Victoria Knowles

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Victoria Knowles
Knowles attends the WHSmith Oxford Street book signing of The PA's Story
Knowles attends the WHSmith Oxford Street book signing of The PA's Story
BornVictoria Jenkins
(1976-04-16) 16 April 1976 (age 48)
United Kingdom
OccupationAuthor, actress, singer, producer and entrepreneur
LanguageEnglish
Alma materGuildford School of Acting
Spouse
Edward Knowles
(m. 2014)
Children1

Victoria Knowles (née Jenkins; born 16 April 1976) is an English author, actress, singer, producer and entrepreneur.[1][2][3][4][5]

Career[edit]

It’s Breast Cancer and Wig Bank London[edit]

In January 2022, Knowles was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer. Her treatment consisted of 16 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. She didn’t want her diagnosis to be for nothing, so she set about creating a support website called Breast Cancer Chat, and Wig Bank London; a wig recycling service aimed at offering cancer patients wigs at reduced prices.[6][deprecated source]

She also wrote a memoir called ‘It’s Breast Cancer - three little words that change your life’ charting her cancer journey and what she did to improve her prognosis, which was released in late January 2023.[7]

The PA and The PA's Story[edit]

In June 2014, Knowles self-published an e-book titled The PA, an autobiographical account of her time working as a personal assistant to various high profile personalities in the City of London. The PA reached No1 in both the Apple iTunes and Amazon chart for paid books and received widespread media attention.[1]

Subsequent to the success of the ebook, The PA, Knowles was offered a publishing deal to release the book as a paperback with John Blake Publishing, retitled as The PA's Story, it went on sale in the United Kingdom on 4 June 2015.[8]

In July 2019, Knowles completed the screenplay for the film adaptation of The PA. Subsequently, in February 2020, a UK film production company optioned the rights to make the film, which is in the development stage.

Friday Night Sucks[edit]

In 2009, Knowles founded the social networking site, Friday Night Sucks, which was aimed at people that were new to London. The inspiration for the site came when Knowles first moved to London and struggled to make new friends and fill her free time. An alternative to the dating website model, Friday Night Sucks offered new visitors to the capital a more authentic night out.[2][9][10][11]

Other activities[edit]

Knowles, a trained actress and graduate of the Guildford School of Acting in Surrey, has appeared in several British soap operas including Brookside, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street, as well as on stage.[3][4] In 2008, Knowles co-wrote, starred in and produced the online mockumentary series, Bev Allen, Life Coach, with her partner, Edward Knowles. The show garnered a cult online following, subsequently receiving interest from production companies and networks with a view to develop it for television.[5]

Knowles released her debut EP, This is Rees, under the name of Rees in 2012 and has appeared as a lead vocalist with the band Real Experts.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Knowles lives in Greenwich, London, with her husband, son and cat.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Thring, Oliver (20 July 2014). "To her, PA means personal assassin". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b Koch, Christian (23 November 2009). "Meet my Friday night friend". The London Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b "What the PA saw". The London Evening Standard. July 2014. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b Alterman, Mathieu (13 August 2013). "Victoria Knowles : elle fait trembler les jeunes loups de la finance". Grazia (in French). Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Dee lands role in TV sit-com". Fenland Citizen. November 2008. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  6. ^ "'I lost my hair during chemo – but found way to get confidence back'". 9 February 2023.
  7. ^ "'The sudden twinge I felt in bed led to a shattering diagnosis'". 4 February 2023.
  8. ^ a b "I hope my story helps others to fight sleaze". Trinity Mirror. 9 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Find a friend". The Guardian. October 2009. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  10. ^ "How to banish Friday night blues". Trinity Mirror. December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  11. ^ "Vicki will help you find a pal". Wigan Today. September 2009. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2009.

External links[edit]