Christine Bottomley (born 27 April 1979) is an English actress. Her television roles include playing Kirsty in EastEnders (2001), Melanie in Early Doors (2003–2004), Susie Ward in Heartbeat (2003), and Zoey Wyatt in Shameless (2006). Other credits include Massive (2008), Hope Springs (2009), Land Girls (2009), and Hush (2008).

More recently she has starred in Fearless (2017), The End of the F***ing World (2017–2019), The Nest (2020), Back to Life (2019–2021), Domina (2021) and Sherwood (2024).

Early life Christine Bottomley was born in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, and grew up in a flat above the family's chemist shop. She went to several local youth drama groups before embarking on a course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, from where she graduated in 2001.

Career

Following graduation, she made her screen debut as Kirsty in EastEnders (2001). She played a regular role from 2003–2004, as Melanie in the BBC2 sitcom Early Doors. Bottomley has had numerous parts on television, including episodes of the second series of Torchwood (2008), the comedy series Massive (2008), the drama series Hope Springs (2009) and Land Girls (2009). Her first film role was in Hush, in 2009.

In 2010, she was nominated for Best New Actress at the London Film Critic's Circle Awards for her portrayal of Lisa Thompson in The Arbor. She is a three-times winner of Best Actress at the BBC Audio Drama Awards; in 2014 for My Boy; 2017 for The Sky is Wider and 2018 for Solitary.

Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes 2006 Venus Hospital Nurse2007 The Waiting Room Fiona Death of a Socialist Alice Short film 2008 Hush Beth2010 The Arbor Lisa Thompson Little White Lies Mum Short film 2011 Lost Christmas Helen2012 All in Good Time Molly Batt Strawberry Fields Emily2013 Charlie Says Liz Short film Out of Darkness Short film Man in the Moon Scarlet 2014 Keeping Rosy Sarah2017 Cowboy Dave Debbie Short film Funny Cow Funny Calf's Mum 2018 Peterloo Female Reformer 2022 Typist Artist Pirate King Joan 2024 Robin and the Hoods Bridget

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 2001 EastEnders Kirsty Episode: "21 September 2001"2002 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Bride Episode: "Missing Joseph" Holby City Danni Simmons Episode: "High Risk" The Bill Sandie Recurring role; 5 episodes Dalziel and Pascoe Christine Fitzgerald Episode: "For Love Nor Money"2003 Heartbeat Susie Ward Recurring role; 5 episodes Grease Monkeys Tracie Episode: "Girl Crazy" 2003–2004 Early Doors Melanie Series regular; 11 episodes2004 Sex, Footballers and Videotape Mel TV film Murder Prevention Sally Brook Episode: "False Prophet" 2005 Comedy Lab Episode: "Speeding"2006 Shameless Zoe Wyatt Episode: "Dark Friends" The Street Yvonne O'Neill Series regular; 6 episodes Vincent Selina Kenyon Series 2, episode 1 Simon Schama's Power of Art Fillide Episode: "Caravaggio" Blue Murder Mandy Breeley Episode: "Make Believe" 2006–2007 The Innocence Project Sarah Shawcross Series regular; 8 episodes2007 Instinct Milly TV film Sound Lou TV film Sea of Souls Mary Dunbar Episode: "The Prayer Tree"2008 The Palace Natalie Recurring role; 3 episodes Torchwood Maggie Episode: "A Day in the Death" Tess of the D'Urbervilles Kate Recurring role; 3 episodes Massive Lou Series regular; 6 episodes2009 Hope Springs Shoo Coggan Series regular; 8 episodes Land Girls Annie Barrett Series regular; 5 episodes2010 The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister Ann Walker TV film Survivors Clare Series 2, episode 52011 Midsomer Murders Blaze Leadbetter Episode: "The Oblong Murders" In with the Flynns Sarah Episode: "Whistleblowing" Inspector George Gently Terri Molloy Episode: "Goodbye China" Moving On Caroline Episode: "Tour of Duty" 2012 Secrets and Words Valerie King Episode: "Help Me If You Can"2013 Silent Witness DI Kate Warren Episode: "True Love Waits" Great Night Out Julie Series regular; 6 episodes Frankie Diane Preston Series 1, episode 3 New Tricks Becky Belgrade Episode: "Into the Woods" Vera Lisa Strachan Episode: "Prodigal Son"2014 DCI Banks Katy Heath Episode: "Wednesday's Child" Undeniable Emma Rawlins TV mini-series; 2 episodes 2014–2016 In the Club Vicky Brierly Series regular; 12 episodes 2015 Cucumber Lynne Series 1, episode 32017 Fearless Jenna Brooks Series regular; 6 episodes The Tunnel Helena Carver Recurring role; 2 episodes 2017–2019 The End of the F***ing World Gwen Recurring role, 10 episodes2018 Torvill & Dean Mavis Dean TV film Hard Sun Maggie Sweeting Episode: "One Thousand, Eight Hundred Days" 2019 Flack Sally Henderson Episode: "Anthony" 2019–2021 Back to Life Mandy Series regular; 11 episodes 2020 The Nest Zoe Series regular; 5 episodes 2021–2023 Domina Scribonia Series regular; 13 episodes 2022 Silent Witness Florence Clarke Episode: "History, Part 3"2024 Sherwood Rachel Crosley Main role, second series The Wives Annabelle Morgan 2 episodes Ridley Katharine Penrose 2 episodes2025Waterloo RoadSamantha Drake 2 episodes

Radio Year Date Title RoleStrand Station2004 29 November Double Acts: Scissors and Ribbon LisaAfternoon Play BBC Radio 4200723 FebruaryMoney MagicKathyFriday DramaBBC Radio 4200815–22 MarchThe Dark SideAnnieSaturday DramaBBC Radio 42011–2012June 2011 – October 2012Everyone Quite Likes JustinLisaComedyBBC Radio 4 Extra201217 March"Tony Teardrop"CarlyThe WireBBC Radio 319 DecemberMy BoyLisaBBC Radio 4201312 MarchMeic Povey – Take me to Hafod OwenVickyBBC Radio 41 OctoberMan in the MoonScarletBBC Radio 411–15 NovemberChildren in Need: Holding on to youJo15 Minute DramaBBC Radio 4201431 January – 3 FebruaryTony TeardropCarlyBBC Radio 42 MarchLorca's Rural TrilogyMartirioDrama on 3BBC Radio 315 JuneWriting Lives: TreatsReaderBBC Radio 430 NovemberDream of White HorsesSarahDrama on 3BBC Radio 3201525–29 MayAmicableSally15 Minute DramaBBC Radio 429 MayTime for One More QuestionMelanieBBC Radio 411–18 OctoberReading Europe – Poland: EntanglementOlga KuzniecowBBC Radio 428–29 NovemberBlood, Sex and MoneySeverineBBC Radio 42016 6–7 July States of Mind EllaAfternoon Play BBC Radio 425 SeptemberPeter the Great: The GamblersSophiaTsarBBC Radio 4 Extra22 OctoberBetween Ballards EarsActorBetween the EarsBBC Radio 311 DecemberThe TidebreakMrs WilliamsDrama on 3BBC Radio 320177 JulyThe ArchivistClareBBC Radio 4 7 October Solitary MandyBetween the Ears BBC Radio 320188–19 JanuaryStone (series 7)SarahBBC Radio 4 22 January – 2 February The Truth About Hawaii Lizzie15 Minute Drama BBC Radio 41–9 MayThe Wings of the DoveSusie StringerHenry JamesBBC Radio 4 Extra9 JulyMy Mother's DaughterHelenBBC Radio 4201926 FebruaryDebbie PurdyDebbie PurdyTest CaseBBC Radio 4 Extra30 AprilWhat's He Building in There?KateBBC Radio 417–21 JuneReading Europe – LullabyLouiseBBC Radio 414 JulyThe Masque of AnarchyDrama on 3BBC Radio 327 SeptemberThis Changeling SelfSheBBC Radio 46 OctoberThe MotherKarpov / The LandladyDrama on 3BBC Radio 328 NovemberMonique & MeAdult CaraBBC Radio 424 DecemberThe Christmas PresentHollyBBC Radio 420203–13 February24 Kildare RoadHayleyBBC Radio 420212 MarchThe Ventriloquist's DummyJessBBC Radio 418 AprilKillerDaniDrama on 3BBC Radio 3202218–26 JanuaryMoney, Sex and Blood (series 3)MariaFault LinesBBC Radio 429 MarchWaterloo StationChristaBBC Radio 4

Theatre credits Year Title Role Venue Ref 2000 The Pleasureman Various roles Citizens Theatre, Glasgow 2001 Dracula Lucy Westerman Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama 2004 Ladybird Lera Royal Court Theatre, London Flush Holly Soho Theatre, London 2005 Rutherford and Son Mary Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester Osama the Hero Mandy Hampstead Theatre, London A Single Act Michelle Hampstead Theatre, London 2007 Alaska Emma Royal Court Theatre, London 2009 Uncle Vanya Sonya Young Vic, London 2015 How To Hold Your Breath Jasmine Royal Court Theatre, London

Awards YearWorkAwardCategoryResultRef.2010The ArborLondon Film Critics' Circle AwardsBest Supporting Actress2014My BoyBBC Audio Drama AwardsBest Actress 2017States of Mind: The Sky is WiderBBC Audio Drama AwardsBest Actress2018SolitaryBBC Audio Drama AwardsBest Actress

References

External links

Christine Bottomley at the British Film Institute