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Rae Baker

Rachel Jane "Rae" Baker (born 19 November 1973) is an English actress best known for her role as Detective Constable Juliet Becker in the long-running ITV police drama The Bill. Baker was born in Winchester, Hampshire, England, and began her acting career in the 1990s with guest appearances in television series such as Goodnight Sweetheart and Jonathan Creek. In 2003, she joined The Bill as the ambitious and no-nonsense DC Juliet Becker, a role she originated after screen-testing for another character on the show; her tenure lasted several months and highlighted her ability to portray determined law enforcement figures. Beyond The Bill, Baker has built a diverse portfolio in both television and film, including the sci-fi adventure Ice Planet (2001), where she played the role of Shinada, and the musical drama London Road (2015), directed by Rufus Norris, in which she performed as a community member in the verbatim theatre adaptation of the Ipswich serial killings. She has also appeared in episodes of popular British series like M.I. High (2009–2011), Father Brown, and Birds of a Feather, showcasing her versatility in genres ranging from spy thrillers to comedy.

Early life and education

Early years

Rae Baker was born Rachel Jane Baker on 19 November 1973 in , , . From a young age, Baker showed an interest in the . At the age of , she joined a local repertory company in , where she began performing in operettas. To further develop her skills, she took private lessons in piano and singing, focusing on enhancing her voice.

Education and training

Baker began her formal training in the performing arts at the age of 12, joining the , where she participated in productions that honed her skills in and singing. She subsequently enrolled at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in , one of the UK's leading institutions for theatre education, funded by a personal bursary from . There, Baker completed a BA (Hons) in , focusing on classical and contemporary performance techniques essential for stage and screen work.

Career

Television roles

Baker began her television career in the late with a role as Melanie in the sitcom Real Women.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 1 </grok:render> She gained early exposure in guest appearances on popular British series, including Yasmin in the mystery comedy in 1997.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 2 </grok:render> In 1998, she portrayed Simone in an episode of the time-travel sitcom Goodnight Sweetheart and Emily in , showcasing her versatility in comedic roles.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 3 </grok:render> Her breakthrough came in 2003 when she joined the long-running police procedural as Detective Constable Juliet Becker, a role that highlighted her dramatic range in a high-stakes environment.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 4 </grok:render> Becker's character navigated complex investigations and personal challenges within the Sun Hill police station, appearing in multiple episodes that year and briefly returning in 2008. This part established Baker as a recognizable face in British television drama.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 5 </grok:render> In the mid-2000s, Baker continued with supporting roles, including Sally in (2000), Donna in Sam's Game (2001), and Suzanne in Ed Stone Is Dead (2002), further demonstrating her comedic timing.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 3 </grok:render> She took on the recurring role of Caroline Garvey, a love interest to Dr. Nick West, in the daytime soap Doctors during 2008, appearing in episodes such as "Distractions" and "The Lollipop Man."<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 6 </grok:render> From 2009 to 2011, Baker portrayed the antagonist Jade Dixon-Halliday in the spy series , a SKUL and mother to a key character, adding depth to her portfolio in youth-oriented action-adventure television. Her later television work included the villainous Mimi in the 2015 episode "The Lair of the Libertines" of the BBC mystery series , where her character met a dramatic end involving a fox trap.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 7 </grok:render> These roles underscore Baker's ability to embody both sympathetic and antagonistic figures across genres.

Film and theatre roles

Baker began her professional stage career shortly after graduating from the Central School of Speech and Drama, appearing as Mimi in the Royal National Theatre's revival of Guys and Dolls in 1996.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 8 </grok:render> The production, directed by Richard Eyre, ran at the National Theatre in London and featured a cast including Ewan McGregor and Imelda Staunton. In 1997, she took on multiple ensemble roles—Fantasy Woman, Miss Fletcher, Florence, Usherette, Dakota Doran, and Female Vocalist—in the world premiere of Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night at the Bridewell Theatre during the London Fringe festival.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 9 </grok:render> This early production marked the first full staging of the musical, originally shelved in 1955. Her theatre work continued with a leading role as Anna Bagalucci in the musical A Saint She Ain't at the King's Head Theatre in 1999, alongside and Pauline Daniels.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 10 </grok:render> The show, written by Denis King and Dick Vosburgh, transferred briefly to the . In 2002, Baker portrayed in Skin Deep at the Warehouse Theatre in , a by Richard Vincent that explored themes of and deception.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 11 </grok:render> Critics praised her versatile performance in the role, which required shifting between multiple personas. She returned to the West End in 2005 as part of the cast in The Postman Always Rings Twice at the , opposite and Charlotte Emmerson in a revival of the adaptation.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 12 </grok:render> Baker's most prominent West End role came in 2006 as Vivian in the original London production of at the .<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 13 </grok:render> Directed by James Powell, the musical adaptation of the 1987 film starred Rae Baker alongside Josef Brown and , running for over three years and attracting large audiences with its choreography and score. In 2007, she played the Wicked Queen in the at the , sharing with Ross and in a family-oriented holiday production.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 14 </grok:render> More recently, in 2023, Baker appeared as a performer in Stefan and Friends at Theatre, a cabaret-style show hosted by Stefan Bednarczyk that delved into gossip and biographies.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 15 </grok:render> In film, Baker debuted with a supporting role as Julie in Shadow Run (1998), a crime thriller directed by Geoffrey Reeve and starring and .<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 16 </grok:render> The low-budget British production, based on Desmond Lowden's novel, followed a botched heist and received mixed reviews for its pacing but was noted for Caine's intense performance. She followed this with the lead role of Shinada in the Ice Planet (2001), playing a key survivor in a story of interstellar refugees battling alien threats.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 17 </grok:render> Directed by , the film was released directly to video and garnered a among sci-fi enthusiasts. Baker's most recent film appearance was as Anglia News Reader in London Road (2015), Rufus Norris's innovative musical drama based on the real-life murders, featuring a libretto composed entirely of verbatim text.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 18 </grok:render> Starring , the film premiered at the and was acclaimed for its experimental style and ensemble performances.

Personal life

Marriage

Rae Baker is married to actor and writer Duncan Wisbey. Wisbey is known for roles in films such as (2012), as well as voice work in video games including (2005) and audio productions. The couple welcomed their daughter, Hattie, in May 2011.

Family

Baker and her husband, actor and writer Duncan Wisbey, have one daughter, Hattie, born in 2011.

References

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    Rae Baker
    ### Summary of Rae Baker's Biography
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    Rae Baker - IMDb
    Rae Baker was born in 1974 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for London Road (2015), Ice Planet (2001) and The Bill (1984).
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    Rae Baker - LezWatch.TV
    Dec 11, 2023 · Rachel Jane “Rae” Baker is an English actress most famous for playing Detective Constable Juliet Becker in the long running ITV drama The Bill.
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    Rae Baker - Prabook
    Career. Born in Southampton, Hampshire, Baker joined the local Gilbert and Sullivan repertory company aged 13 and took private piano and singing lessons to ...Missing: early life
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    The Theatre Rocket Performing Arts School In Surrey
    Director RAE BAKER is your acting and singing coach.​​ She then went on to train at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama where she achieved a BA Hons ...
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    Rae Baker Movies & TV Shows List | Rotten Tomatoes
    Rae Baker ; Highest Rated: Not Available ; Lowest Rated: Not Available ; Birthday: Nov 9, 1973 ; Birthplace: Winchester, Hampshire, England ...Missing: actress | Show results with:actress
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    Rae Baker - British Comedy Guide
    Rae Baker is an English actor. Credits Personal info All mediums TV Radio Filter Non-comedy TV and film credits may be found here: Rae Baker on IMDb
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    Doctors, Series 10, Ben and Norah - BBC One
    Credits ; Dr Nick West, Michael McKell ; Michelle Corrigan, Donnaleigh Bailey ; Caroline Garvey, Rae Baker ; Julia Parsons, Diane Keen.
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    Father Brown, Series 3, The Lair of the Libertines - BBC
    Credits ; Inspector Sullivan, Tom Chambers ; Sergeant Goodfellow, John Burton ; Mimi, Rae Baker ; Madame Chania, Ronni Ancona.
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    Guys and Dolls Revival Original West End Musical Cast 1996
    Rae Baker Headshot. Rae Baker · Mimi ; Chris Beck Headshot. Chris Beck · Joey the Joker ; Connor Byrne Headshot · Connor Byrne · Rusty Charley ; Philip Campbell ...
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    Rae Baker (Actor): Credits, Bio, News & More | Broadway World
    Apr 25, 2015 · Looking to find out more about Rae Baker (Actor)? We have a full Biography, Photos, Theatre Credits, TV and Movies listings, ...Missing: actress | Show results with:actress
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    Rae Baker - Other works - IMDb
    (1999) She acted in Denis King and Dick Vosburgh's musical, "A Saint She Ain't," at the King's Head Theatre in London, England with Barry Cryer,Pauline Daniels ...Missing: roles | Show results with:roles
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    indielondon.co.uk - Skin Deep, Warehouse Theatre, Croydon, review
    The amazing Rae Baker, I last saw her at BAC in Around the World In Eighty Days, tackles the part of Chloe with a stunning amount of virtuosity, lapsing every ...
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    The Postman Always Rings Twice - Variety
    Jun 15, 2005 · The Postman Always Rings Twice, which marks out Juilliard grad Val Kilmer as the latest, if by no means least, Hollywood name to visit the West End.
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    Rae Baker was born in 1974 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for London Road (2015), Ice Planet (2001) and The Bill (1984).
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    Snow White - New Wimbledon - The Public Reviews
    Dec 18, 2007 · He minced and swaggered round the stage like there was no tomorrow, upstaged only by Rae Baker, as the glamorous, blood thirsty Queen who showed ...
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    Stefan and Friends | Jermyn Street Theatre
    Jul 8, 2023 · Alongside Stefan, Rae Baker and Duncan Wisbey will dish the dirt on Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, and all of Tinseltown's finest and richest!
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    Shadow Run (1998) - IMDb
    Rating 4.3/10 (584) When a criminal mastermind's perfectly planned armored truck carjacking goes awry, he begins to suspect he is being double-crossed.
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    Four in a Bed's narrator revealed and fans will recognise him
    Jul 26, 2025 · Off-screen, Duncan is happily married to actress Rae Baker, with whom he shares a child, Hattie, born in 2011. Rae is most recognised for ...
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    Duncan Wisbey - IMDb
    He is an actor and writer, known for Anna Karenina (2012), Big Impression (1999) and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). He is married to Rae Baker.Missing: date | Show results with:date
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    Four in a Bed's narrator revealed after 10 years and his very famous ...
    Jul 26, 2025 · Away from the TV shows, Duncan is married to actress Rae Baker, and the couple are parents to one child, Hattie born in 2011. Rae is best ...
  25. [25]
    Four in a Bed's narrator unmasked after a decade and he has a very ...
    Jul 26, 2025 · Beyond his television roles, Duncan is happily married to actress Rae Baker, and together they have a daughter, Hattie, born in 2011. Rae is ...