Patricia ‘Tishy’ Potter made a dramatic debut in BBC1’s EastEnders recently when she crashed a car into Albert Square.
Tishy, who was a pupil at West Heath in the 80s, has joined the long-running soap as Gemma Hawkins. She is one of a new family who have arrived in Walford with a complicated history and plenty of old scores to settle.
Gemma is the estranged sister of Nicola Mitchell and arrives in Albert Square with her husband Ned, played by Jamie Bamber, their son Ryder, and her mother Rose.
The role adds another major television credit to an already impressive career. Tishy is perhaps best known for playing surgeon Diane Lloyd in Holby City, a role she played regularly for several years.
She has also appeared in Brookside, The Bill, Trial & Retribution, Soldier Soldier, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Extras, Jam & Jerusalem, Absolutely Fabulous, Law & Order: UK, DCI Banks, New Tricks, Frankie, Man Down, WPC 56 and Doctors. Her more recent screen work includes Vera, Patrick and Pretty Red Dress.
Her career has also taken her on to the stage. Tishy’s theatre credits include The Duchess of Malfi, Much Ado About Nothing, Happy End and An Eligible Man. She has also appeared in The Colby Sisters of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Half Life.
Tishy trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and has spoken about having an encouraging teacher who helped nurture her interest in acting. Her latest role means she can now add one of Britain’s best-known television programmes to her CV.
She is also part of a group of performers associated with West Heath, including, amongst others, Tilda Swinton, the Oscar-winning star of Michael Clayton, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Elisabeth Dermot Walsh went on to train at RADA after West Heath, and her credits include playing Dr Zara Carmichael in the TV soap Doctors, Love in a Cold Climate, Unfinished Business, Midsomer Murders, Holby City and the ITV adaptation of Sad Cypress. Her extensive stage work has included The Life of Galileo, The Country Wife, Rebecca and The Alchemist.
Issy van Randwyck became an actress, singer and a member of the comedy cabaret group Fascinating Aida after her schooling at West Heath. She has worked extensively in theatre and television, including appearances at the National Theatre and in Waiting for God.
