Josie Lawrence

Born Wendy Lawrence she changed her name when joining the Equity as there was already a Wendy Lawrence there. Has been a member of the Comedy Store Players, an improvisational comedy troupe based at London's Comedy Store, since 1986. On "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1988) for 10 years until it moved to the US and then, in 1999, made 2 appearances on the US version of the show. Won the award for Glasses wearer of the year in 1993 after the first series of "Outside Edge" (1994) -- it went on to run 2 more series in consecutive years, and a special in Corfu was made. Graduated from Darlington College of Arts in 1981 with a degree in theatre. Some years later they awarded her an honorary doctorate. Won the Dame Peggy Ashcroft Award for Best Actress at the Shakespeare's Globe Awards for her performance in an RSC production of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew".