With a career spanning 35 years working in film, television, stage and radio, Carla Mendonça rose to fame as a child star appearing in a string of hit BBC TV shows.
She is best known for playing the mother alien Sophie Johnson in ITV and Citv’s award-winning series My Parents Are Aliens, and more recently as Mrs. Fitzgerald in the award winning CBBC series So Awkward.
Carla was also a one-time member of a British pop group and released several hits with the band.
From her secret pop success, famous husband and her latest role as Mrs Crenshaw on Coronation Street, let’s take a look at the life of Carla Mendonça
Secret Pop Career
(Image: carlamendonca.com)
Whilst Carla is best known for her amazing work in TV and film, the multitalented star also once had a successful pop career with British pop group The Maisonettes.
The band released one album and a couple of singles, having a solid hit with Heartache Avenue.
The group’s debut single reached number 7 on the UK Singles Chart in 1983 and topped the UK Independent Chart.
(Image: carlamendonca.com)
It also saw some success in Canada and Australia. After their initial success, the band’s follow-up single, Where I Stand, peaked at no. 28 on the UK Independent Chart but their momentum faded and ultimately the group split up.
The group did enjoy a later victory when their debut single was sampled by UK rap group Roll Deep for the chorus on their hit track The Avenue.
In 2004, Carla and the band rebounded slightly when they released Heartache Avenue: The Very Best of the Maisonettes which contained two unreleased tracks and fifteen other songs, but it did not do well enough to relaunch their careers and the band broke up for good.
Kids TV Star
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Launching her career as an actress back in 1984, Carla appeared in BBC sitcom The Young Ones and proved herself to be a rising star in the industry.
She went onto appear on The Lenny Henry show, Pushing Up Daisies and Coming Next, cemented her place as a serious actress and paving the way for a slew of big TV and movie roles.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Perhaps her most famous role, Carla is best known for playing Sophie Johnson in ITV and Citv’s award-winning series My Parents Are Aliens.
More recently Carla starred as Mrs. Fitzgerald in the award winning CBBC series So Awkward and fans can now watch her play deputy head of Weatherfield High Mrs Crenshaw on The Cobbles in ITV soap Coronation Street.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Eagle-eyed soap watchers were left distracted during her intro scenes on the soap as they instantly recognised Mrs Crawshaw star Carla from her hit movie My Parents Are Aliens.
One viewer said: “Sophie from My Parents Are Aliens as the teacher on Corrie! #corrie.”A second added: “Just realised the head teacher on Corrie is the mum from my parents are aliens! Blast from the past!”
Famous Husband
(Image: Getty Images)
Carla’s famous husband has also made his mark on in the acting world having starred in some major TV and film roles throughout his career.
Actor Clive Mantle became very well-known to British audiences when he was cast as Little John in the cult TV series Robin of Sherwood, a fantastical take on the Robin Hood legend.
He went on to seek fam in the world of soaps playing surgeon Mike Barrett over nine years, first in Casualty and then its spin-off Holby City.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
He also had a brief recurring role on the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley and a small role in the film Alien 3.
Fans may also recognized the talented star from his role in HBO smash hit Game of Thrones, when he played the role of Lord Greatjon Umber.
His character was known as head of House Umber and he memorably fought for Robb Stark in the War of the Five Kings.
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday on ITV at 8pm
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
