Lauren McQueen

Last updated

Lauren McQueen
Born
Lauren Louise McQueen

(1996-07-12) 12 July 1996 (age 28)
OccupationActress
Years active2012–present
Known for Hollyoaks (2017–2019)

Lauren Louise McQueen (born 12 July 1996) is an English actress. She gained prominence through her role as Lily Drinkwell on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks (2017–2019), for which she won two British Soap Awards. [1] Her films include The Wasting (2017).

Contents

Early life and education

McQueen is from Fazakerley, a suburb in north Liverpool. She attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School in Aintree [2] and then St John Bosco Arts College in Croxteth. She took classes with Elliott-Clarke Performing Arts from the age of five and later Allstars Casting. [3]

Career

McQueen's first credited acting role was as Yasmin Goody on the BBC One miniseries Good Cop . She then appeared as Alison on the Christmas-comedy drama Little Crackers . [4]

In 2013, McQueen appeared as Rachel in the CBBC musical-comedy show 4 O'Clock Club for four episodes as a love interest to the main character, Josh. She subsequently played Molly in the Channel 4 series The Mill and Amelie in the BBC One drama Ordinary Lies . McQueen made her feature film debut starring as Shelly in The Violators, for which she was awarded Best Actress at the 2016 Nashville Film Festival. Also in 2016, McQueen portrayed Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England (Richard Ridgins) in an episode of the docuseries Six Wives with Lucy Worsley. [5] She starred as Sophie in the 2017 British-Canadian film-drama The Wasting . [5]

On 22 December 2016, it was announced McQueen had been cast as Lily Drinkwell, Diane O'Connor's (Alex Fletcher) niece, in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks . [6] She made her first onscreen appearance on 6 January 2017. McQueen's character was involved in a relationship with Prince McQueen (Malique Thompson-Dwyer) and a self-harming storyline, on which McQueen worked with the charities Samaritan and Mind for an accurate portrayal. The storyline won Best Storyline and Best Single Episode in the British Soap Awards 2018. [7] McQueen exited the soap in 2019. [8] [9]

After leaving Hollyoaks, McQueen appeared in the second series of Bulletproof on Sky One as Chantel. In 2024, McQueen has roles in the Apple TV+ war miniseries Masters of the Air , the MGM+ period drama Belgravia: The Next Chapter , [10] and the drama film Here .

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015The ViolatorsShelly
2017 The Wasting Sophie
2024 Strictly Confidential Rebecca
2024 Here Elizabeth

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012 Good Cop Yasmin Goody1 episode
Little Crackers Alison1 episode
2013–2014 4 O'Clock Club Rachel4 episodes
2014 The Mill Molly4 episodes
2015 Ordinary Lies Amelie4 episodes
2016Six Wives with Lucy Worsley Catherine Howard 1 episode
2017–2019 Hollyoaks Lily Drinkwell Main role, 163 episodes
2020 Bulletproof Chantel2 episodes
2024 Belgravia: The Next Chapter Nell3 episodes
2024 Masters of the Air RoseMiniseries, 2 episodes

Awards

YearOrganisationAwardWorkResultRef.
2016 Nashville Film Festival Best ActressesSophie in The ViolatorsWon [11]
2018 British Soap Awards Best NewcomerLily McQueen in HollyoaksShortlisted [12]
British Soap Awards Best StorylineLily's self harmWon [13]
British Soap Awards Best Single EpisodeThree Mothers, Three DaughtersWon [13]
2019 British Soap Awards Best ActressLily McQueen in HollyoaksShortlisted

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Cleo McQueen is a fictional character from the British soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Nadine Mulkerrin. Cleo is a member of the show's established McQueen family and was introduced as the younger sister of Porsche and Celine McQueen, who arrived in late 2014. Actress Jennifer Metcalfe, who plays Mercedes McQueen, suggested that more McQueens should be introduced, as she knew the show was losing two members of the family. Mulkerrin had previously auditioned for the role of Phoebe Jackson, however this role was later given to Mandip Gill. Upon learning she had been cast as Cleo, she gave up her job as a waitress and relocated to Liverpool, where the show is filmed. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 26 January 2015. Mulkerrin took maternity leave from the show in 2019, departing in the episode broadcast on 4 November 2019. She returned on 18 November 2020 before departing permanently on 24 May 2022 after Mulkerrin decided to leave the soap. The character made an unannounced return on 16 January 2024.

References

  1. "There's a new McQueen – Lauren – arriving in Hollyoaks (VIDEO)". 22 December 2016.
  2. Saunders, Lawrence (16 August 2022). "Lauren McQueen interview: Liverpool actress on her career so far & role in 'Band of Brothers' follow-up 'Masters of the Air'". YM Liverpool. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  3. Miles, Tina (17 July 2012). "Fazakerley teenager lands role in BBC show". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  4. "Little Crackers" via www.imdb.com.
  5. 1 2 "Lauren McQueen - We Audition".
  6. Kilkelly, Daniel (22 December 2016). "Hollyoaks unveils Diane's niece Lily Drinkwell... and reveals her heartbreaking arrival storyline". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  7. "'Hollyoaks' Announce Self-Harm Storyline As Part Of #DontFilterFeelings Campaign". 24 July 2017.
  8. Baillie, Katie (1 March 2019). "Hollyoaks actress Lauren McQueen 'to leave soap after two years as Lily McQueen'". Metro. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  9. Chase, Stephanie (29 March 2019). "Hollyoaks star Lauren McQueen explains why she's leaving the soap". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  10. Shaw, Angel (17 January 2024). "Belgravia: The Next Chapter Cast & Character Guide". ScreenRant. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  11. "2016 Awards - Nashville Film Festival".
  12. Kilkelly, Daniel (2 June 2018). "British Soap Awards 2018 winners: Find out which of your favourite shows and stars won a trophy". Digital Spy . Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  13. 1 2 Shepherd, Jack (3 June 2018). "All the winners and losers from this year's British Soap Awards". The Independent . Independent Digital News & Media Ltd. Retrieved 28 January 2021.