Nicola Stephenson

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Nicola Stephenson
Nicola Stephenson WarHorse (cropped).jpg
Nicola Stephenson in War Horse as Rose Narracott
Born (1971-07-05) 5 July 1971 (age 53)
Oldham, Lancashire, England
OccupationActress
SpousePaul Stephenson
Children2

Nicola Stephenson (born 5 July 1971) [1] is an English actress. She played the roles of Margaret Clemence in Brookside , Julie Fitzjohn in Holby City , Sarah Williams in The Chase , Allie Westbrook in Waterloo Road , and Tess Harris in Emmerdale .

Contents

Life and career

She was born in Oldham, Lancashire [2] and attended North Chadderton School for her secondary education. [3]

Career

She is known mainly for her roles in television, which include Margaret Clemence in Channel 4's Brookside ; Stephenson's on-air kiss with Anna Friel (Beth Jordache) was the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss to be broadcast on British television. [4] [5] In 2012 the kiss was broadcast to over 5 billion people when it was included as part of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony directed by Danny Boyle. The opening ceremony was broadcast uncensored in 76 countries where homosexuality is illegal and therefore became the first homosexual kiss to be broadcast in these countries. [6] Other roles have included Julie Fitzjohn/Bradford in Holby City , Suzie Davidson in Clocking Off , Jackie Armstrong in ITV's Christmas Lights / Northern Lights / City Lights , Sarah Williams in BBC's The Chase and Helen Enright in All at Sea . In 2012, Nicola played Louise, a series lead in the ITV drama Homefront . In 2014 she joined the regular cast of Waterloo Road as art teacher Allie Westbrook for 11 episodes.

Her theatre roles include A Patriot for Me at the Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Peter Gill, His Girl Friday and Edmund at the National Theatre, directed by Ed Hall, and War Horse at the New London Theatre in London's West End, directed by Marianne Elliot. In 2025 she played Dorothy Pizer in the play Liberation written by Zodwa Nyoni at Royal Exchange Theatre as part of Manchester International Festival.

In 2007, she had a lead role in the BBC TV 3 part series Superstorm directed by Julian Simpson. In 2014 she worked with Simpson again when he directed her as a guest lead in the BBC TV series New Tricks .

She appeared in the ITV drama Safe House in early 2015. [7]

From 2015 to 2016, she played the part of Tess Harris in the soap-opera Emmerdale . Her five-month stint on the serial came to a sudden end when her character was killed off in a hit-and-run incident. Stephenson's role in the soap also reunited her with her co-star from The Chase , Gaynor Faye, who had played the character of Megan Macey since 2012.

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989 The Rainbow Ethel
1998The DukeEdithShort film
1999The Last YellowKaren
2004NitsMumShort film
FloatingGrace
2005Mr JohnCarol
2019 Tales from the Lodge Amanda
2023ScoffedJaneShort film
StoneRita Taylor

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988 Coronation Street Priscilla Millbanks Recurring role; 3 episodes
1990 Children's Ward AmandaRecurring role; 5 episodes
Medics SuzieEpisode: "Annie"
The Final FrameLouiseTV film
1990–1994 Brookside Margaret Clemence Series regular; 238 episodes
1994 Nice Day at the OfficeLizzie KershawSeries regular; 6 episodes
1995Go Back OutSamTV film
1996Kiss and TellAlex Reynolds
Out of the Blue Lucy ShawRecurring role; 5 episodes
1997 Wokenwell Fran RainfordSeries regular; 6 episodes
The Bill Julie HicksEpisode: "Shades of Grey Part 1 & 2"
1998–1999 My Wonderful Life GailRecurring role
1998–2001 Casualty Julie Fitzjohn Recurring role; 4 episodes
1999Big Bad WorldJenniferEpisode: "What's Wrong with Bees?"
1999–2001 Holby City Julie Fitzjohn Series regular; 50 episodes
2002–2003 Clocking Off Suzie DavidsonRecurring role; 11 episodes
2003Without YouJessTV film
2004 Animated Tales of the World WifeEpisode: "The Shoemaker's Son"
Christmas Lights JackieTV film
2005 The Afternoon Play Nicola PassmoreEpisode: "The Hitch"
Dead Man Weds Donna HavercroftRecurring role; 4 episodes
Waking the Dead Julia HendersonEpisode: "Subterraneans"
The WalkChristineTV film
Legless
2006 Northern Lights Jackie ArmstrongSeries regular; 6 episodes
All in the GameJennifer
2006–2007 The Chase Sarah WilliamsSeries regular; 20 episodes
2007 Superstorm Sara HughesMiniseries; 3 episodes
City Lights Jackie ArmstrongSeries regular; 6 episodes
2008 Hotel Babylon JustineEpisode: "Series 3, Episode 1"
Lark Rise to Candleford Susan BrabyEpisode: "Series 1, Episode 7"
Clash of the Santas Jackie ArmstrongTV film
2009 Law & Order: UK Mandy JacksonEpisode: "Unloved"
2010 Strike Back Diane PorterRecurring role; 3 episodes
Moving On LindsayEpisode: "Skin Deep"
2012Life StoriesMegan's MumEpisode: "Megan's Friend"
Homefront Louise MancettaMiniseries; 6 episodes
2013–2015 All at Sea MumSeries regular; 26 episodes
2014 New Tricks Emily FraserEpisode: "London Underground"
Waterloo Road Allie WestbrookSeries regular; 10 episodes
2015 Safe House Ali BlackwellRecurring role; 4 episodes
2015–2016 Emmerdale Tess Harris Series regular; 31 episodes
2017–2020 The Worst Witch Julie HubbleRecurring role; 25 episodes
2018 The Alienist Maebh ConnorRecurring role; 3 episodes
2019 Agatha Raisin Liz JellopEpisode: "The Curious Curate"
Midsomer Murders Izzy SilvermaneEpisode: "With Baited Breath"
2020 Silent Witness Grace BeatyEpisode: "Hope"
BrokeMarnieSeries regular; 6 episodes
Dun Breedin'SandraMiniseries; 1 episode
2021 Whitstable Pearl Connie RoweEpisode: "The Free Waters"
2022 Call the Midwife Thelma HaigEpisode: "Series 11, Episode 3"
The Dumping Ground Delilah FortuneEpisode: "Saviour"
The Walk-In Renshaw's MotherMiniseries; 3 episodes
2023 Maternal Debbie WaresRecurring role; 2 episodes
London Kills Kathy LawrenceEpisode: "Fallout"
The Long Shadow Olive SmeltMiniseries; 3 episodes

Personal life

Stephenson was in a relationship with actor Kieran O'Brien for eight years. The relationship ended in 1999. [8] Stephenson has two daughters.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. "Weekend birthdays". The Guardian . 5 July 2014. p. 47.
  2. "Nicola Stephenson's profile at Another Tongue". anothertongue.com. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  3. "North Chadderton School – list of notable alumni".
  4. Roffey, Monique (2 October 1994). "When Anna and Beth kissed Margaret: Anna Friel plays Brookside's lesbian pin-up. Monique Roffey met her" . theindependent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  5. "Discover more about the stars of BBC Drama – Anna Friel". BBC.
  6. "The London Olympics opening ceremony includes a lesbian kiss seen around the world – AfterEllen". 28 July 2012.
  7. Crawford, Sue (19 April 2015). "Life as I know it: Nicola Stephenson, star of the new drama Safe Houses". Daily Express. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  8. "Me, cool and calm?; Nicola Stephenson says she's so clumsy she nearly killed someone while filming Clocking Off. She talks to Janie Lawrence about that, her ideal men (yes men) and life after that Brookside lesbian snog". The Free Library. 13 January 2002. Retrieved 15 April 2014.