Helen George

Early life

George was born in Harborne, Birmingham, to political science professor Neil George and social worker Margareth George. She has a sister, Elizabeth, a veterinarian. Raised in Winchester, Hampshire, she attended Edgbaston High School for Girls between 1993 and 1998, and studied ballet as a child, eventually becoming a junior associate at Birmingham Royal Ballet, and was active in sports, competing in the long jump. As a child she dreamed of being the first female manager of Aston Villa Football Club.

George decided that she wanted to work in musical theatre at the age of 15, when she saw a production of Les Misérables. She is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music. George also attended Birmingham School of Acting.

Career

George attended the Royal Academy of Music, London, studying musical theatre. She gained her first role some two weeks after graduation in the play The Woman in White. She was a backing singer for Elton John during a tour. She sang at venues including Wembley Arena and the Royal Albert Hall.

George was cast in the role of Trixie on the BBC One series Call the Midwife, based on the book by Jennifer Worth. She was daunted by the prospect of working with the likes of Pam Ferris and Jenny Agutter. As part of the role she was trained in the medical techniques of the 1950s, including how to deliver a baby. In 2012, she underwent a press tour in the United States to promote the series there.

In August 2015, George was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete in the thirteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. Despite continuously getting high scores from the judges, George was eliminated in week 11, finishing in sixth place.

In May 2020, she sang "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover" at Buckingham Palace in a BBC broadcast marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

In January 2024, she appeared in The King and I, playing Anna Leonowens, at the Dominion Theatre London. She starred as the Fairy Godmother in Richmond Theatre's pantomime Cinderella from December 2025 to January 2026.

Personal life

From 2011 to 2015, George was married to actor Oliver Boot. In April 2016, she began dating her Call the Midwife co-star Jack Ashton when they went to South Africa to film the show's Christmas special. Their daughter, Wren Ivy, was born in September 2017. During her pregnancy with Wren, George was diagnosed with ICP. Due to this complication, she delivered Wren three weeks early via elective caesarean section. She is a patron of the charity ICP Support.

In June 2021, George announced on Instagram that she was pregnant with her second child. Her daughter, Lark, was born in November 2021. George and Ashton split up in 2023.

Filmography

References

References

1. (3 October 2015). "Who is Strictly Come Dancing's Helen George?". The Birmingham Mail.
2. https://www.grammy.com/artists/Helen-George/38095 {{Bare URL inline. (August 2022)
3. (10 January 2013). "Helen George: Call The Midwife is bringing family drama back to TV". Metro.
4. Marshall, Denise. (11 February 2003). "Call The Midwife has started a baby boom but not for me, admits Helen George". Daily Express.
5. Birdy. (10 February 2012). "Birdy - 1901 [Official Music Video]".
6. (26 August 2015). "Born to boogie, it's Helen George!". BBC.
7. (5 September 2015). "Strictly Come Dancing 2015: Ola Jordan joins Olympian Iwan Thomas as couples unveiled". Sunday Express.
8. Associates, Ken McMonigle, HdK. "The King & I Musical".
9. (21 July 2025). "Helen George, Charlie Stemp and Basil Brush set for London pantomime".
10. "Review: Cinderella at Richmond Theatre".
11. (3 October 2017). "Call The Midwife's Helen George gives birth to first child". Yahoo! Celebrity News UK.
12. (16 October 2017). "Call The Midwife's Helen George reveals her baby daughter's beautiful name". [[Good Housekeeping]].
13. (2021-12-07). "Call the Midwife's Helen George finally confirms second baby's name and sex".
14. Farquharson, Georgia. (2021-11-20). "Helen George: Call The Midwife star gives birth to second child".
15. (16 July 2023). "Call the Midwife's Helen George and Jack Ashton announce split after seven years". The Independent.
16. "Call the Midwife star joins line-up of shark-fearing celebs for SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters".