Amanda Holden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amanda Holden
Holden in 2014
Born	Amanda Louise Holden (1971-02-16) 16 February 1971 (age 54) Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Education	Swanmore College Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
Occupation	Media personality actress singer
Years active	1991–present
Employer	ITV Heart
Spouse(s)	Les Dennis ​ ​ (m. 1995; div. 2003)​ Chris Hughes ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	3

Amanda Louise Holden (born 16 February 1971) is a famous English TV star, actress, and singer. You might know her best as a judge on the popular TV talent show Britain's Got Talent on ITV, a role she's had since 2007.

She also co-hosts the national radio show Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston. You can hear her on weekday mornings.

Amanda grew up in Bishop's Waltham. She loved acting and musical theatre from a young age. In 2004, she played the main character in the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. This role earned her a nomination for a special award called the Laurence Olivier Award.

She has acted in many TV shows like The Grimleys (1998–2001), Kiss Me Kate (1999–2001), Cutting It (2002–2004), and Wild at Heart (2006–2008). Amanda has also presented many TV shows for ITV.

In 2013, Amanda wrote her life story in a book called No Holding Back. It became a bestseller. Later, in 2020, she released her first music album, Songs from My Heart. It was very popular and reached the top 5 on the music charts in the UK.

Early Life and Education

Amanda Holden was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. She spent most of her childhood in Bishop's Waltham. When she was nine, she joined a local theatre group called Bishop's Waltham Little Theatre Company.

She went to Swanmore College for secondary school. At 16, she moved to Bournemouth. Later, she moved to South London to study acting at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.

Career Highlights

Television Work

Amanda's first TV appearance was on a game show called Blind Date in 1991. From 2006 to 2008, she played Sarah Trevanian in three seasons of ITV's Wild at Heart.

In 1997, she was part of a comedy show called "We Know Where You Live." She worked alongside famous comedians like Simon Pegg. Amanda has also been in comedy shows like Kiss Me Kate and The Grimleys.

She appeared in the BBC series Hearts and Bones and an episode of Jonathan Creek. She also starred in a special Christmas episode of Agatha Christie's Marple.

Since 2007, Amanda has been a judge on Britain's Got Talent. She works with Simon Cowell, Bruno Tonioli, and Alesha Dixon.

In 2009, Amanda played Lizzie, the Ring Mistress, in the BBC circus comedy Big Top. She also worked as a British correspondent for an American morning show called The Early Show.

From 2009 to 2014, Amanda co-presented A Night of Heroes: The Sun Military Awards on ITV. In 2010, she had her own three-part series, Amanda Holden's Fantasy Lives. In this show, she tried out different dream jobs.

Holden in 2012

Amanda has also guest-presented shows like Lorraine and This Morning. In 2012, she presented the talent show Superstar on ITV.

In 2015, she presented a six-part series called Give a Pet a Home. This show helped the RSPCA find new homes for animals. She also helped present ITV's Christmas charity show Text Santa.

In 2017, Amanda appeared as Miss Pentangle in the CBBC show The Worst Witch. In 2022, she made a guest appearance in the Australian soap opera Neighbours. In 2021, she starred in a comedy series called The Holden Girls: Mandy & Myrtle.

Theatre Performances

Amanda has performed in several stage musicals. In 2004, she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. This was for her role in the West End show Thoroughly Modern Millie.

She also played Princess Fiona in the original West End production of Shrek The Musical in 2011. For this role, she won the WhatsOnStage.com Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Musical. In 2017, Amanda starred in a West End show called Stepping Out.

Film Roles

Besides a few roles in the 1990s, Amanda had a small, uncredited part in the 2013 film One Chance.

Radio Hosting

In April 2019, it was announced that Amanda would join Heart Breakfast as a co-host with Jamie Theakston. The show became national on 3 June.

Music Career

In 2019, Amanda signed a music deal with Virgin EMI Records. In 2020, she released her first album, Songs from My Heart. It was released by Universal Music and reached number four on the UK Albums Chart.

Other Projects

In October 2013, Amanda released her autobiography, No Holding Back. It became a bestseller on Sunday Times list. She has also appeared in TV commercials for brands like Tesco and Danone Oykos yoghurt. In 2021, she was the spokesperson for the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK.

Charity Work

Amanda Holden is very involved in charity work. She supports breast cancer awareness campaigns for Everton F.C.. She is also a patron of the football club's charity. In 2011, she baked a cake for every child at Great Ormond Street Hospital to raise money.

In 2008, Amanda ran the London Marathon to support the Born Free Foundation. Since 2013, she has presented the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Animal Hero Awards. She has also raised money for charities like Jeans for Genes and SSAFA.

In 2013, she became an ambassador for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. In 2018, she posed as a mermaid for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). This was to raise awareness about the treatment of orca whales. In 2020, Amanda raised money for the National Health Service (NHS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal Life

Amanda Holden married comedian Les Dennis in 1995. They later divorced in 2003. In 2006, she had her first child with her fiancé, Chris Hughes. They married in December 2008. In 2012, she gave birth to their third child.

Amanda and Chris live in Petersham, Surrey. Amanda also owns a cottage in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, which she has been fixing up.

In 2016, Amanda's family history was explored on the BBC show Who Do You Think You Are?. She learned that one of her ancestors was a sailor who served in the Royal Navy. She also found out that her grandfather was on a ship called the RMS Lancastria when it was bombed during World War II.

Amanda is a fan of the English football club Everton F.C.. She is also a pescetarian, which means she eats fish but no other meat.

Filmography

As Actress

As Herself

Television Advertisements

Theatre Roles

Radio Shows

Discography

Albums

• Songs from My Heart (2020)

Singles

• "Over the Rainbow" (single in aid of NHS Charities Together) (2020), Virgin EMI
• "With You" (2020), Virgin EMI
• "Home For Christmas" (2020) Universal Music Group

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See also

In Spanish: Amanda Holden para niños