Gillian Kearney

Infobox actor
name = Gillian Kearney


birthdate = birth date and age|1972|5|9
location = Aigburth, Liverpool, England
birthname =
notable role = Debbie McGrath in "Brookside"
Ellie Brookes in "Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll"

Gillian Kearney (born 9 May 1972, Aigburth, Liverpool) is an English actress.

Biography

Born into a Liverpool F.C.-supporting Merseyside family, Kearney's youngest brother Tom is a professional football player.

Kearney's interest in acting began whilst at secondary school. After repeatedly being overlooked for the lead roles in school productions, she decided to join the Liverpool Everyman Youth Theatre. It was there, in 1986, that she was spotted by members of the production team at Mersey Television, an event that resulted in her being asked to audition for a role in Channel 4's Liverpool-set drama series "Brookside". Kearney thought she would be little more than an extra, but she actually landed the role of Damon Grant's girlfriend, Debbie McGrath. The character was intended to appear in just a handful of episodes, but Debbie was a great success and the role went on to last for over a year.

When Simon O'Brien decided to leave The Close, 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 — "Damon and Debbie" became Britain's first mini-series spin-off from a soap opera. [cite news |first=Jon |last=Plunkett |title=Brookside: the highs and lows
url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2002/oct/10/broadcasting.channel4 |work=Media Guardian |date=2002-10-10 |accessdate=2008-03-26] [cite web |title=CHANNEL 4 AT 25
url=http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/features/c4/1987.htm |work=Off the Telly |month=November | year=2002 |accessdate=2008-03-26] 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.

In 2005 Kearney landed a role in channel 4 hit "Shameless" playing the role of Marty's girlfriend Sue. She left the show along with her on-screen partner in 2007. [ [http://www.radiotimes.com/content/show-features/shameless/gillian-kearney-as-sue/ Gillian Kearney as Sue - Radio Times, January 2006 - Radio Times ] ] She had a number of TV roles following her departure before landing the role of Jessica Harrison in "Casualty", in January 2008.

Filmography

Television

*"Casualty" … as Jessica Harrison
*"Primeval" … as Valerie Irwin
*"Lilies" … as Miss Bird in "The Serpent"
*"Trial and Retribution" … as Gina Casper in "Curriculum Vitae"
*"Shameless" … as Sue
*"The Forsyte Saga" … as June Forsyte
*"Clocking Off" … as Lynne Watson
*"Midsomer Murders" … as WPC Jay Nash in "Dark Autumn"
*"Hope and Glory" … as Kitty Burton
*"Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll" … as Ellie Brookes
*"The Tide of Life" … as Emily Kennedy
*"Damon and Debbie" … as Debbie McGrath
*"Brookside" … as Debbie McGrath

Film

*"The Lives of the Saints" (2006) … as Christella
*"The Other Half" (2005) … as Holly
*"Shirley Valentine" (1989) … as Young Shirley

Theatre

*"Strangers, Babies" … as May; The Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; 23 February – 17 March, 2007
*"Hedda Gabler" … as Hedda Gabler; The Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool; 23 March – 15 April, 2006
*"Hedda Gabler" … as Hedda Gabler; The West Yorkshire Playhouse (Quarry Theatre), Leeds; 17 February – 11 March, 2006
*"A Midsummer Night's Dream" … as Hermia; The Albery Theatre, London; 16 March – 12 May, 2001
*"King Lear" … as Cordelia; The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester; 9 September – 23 October, 1999
*"The School for Wives" … as Agnès; The Comedy Theatre, London; 6 May – 2 August 1997
*"The School for Wives" … as Agnès; The Piccadilly Theatre, London; 11 February – 26 April, 1997
*"The Rivals" … as Lucy; The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester; 8 February – 23 March, 1996
*"When We Are Married" … as Nancy Holmes; The Festival Theatre, Chichester; 24 July – 17 August, 1996
*"The School for Scandal" … as Maria; The Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; 1992
*"Othello" … as Desdemona'; The Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; 1992
*"Alice in Wonderland" … as Alice; The Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; 1991
*"The White Devil" … as Giovanni; The Everyman Theatre, Liverpool; 1991
*"Your Home in the West" … as Sharon; The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester; 28 March – 13 April, 1991

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0443937|name=Gillian Kearney
* [http://www.freewebs.com/gilliankearney Gillian Kearney Online] Site dedicated to Gillian.
* [http://unitedagents.co.uk/film/gillian-kearney/ United Agents Ltd] — page on agent's website.
*