British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide
The Rebel. Cath (Anna Crilly). Copyright: Retort
Anna Crilly

Anna Crilly

  • 49 years old
  • English
  • Actor and writer
The Rebel. Cath (Anna Crilly). Copyright: Retort

Anna Crilly is an English comedian and actor best known for playing the deadpan Eastern European housekeeper Magda in Jack Dee's BBC sitcom Lead Balloon. After beginning her career in a stand-up in the early 2000s, reaching the finals of the So You Think You're Funny competition at the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe, she has featured in the CBBC and BBC One children's comedy sketch show Sorry I've Got No Head, as well as her Channel 4' surreal sketch show Anna & Katy, alongside regular partner Katy Wix.

Year Production Role
2023 Ghosts - Series 5
  1. E1 - Fools
 Joy
2023 Still Up
  1. E2 - The Dress
 Dr Jennifer Bentley
2022 The Train At Platform 4 - Series 1
  1. E4 - Gilbert
 Jocasta
2022 Unfair Lizzie
2021 Common Ground Janice/Allegra
2021 Ladhood - Series 2
  1. E2 - On The Road
 Michelle
2019 Still Open All Hours - Series 6
  1. E2 - Episode Two
 Mrs Snaith
2019 Horrible Histories: The Movie - Rotten Romans Flavia
2018 Party - Christmas Special Mel
2018 Password Celeste
2018 Still Open All Hours - Series 5
  1. E2 - Episode Two
 Mrs Snaith
2018 The Half Actor
2018 Angstrom
  1. E3 - Into The Mad Mind Of Madness
 Ensemble Actor
2017 The Rebel - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Money
  2. E2 - Death
  3. E3 - Health
  4. E4 - Drugs
  5. E5 - Sex
  6. E6 - Love
 Cath
2017 The Reunion
View episodes
  1. E1 - Welcome Baaaack!
  2. E2 - The Prizegiving
  3. E3 - Wet Play
 Mrs Hunt
2017 Witless - Series 2
  1. E1 - Episode One
 Appraisal's Mum (Voice)
2016 The Rebel - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Law
  2. E2 - Charity
  3. E3 - Art
 Cath
2016 Witless - Series 1
  1. E3 - Episode Three
  2. E4 - Episode Four
  3. E5 - Episode Five
 Appraisal's Mum
2016 Spot Bots
  1. E2 - Remote Control
  2. E8 - Zipadoodle Doo
  3. E13 - Sky Den
  4. E14 - Arm Trouble
  5. E26 - Super Settings
 Writer
2015 Hoff The Record - Series 1
  1. E2 - Renew Or Die
 Lucinda Young
2015 Celebrity Squares - Series 2
  1. E1 - Episode One
 Guest
2015 The Architects - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Airport
  2. E2 - Refurb
  3. E3 - Turret
  4. E4 - DIY
 Sarah
2014 Hal - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Career
  2. E2 - Death
 Sam
2013 Detective Sergeant Nick Mohammed - Series 2 Ensemble Actor
2013 Anna & Katy - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Writer
2013 Anna & Katy - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Various
2012 Party - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E1 - The Curry
  2. E2 - The Grundy
  3. E3 - The Splits
  4. E4 - Radio
 Mel
2012 Dead Boss
  1. E3 - Episode Three
 Gertie
2012 Walk On The Wild Side - CBBC Pilot
  1. Episode One
 Various (Voice)
2012 The One...
  1. E2 - The One Jasper Carrott
 Nurse
2012 Pixelface - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Bling My Droid
  2. E2 - Quit Bugging Me
  3. E3 - Out Of Sight
  4. E4 - Fast And Furious
  5. E5 - You're History
  6. E6 - Major Players
  7. E7 - The Ugly Truth
  8. E8 - Strictly Romford
  9. E9 - Come Fly With Me
  10. E10 - Mega Gino
  11. E11 - The Dogs Of War
  12. E12 - Rock Star
  13. E13 - Hal
 Claireparker
2011 So This Is Christmas Self
2011 Detective Sergeant Nick Mohammed - Series 1 Ensemble Actor
2011 Coma Girl Lucy
2011 Anna & Katy - Pilot Writer
2011 Anna & Katy - Pilot Various
2011 The Back End Of Next Week
  1. E11 - Episode Eleven
 Guest
2011 Cabin Pressure - Series 3
  1. E3 - Newcastle
 Linda
2011 Party - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - All Publicity Is Good Publicity
  2. E2 - It's Technology, Stupid
  3. E3 - Prison Ain't All That Bad
  4. E4 - Is The Party Over?
 Mel
2011 Lead Balloon - Series 4
View episodes
  1. E1 - Pig
  2. E2 - Dead
  3. E3 - Shoddy
  4. E4 - Off
  5. E6 - End
 Magda
2011 Sorry, I've Got No Head - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
  9. E9 - Episode Nine
  10. E10 - Episode Ten
  11. E11 - Episode Eleven
  12. E12 - Episode Twelve
  13. Special - Episode Thirteen
 Various
2011 Pixelface - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Two Aethelwynnes
  2. E2 - Bored To Undeath
  3. E3 - Rex On The Bench
  4. E4 - Big Close Up
  5. E5 - Fool's Gold
  6. E6 - Alexia's Dinner
  7. E7 - High Spirits
  8. E8 - The Problems Of Dr Nigiri
  9. E9 - Reset
  10. E10 - Mrs Dynamo's Son
  11. E11 - Saving Private Romford
  12. E12 - The Game's Up
  13. E13 - Bodyswap
 Claireparker
2011 Not Going Out - Series 4
  1. E1 - Drugs
 Counsellor
2010 Nick Mohammed In Bits Ensemble Actor
2010 Party - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
 Mel
2009 Nick Mohammed - Apollo 21 Ensemble Actor
2009 Sorry, I've Got No Head - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
  9. E9 - Episode Nine
  10. E10 - Episode Ten
  11. E11 - Episode Eleven
  12. E12 - Episode Twelve
  13. Special - Episode Thirteen
 Various
2009 Nick Mohammed In Quarters
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
 Various
2008 Lead Balloon - Series 3
View episodes
  1. E1 - Gas
  2. E2 - Panda
  3. E3 - Fax
  4. E4 - Karma
  5. E5 - Spikey
  6. E6 - Mistake
  7. Special - Nuts
 Magda
2008 Touch Me, I'm Karen Taylor - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
 Ensemble Actor
2008 Sorry, I've Got No Head - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
  9. E9 - Episode Nine
  10. E10 - Episode Ten
  11. E11 - Episode Eleven
  12. E12 - Episode Twelve
  13. E13 - Episode Thirteen
 Writer
2008 Sorry, I've Got No Head - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
  7. E7 - Episode Seven
  8. E8 - Episode Eight
  9. E9 - Episode Nine
  10. E10 - Episode Ten
  11. E11 - Episode Eleven
  12. E12 - Episode Twelve
  13. E13 - Episode Thirteen
 Various
2007 Comedy Shuffle - Series 2
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E3 - Episode Three
  3. E5 - Episode Five
 Writer
2007 Comedy Shuffle - Series 2
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E3 - Episode Three
  3. E5 - Episode Five
 Guest
2007 Lead Balloon - Series 2
View episodes
  1. E1 - Giraffe
  2. E2 - Hero
  3. E3 - Points
  4. E4 - Idiot
  5. E5 - Sick
  6. E6 - Debacle
  7. E7 - Rita
  8. E8 - Lucky
 Magda
2007 Touch Me, I'm Karen Taylor - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Episode One
  2. E2 - Episode Two
  3. E3 - Episode Three
  4. E4 - Episode Four
  5. E5 - Episode Five
  6. E6 - Episode Six
 Ensemble Actor
2007 My Family - Series 7
  1. E5 - Susan Of Troy
 Researcher
2007 Penny Spubb's Ways To Change The World Writer
2007 Penny Spubb's Ways To Change The World Ensemble Actor
2007 Comedy Shuffle - Series 1
  1. E3 - Episode Three
 Ensemble Actor
2007 Comedy Shuffle - Series 1
  1. E2 - Episode Two
  2. E5 - Episode Five
 Writer
2007 Comedy Shuffle - Series 1
  1. E2 - Episode Two
  2. E5 - Episode Five
 Guest
2006 Extras - Series 2
  1. E5 - Episode Five
 Woman
2006 Lead Balloon - Series 1
View episodes
  1. E1 - Rubbish
  2. E2 - Wayne
  3. E3 - £5000
  4. E4 - Allergic
  5. E5 - Pistachio
  6. E6 - Fatty
 Magda
2006 Time Trumpet
  1. E2 - Episode Two
  2. E3 - Episode Three
 Ensemble Actor
2006 28 Acts In 28 Minutes - Series 1
  1. E3 - Episode Three
 Guest
Psister Psycho Henchnun

Non-comedy TV and film credits may be found here:
Anna Crilly on IMDb

Born
Friday 28th November 1975 (49 years-old)
Nationality
English

Educated at Kent College, Pembury and Middlesex University, where she studied performing arts, Anna Crilly] began her comedy career by finishing as a finalist in the "So You Think You're Funny" competition at the 2003 Gilded Balloon. After two successful shows at the Edinburgh Fringe the following year, she was offered the role of Magda, the deadpan Eastern European housekeeper, in the BBC sitcom Lead Balloon, alongside Jack Dee. For this role she was nominated in 2008 for a British Comedy Award as Best Female Newcomer, eventually losing out to Katy Brand.

In 2013 Crilly began starring in her own sketch show on Channel 4, Anna & Katy, alongside regular comedy partner Katy Wix. Frequent guests include Lee Mack, with whom Wix and Crilly also star in BBC sitcom Not Going Out.

Since her break-out role in Lead Balloon, Crilly has become a regular on TV screens, starring in BBC children's comedy series Sorry I've Got No Head, alongside Nick Mohammed, Mel Giedroyc, Marek Larwood, Marcus Brigstocke, and William Andrews. Moreover, she also appeared as "woman" in a series 2 episode of Ricky Gervais's comedy Extras as an extra herself.

In 2011 and 2012, she played a waitress zombie slayer named Claire Parker in the BBC One and CBBC sitcom Pixelface, which was a spin-off from the sketch show Sorry, I've Got No Head. An inventive idea, it focused on what computer game characters do in the spare time, when not involved in the online world.

Crilly has also played Mel Gatwick in Tom Basden's long-running sitcom Party[/y], broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 2010 to 2018.

Loaded LAFTAs 2013
Best Comedy Duo (Nominee)
Loaded LAFTAs 2012
Best Comedy Duo (Nominee)
Chortle Awards 2008
Best Full-Length Solo Show (Nominee)
British Comedy Awards 2008
Best Female Comedy Breakthrough Artist (Nominee)
Funny Women Awards 2004
Stage Award (Runner-up)
So You Think You're Funny? 2003
Main Prize (Nominee)

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