Leah Bracknell
Leah Bracknell (born 12 July 1964, London) is an English actress, best known for her role as Zoe Tate on Emmerdale.
Career
Bracknell came to public attention playing the role of vet and land owner, Zoe Tate, in popular ITV1 soap opera, Emmerdale for 16 years (with breaks, including two spells of maternity leave) until leaving the serial in 2005. Initially, she was only due to leave for nine months but has not returned since.[1] Zoe was the first lesbian on a British soap and was one of the longest-featured gay characters on television, as well lead actress on the show.
She won the 'Best Exit' award at the British Soap Awards in May 2006 for her exit from the role of Zoe Tate, she was part of the scene, which was nominated for "Spectacular Scene of the Year". In 2002 she was nominated for 'Most Popular Actress' at the National Television Awards and "Best Dramatic Performance" at the British Soap Awards. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. [citation needed]
Since leaving Emmerdale she has appeared in the TV dramas Judge John Deed, Casualty 1907 and in the daytime soap Doctors. In June 2007, she joined the cast of ITV1 daytime soap The Royal Today as Matron Jenny Carrington. [citation needed]
Before Emmerdale she appeared in a TV series called The Chiffy Kids, which was directed by her father, David. After leaving Emmerdale she returned to the theatre appearing as Mrs Manningham in "Gaslight" and in "Strangers on a Train". In 2008, she joined the touring Theatreworks production of Turn of the Screw to play the lead role, that of the governess.