The Sisters/Nuns at Nonnatus House
Every Sunday evening as the clock strikes eight, the Sisters of the Anglican Community of St John the Divine take a vow of silence. For one hour each week, they sit in quiet contemplation, huddled in a circle in the living room of their shared house.
But this is no religious ceremony. Instead of prayer books, the Sisters clutch mugs of tea and plates of custard creams. In place of the altar is a table strewn with sepia photographs, letters and biscuit crumbs. And in the corner stands a huge flat-screen television, tuned to BBC1, where the most sacrosanct of rituals is about to begin.
Sisters Margaret Angela, Christine, Elaine, Ruth, Ivy, Shirley and Teresa have more reason than most to watch Call the Midwife, the heart-warming Fifties drama that has captured the imagination of more than nine million viewers. The series is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth (played by Jessica Raine), a lay midwife who lived and worked with these very nuns in Poplar, east London, more than 60 years ago. And each week they tune in to reminisce about the happiness and heartbreak of midwives bringing the miracle of life to the grimy streets of London’s East End.
The real-life Nonnatus House is now in Birmingham – and the likes of Chummy and Sister Evangelina are nowhere to be seen – but the seven remaining nuns of this small Anglican order are relishing their new-found fame.
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Sister Julienne - Jenny Agutter
Sister Julienne is the Sister-In-Charge at Nonnatus
House.
Deeply religious, she is also profoundly practical and confers dignity on her patients through her sensitive, non-judgmental approach. She is often called upon to mediate between her fellow sisters when they quarrel - this is an almost exclusively female world, and her tact and gentleness are essential to its happiness.
Jenny Agutter who plays Sister Julienne says about her character: “She finds everything she is involved with really interesting and people are rather
extraordinary. Nothing is ordinary or mundane, life is amazing
House.
Deeply religious, she is also profoundly practical and confers dignity on her patients through her sensitive, non-judgmental approach. She is often called upon to mediate between her fellow sisters when they quarrel - this is an almost exclusively female world, and her tact and gentleness are essential to its happiness.
Jenny Agutter who plays Sister Julienne says about her character: “She finds everything she is involved with really interesting and people are rather
extraordinary. Nothing is ordinary or mundane, life is amazing
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Sister Evangelina - Pam Ferris
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Sister Evangelina is the only one of the sisters who comes from the same tough, uncompromising background as the community they serve. Physically vigorous, she has a robust sense of humour. Her energy and drive make her extraordinarily effective at her job. However, she does not suffer fools gladly, and her blunt speech often offends. She has a particularly contentious relationship with the aristocratic Sister Monica Joan, who often provokes her to breaking point. Pam Ferris who plays Sister Evangelina says about her character: “Absolutely fearless, courageous, single minded. I just think she’s wonderful.” |
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Sister Bernadette - Laura Main
Sister Bernadette is still in her 30's - the closest in age to Jenny and the other secular midwives. A consummate professional, she has a fresh, uncomplicated approach to her work that means she connects well with Jenny and her other younger colleagues. Laura Main who plays Sister Bernadette says about her character: “She is closer in age to the younger ones so there is perhaps a bit more understanding between them and herself |
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Sister Monica Joan - Judy Parfitt
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Born into a leading titled family, Sister Monica Joan
was one of the first women in Britain to qualify as a midwife. In the closing years of the 19th century, this was seen as a radical act. Her additional decision to become a nun scandalised her relatives, who never came to terms with her life choices. She dedicated her entire adult life to providing midwifery services to the poor of the East End. Now in her 90's, Sister Monica Joan has retired from practice, but lives full-time at Nonnatus House, cared for by her fellow sisters. She has an eccentric, mercurial personality, and is obsessed with cake, astrology and knitting, in no particular order. Judy Parfitt plays Sister Monica Joan |
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Sister Winifred - Victoria Yeates
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Sister Winifred is a new resident at Nonnatus House. She joins from the Mother House having recently taken her vows. A warm-hearted, slightly innocent young woman, she has lived most of her life in the countryside. She has only recently qualified as a nurse and a midwife and is still to find her feet. She has mainly practiced in a small cottage hospital in a rural town and is shocked by the deprivation that greets her in the East End. Victoria Yeates was born on April 19, 1983 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England as Victoria Natalie Yeates. She is an actress, known for Call the Midwife (2012), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 (2018) and Magic Hour 4 (2017).
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Sister Mary Cynthia - Bryony Hannah
Caring, stoical, and intelligent, she finds her midwifery work both challenging and rewarding, a highly desirable alternative to the dull domesticity that would otherwise be her only option. Quiet and sensitive, and also in her early twenties, Cynthia becomes Jenny and Trixe's confidante and life-long friend.
Cynthia leaves Nonnatus on New Year's Eve 1959 to become a postulant at the Mother House in Chichester; Returning to Nonnatus as Sister Mary Cynthia.
Bryony Hannah who plays Cynthia Miller says about her character: “She’s not terribly experienced as a midwife, she’s still learning but she’s very conscientious and really wants to do well. She puts everything into it. She’s quite shy but she grows through the series and becomes much better friends with Jenny and Trixie as it goes on.”
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Sister Hilda - Fenella Woolgar
Sister Hilda arrives from the Order’s mother house in Series 8 and has been described as a “jump-in kind of person” who is already familiar with the East End. She and Sister Frances are sent to become midwives at the understaffed Nonnatus House.
“Sister Hilda is older and more experienced,” Woolgar said. “She was in the WAAF during the war so I think that probably led to some of those decisions because by the end of the war she had joined and obviously during the war you see some horrendous things. Also, she has been a nurse before.
“She is quite jolly and out there and enthusiastic and wants to help.”
“Sister Hilda is older and more experienced,” Woolgar said. “She was in the WAAF during the war so I think that probably led to some of those decisions because by the end of the war she had joined and obviously during the war you see some horrendous things. Also, she has been a nurse before.
“She is quite jolly and out there and enthusiastic and wants to help.”
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Sister Francis - Ella Bruccoleri
Sister Frances is a novice and newly qualified midwife in her early 20s. Growing up in Harrogate in a Methodist family, her parents were deeply saddened when at a young age, Frances announced that she was joining an Anglican order sparking a family rift. Her father is an insurance salesman/broker, affording a roomy semi-detached house for the family home.
Sister Frances attended the local grammar school and then went directly onto her Nursing/Midwifery course on leaving. Before joining Nonnatus House, she was at the Mother House working in the orphanage. She’s timid and naïve with an eagerness to please and demonstrates a humble obedience to the Order. She is crippled by a severe lack of confidence but with Sister Julienne’s gentle nurturing she will gradually find her voice.
Sister Frances attended the local grammar school and then went directly onto her Nursing/Midwifery course on leaving. Before joining Nonnatus House, she was at the Mother House working in the orphanage. She’s timid and naïve with an eagerness to please and demonstrates a humble obedience to the Order. She is crippled by a severe lack of confidence but with Sister Julienne’s gentle nurturing she will gradually find her voice.
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Sister Ursula - Harriet Walter
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Sister Mildred - Miriam Margolyes
Sister Mildred is described as “a forthright and indefatigable sister from the Order,” Sister Mildred is a bit of an unlikely nun. She arrives at Nonnatus House at Christmastime with four Chinese child refugees in tow from her trip to Hong Kong, who she is taking to the Mother House’s orphanage to meet their adoptive parents. Sister Mildred has a big personality and a sense of humour, and is also extremely chatty.
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