Jill Halfpenny
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Jill Halfpenny (born 15 July 1975) is a British actress.
A native of Leam Lane, Gateshead, she began her acting career in the BBC television children's drama series Byker Grove, set in Newcastle upon Tyne. Her other work has included appearances in Dalziel and Pascoe and Coronation Street.
She took the major role of Kate Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders between 2002 and 2004.She originally played a police officer sent to spy on Phil Mitchell but eventually after her cover was blown, she quit the police force, married Phil and opened a nail salon.
In Autumn 2004 she participated in the BBC One pro-celebrity ballroom dancing competition Strictly Come Dancing, dancing with professional Darren Bennett. The couple won the competition.
In a special one-off programme (broadcast on 22 December 2004) which pitted the Strictly Come Dancing champions (and other top performing couples) from series one and two against each other, Jill and Darren were crowned Champion of Champions.
In December 2004, it was announced that she would take the role of Roxie Hart in the West End musical, Chicago, starting January, 2005.
Jill was the guest presenter for and performed in the first show of the BBC four-part series The Sound of Musicals in January 2006 and played Roxy Ball in Shameless in an episode broadcast on January 31, 2006.
In the Spring of 2006, Jill starred in the BBC1 series Waterloo Road as teacher, Izzie Redpath. She is currently filming the second series. She will also play Mother Nature in Jack and the Beanstalk, the 2006/7 pantomime at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle.
Jill also went to drama school First Act Theatre, in Gosforth, along with Ant and Dec, Dale Meeks (Simon in Emmerdale) and Donna Air.
Jill is engaged to the actor Craig Conway. The couple plan to marry in 2007.
Jill was also the narrator for a short film advertising how the national lottery helps the North East. The film was created by students at Lord Lawson Of Beamish School as part of a competition. The film they created won the competition. It can be found on the BBC website.
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| Preceded by Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole |
Strictly Come Dancing Champion (with partner Darren Bennett) Series 2 (Autumn 2004) |
Succeeded by Darren Gough and Lilia Kopylova |
