What Happened to Petra in Brookside? Who Played Her Role in Brookside?
by Rubaditsha
Updated May 19, 2023
What Happened to Petra in Brookside?
Petra Taylor, formerly known as Petra Jones, was the daughter of Davey Jones and had two sisters named Marie and Michelle Jones. She married Gavin Taylor in 1982, just a few months before they relocated to Brookside Close. Petra faced challenges when it came to getting pregnant, but tragically, Gavin passed away unexpectedly in 1983.
After his death, Petra discovered that she was pregnant. However, she suffered a miscarriage, which deeply affected her. In January 1984, Petra, burdened by her grief and other struggles, took her own life in Wales. In the storyline, Petra and Gavin moved into 10 Brookside Close as a married couple. It became evident that Petra was eager to have children, but this desire caused conflicts between her and Gavin. They faced difficulties in conceiving, prompting Petra to schedule a doctor's appointment for both of them to seek medical advice and assistance.
Petra Taylor Brookside
Petra Taylor, portrayed by Alexandra Pigg, is a fictional character in the British soap opera Brookside, which airs on Channel 4. She was one of the original characters on the show and made her first appearance on 23 November 1982. Alexandra Pigg herself is a Liverpudlian from Knotty Ash, adding a local touch to her portrayal of Petra. The announcement of Pigg's casting was made on 5 October 1982, and she expressed her excitement about joining the series.
Petra is depicted as a moody typist employed at an insurance office. Her husband, Gavin Taylor (played by Daniel Webb), is introduced alongside her as they enter the series together. The couple's troubled marriage contributes to Petra's moodiness, and the show's writers strategically develop her character into a tragic figure.
One of Petra's strongest desires is to have a child of her own, but unfortunately, they could not. In 1982, the couple got married shortly before relocating to Brookside Close. Petra faced challenges in conceiving, but following Gavin's unexpected passing in 1983, she became pregnant. Unfortunately, she experienced a miscarriage and later moved to Wales. Tragically, Petra took her own life in January 1984.
Who Plays Petra in Brookside?
Alexandra Pigg, originally known as Sandra McKibbin and born in 1962, is a British actress who gained recognition for her portrayal of Petra Taylor in the television soap opera Brookside. She is also well known for her notable film roles, such as Elaine in Letter to Brezhnev (1985), which earned her a BAFTA nomination, and Bridget Baines in A Chorus of Disapproval (1988).
During her early years, Pigg changed her name to Alexandra Pigg in order to pursue her acting career. She hails from the Knotty Ash area of Liverpool and attended Holly Lodge Girls' Grammar School, now known as Holly Lodge Girls' College. To support herself and acquire a union card to advance her acting ambitions, Pigg worked as a nightclub dancer, often performing alongside her pet snake named Emma.
Pigg's breakthrough came in 1982 when she took on the role of Petra Taylor in the series Brookside, where she starred alongside Danny Webb, who portrayed her on-screen husband Gavin.
After her appearance in the 1985 film Letter to Brezhnev, Pigg went on to feature in various productions, including the BBC film Smart Money (1986), A Chorus of Disapproval (1988) alongside Anthony Hopkins and Jeremy Irons, Strapless (1989) alongside Bridget Fonda, Chicago Joe and the Showgirl (1990) with Kiefer Sutherland and Emily Lloyd, Bullseye! (1990) starring Michael Caine and Roger Moore, and Immortal Beloved (1994) alongside Gary Oldman.
Interestingly, Pigg was originally cast as Kochanski in the pilot episode of Red Dwarf but due to her unavailability during new recording dates caused by an electricians' strike, the role was subsequently given to Clare Grogan.
Alexandra Pigg Husband
Alexandra Pigg has been married three times in her life. Her first marriage was to film director Bernard Rose. They have a daughter together named Ruby Rose. Interestingly, when Rose was developing the film Candyman, Pigg was initially supposed to play the lead character named Helen, while their friend Virginia Madsen was to portray Helen's friend Bernie.
However, a decision was made to change Bernie's character to an African American, resulting in Madsen losing the role. Shortly before filming was about to begin, Pigg discovered that she was pregnant. As a result, the role of Helen was offered to Madsen instead. Pigg's second marriage was to producer Tarquin Gotch, with whom she has a daughter named Lucia and a son named Roman Gotch.
During an interview on BBC Breakfast in April 2017, Pigg appeared alongside her co-star from the film Letter to Brezhnev, Peter Firth. During the interview, Firth revealed that they had briefly dated after working together on the film and that they had been in a relationship since 2010. They eventually tied the knot in London on Christmas Eve in 2017.
What Happened to Petra in Brookside: FAQs
Alexandra Pigg is a British actress known for her role as Petra Taylor in the TV soap opera Brookside. She has also appeared in films such as Letter to Brezhnev and A Chorus of Disapproval.
Alexandra Pigg has been married three times.
Alexandra Pigg's first husband was film director Bernard Rose.
Yes, Alexandra Pigg has children. She has a daughter named Ruby Rose from her marriage to Bernard Rose, a daughter named Lucia from her marriage to producer Tarquin Gotch, and a son named Roman Gotch from the same marriage.