Tracey Ann Oberman

Tracey Ann Oberman was born on August 25, 1966, in Brent, London, England. She pursued her education diligently, studying classics at Leeds University before transferring to Manchester University to focus on drama. Her formal acting training was completed at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, with a term also spent at the Moscow Art Theatre School in 1991. Oberman’s dedication to her craft was evident early on, stemming from her parents’ initial reservations about her acting career. Her eventual success, particularly with the Royal Shakespeare Company, convinced them of her professional commitment.

Following her training, Oberman began her career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, participating in notable productions such as Christopher Marlowe’s ‘Tamburlaine’ in 1993. She then moved on to the National Theatre, appearing in Clifford Odets’ ‘Waiting for Lefty’ in 1999 and David Mamet’s ‘Edmond’ in 2003 alongside Kenneth Branagh. Her theatrical work includes a West End revival of ‘Boeing-Boeing’ (2007–2008) and performances in ‘Earthquakes in London’ (2011) and ‘McQueen’ (2015). Oberman has appeared in over 600 radio plays and is a regular on BBC Radio 4. She gained significant public recognition for her role as Chrissie Watts in the BBC soap opera ‘EastEnders’ from 2004 to 2005, a role she is set to reprise in 2024.

Her television career spans various genres, including comedic roles in ‘Bob Martin’ (2000–2001), ‘Lenny Henry in Pieces’ (2000–2003), ‘Big Train’ (2002), and ‘Toast of London’ (2013–2015). She also had a recurring role in ‘New Tricks’ (2014–2015) and appeared in ‘Doctor Who’ as Yvonne Hartman in 2006. More recently, she featured in Netflix’s ‘After Life’ (2019–2022), Sky One’s ‘Code 404’ (2020–2022), and Channel 4’s ‘It’s a Sin’ (2021). As a writer, Oberman has contributed to ‘Big Train’ (2002) and co-authored the play ‘3 Sisters on Hope Street’ (2008). She has also written several BBC Radio 4 plays, including ‘Bette and Joan and Baby Jane’ (2010), ‘Rock and Doris and Elizabeth’ (2012), and ‘Mrs. Robinson, I Presume’ (2015). Oberman was awarded an MBE in 2025 for her services to Holocaust education and combating antisemitism.