Suzanne Packer is probably most famous for playing life-saver Tess Bateman in Casualty – and her character in The Night Caller might need some serious help soon, too!
The actress currently stars as Rosa in the contemporary thriller based in Liverpool. It follows a lonely taxi driver, whose develops a growing obsession with a late-night Radio DJ. Let’s just say the situation escalates with a capital E.
It’s one of several big roles that Suzanne has taken on since leaving the BBC medical drama series… So why and how did she leave Casualty, who is her famous brother, and what happened with her actor husband?
Here’s everything you need to know about The Night Caller actress Suzanne Packer.
Who plays Rosa in The Night Caller?
Actress Suzanne Packer plays Rosa in The Night Caller on Channel 5. Rosa works in the local cafe where late night taxi driver Tony often pops into, and the pair subsequently form quite a close bond.
She may work in the cafe, but she dreams of something more after a bad break-up with an abusive ex. She and Tony (Robert Glenister) have this in common – they are both disillusioned with their lives.
Tony’s in his 50s and drives a black cab, doing the night shift in the city. He used to be a popular and respected teacher but, after losing his job, his confidence plummeted, his marriage collapsed, and he’s become increasingly isolated.
Now his only lifelines are cafe worker Rosa, whom he forms a growing attachment to, and a radio DJ called Lawrence (Sean Pertwee) whom he spends his nights listening to.
However, things go awry when Tony plucks up the courage to ring NightTalk to speak to Lawrence, and soon becomes a ‘friend of the show’. For the first time in years, he feels listened to.
But as time passes, his developing bond with the late-night DJ begins to turn into an unhealthy obsession as he starts interpreting Lawrence’s ‘world view’ in dangerous ways that have devastating impacts on Tony’s life…
Robert Glenister plays Tony Conroy, Sean Pertwee is Lawrence Brightway, Suzanne Packer stars as Rosa, and Stephen Walters portrays Rob.
What has The Night Caller actress Suzanne Packer been in?
Suzanne Packer has been on our screens for more than three decades. She first played a character called Barbara Pilkington in the TV series Crime Story in 1992.
Although she’s had a long and varied career, she’s probably best known for playing senior staff nurse Tess Bateman in Casualty. Suzanne starred in the long-running BBC show from 2003 until 2015, before making a recent return as the character in 2021.
The actress’ first big role was in Brookside back in 1990, where she played Josie – the nightmarish wife of Mick Johnson. You might also recognise her as Delyth Lloyd in Welsh drama Keeping Faith.
Suzanne has starred as Carole in the Sky comedy Stella, and played DCI Layla Davies in Bang. More recently, she had a guest star role in Acorn TV cosy crime
’
&
“”
––