{{Short description|British actress}} {{good article}} {{Use British English|date=March 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Liz Stooke | birth_place = [[Kent]], England, UK | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1970s–2008 | television = ''[[Hollyoaks]]'' }} '''Liz Stooke''' is a British actress. Born in [[Kent]], she initially trained to be a teacher in [[Devon]] and [[Manchester]] before becoming a receptionist at London Drama School. After joining a few theatre companies and taking part in a tour, Stooke had roles in several stage productions, including adaptations of ''[[Time and the Conways]]'', ''[[Present Laughter]]'', ''[[Moll Flanders]]'', ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' and ''[[The Government Inspector]]''. She played the regular role of [[Angela Cunningham]] on the British soap opera ''[[Hollyoaks]]'' between 1995 and 1999, later returning for guest appearances in 2004, 2006 and 2008. She has also appeared in the soap operas ''[[Coronation Street]]'' and ''[[Emmerdale]]'', as well as other television series and films.
==Life and career== Liz Stooke was born in [[Kent, England]] in the 1950s.<ref name="Staying" /> Her father worked in the banking business and thus she moved around every two years.<ref name="Staying" /> After a "[[convent education]]", Stooke enrolled in a teacher training college in [[Devon]], but she left after a year when she fell "hopelessly in love".<ref name="Staying" /> She then moved to [[Glossop]] with her partner, where she began taking an interest in amateur theatre; she then decided not to get married and completed her teaching training, and she subsequently did a three-year course in [[Manchester]] and specialised in teaching disabled children.<ref name="Staying" /> She continued having an interest in acting and got a job as a receptionist at the London Drama School;<ref name="Staying" /> she enjoyed the job but got "fed up" with directors asking students to take part in plays and films as she thought "why not me?"<ref name="Staying" /> She then got a job in the Brian Way Children's Theatre and joined the [[Pitlochry Festival Theatre]], which Stooke called "hard work" as they rehearsed three shows in a fortnight and went on a 12-week tour in a transit van in the [[Highlands and Islands]]; Stooke called the experience "worthwhile" and was thankful that the people there got on.<ref name="Staying" />
Stooke wanted to do theatre work in education and worked in [[Coventry]] for 18 months before working in the M6 Theatre Company in [[Rochdale]] for four years.<ref name="Staying" /> As part of the group, she was part of the stage production of ''Titanic'', based on the [[sinking of the Titanic]], which was performed to schools and the public in the day and evening, in 1979.<ref name="Titanic" /> Stooke portrayed the real-life survivors [[Madeleine Astor]] and Kate Gilnagh in the production.<ref name="Titanic" /> A writer from the ''[[Rochdale Observer]]'' believed that Stooke performed a "moving" song in the production.<ref name="Titanic">{{cite web |title=The ''Titanic'' Without the Sinking |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rochdale-observer-liz-stooke-titanic/188533650/ |website=[[Rochdale Observer]] |access-date=17 January 2026 |page=6 |date=27 October 1979 |url-access=subscription |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{free access}}</ref> Stooke then worked in the Avon Touring Company, where she met director Clare Grove.<ref name="Staying" /> As part of the company, she was one of the actors in the production of ''Horror Story'' at the Albany Centre in Bristol in 1984.<ref name="Horror" /> Ian Onions from the ''[[Bristol Post|Evening Post]]'' wrote that Stooke and three other actors "showed clever dexterity in switching roles so quickly and playing with conviction, although they were a little overexuberant at times".<ref name="Horror">{{cite web |last1=Onions |first1=Ian |title=Humour Brings Horror to Life |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/188967628/ |website=[[Bristol Post|Evening Post]] |access-date=15 January 2026 |page=17 |date=12 May 1984 |url-access=subscription |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{free access}}</ref> She then had a role in the stage production of ''[[Present Laughter]]'' at the [[Crucible Theatre]] in Sheffield, which she considered different from the work she had previously done.<ref name="Staying" /> In 1987, Stooke finished her stint playing one of the three Molls in the stage production of ''[[Moll Flanders]]''.<ref name="Staying">{{cite web |last1=Lloyd |first1=Kevin |title=Staying Around |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-derby-express-liz-stooke/188533503/ |website=The Derby Express |access-date=14 January 2026 |page=15 |date=26 March 1987 |url-access=subscription |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{free access}}</ref> Stooke had received a phone call from Grove asking her to take part in the production.<ref name="Staying" /> Kevin Lloyd from the ''Derby Express'' believed that Stooke's performances were "excellent" in the "highly successful productions".<ref name="Staying" /> Stooke subsequently decided to stay in [[Derby]] after the conclusion of the production as she was asked to play [[Helena (A Midsummer Night's Dream)|Helena]] in a stage production of ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' by a director.<ref name="Staying" /> Stooke said that she "enjoyed every minute of the rehearsal period".<ref name="Staying" />
In 1987, Stooke played a [[customs officer]] in the television crime drama ''[[Floodtide (TV series)|Floodtide]]''.<ref name="Floodtide">{{cite web |title=Classic Romance Among the Writers |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19870627/207/0016 |website=[[Evening Express (Scotland)|Evening Express]] |access-date=27 October 2025 |pages=6 |date=27 June 1987 |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> In 1988, she played Joan in [[Derby Theatre|Derby Playhouse]]'s stage production of ''[[Time and the Conways]]'', which ran until 25 June 1988.<ref name="Conways">{{cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Elaine |title=Family in Search for Contentment |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-post/189026222/ |website=[[Nottingham Post|Evening Post]] |access-date=16 January 2026 |page=52 |date=11 June 1988 |url-access=subscription |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{free access}}</ref> That same year, she also had a role as the boss' daughter in the [[Stage reading|rehearsed reading]] of [[Peter Gibbs (cricketer)|Peter Gibbs]]' ''Selling the Sizzle'' at the Derby Playhouse.<ref name="Selling">{{cite web |last1=Hammerton |first1=Geoff |title=Ex-Cricketer's Play Makes It Half Way |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph-liz-stooke-selling-the/188533924/ |website=[[Derby Telegraph|Evening Telegraph]] |access-date=14 January 2026 |page=12 |date=28 June 1988 |url-access=subscription |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{free access}}</ref> She then played Margie Bellenger in ''A Day in Summer'', a 1989 television movie based on the [[A Day in Summer|novel of the same name]] by [[J. L. Carr]].<ref name="Summer">{{cite web |title=''A Day in Summer'' - Full Cast & Crew |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/a-day-in-summer/cast/2000115700/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |publisher=[[Fandom, Inc.]] |access-date=6 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250906193740/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/a-day-in-summer/cast/2000115700/ |archive-date=6 September 2025}}</ref> Stooke also played a prosecuting counsel in an episode of the soap opera ''[[Brookside (TV series)|Brookside]]'', which was originally broadcast on 29 March 1989.<ref name="Brookside">{{cite episode |title=Episode 673 |series=Brookside |series-link=Brookside (TV series) |credits=Executive producer: [[Phil Redmond]]; Director: Andrew Higgs; Writer: Kathleen Potter |network=[[Channel 4]] |airdate=29 March 1989}}</ref> In 1990, Stooke guest starred in the second episode of the fifth series of the British sitcom ''[[Watching (TV series)|Watching]]''.<ref name="Comedy" /> The following year, she was part of the cast of ''[[The Government Inspector]]'' at the [[Greenwich Theatre]]; Charles Spencer from ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' opined that Stooke was one of the cast members to provide "excellent comic value".<ref name="Inspector">{{cite web |last1=Spencer |first1=Charles |title=Greed and Gullibility |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-liz-stooke-greed/188534106/ |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=14 January 2026 |page=14 |date=24 April 1991 |url-access=subscription |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{free access}}</ref> In 1995, Stooke joined the original cast of the new [[Channel 4]] soap opera ''[[Hollyoaks]]'' as [[Angela Cunningham]], part of the [[Cunningham family]].<ref name="Hollyoaks">{{cite web |last1=Crick |first1=Claire |title=Where Are ''Hollyoaks''{{'}} Missing Cunninghams Now? Here's What Happened to Matt Littler, Davinia Taylor and More |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a27284516/hollyoaks-cunningham-davinia-taylor-matt-littler/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=[[Hearst Communications]] |access-date=6 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250906162330/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a27284516/hollyoaks-cunningham-davinia-taylor-matt-littler/ |archive-date=6 September 2025 |date=26 April 2019}}</ref> She remained in the role until 1999, and made a guest appearance in 2004 and 2006.<ref name="Hollyoaks" /> Stooke made another return to the soap in 2008 for the funeral of Angela's son, [[Max Cunningham]] ([[Matt Littler]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Village Gathers for Max's Funeral |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/events/the-village-gathers-for-maxs-funeral |website=[[What to Watch]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=8 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250908022326/https://www.whattowatch.com/events/the-village-gathers-for-maxs-funeral |archive-date=8 September 2025 |date=23 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Kris |title=2339: It's the Day of Max's Funeral |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a103259/2339-its-the-day-of-maxs-funeral/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=[[Hearst Communications]] |access-date=8 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250908022336/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a103259/2339-its-the-day-of-maxs-funeral/ |archive-date=8 September 2025 |date=1 July 2008}}</ref> In 1997, Stooke presented [[The Duke of Edinburgh's Award]] to several young people in a church in [[Bury, Greater Manchester|Bury]].<ref>{{cite web |title=For He's a Holly Good Fellow |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/rossendale-free-press/188913710/ |website=[[Rossendale Free Press]] |access-date=14 January 2026 |page=49 |date=18 July 1997 |url-access=subscription |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{free access}}</ref>
Stooke had a guest role in the fifth episode of the [[Last of the Summer Wine series 23|23rd series]] of ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]'', "Beware Of The Hot Dog", which initially aired on 3 February 2002.<ref name="Wine">{{cite web |title=Series 23, Episode 5 - Beware Of The Hot Dog |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/last_of_the_summer_wine/episodes/23/5/ |website=[[British Comedy Guide]] |access-date=6 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250906192814/https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/last_of_the_summer_wine/episodes/23/5/ |archive-date=6 September 2025}}</ref><ref name="Comedy">{{cite web |title=Liz Stooke |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/liz-stooke/ |website=[[British Comedy Guide]] |access-date=6 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250906192329/https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/liz-stooke/ |archive-date=6 September 2025}}</ref> In 2003, Stooke played [[Lila Griffith]] in the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] soap opera ''[[Emmerdale]]''.<ref name="Hollyoaks" /> She has also appeared in the television series ''[[First Among Equals (TV series)|First Among Equals]]'', ''[[Nice Guy Eddie (TV series)|Nice Guy Eddie]]'', ''[[Children's Ward]]'', ''[[Heartbeat (British TV series)|Heartbeat]]'' and ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'', as well as the soap opera ''[[Coronation Street]]''.<ref name="Hollyoaks" /><ref name="Credits">{{cite web |title=Liz Stooke |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/liz-stooke/credits/3000678563/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |publisher=[[Fandom, Inc.]] |access-date=21 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251021055745/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/liz-stooke/credits/3000678563/ |archive-date=21 October 2025}}</ref> Additionally, she had a role in the 1988 film ''[[The Fruit Machine (1988 film)|The Fruit Machine]]''.<ref name="Credits" />
==Acting credits== ===Selected filmography=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ {{sronly|List of acting roles in television and film}} ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row"| 1986 | ''[[First Among Equals (TV series)|First Among Equals]]'' | {{n/a}} | Television series | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Credits" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1987 | ''[[Floodtide (TV series)|Floodtide]]'' | Customs officer | Crime drama | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Floodtide" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1988 | {{sort|Fruit Machine, The|''[[The Fruit Machine (1988 film)|The Fruit Machine]]''}} | {{n/a}} | Film | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Credits" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1989 | ''A Day in Summer'' | {{sortname|Margie|Bellenger|nolink=1}} | Television movie | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Summer" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1989 | ''[[Brookside (TV series)|Brookside]]'' | Prosecuting Counsel | Guest role (1 episode) | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Brookside" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1990 | ''[[Watching (TV series)|Watching]]'' | Sally | 1 episode (Series 5, episode 2) | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Comedy" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1995–99, 2004, 2006, 2008 | ''[[Hollyoaks]]'' | {{sortname|Angela|Cunningham}} | Regular role | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Hollyoaks" /> |- ! scope="row"| 2002 | ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]'' | Fifi | 1 episode ("Beware Of The Hot Dog") | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Wine" /> |- ! scope="row"| 2003 | ''[[Emmerdale]]'' | {{sortname|Lila|Griffith}} | Guest role | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Hollyoaks" /> |}
===Theatre credits=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ {{sronly|List of acting roles in theatre}} ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Production ! scope="col"| Location ! scope="col"| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|References}} |- ! scope="row" {{unknown}} | ''[[Present Laughter]]'' | [[Crucible Theatre]] | {{n/a}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Staying" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1979 | ''Titanic'' | Various | {{sortname|Madeleine|Astor}}<br>{{sortname|Kate|Gilnagh|nolink=1}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Titanic" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1984 | ''Horror Story'' | Albany Centre | Various | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Horror" /> |- ! scope="row"| {{circa|1987}} | ''[[Moll Flanders]]'' | Moll | {{n/a}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Staying" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1987 | {{sort|Midsummer Night's Dream, A|''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''}} | {{n/a}} | [[Helena (A Midsummer Night's Dream)|Helena]] | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Staying" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1988 | ''[[Time and the Conways]]'' | [[Derby Theatre|Derby Playhouse]] | Joan | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Conways" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1988 | ''Selling the Sizzle'' | Derby Playhouse | Boss' daughter | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Selling" /> |- ! scope="row"| 1991 | {{sort|Government Inspector, The|''[[The Government Inspector]]''}} | [[Greenwich Theatre]] | {{n/a}} | style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="Inspector" /> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stooke, Liz}} [[Category:20th-century English actresses]] [[Category:21st-century English actresses]] [[Category:English film actresses]] [[Category:English soap opera actresses]] [[Category:English stage actresses]] [[Category:English television actresses]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]