Joanne was born in York and first trod the boards at York Theatre Royal at the tender age of three in The Isobel Dunn School of Dancing’s production of Dance Flash.  This was the start of many appearances in York, including a memorable panto season as a Munchkin in the Wizard of Oz with the then unknown Pierce Brosnan.

Having realised this was a passion, Joanne auditioned for The Guildford School of Acting aged fifteen - hoping to start the following year.  Although accepted on the three year Musical Theatre course, GSA suggested that Joanne was a little young to be leaving home and offered the place on condition that she delayed starting for a year.  Reluctantly, Joanne waited and finally took up her place for what turned out to be a wonderful three years in Guildford.

Following her graduation, Joanne took every opportunity to return to her home town, where she has played Cecily Pigeon in THE ODD COUPLE, Lady Capulet in ROMEO & JULIET, Patricia in BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE MUSEUM, the demanding challenge of both Lottie Grady and Mrs Northrop in WHEN WE ARE MARRIED and Principal Boy in seven Pantomimes, all at York Theatre Royal.  More recently she has crossed over to ‘the dark side’ to play the villain in Pantomime and really rather enjoys it!

Other Theatre work includes; GYPSY (Sheffield Crucible), ANNIE (Cheltenham Everyman), A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Theatre Royal Northampton), CAMELOT (Liverpool Playhouse), OUT OF ORDER, WORM’S EYE VIEW, ALL FOR MARY and BIRTHDAY SUITE (all for The Mill at Sonning), the world stage premieres of HIGH SOCIETY (Leicester Haymarket and Victoria Palace, London) and SCROOGE THE MUSICAL (Birmingham Alexandra), HINDLE WAKES and THE MAN MOST LIKELY TO... (David Kirk Productions), WAITING FOR GATEAUX (Bruce James Productions), LEGACY FALLS a new musical (Choughed Productions) at the New Players Theatre in London and NIGHTFRIGHT, GIRL'S NIGHT IN, HAUNTED and DEAD RINGER (all for Ian Dickens International).

Television work includes two series as Dilys in FIRST OF THE SUMMER WINE, a 1930s version of LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE.  Two series of GRACE & FAVOUR, the ARE YOU BEING SERVED sequel, where she played Miss Lovelock, Young Mr Grace’s last companion - he was said to have passed away whilst they were scuba diving in the Caribbean!  There have also been various episodes of EASTENDERS, MY HERO, BRUSH STROKES, THE BRITTAS EMPIRE, A PRINCE AMONG MEN, ARTRAGEOUS, THE MAN FROM AUNTIE, NEXT OF KIN and KISS ME KATE (all for the BBC), CORONATION STREET (Granada), PEAK PRACTICE (Carlton), LOSING IT (ITV), KNIGHTMARE (Anglia), THE NEW STATESMAN, HEARTBEAT and EMMERDALE (YTV) and STANLEY’S DRAGON (Central).

Joanne has also appeared in over 40 television commercials ranging from helping out a bloated friend in a familiar digestive aiding yoghurt drink, to filling you up with her "Rowdy" enchiladas!