Natalie Joanne Roles (born 8 September 1968) is an English actress, known for playing DS Debbie McAllister in the British police drama The Bill.
Early life Natalie Joanne Roles was born on 8 September 1968 in Hertfordshire to a Maltese mother and a British father. Along with her sister, Roles attended the Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts in Sussex.
Career She started her TV career as a dancer in 1988 on the musical film It Couldn't Happen Here, starring Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of Pet Shop Boys. In 1993, she made a guest appearance as school secretary Janet Clark in the Press Gang episode "Head and Heart". In 1995, she appeared in an episode of sitcom Men Behaving Badly as one of Tony's three girlfriends. She also appeared in the espionage thriller film Night Watch alongside Pierce Brosnan, and the 1996 British drama film Indian Summer (also known as Alive & Kicking).
In 2000, Roles had a lead role in the BBC series Take a Girl Like You, before she was cast as DS Debbie McAllister in the ITV drama The Bill. She had previously appeared in the serial in guest roles. Her character was introduced alongside several other cast changes in the aftermath of the DS Don Beech scandal storyline. In her four years on The Bill, Roles was involved in some of the biggest storylines, including a starring role in the plot that led to the eventual departure of Supt Tom Chandler.
She has also appeared in the Minder episode "Opportunity Knocks and Bruises" as Amanda, a nurse and Ray Daley's latest girlfriend. In 1999, she played a nurse in The New Professionals, and appeared in Highlander: The Raven. Roles guested in the ITV medical drama The Golden Hour in 2005.
In 2022, Roles was interviewed by former The Bill co-star Suzanne Maddock for a three-part edition of The Bill Podcast, discussing her time on the series and career as a whole. Roles has subsequently taken over from Oliver Crocker as the presenter of The Bill Podcast, interviewing her co-stars Beth Cordingly, Raji James, Jane Wall, Pal Aron and Brian Bovell, and former executive producer Paul Marquess.
In 2023, Roles was cast as Abigail Wesley in the fiction podcast Letter from Helvetica, written by and co-starring Andrew Mackintosh, the pair having first worked together on two episodes of The Bill. A second series followed in 2024.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1987It Couldn't Happen HereDancerMusical film1991The Upper HandModelTV series, 1 episode: "Older Than Springtime"Screen One(uncredited)TV series, 1 episode: "Alive and Kicking", 1993Press GangJanetTV series, 1 episode: "Head and Heart"MinderAmandaTV series, 1 episode: "Opportunity Knocks and Bruises"1993The BillMandy CartwrightTV series, 1 episode1995Woof! MarionTV series, 1 episode: "Birthday"Detonator II: Night Watch JenniferAmerican TV movieMen Behaving Badly ImogenTV series, 1 episode: "Three Girlfriends"Space Precinct Officer Chloe VincentTV series, 1 episode: "Predator and Prey"1996Alive and Kicking CatherineFilm1997The BillSara EverittTV series, 1 episode1999CI5: The New Professionals NurseTV series, 1 episode: "Miss Hit"Cold FeetCallieTV series, 1 episode: "Episode #2.3"Highlander: The RavenJanet RossTV series, 1 episode: "Dead on Arrival"2000Take a Girl Like YouJoanTV series, 2 episodes: "Part 2" and "Part 3"2000–2004The BillDS Debbie McAllisterTV series, 189 episodes2005The Golden Hour NikkiTV mini-series, 1 episode: "Episode #1.2"DoctorsPaula WestlakeTV series, 1 episode: "Under the Weather"Holby CitySuzanne LakeTV series, 1 episode: "War and Peace"2006The Gil Mayo Mysteries Sarah LudlowTV mini-series, 1 episode: "A Sunset Touch"2023–2024Letter from Helvetica Abigail WesleyFictional podcast, 12 episodes2024Murder by AppointmentJoan LangfordShort filmJackson's CatRosieShort filmStill Got ItAshWeb series, pilotThe Gerry Anderson PodcastSelf / Chloe VincentWeb series, 2 episodes2025Letter from Helvetica: Christmas Specials Abigail WesleyFictional podcast, 2 episodesDo Us PartLisaShort filmI Love This Job: The Making of Space PrecinctSelf / Chloe VincentDocumentary
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