolling for Rob Sorrenti's UK-set debut feature, Angels in the Asylum". Cineuropa.org. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
25. ^ Richardson, Hollie; Seale, Jack; Wardell, Simon; Jobe, Nyima (23 April 2023). "TV tonight: a new hospital thriller from the team behind Line of Duty". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
26. ^ "Birthday Honours List — United Kingdom". The London Gazette (Supplement). No. 62666\. 8 June 2019. p. B12.

## External links

[edit]

* Cush Jumbo at IMDb
* Portraits of Cush Jumbo at the National Portrait Gallery, London

* v
* t
* e

Ian Charleson Award

* Ian Hughes (1990)
* Joe Dixon (1991)
* Tom Hollander (1992)
* Emma Fielding (1993)
* Toby Stephens (1994)
* Lucy Whybrow (1995)
* Alexandra Gilbreath (1996)
* Mark Bazeley / Dominic West (1997)
* Claudie Blakley (1998)
* Rupert Penry-Jones (1999)
* David Oyelowo (2000)
* Claire Price (2001)
* Rebecca Hall (2002)
* Lisa Dillon (2003)
* Nonso Anozie (2004)
* Mariah Gale (2005)
* Andrea Riseborough (2006)
* Rory Kinnear (2007)
* Tom Burke (2008)
* Ruth Negga (2009)
* Gwilym Lee (2010)
* Cush Jumbo (2011)
* Ashley Zhangazha (2012)
* Jack Lowden (2013)
* Susannah Fielding (2014)
* James McArdle (2015)
* Paapa Essiedu (2016)
* Natalie Simpson (2017)
* Bally Gill (2018)
* Heledd Gwynn (2019)
* Gloria Obianyo (2020/2021)
* Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran (2022)
* Francesca Mills (2023)
* Francesca Amewudah-Rivers (2024)

* v
* t
* e

Trewin Award for Best Shakespearean Performance

* Simon Russell Beale (2000)
* Samuel West (2001)
* Mark Rylance (2002)
* Greg Hicks (2003)
* Paul Rhys (2004)
* Kevin Spacey (2005)
* Tamsin Greig (2006)
* Chiwetel Ejiofor / Patrick Stewart (2007)
* Derek Jacobi / David Tennant (2008)
* Jude Law (2009)
* Derek Jacobi (2010)
* Eddie Redmayne (2011)
* Simon Russell Beale (2012)
* Rory Kinnear (2013)
* Antony Sher (2014)
* Judi Dench (2015)
* Glenda Jackson (2016)
* Andrew Scott (2017)
* Sophie Okonedo (2018)
* Hammed Animashaun (2019)
* Cush Jumbo (2021)
* Arthur Hughes (2022)
* David Tennant (2023)
* Danny Sapani (2024)

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* IdRef
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*[m.]: married
*[div.]: divorced
*[TBA]: To be announced
*[†]: Film has not yet been released
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*[t]: Discuss this template
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