{{Short description|British actress (born 1967)}} {{distinguish|Michael Holmes (disambiguation)}} {{Use British English|date=September 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Michelle Holmes | image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing brackets --> | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_name = Corinne Michelle Cunliffe | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|1|1|df=y}}<ref name="BFI" /> | birth_place = Rochdale, Lancashire, England<ref name="February 1985" /><ref name="BFI" /> | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1985–present }} '''Michelle Holmes''' (born '''Corinne Michelle Cunliffe'''; 1 January 1967)<ref name="BFI">{{Cite web |title=Michelle Holmes |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba1672214 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526231031/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba1672214 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2017 |access-date=1 November 2022 |website=BFI |language=en}}</ref> is a British actress who has appeared on television most notably ''Coronation Street'' (1989–1990), ''Goodnight Sweetheart'' (1993–1996), ''Above Suspicion'' (2009–2012) and ''Hollyoaks'' (2017–2018).
==Early life== Holmes was born in Rochdale, Lancashire.<ref name="BFI"/> She changed her professional name to gain entry to the actors' union Equity.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} Holmes performed in a pop band called the Dunky Dobbers.<ref name="staff">{{Cite web |title= What happened to the cast 'Rita, Sue and Bob Too'|url= https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/what-happened-cast-rita-sue-6843170 |author= Andrew Robinson & Samuel Hodgkiss |date= 22 March 2022 }}</ref>
==Career== Holmes' first acting role was in the ITV soap ''The Practice'' as Susan Turner, the receptionist.<ref name="February 1985">{{Cite web |date=23 February 1985 |title=Radio Soundsfamiliar - TVTimes |url=https://issuu.com/radiosoundsfamiliar/docs/feb_23rd_1985 |access-date=24 October 2022 |website=issuu.com |page=41 |language=en}}</ref> Originally, she was given a part as an extra, but after pestering the producers at Granada with multiple phone calls, she was given an audition for Susan, which was successful.<ref name="February 1985" /><ref name="BFI" />
Holmes came to prominence as Sue, one of the babysitters in ''Rita, Sue and Bob Too'' who are seduced by an older man.<ref name="BFI" /> A year later, she appeared as Goth Jenny in ''Damon and Debbie'',<ref name="BFI" /> and as Tina Fowler in ''Coronation Street''.<ref name="BFI" /> Holmes played Yvonne Sparrow in the first three series of ''Goodnight Sweetheart'',<ref name="BFI" /> and Maggie Coles in ''Firm Friends''.<ref name="BFI" /> She appeared as Marie in two series of ''Common as Muck''.<ref name="BFI" /> Holmes has appeared in ''Emmerdale'' twice: first in 1992 as Lindsay Carmichael,<ref name="BFI" /> and in 1995 as bar manager Britt Woods.<ref name="BFI" />
In 2001, she played Connie Harper in ''Merseybeat,''<ref name="BFI" /> and guest starred in the BBC One school drama ''Waterloo Road'' as Lindsey Woodham.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/rita-sue-bob-cast-what-23459700 |work=Manchester Evening News|title=Rita Sue and Bob Too cast: What happened to the stars of the 80s comedy from Corrie and Benidorm to sad death|accessdate=6 March 2023|first=Kate|last=Fitzpartick|date=22 March 2022}}</ref> From July 2006 to August 2006, Holmes played Claudie Williams in ''The Chase'', a BBC One drama. Holmes also stars as Genevieve in the ITV drama ''Life Begins''.<ref name="BFI" /> She played Theresa in the 2008 series of ''Shameless''<ref name="BFI" /> and DC Barbara Maddox in the 2009 production of Lynda La Plante's ITV crime drama ''Above Suspicion''.<ref name="BFI" /> In January 2001, Holmes played Pamela Fairbrother, and in August 2010 she played Eileen Needham in ''Heartbeat''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.whattowatch.com/events/domestic-dispute-makes-the-heart-beat-stronger|title=Domestic dispute makes the heart beat stronger|magazine=What's on TV|date=28 July 2010|first=Patrick|last=McLennan|accessdate=6 March 2023}}</ref>
In March 2017, Holmes played Jude, a neonatal nurse, in the BBC One hospital drama series ''Casualty'' and, in April, she played Maggie Kinsella in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. More recently, she has played café owner Mary in seasons 8 and 9 of ''Cold Feet''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/cold-feets-david-marsden-bedding-13979793|accessdate=6 March 2023|work=Daily Mirror|publisher=Reach plc|first=Ashleigh|last=Rainbird|title=Cold Feet's David Marsden is bedding cast of cult movie Rita, Sue and Bob Too|date=10 February 2019}}</ref> In October 2022, she portrayed Dora Booth in the BBC soap opera ''Doctors''.<ref name="14oct">{{cite news |last1=Timblick |first1=Simon |title=Doctors spoilers: Will Valerie Pitman and Al strike a deal? |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/spoilers/doctors-spoilers-will-valerie-pitman-and-al-strike-a-deal |access-date=7 October 2022 |work=What to Watch |publisher=(Future plc)}}</ref>
==Selected credits== <ref name="staff"/> *''Rita, Sue and Bob Too'' as Sue (1987) *''Coronation Street'' as Tina Fowler (1989–1990) *''Goodnight Sweetheart'' as Yvonne Sparrow (1993–1996) *''Emmerdale'' as Britt Woods (1995) *''Merseybeat'' as Connie Harper (2001) *''The Chase'' as Claudie Williams (2006) *''Waterloo Road'' as Lyndsay Woodham (2007) *''Shameless'' as Theresa (2008) *''Above Suspicion'' as DC Barbara Maddox (2009–2012), TV series, 8 episodes *''The Road to Coronation Street'' as Brenda (2010) *''Midsomer Murders'' as Trina Nevins (2016), "Harvest of Souls" *''Hollyoaks'' as Maggie Kinsella/Greta (2017–2018), TV series, 28 episodes *''Cold Feet'' as Mary (2019) *''Doctors'' as Dora Booth (2022)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=0391969|name=Michelle Holmes}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20170526231031/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba1672214 Michelle Holmes] at the British Film Institute{{better source needed|reason=Help request: a live link can be searched for at https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/search/expert - if available, replace the archive URL with the live link. Or if none found, remove this 'better source needed' template. | date=October 2023}} * [http://www.corrie.net/profiles/actors/holmes_michelle.html Corrie.net profile] * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/merseybeat/ BBC.co.uk Interview] - about her role in ''Merseybeat''
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, Michelle}} Category:Living people Category:1967 births Category:Actresses from Rochdale Category:English film actresses Category:English soap opera actresses Category:English television actresses