Vicki McKellar: From Stage Spotlight to Human Rights Advocate

Vicki McKellar was born in London, UK and kicked off her career with training at the prestigious Italia Conti Stage School as a teenager, which set the stage for her dive into acting. She appeared in TV shows like 'Our Friends in the North' and 'Bugs 4' where she flexed her acting chops in the early 2000s. In 2006, Vicki trained in method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute in New York. 

On her return to the UK, Vicki wrote and starred in 'Love Or Something Like It,' a play that hit the stage at London’s Leicester Square Theatre. The production, originally titled 'Paradise Lost,' explored complex relationships—think sisterly rivalry, unrequited love and infidelity. Vicki played Shirley, a woman in a stagnant relationship tempted into an affair with Suzie, portrayed by Abi Titmuss, a former glamour-model-turned-actress. 

Nadia Ostacchini also starred as Debbie, Shirley's sister, adding to the ensemble. The show sold out most nights, fueled by Titmuss’s tabloid fame and earned several four-star reviews. Vicki funded the show herself through Tapestry Theatre Company, which she founded in 2007 to champion original works and strong roles for women. She’s spoken about the thrill of debuting in the West End, emphasizing her co-star’s (Titmuss's) grounded, yet alluring presence.

Then came 'The Marilyn Conspiracy,' a heavier beast, which Vicki co-wrote with Guy Masterson, an Olivier Award-winning director, known for his bold theatrical vision. The play dives into the suspicious death of Marilyn Monroe in 1962, blending historical intrigue with an Agatha Christie-style whodunit. It premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in 2018, where it sold out—a testament to its grip on audiences. Vicki played Patricia Kennedy-Lawford, sister to JFK and RFK, while the cast included Susie Amy (Footballers' Wives) as Marilyn’s friend, Pat Newcomb, and Oliver Farnworth as Rat Pack actor, Peter Lawford. The collaboration with Masterson grew from his fascination with an earlier McKellar script, 'Marilyn: Her Final Days,' which they expanded after digging deep into Monroe’s life and the conspiracy theories swirling around her death. It’s a standout in Vicki's career, showing her knack for tackling big, murky narratives. 'The Marilyn Conspiracy' was also staged in London 2024. Both projects highlight Vicki's triple-threat hustle—writing, producing and acting — plus her eye for casting and provocative storytelling. 

Vicki is currently writing a 4-part TV series about the late Princess Diana, along with championing a current human rights issue regarding British activist and journalist, Tommy Robinson. 

On 28th October 2024, Mr Robinson was given an 18 month custodial sentence in the UK for 'contempt of court.' 'Contempt of Court' is a civil offence, yet Mr Robinson is spending 9 months of his sentence in a Category B prison, in segregation. He's confined for 21 hours a day, every day, in a tiny cell with barely any window. He cannot eat anything other than food in tins or cans because he's afraid of prison food being poisoned. He's lost a lot of weight. Mentally, he's not well (by all reports). The visits he was initially able to enjoy with close friends and family have been stopped. He's had phone calls stopped. Emails halted. Last month, it was reported that he wasn't allowed ANY food at all for 7 days.

Vicki feels Mr Robinson is effectively being tortured by the British state, with every single one of his human rights violated. She states that he is not 'racist,' nor is he 'far right' and that both tropes are smears which have been used to tarnish him for the best part of 20 years in order to silence him from speaking out against 'grooming' gangs in the UK, and more recently, corruption which, after intense investigation, he feels is attributed to British authorities. 

Vicki is passionate about advocating for Mr Robinson’s basic human rights, standing firm in her belief that every human being alive deserves them.

Connect With Vicki

X & Instagram: @VickiPMcKellar 

X: @TRobinsonNewEra