Lisa Davina Phillip

Lisa Davina Phillip is a British actress, born and raised in South London to aspirational Grenadian parents, who were part of the Windrush generation. Lisa biggest role to date has been starring alongside Forest Whitaker, in David E. Talbert's Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. Also starring Keegan-Michael Key, Hugh Bonneville, Anika Noni Rose, Phylicia Rashad, Ricky Martin, Justin Cornwell, Sharon Rose and newcomers Kieron Dyer and Madalen Mills. This live action musical came out on Netflix for November 2020's holiday season. As a child Lisa was described as a natural performer, always dancing, making people laugh and enjoying being the center of attention. Lisa's love of performance led her to study for a BA in Drama at the University of Northampton, before really perfecting her skills at The Academy Drama School (Whitechapel), having received The Stage scholarship in 2001. Lisa was well on her way to establishing herself as strong character actress, with great comedy timing, impeccable sensitivity and adding singing to her repertoire. In 2004 Lisa landed her first professional role in Disney's' The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre, London, as the understudy for both the mischievous baboon, Rafiki and street-smart hyena, Shenzi and thus began an exciting journey treading the boards of London's West End. In 2007 she covered the role of Lily Holmes in Sir Trevor Nunns' lavish musical adaptation of the Gershwin's Porgy and Bess at the Savoy Theatre, London working closely along-side Clarke Peters and OT Fagbenle. In 2008 Lisa landed her first television role as series regular, nurse Pearl McDonald in ITV's The Royal Today, a contemporary daytime hospital drama set in St Aiden's hospital. The Royal Today was a program spin off from The Royal which was set in the 1960's. In 2009 Lisa toured Scotland, UK as a Maenad in The Bacchae with Alan Cumming and Sharon Duncan-Brewster, before performing at the legendary Lincoln Center, NY. In 2012 Lisa understudied Oda Mae Brown in Ghost The Musical originating the role of Clara and featuring on the original Soundtrack. In 2013 Lisa worked with Lucian Msamati, Marianne Jean-Baptiste and understudied Sharon D. Clarke as Odessa Alexander in James Baldwin's The Amen Corner at the prestigious Royal National Theatre on the Olivier Stage. Between 2013-16 Lisa fulfilled a childhood dream of working for The Royal Shakespeare Company playing Mrs Phelps in Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre, London. In 2017 Lisa played Revd. Susan Walker on the Bafta award winning, mockumentary sitcom People Just Do Nothing in a memorable episode, from series 6, when lead characters DJ Mc Grinder played by Allan Mustafa and his long-suffering girlfriend Michelle, Lily Brazier, finally tied the knot. Between 2017-18 Lisa played headmistress Mrs Barratt in Apple Tree House for CBeebies, the BBC's children's sister channel. The show combined live action and animation, praised for its an inner-city multicultural community values and won the 2018 Broadcast Award for Best Pre-school program In 2019 Lisa played Revd. Kathryn Ripley in BBC TV's Doctors, a no-nonsense woman of the cloth, hell bent on seeking justice for the little man and in 2020 Lisa played a Receptionist in BBC TV's medical history drama Call the Midwife, enjoying a trip back into a simpler tech free life of paper files.