{{short description|English actress}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Nicola Wheeler | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1974|04|04}} | birth_place = [[Burnley]], [[Lancashire]], England | children = 1 | known_for = {{Plainlist| * ''[[Coronation Street]]'' * ''[[Emmerdale]]'' }} | years_active = 1996–present }}
'''Nicola Wheeler''' (born 4 April 1974) is an English actress. After appearing in the [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] soap opera ''[[Coronation Street]]'' in the recurring role of Melanie Tindel in 1999, Wheeler began playing [[Nicola Blackstock]] in the ITV soap opera ''[[Emmerdale]]''. She has been in the role of Nicola since 2001, with a brief break in 2006 where she competed in ''[[Cirque de Celebrité]]''.
==Life and career== Wheeler was born on 4 April 1974 in [[Nelson, Lancashire]] and attended [[Walton High School, Nelson|Walton High School]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Inside Emmerdale star Nicola Wheeler's life away from the soap |url=https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/tv-movies/emmerdale/nicola-wheeler-age-career-husband/ |access-date=23 July 2022 |work=[[Heart (radio network)|Heart]] |date=26 January 2022}}</ref> Wheeler trained at [[Drama Centre London]] from the age of 18. She began her career with appearances on television series including ''[[Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns]]'' and [[Kay Mellor]]'s ''Gold''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaw |first1=Megan |title=Emmerdale's Nicola King actor's life off air - from rival soap to haunted Yorkshire home |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/emmerdales-nicola-king-actors-life-21285728 |access-date=23 July 2022 |work=[[Leeds Live]] |publisher=([[Reach plc]]) |date=12 August 2021}}</ref> In 1999, she was cast in ''[[Coronation Street]]'' in the recurring role of Melanie Tindel. She joined ''[[Emmerdale]]'' as [[Nicola Blackstock]] in 2001 and served for five years before announcing her decision to leave. However, a year later, Wheeler announced her return to the soap.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Sullivan |first1=Kyle |title=Emmerdale Nicola star's rival soap role, quitting and how co-star got rid of her ghost |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/emmerdale-nicola-stars-rival-soap-24524456 |access-date=23 July 2022 |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |publisher=([[Reach plc]]) |date=13 July 2021}}</ref> She won Best Bitch at the [[2006 British Soap Awards]] for her portrayal.<ref name="Bitch" /> Wheeler appeared on the [[Sky One]] reality series ''[[Cirque de Celebrité]]''; she was voted out on the fifth week by [[Blazin' Squad]] member [[Kenzie (rapper)|Kenzie]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Alison |title=Emmerdale's Nicola Wheeler reveals why she is 'critical' of her sex scenes – and 'disgusted' with I'm A Celebrity… |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/emmerdale-main/emmerdales-nicola-wheeler-reveals-critical-sex-scenes-disgusted-im-celebrity-334025 |access-date=23 July 2022 |work=[[What to Watch]] |publisher=([[Future plc]]) |date=26 June 2016}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1996 | ''[[Poldark]]'' | Violet Kellow | 1 episode |- | 1997 | ''Gold'' | Claudia | 1 episode |- | 1997 | ''Band of Gold'' | Colette | 1 episode |- | 1999 | ''[[Coronation Street]]'' | Melanie Tindel | Recurring role |- | 2001–present | ''[[Emmerdale]]'' | [[Nicola King]] | Series regular |- | 2006 | ''[[Cirque de Celebrité]]'' | Herself | Contestant; 9th place |- | 2010 | ''Emmerdale: The Dingles - For Richer for Poorer'' | Nicola King | Film |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Organisation ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2006 | [[The British Soap Awards]] | Best Bitch | ''Emmerdale'' | {{won}} | align="center" | <ref name="Bitch">{{cite news|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8bd815ec|title=The British Soap Awards 2006 (2006)|work=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=26 January 2020|archive-date=26 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126102134/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8bd815ec|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 2010 | The British Soap Awards | Best On-Screen Partnership (with [[Nick Miles]]) | ''Emmerdale'' | {{nom}} | align="center" | <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10103932|title=EastEnders dominates at British Soap Awards|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=26 January 2020|archive-date=26 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126102658/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10103932|url-status=live}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0923928}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Nicola}} [[Category:21st-century English actresses]] [[Category:English soap opera actresses]] [[Category:English television actresses]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actresses from Burnley]] [[Category:1974 births]]