Holly Quin-Ankrah

Holly Quin-Ankrah

Quin-Ankrah performing at Dockyard Bar in Salford on 15th January 2015
Born 1987 (age 27–28)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Nationality English
Occupation Actress
Years active 2003–present

Holly Quin-Ankrah (born 1987)[1][2] is an actress from Warrington, England. She began her acting career as a teenager, playing Karen Young in the long-running CBBC drama series Grange Hill. She is also known for her lead role on the talent show drama Rock Rivals and a regular role as Cheryl Gray on Coronation Street between 2010 and 2011.

Life and career

Holly Quin-Ankrah is originally from Warrington, Cheshire.[2] She did not receive any formal acting training, having started filming as Karen Young on the CBBC drama Grange Hill as a teenager.[3] Whilst a cast member on Grange Hill she engaged in philanthropic ventures. In December 2004 she visited St. Francis Xavier's College, Woolton, Liverpool to promote MEND, a national mobile phone database for stolen or lost equipment.[1] In April 2006 she visited Alder Hey children's hospital to donate Easter Eggs to sick children.[4]

Following Grange Hill, Quin-Ankrah played a lead role in the 2008 ITV talent show drama Rock Rivals as "contestant" Bethany Hopkins. The character was loosely based on X-Factor series three winner Leona Lewis: Quin-Ankrah also took inspiration from former Big Brother contestant, Nikki Graham in her characterisation of Bethany.[5] Unlike co-star Sol Heras, who had his character's singing voice provided by a session singer, Quin-Ankrah both acted and sang during the series.[5] In 2009 she appeared in an episode of the sixth series of Shameless as Geena.[6] In February 2010 it was reported that Quin-Ankrah had been cast in the soap-opera Coronation Street as Cheryl Gray, a love interest for established character Lloyd Mullaney (Craig Charles).[7] Quin-Ankrah was 22 at the time of joining the soap but did not reveal her age at the casting as Cheryl was intended to be significantly older, with a ten-year-old son. Of her audition, Quin Ankrah recalls: "My agent told me not to say how old I was. I wore tweed flares and a highnecked top so I looked older!"[2] In July 2010, Quin-Ankrah received a nomination in the "Best Newcomer" category at the 2010 Inside Soap Awards for her portrayal of Cheryl.[8] She departed the serial in November 2011.[9]

Quin-Ankrah's theatre credits include playing the role of Katie in a 2009 stage musical adaptation of the Willy Russell drama Our Day Out at the Royal Court, Liverpool.[10]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2003–2007 Grange Hill Karen Young Series regular
2008 Rock Rivals Bethany Hopkins Series regular
2009 Shameless Geena One episode: episode #6.4
2010–2011 Coronation Street Cheryl Gray Series regular
2013 The Dumping Ground Shannay
2015 Death in Paradise Alison Turner Episode 4.6

References

  1. 1 2 Jones, Catherine (10 December 2004). "Mobile Security; Phones protection". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Crawford, Sue (5 September 2010). "Holly finds it hard to bare". Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  3. ↑ Tansley, Janet (23 June 2010). "My love affair with Liverpool; Janet Tansley catches up with new girl on The Street Holly Quin-Ankrah". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  4. ↑ "Eggs-citing time with Grange Hill stars". Liverpool Echo. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  5. 1 2 Lampert, Nicole; Oglethorpe, Tim (22 February 2008). "Welcome to the Spoof Factor: the new drama based on the X Factor that makes Cowell and Co look tame". Daily Mail. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "Holly Quin-Ankrah". Curtis Brown Literary and Talent Agency. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  7. ↑ Green, Kris (11 February 2010). "Lapdancer lover for Corrie's Lloyd". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (13 July 2010). "In Full: Inside Soap Awards 2010 Nominees". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  9. ↑ "What Happens When?". Inside Soap (Hearst Magazines UK) (45): 30. 12–18 November 2011.
  10. ↑ Jones, Catherine (18 September 2009). "Review; Our Day Out Royal Court". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 June 2012.

External links

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