Lara Jean Marshall

Lara Jean Marshall
Born
Lara Jean Marshall

(1988-07-30) 30 July 1988 (age 36)
London, England, UK
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, dancer
Years active1998–present

Lara Jean Marshall (born 30 July 1988) is an English-born Australian actress, singer, and dancer. She is best known for her role as Lisa Atwood on the Australian television series "The Saddle Club" in the first two seasons.

Early life and education

Marshall earned her first stage role at the age of seven in a minor part as the lamb in a Kidz for Kidz production of Charlotte's Web and later sang and dancing in Babes in Toyland for the People's Playhouse.[citation needed] She was chosen as Young Eponine in Les Misérables for Cameron Mackintosh's 10th Anniversary presentation of the classic in Melbourne.[1]

Marshall grew up in Mount Eliza, Victoria, and attended Toorak College, graduating in 2006. In 2007, she completed at a foundation course in musical theatre at the Victorian College of the Arts[2] before attending the Sydney Theatre School in 2008.[3] Marshall then went on to train at the Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne) from 2009 to 2011, earning a Bachelor of Dramatic Art degree. In 2012, she took short courses at Ward Acting Studio in Melbourne, and in 2013 she trained in New York City at Susan Batson's studio and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.[2]

The Saddle Club

In 2000, Marshall was cast as Lisa Atwood No. 1 in The Saddle Club, a television series based on a series of books written by Bonnie Bryant.[4] First shown in 2001, the show was renewed for a second and third season, during which time it added various new characters and dilemmas for the girls to interact with and overcome.[5] During the show's sporadic run, Marshall released five albums with her co-stars, Sophie Bennett (Stevie Lake) and Keenan MacWilliam (Carole Hanson), under the name The Saddle Club, all of which made the Australian charts, with three earning "Gold" status.[citation needed] A number of singles were released under the same artist name.[6] The Saddle Club is still shown on Popgirl and Horse Racing TV. The Saddle Club was on Discovery Kids until the channel shut down and became The Hub. Season three of The Saddle Club launched in fall 2008 with a different cast, due to the fact that the original cast were now too old for their roles.[7]

Sydney Royal Easter Show

Marshall and other cast members performed The Saddle Club Arena Show on horseback during the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2004 at the Sydney SuperDome[8] to crowds of over 7000 people.

Other work

Marshall has appeared in a variety of other projects, including The Doctor Blake Mysteries, alongside Craig McLachlan, Penny, with Steph Dunbar and Jason Agius, and We Were Tomorrow, with Tim Pocock and Alicia Banit.[citation needed]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2012 Emilia Emilia Short film
Midair Sophie Mitchell Short film
2013 Any Moment Now Jill Short film
Penny Linda Short film
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Waiting at the Royal Young Girl TV movie
2001–2003 The Saddle Club Elizabeth "Lisa" Atwood No. 1 Season 1 – season 2
2013 The Doctor Blake Mysteries Violet Ashby Guest role
Stage
Year Title Role Notes
1998 Les Misérables Young Eponine Melbourne only

Discography

The Saddle Club albums

  • Fun For Everyone (2002)
  • On Top of the World (2003)
  • Friends Forever (2003)
  • Secrets & Dreams (2004)
  • Hello World – The Best of the Saddle Club (2004)
  • Summer with the Saddle Club (2008)
  • The Saddle Club – Greatest Hits (2009)
  • Grand Gallop – Hello World (2009) Released in France only.

The Saddle Club Singles

  • "We Are the Saddle Club" (2002) – Australia
  • "Hello World" (2002) – No. 27 Australia No. 8 France
  • "Hey Hey What You Say" (2003) – No. 20 Australia
  • "Hello World"/"Hey Hey What You Say" (2003)
  • "Wonderland" (2003) – No. 17 Australia
  • Special Mane Event EP (2004)
  • "Undercover Movers and Shakers/Boogie Oogie Oogie" (2003) – No. 29 Australia
  • "Everybody Come On" (2003)
  • "L.I.F.E" (2004) – No. 34 Australia
  • "Welcome to the Saddle Club" (2004)
  • "Sleeping Under the Stars" (2004)

References

  1. ^ "Saddle Club Lisa Atwood Series 2". Saddle Club. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Lara jean Marshall". StarNow.
  3. ^ "School Alumni". Sydney Theatre School. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Saddle Club". saddleclubtv.com.
  5. ^ "Saddle Club". saddleclubtv.com.
  6. ^ "Australian Television: Saddle Club: articles". australiantelevision.net.
  7. ^ "Saddle Club". saddleclubtv.com.
  8. ^ "Easter Show shocker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 April 2004. Retrieved 26 April 2007.