Nichola Burley is an English actress. She has appeared in Born Equal, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Goldplated, Death Comes to Pemberley, Donkey Punch and StreetDance 3D.
Early life and education Nichola Burley was born in Leeds, England. She attended Intake High School, Bramley, where she studied performing arts.Escape to Bollywood BBC, 5 June 2007 (Retrieved: 23 July 2009)
Career Burley's acting career began in 2005 when she appeared as Michelle in the Dominic Savage film Love + Hate. She has had guest roles in The Ghost Squad, in November 2005, and Shameless in February 2006. In September 2006, Channel 4 show Goldplated debuted with Burley appearing in the ensemble cast.Sawyer, Miranda; "Blondes as bold as brass" Guardian.co.uk, 24 September 2006 (Retrieved: 23 July 2009) Due to low ratings, a second season was never commissioned.Busfield, Steve; "What now for Goldplated and Tripping Over?" The Guardian, 6 December 2006 (Retrieved: 23 July 2009)
In November 2006, she played Zoe, in Savage's improvised, one-off BBC drama Born Equal. The BBC described the show as one which "addresses social inequality in Britain today". Directed and written by Savage again, the film also starred Robert Carlyle, Anne-Marie Duff and Colin Firth. As part of her research for the show she travelled to meet young runaways in London.
She has also starred as Cathy McAleer in BBC Three show Drop Dead Gorgeous throughout its first series in 2006 and its second in 2007.
In 2010, she appeared in the dance film StreetDance 3D in the lead role alongside George Sampson, Diversity and Flawless. She portrays Isabella Linton in a 2011 film adaptation of Wuthering Heights. She appeared as Witney Whitehead in the BBC drama Candy Cabs which began on 5 April 2011. She also starred in one episode of crime drama Lewis on ITV1.
Her stage credits include the title role in Bollywood Jane at the West Yorkshire Playhouse throughout June 2007,Berry, Kevin; "Bollywood Jane" TheStage.co.uk 7 June 2007 (Retrieved: 23 July 2009) and Constanza in a Sheffield revival of Peter Schaffer's Amadeus.
She plays Sophie Brodenham in the 2025 BBC One crime series Virdee.
Recognition Burley's name is one of those featured on the sculpture Ribbons, unveiled in 2024. Midlands Drama Academy Burley teaches at her own Acting Academy, Midlands Drama Academy.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2005Love + HateMichelle2008Donkey PunchTammi2009KicksJasmine2010StreetDance 3DCarlySoulBoyJane RogersEdgeSophie2011Wuthering HeightsIsabella LintonRValShort filmsGuarding AngelAngelSupermarket GirlMichelle2012Payback SeasonLisa LovellJumpGreta FeeneyTwenty8kAndrea Patterson2013For Those in PerilJane2014Catch Me DaddyVicky2016The Rack PackLynn Higgins2018BiteValerieShort film2019Lynn + LucyLucy2024Edge of SummerDebbie
Television Year Title Role Notes2005The Ghost SquadNatalieEpisode 3: "Heroes"2006ShamelessChloeSeries 3; episode 6: "In with the Maguires"GoldplatedDonnaEpisodes 1–8Born EqualZoeTelevision film2006–2007Drop Dead GorgeousCathy McAleer Series 1 & 2; episodes 1–42008Spooks: Code 9LizzieEpisode 32009Inspector George GentlyFawn GrangerSeries 2; episode 2: "Gently in the Night"The FixerSavanna FordSeries 2; episodes 1 & 22011LewisKaren WildeSeries 5; episode 3: "The Mind Has Mountains"Candy CabsWhitney WhiteburnEpisodes 1–3Scott & BaileyHannah ConwaySeries 1; episode 3: "Personal"2013The SyndicateBethanySeries 2; episodes 3–5SouthcliffeSarah GouldMini-series; episodes 2 & 3: "Light Falls" & "Sorrow's Child"Death Comes to PemberleyLouisa BidwellMini-series; episodes 1–32015No OffenceElizabethSeries 1; episode 5Downton AbbeyRita BevanSeries 6; episode 12019Wild BillCharleneMini-series; episode 5: "You're Stupid Enough to Say That to a Copper?"2021Behind Her EyesSophieMini-series; episodes 1, 3 & 52023The GoldBrenda NoyeSeries 1; episodes 1–4 & 62024ProtectionGemma BrandiceMini-series; episodes 1–3, 5 & 62025VirdeeSophie BrodenhamEpisodes 3–6
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