Kay Purcell

Kay Purcell is a British actress. Purcell is perhaps best known for her role as Cynthia Daggert in Emmerdale, from 2001–02. She is also known for her role in Bernard's Watch as Yvonne Savage (2004–05), as well as for her roles in Waterloo Road as Candice Smilie (2007–09), and Tracy Beaker Returns/The Dumping Ground as Gina Conway (2010–2013).

Television Roles

Purcell's first major television credit was Emmerdale, where she played the character of Cynthia Daggert from 2001–02, although she had previously made guest appearances in other programmes including Casualty. Before being cast as Cynthia, Purcell had already acted in Emmerdale, playing the role of Carmel Morgan, the social worker of Andy Sugden, on-and-off from 1996–98.

She was cast as a drama coach in CITV's My Parents Are Aliens, first appearing during the end of series two in 2000 and later reappearing in 2006 for the eighth series of the programme, this time as teacher Mrs Brookman.

From 2007–09, Purcell played the role of Candice Smilie, a senior canteen assistant, for the BBC's Waterloo Road.

Purcell has also played Gina Conway in all three series of Tracy Beaker Returns and returned for the spin-off The Dumping Ground in 2013. The actress left The Dumping Ground following the conclusion of series one.

Television

Emmerdale

Kay Purcell played Cynthia Daggert in Emmerdale. Cynthia and her two sons arrived in Emmerdale in June 2001, but almost as soon as they arrived problems began to occur. Cynthia also had a daughter Latisha who was heavily pregnant when she arrived soon after the rest of the Daggert family. Cynthia herself was frequently arguing with Carol Waring. Purcell says that Cynthia was just trying to give her family a fresh start, but they seemed to have an awful lot of bad luck. Kay continued playing Cynthia Daggert until 2002.

Waterloo Road

Purcell has played Candice Simile in Waterloo Road since 2007. Candice is a single mum in her early forties who has a son called Bolton who is a student at the school. She is very proud of her job as top dinner lady. She had to put aside her differences with Rose Kelly so they could work together in the school diner. Since Series 5, she has not had any appearances since Adam Fleet came along as head chef at the school, but he is no longer present chef at the school, Maggie Budgen is now the head Dinner lady.

Bernard's Watch

Kay played Bernard's bullying teacher, Miss Yvonne Savage. She had a very short temper and would often shout at Bernard and his best friend Nathan, looking for any trouble and hoping they would get into it. On the other hand, Savage liked most of the girls, particularly Nicolette. Nicolette would often play tricks or get Bernard and Nathan into trouble without Miss Savage knowing it was her behind it all. Miss Savage believed Nicolette to be a perfect young girl, and never seemed to learn the truth despite being proved wrong multiple times.

Tracy Beaker Returns

In this series Kay Purcell plays Gina Conway, short tempered but caring social worker. She has been playing her since 2010. She has a very short temper and shouts but inside she truly cares about the kids. Gina also wears distinctive nail varnishes (wearing the Jamaican flag on her nails in one episode) and is famous for wearing her headscarves. She is very well known by kids for this role.

Family

She has Jamaican ancestry and both her father and husband are Jamaican.

External links

• Kay Purcell at the Internet Movie Database
• Kay Purcell's Agency