Kay Purcell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kay Purcell
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Purcell as Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns
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| Born | 6 December 1963 Leyland, Lancashire, England
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| Died | 23 December 2020 (aged 57) Lancashire, England
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1993–2020 |
| Television | Emmerdale Waterloo Road Tracy Beaker Returns The Dumping Ground So Awkward |
| Children | 3 |
Kay Purcell (6 December 1963 – 23 December 2020) was an English actress. She was known for her roles as Cynthia Daggert in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale (2001–2002), Candice Smilie in the school-based drama series Waterloo Road (2007–2009), Gina Conway in the CBBC children's drama series Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012) and its spin-off series The Dumping Ground (2013), and Mrs. Rennison in the CBBC sitcom So Awkward (2015–2016).
Contents
Career
Purcell's first acting role was as a TV reporter in the TV series Cracker in 1995. She then later starred in Coronation Street as Rhona Summers for 3 episodes in 1997. She appeared as Jenny in the TV series City Central. In 1998 and 2000, she starred in the BBC 1 series Casualty. In 1998 she played WDC McCarthy, and in 2000 played Diane Abley. Later in 2000, she starred in the TV series Children's Ward as Winsome. Her first major role was as Cynthia Daggert in ITV's Emmerdale. She starred in 187 episodes from 2001 to 2002. Her next major role was in Bernard's Watch in 2004–2005, as Ms. Savage for 21 episodes. Purcell played a recurring role in BBC's Waterloo Road as Bolton Smilie's Mum Candice Smilie from 2007–2009. She played the role of Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns for three series, as well as the first series of the spin-off series The Dumping Ground.
Illness and death
In early 2017, Purcell was diagnosed with breast cancer. Purcell posted images, videos and blogs on social media to show her own experience of the disease. In early 2020, Purcell was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and was given a life expectancy of two years. She died from metastatic breast cancer which had spread to her liver on 23 December 2020, aged 57.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Cracker | TV Reporter | Episode: "True Romance: Part 2" |
| 1996–1998 | Emmerdale | Carmel Morgan | Recurring role; 9 episodes |
| 1997 | Coronation Street | Rhona Summers | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Casualty | WDC McCarthy | Episode: "Taking Sides" |
| 1999 | City Central | Jenny | Episode: "Paradise Lost" |
| My Parents Are Aliens | Mrs. Williams | Episode: "The Home Team" | |
| 2000 | Casualty | Diane Abley | Episode: "Fall Out" |
| Children's Ward | Winsome | Series 12: Episode 8 | |
| 2001–2002 | Emmerdale | Cynthia Daggert | Regular role; 187 episodes |
| 2003 | Holby City | Heather Nixon | Episode: "Read My Lips" |
| 2004–2005 | Bernard's Watch | Ms. Savage | Main role; 21 episodes |
| 2005 | Messiah | Prof Uhomi | Episodes: "The Harrowing: Parts 1–3" |
| Doctors | Mrs. Jane Manners | 2 episodes | |
| 2006 | Ideal | Alice | Episode: "The Delivery" |
| My Parents Are Aliens | Mrs. Brookman | 3 episodes | |
| 2007–2009 | Waterloo Road | Candice Smilie | Main role; 24 episodes |
| 2010–2012 | Tracy Beaker Returns | Gina Conway | All 39 episodes |
| 2011–2012 | Tracy Beaker Survival Files | Main role | |
| 2012 | Hacker Time | Herself | Episode: "Connor Byrne and Kay Purcell" |
| 2013 | The Dumping Ground | Gina Conway | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2014–2016 | Hacker Time | Mrs. Breadbin | 13 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | So Awkward | Mrs. Rennison | Main role; 18 episodes |
| 2020 | When It Rains | Sonia | 5 episodes |
| 2021 | Doctors | Mo Larkin | Episode: "Of Mice and Women"; posthumous release |
Theatre
- The Winter's Tale (1993, as Paulina, Dorcas)
- Everybody Knows All Birds Have Wings (1997)
- Hormonal Housewives (2012)
- Rapunzel (2013, as Gothel the Enchantress)
- Sleeping Beauty (2014, as Carabosse)
