{{cleanup|date=January 2026|reason=citation formatting}} {{short description|Irish actor from Ballymun, Dublin|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Stephanie Kelly | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|07|31}} | birth_place = Dublin, Ireland | occupation = Actor | television = {{nowrap|''Fair City''}} }}
'''Stephanie Kelly''' (born 31 July 1987) is an Irish actor from Ballymun, Dublin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Sunday |date=2014-03-09 |title=The girl who’s still next door – or thereabouts |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/the-girl-whos-still-next-door-or-thereabouts-8mn58w3b5cq |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref> She is best known for her role as Sasha "Sash" Bishop in the Irish soap opera, ''Fair City'', for which she has starred in since 2011.
== Career == Kelly began acting with a Ballymun youth theatre group. From there she went on to act on stage including a starring role in 'Cleaners' in The Axis Theatre in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barry |first=Aoife |date=2014-03-09 |title="The talent is here": Meet the people putting Ballymun's arts scene on the map |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/axis-ballymun-theatre-1349753-Mar2014/ |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=TheJournal.ie |language=en}}</ref>
In 2008, Kelly made her onscreen debut in the acclaimed Irish independent film, ''Kisses''.
In 2011, Kelly was cast as Sasha "Sash" Bishop in the RTÉ soap opera, ''Fair City.'' Her initial storylines as part of the Bishop family saw her involved in some of the soaps most dramatic storylines.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-22 |title=Pyscho Paddy Bishop set to meet a grizzly end on Fair City |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/pyscho-paddy-bishop-set-to-meet-a-grizzly-end-on-fair-city/29685666.html |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-28 |title=Major Fair City character returns to Carrigstown after stint in prison - Extra.ie |url=https://extra.ie/2020/01/28/entertainment/movies-tv/fair-city-character-returns |access-date=2025-12-11 |language=en-GB}}</ref> The character has widely become one of the soap's most beloved characters due to her confrontational, humorous and no-nonsense personality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-10 |title=Fair City's Sash tears strips off Orla |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2019/0410/1041783-fair-citys-sash-tells-orla-a-few-home-truths/ |publisher=RTÉ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-13 |title=Dean and Sash share a moment on Fair City |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2018/0613/970148-dean-and-sash-share-a-moment-on-fair-city/ |publisher=RTÉ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-11 |title=Sash sounds the alarm bells on Wednesday's Fair City |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2021/0111/1188973-sash-sounds-the-alarm-bells-on-wednesdays-fair-city/ |publisher=RTÉ |language=en}}</ref>
Over the years, Kelly's character has continued to be involved in some of the programmes most memorable storylines involving surrogacy, homelessness, domestic abuse and sexuality.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-23 |title=Heavily pregnant Sash stuns Decco on Fair City |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2019/1223/1101698-heavily-pregnant-sash-stuns-decco-on-fair-city/ |publisher=RTÉ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-08 |title=Watch: Orla shocks Sash with proposal on Fair City |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2019/0408/1040371-watch-orla-shocks-sash-with-proposal-on-fair-city/ |publisher=RTÉ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-04 |title=Tensions rise as surrogate Sash worries for baby |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/tensions-rise-as-surrogate-sash-worries-for-baby/38832770.html |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-01 |title=Drama hits Fair City as surrogate Sash goes into labour |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/tv-news/drama-hits-fair-city-as-surrogate-sash-goes-into-labour/38826482.html |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref>
In December 2025, Kelly was announced as one of the celebrities taking part in the ninth season of ''Dancing with the Stars.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Neill |first=Bronwyn |date=2025-12-11 |title=Fair City star revealed as fifth DWTS contestant... |url=https://vipmagazine.ie/fair-city-star-revealed-as-fifth-dwts-contestant/ |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=VIP Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McSorley |first=Anita |date=2025-12-11 |title=Fair City star Stephanie Kelly joins Dancing With The Stars 2026 line-up |url=https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/celebs/fair-city-star-stephanie-kelly-33039598 |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=Dublin Live |language=en}}</ref>
== Personal life == Kelly was born and raised in Ballymun, a suburb in North Dublin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Kayla |date=2021-05-03 |title=Fair City's Stephanie Kelly's happy family life after being homeless for a year |url=https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/fair-city-star-stephanie-kellys-24001463 |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=RSVP Live |language=en}}</ref>
Kelly has spoken openly about her personal hardships. After the birth of her first son, Zach. Kelly found herself as a lone parent, financially unstable and facing homelessness.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-21 |title=Fair City's Stephanie Kelly Recounts Hardship Of Being Homeless |url=https://evoke.ie/2020/12/21/entertainment/fair-citys-stephanie-kelly-i-know-what-its-like-to-be-homeless-so-i-count-all-my-blessings |access-date=2025-12-11 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McGowan |first=Sharon |date=2017-07-10 |title=Fair City star reveals she was homeless for a year after leaving the show |url=http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish-showbiz/fair-city-star-stephanie-kelly-10766438 |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=Irish Mirror |language=en}}</ref>
Kelly married Craig Hopkins in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McKenna |first=Slaine |date=2022-09-24 |title=Fair City star Stephanie Kelly ties the knot in a stunning autumn wedding |url=https://vipmagazine.ie/fair-city-star-stephanie-kelly-ties-the-knot-in-a-stunning-autumn-wedding/ |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=VIP Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref> Along with Kelly's son, Zach, they have two more children together, Rosie and Finn.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Loughlin |first=Mikie |date=2025-07-27 |title=Fair City's Stephanie Kelly has "best of both worlds" between home life and work |url=https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/fair-citys-stephanie-kelly-best-35611102 |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=RSVP Live |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Kat |date=2022-03-28 |title=Fair City actress Stephanie Kelly welcomes a baby boy and his name is so sweet |url=https://www.joe.co.uk/news/entertainment/fair-city-stephanie-kelly-409132/ |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=HerFamily |language=en}}</ref> == Filmography == {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Film/Television !Role !Notes |- |2008 |''Kisses'' |Kylie's Sister | |- |2011–2012, 2015–2021, 2023–present |''Fair City'' |Sasha "Sash" Bishop |Regular role |- |2026 |''Dancing with the Stars'' |Herself | |}
== References == <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|1903991}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Stephanie}} Category:1987 births Category:Actresses from Dublin (city) Category:Irish soap opera actresses Category:Living people Category:Ballymun