Gillian Louise KearneyBirth Registration Details Ancestry.co.uk (Retrieved 16 July 2009) (born 9 May 1972) is an English actress. She is best known for her roles in television as Debbie McGrath in Brookside and spin-off Damon and Debbie, Jessica Harrison in Casualty and Emma Barton in Emmerdale.
Early life One of four children born to Gerard and Barbara (née Allerston) Kearney, Kearney has three brothers, including Tom, a professional footballer. Her father is a retired civil engineer, and her mother a school care worker. Growing up in Aigburth, she attended St. John Almond RC High School, Garston, where she gained nine GCSEs and four A-levels. She later trained at the Rose Bruford College.
Career Her interest in acting began at secondary school. After repeatedly being overlooked for the lead roles in school productions, she decided to join the Liverpool Playhouse Youth Theatre, where she featured in plays including All Flesh is Grass (as Ema),Jones, Catherine; "We've got talent! £25m Culture project launched" , LiverpoolEcho.co.uk, 23 September 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2009 Katie Crackernuts and Yer Dancin'? It was there, in 1986, that she was spotted by members of the Mersey Television production team; this resulted in her being asked to audition for a role in Channel 4's soap opera Brookside. Kearney landed the role of Debbie McGrath, the girlfriend of Damon Grant, played by Simon O'Brien. When O'Brien decided to leave Brookside, he requested that his character be killed off so he wouldn't be tempted to return to the show. Because Damon was so popular, particularly with younger viewers, it was decided to create a "soap bubble" in which the character would meet his demise: the result, Damon and Debbie, became Britain's first mini-series spin-off from a soap opera.Plunkett, Jon; "Brookside: the highs and lows" The Guardian, 10 October 2002. Retrieved 16 July 2009Williams, Steve; Jones, Ian; Kibble-White, Jack; "Channel 4 at 25: 1987" OffTheTelly.co.uk, November 2002. Retrieved 16 July 2009 A year after filming her final scenes, Kearney was asked to return for a few episodes. Christmas 1988 saw Debbie McGrath make an unexpected return to visit Sheila Grant, Damon's mother; she arrived with her baby, Simon – Damon's son.
Kearney played the young Shirley in the award-winning 1989 film Shirley Valentine.
She also had the lead female part as Ellie Brookes in Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll, a six-part television mini-series written and created by Debbie Horsfield and directed by John Woods. It was produced by Wall to Wall for BBC One originally airing in 1999 before being adapted into a successful stage musical.
In 2002, Kearney landed the role of June Forsyte in the ITV1 adaptation of John Galsworthy's classic novel The Forsyte Saga. She later reprised the role for the second series. Following the success of The Forsyte Saga, Kearney's next role brought her back onto the ITV screen in its newest medical drama, Sweet Medicine. Kearney was cast as Dr Deborah "Deb" Sweet, and starred alongside Jason Merrells, who played her husband, and Patricia Hodge as her formidable mother-in-law. The show was intended to take up the mantle of the popular rural drama Peak Practice, which had recently ended, but low viewing figures saw Sweet Medicine axed after just one series.
In 2005, Kearney landed a role in Channel 4's hit series Shameless, playing the role of Marty Fisher's (Jack Deam) girlfriend, Sue Garland. She left the show along with her on-screen partner in 2007."Gillian Kearney as Sue" Radio Times, January 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2009 She had a number of television roles following her departure before landing the role of Jessica Harrison in Casualty, in January 2008. Kearney left Casualty in February 2010, but returned briefly to tie up the loose ends of her character's storyline in May 2010.
As of 2 January 2015, Kearney began appearing in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, in the role of Emma Barton, the estranged wife of James Barton (Bill Ward) and mother of their three sons Pete (Anthony Quinlan), Ross (Michael Parr) and Finn (Joe Gill). Kearney has received critical acclaim for her performance, particularly when it came to the "No Return" week which saw the character hold James hostage and cause a huge crash that endangered the lives of seven Emmerdale residents; after Emma accidentally pushed James off the bridge, he later died. Kearney was nominated for Best Serial Drama Performance at the 2016 National Television Awards. In 2019, Kearney directed the 5Star woman's prison drama Clink.
Personal life Kearney lived in Crouch End, North London, from July 2000, and then rented a property in Clifton, Bristol, during her time appearing in Casualty. She returned to live in Liverpool after the birth of her son; she also rented a home in Yorkshire where she filmed Emmerdale, and a holiday home on the Atlantic coast of County Clare, Ireland.
In April 2009 Kearney mentioned, during a This Morning television interview, that she was seeing a final-year medical student called Eddie, whom she had met whilst in Bristol. Early in 2010, Kearney announced her engagement to Eddie Foo and their intention to marry later that year in Ireland,Wise, Jon; "DOCTOR WOO!" The People, 10 January 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010 but the plans were soon put on hold when she discovered that she was expecting their first child. Kearney gave birth to a baby boy.Miles, Tina; "Casualty star Gillian Kearney on becoming a mum and her recent Clapperboard role at Liverpool's FACT" The Liverpool Echo, 25 September 2010
Credits
Film Year Title Role Notes Shirley Valentine Young Shirley Homecoming Dushuri Short The Other Half Holly Lamanuzzi The Lives of Saints Christella London to Brighton Kelly's next door neighbour uncredited Harrigan Bridie Wheland Breakthrough Judith Short Sealed with a Kiss Ginny Short
Television Year Title Role Network Notes Brookside Debbie McGrath Regular role Damon and Debbie Debbie McGrath 3 episodes, Mini Series The Final Frame Cassy TV movie Waterfront Beat Helen 6 episodes Casualty Mandy 1 episode Men of the World Jenny 1 episode The Tide of Life Emily Kennedy Mini Series Heartbeat Susan Watkins 1 episode The Ruby Ring Elizabeth Langley TV movie Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Debra Woolmer 1 episode Liverpool 1 Julie Callaghan 5 episodes The Things You Do for Love Young Joan TV movie Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll Ellie Brookes Mini Series Black Cab Phil 1 episode Hope and Glory Kitty Burton 10 episodes In His Life: The John Lennon Story Cynthia Lennon TV movie Murder in Mind Catrin Palmer 1 episode Midsomer Murders WPC Jay Nash 1 episode Clocking Off Lynne Watson 2 episodes The Real Jane Austen Jane Austen TV documentary The Forsyte Saga June Forsyte Mini Series Blue Murder Lesley Tulley 2 episodes Sweet Medicine Dr. Deborah Sweet Where the Heart Is Maria 1 episode Shameless Sue Garland 12 episodes Trial & Retribution Gina Casper 1 episode Lilies Miss Bird 1 episode Primeval Valerie Irwin 1 episode Casualty Jessica Harrison 93 episodes Justice Louise Scanlon Silent Witness DI Bridges 2 episodes Moving On Danielle 1 episode Suspects Tamsin Shaffer 4 episodes Emmerdale Emma Barton Regular role; 355 episodes VeraDeborah McSwain 1 episode
Theatre Macbeth ... Lady Macduff, Witch; Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; 6 May – 11 June 2011 Strangers, Babies ... May; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; 23 February – 17 March 2007"Traverse Theatre Company: Strangers, Babies" Traverse.co.uk (Retrieved 16 July 2009)Fisher, Mark; "Theatre; Strangers, Babies" The Guardian, 2 March 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2009 The Flint Street Nativity ... Mary; Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool; 7 December 2006 – 20 January 2007 Hedda Gabler ... Hedda Gabler Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool; 23 March – 15 April 2006Butler, Billy; "Gillian Kearney Interview" BBC (Radio Merseyside), 5 April 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2009 West Yorkshire Playhouse (Quarry Theatre), Leeds; 17 February – 11 March 2006 A Man of Principle ... Ruth; Colin's Bridewell, Liverpool; 26 October 2004 A Midsummer Night's Dream ... Hermia; Albery Theatre, London; 16 March – 12 May 2001 King Lear ... Cordelia; Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester; 9 September – 23 October 1999 The School for Wives ... Agnès Comedy Theatre, London; 6 May – 2 August 1997 Piccadilly Theatre, London; 11 February – 26 April 1997 Theatre Royal, Bath; 9–14 December 1996 Festival Theatre, Chichester; 26–30 November 1996 Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle upon Tyne; 18–23 November 1996 Richmond Theatre, Richmond; 11–16 November 1996 King's Theatre, Edinburgh; 5–9 November 1996 Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead; 8–26 October 1996 The Rivals ... Lucy; Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester; 8 February – 23 March 1996 When We Are Married ... Nancy Holmes; Festival Theatre, Chichester; 24 July – 17 August 1996 The School for Scandal ... Maria; Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; 1992 Othello ... Desdemona; Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; 1992 Alice in Wonderland ... Alice; Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; 1991 The White Devil ... Giovanni; Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; 1991 Your Home in the West ... Sharon; Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester; 28 March – 13 April 1991
Radio Year Title Role Station Sex, Latte, Paperclips Michelle BBC Boots on the Ground Dr Callard BBC Radio 4 Brief Lives DC Archer BBC Radio 4 Bring Her Back Dr. Moira Leigh BBC Northern Ireland
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Result 2015 Inside Soap Awards Best Bad Girl 2016 Inside Soap Awards Best Bad Girl 2017 22nd National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance 2017 The British Soap Awards Villain of the Year 2017 Inside Soap Awards Best Actress 2017 Inside Soap Awards Best Bad Girl 2018 23rd National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance 2018 The British Soap Awards Villain of the Year
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