Jill Halfpenny facts for kids

Jill Halfpenny (born 15 July 1975) is an English actress. She first became known for playing Nicola Dobson in the BBC drama series Byker Grove from 1989 to 1992. She is also famous for her roles in popular soap operas. She played Rebecca Hopkins in Coronation Street and Kate Mitchell in EastEnders.

Many people also know her as the teacher Izzie Redpath in the school drama Waterloo Road. In 2004, she won the second series of the popular TV dance show Strictly Come Dancing.

Jill is also a talented stage actress. She won an Olivier Award for her role as Paulette Bonafonté in the musical Legally Blonde in London's West End.

Acting Career

Early TV Roles and Strictly Come Dancing

Jill Halfpenny started her acting career in 1989 on the children's show Byker Grove. After leaving the show in 1992, she appeared in shows like The Bill and Birds of a Feather. From 1999 to 2000, she played nurse Rebecca Hopkins in Coronation Street.

In 2002, she joined the cast of EastEnders as Kate Mitchell. Her character was an undercover police officer who married Phil Mitchell. She left the show in 2005.

In late 2004, Jill competed on the dance show Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with professional dancer Darren Bennett. They won the competition, receiving a perfect score of 40 from the judges in the final. Soon after, she began starring as Roxie Hart in the West End musical Chicago.

Stage Success and Waterloo Road

In 2005, Jill received great reviews for her performance in a play called The Bodies. She then appeared in several TV shows, including The Catherine Tate Show and Shameless.

From 2006 to 2007, she played the teacher Izzie Redpath in the BBC drama Waterloo Road. For this role, she won the TV Quick Award for "Best Actress" in 2007. Her character sadly died at the end of the second series.

Jill continued to work in theatre. She starred in the play Calendar Girls in 2009. In 2010, she played Paulette Bonafonté in the musical Legally Blonde. Her performance was so popular that she won two major theatre awards, including a prestigious Laurence Olivier Award.

In 2012, she starred in a revival of the play Abigail's Party. Critics praised her performance, with one from The Guardian calling her "fantastic."

Recent Television and Theatre Work

In 2014, Jill appeared in two big TV shows. She was in the BBC drama In the Club and the comedy series Babylon. In 2015, she starred in the science fiction series Humans, which was a huge hit for Channel 4.

In 2017, she acted in the BBC miniseries Three Girls, a drama based on a serious real-life event. Her performance as a concerned mother was highly praised.

From 2018, Jill has continued to star in both theatre and television. She played the main character in the stage version of the thriller The Girl on the Train. In 2019, she was in the BBC miniseries Dark Money, playing a parent dealing with a difficult family situation.

In 2021, she starred in the thriller The Drowning. In 2023, she played Doreen Hill in The Long Shadow, a drama about the search for the serial killer Peter Sutcliffe. Jill said she was shocked to learn how little support the real families received at the time.

In 2024, she appeared in a new version of the play A Taste of Honey and starred in the TV thriller The Cuckoo.

Other Work

Jill has narrated many TV commercials and documentaries. She has done voiceovers for brands like Argos, Aunt Bessie's, and Cocoa Pops.

In 2024, she released her memoir, or life story, called A Life Reimagined. In the book, she writes about sad events in her life, including the deaths of her father and a former partner.

Personal Life

Jill Halfpenny was born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, on 15 July 1975.

She married actor Craig Conway in 2007, and they have a son named Harvey. The couple divorced in 2010. In 2019, Jill shared her sadness about the death of her partner, Matt Janes, who died from a heart attack in 2017.

Jill is an ambassador for the children's charity Kidscape. In 2013, she was named "Freeman of the Borough of Gateshead" to honour her work in acting and for charity.

Filmography

Film

Television

Voice work

Theatre

Awards