Catherine Tate is a renowned English actress and comedian, best known for her iconic role as Donna Noble in the popular British sci-fi series "Doctor Who".
Born Catherine Ford in 1969, Tate grew up in Bloomsbury, London, in a female-dominated environment with her mother, a florist, and her grandmother, who played a significant role in her upbringing.
Tate attended St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School and later Notre Dame High School, an all-girls' comprehensive school. She then enrolled in the Salesian College of Battersea, a boys' school, to pursue her passion for drama.
After being rejected three times, Tate finally secured a spot at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where she honed her acting skills alongside notable alumni like Laurence Olivier and Peggy Ashcroft.
Tate began her television career in the 1990s with small roles in "The Bill" and "London's Burning". She soon transitioned to stand-up comedy and was a main performer and writer in the late-night sketch comedy show "Barking".
In the early 2000s, Tate appeared in the sitcom "Wild West" and later landed her own television series, "The Catherine Tate Show", which ran for three seasons and earned her numerous awards and nominations.
Tate's breakthrough role came when she played Donna Noble in the "Doctor Who" Christmas special "The Runaway Bride" in 2006. She reprised the role in Series 4 and became a fan favorite.
Tate has also appeared in various other television shows, including "The Bad Mother's Handbook", "The Office", and "Big School". In 2017, she joined the voice cast of the animated series "DuckTales" as Magica De Spell.
Currently residing in Richmond, London, with her 16-year-old daughter Erin, Tate remains a beloved figure in British entertainment, known for her versatility, wit, and iconic characters.