Katherine Kelly (actress)

Early life and education

Katherine Kelly was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She grew up in both South Yorkshire and the United States. She has strong links with The Lamproom Theatre in Barnsley, established in 1998 by her father John (who is originally from Castleisland, County Kerry, Ireland), and has regularly supported fund-raising events held there.

She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art with fellow students Meredith MacNeill, Leo Bill, Elliot Cowan, Laurence Fox, and actor and novelist Anna Hope, graduating in 2001.

Career

Kelly starred in ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Becky McDonald from 2006 until 2012.

Kelly appeared on the 2010 album, Coronation Street: Rogues, Angels, Heroes & Fools. Kelly, in character as Becky McDonald, sang the lead single from the album, If It's Too Late, which was remixed by former PWL and Stock Aitken Waterman "Mixmaster", Pete Hammond.

After she left Coronation Street, she starred as Miss Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer at the National Theatre from 24 January 2012.

Kelly's first television role after leaving Coronation Street was in the 90-minute BBC Four biopic The Best Possible Taste, in which she played Lee Middleton, wife of Kenny Everett. In early 2013 she played socialite Lady Loxley in the ten part ITV drama series Mr Selfridge, later signing on to appear in the second series of the show in 2014 and its final series in 2016.

Later in 2013 she joined the lead cast of The Field of Blood, based on the novel by Denise Mina. Kelly played Maloney, an ambitious woman in the "ferociously male-dominated world of 1980s newspaper journalism". Also that year she starred in the three part ITV thriller, The Guilty, as Claire Reid, mother to a missing five-year-old child.

In 2014 she played Alaura Kingsley in the critically acclaimed production of City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse directed by Josie Rourke.

In August 2015 it was announced that Kelly would join the cast of Happy Valley, which aired the following year. In the series Kelly portrays DI Jodie Shackleton, a part that was written for her by series creator Sally Wainwright. Kelly enjoyed the opportunity to play a character in her native Yorkshire accent, and prepared for the role by shadowing police detectives in Halifax. Also in 2016 she appeared as the Permanent Secretary in four episodes of The Night Manager.

On 4 April 2016, it was announced that Kelly would appear in the BBC Three Doctor Who spin-off series Class written by Patrick Ness, airing from October 2016. In October 2016, Kelly appeared as Hannah in ITV drama Him.

In 2018, Kelly made her first film appearance since 2009 in Dirty God, playing Lisa, the protagonist Jade's mother. The following year, Kelly appeared in the feature film Official Secrets, based on the real life events of intelligence whistleblower Katharine Gun (portrayed by Keira Knightley). In the film, Kelly plays Jacqueline Jones, an MI6 agent who tacitly confirms the legitimacy of Gun's leaked memo to a journalist contact at The Observer.

The same year, Kelly appeared in an episode of Flack, as Brooke. Later that year, Kelly portrayed Leah in four part ITV drama Cheat. In September 2019, Netflix released its mini-series Criminal: UK with Kelly in the role of the lead investigator.

Kelly joined the cast of Liar for its second series in 2020, playing Detective Karen Renton. A character bio for Renton describes her as an “unconventional” officer, whose “bluntness” often ruffles feathers. Of her role, Kelly stated “It's my belief that Karen Renton is that way because she has to be that, and if she wasn't that, I wouldn't believe that out of all the detectives that they could send from the Met to solve this front-page news story, why would they pick her if she wasn't excellent at her job?" she said. “I think she would have been chosen because she can act very quickly and very swiftly, and she has great instincts."

In September 2023, Kelly appeared as Emily Jackson in the ITV1 drama series The Long Shadow.

Personal life

Kelly married Ryan Clark in 2013 in Las Vegas. They have two daughters. In August 2020, the couple announced their separation when Kelly relocated from her home in north London to her home town of Barnsley.

In November 2022, Kelly was reported to be dating actor Tony Pitts.

Filmography

Television

Film

Audio

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Katherine Kelly

References

References

1. "Katherine Kelly aka Becky MacDonald from Coronation Street". Unit One Entertainment.
2. Penfold, Phil. (19 August 2013). "The Big Interview: Katherine Kelly". [[Yorkshire Post]].
3. Ellen, Barbara. (17 February 2012). "Katherine Kelly: from Rada to the Rovers – and back to the stage". [[The Guardian]].
4. Penfold, Phil. (6 February 2013). "Katherine Kelly: A role with surprise in store". [[Yorkshire Post]].
5. Fabrique. "Student & graduate profiles — RADA".
6. Bramford, Matt (9 March 2015). [https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/eastenders-main/eastenders-news/soap-stars-in-tv-adverts-76014/ "Soap Stars in TV Adverts!"]. ''[[What's on TV]]''. [[TI Media]]. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
7. Sarah Tetteh. (20 April 2011). "Corrie's Katherine Kelly to hit charts". Mirror.
8. Masters, Tim. (23 January 2012). "Katherine Kelly: Coronation Street star back on stage". [[BBC News]].
9. Fletcher, Alex. (3 April 2012). "Katherine Kelly in Kenny Everett biopic: First picture".
10. Jeffrey, Morgan. (29 March 2012). "Jeremy Piven, Katherine Kelly to star in ITV's 'Mr Selfridge'".
11. Lazarus, Susanna. (25 April 2013). "New plot details for series two of Mr Selfridge". [[Radio Times]].
12. (8 January 2016). "Katherine Kelly on her return to Mr Selfridge". [[Radio Times]].
13. (29 November 2011). "Katherine Kelly to star in BBC Scotland drama, Field Of Blood: The Dead Hour". BBC.
14. (5 April 2013). "Katherine Kelly for new crime drama". [[Southern Daily Echo.
15. Blount, Lorna. (17 December 2014). "City of Angels musical returns to London". [[BBC News]].
16. Tartaglione, Nancy. (24 August 2015). "'Happy Valley' Adds Cast For Season 2; Lee Hupfield Inks Deal With Cats On The Roof Media – Global Briefs". Deadline.
17. Hiley, Robert. (9 February 2016). "Katherine Kelly: 'It's nice to play someone in my own accent in Happy Valley – I never get to do that!'". [[What's on TV]].
18. (23 January 2016). "Tom Hiddleston is up to his neck in first trailer for The Night Manager".
19. Gill, James. (4 April 2016). "Who are the stars of new Doctor Who spin-off Class?".
20. "Modern Films announce the UK and Irish release date of June 7 for Sacha Polak's English-language debut DIRTY GOD".
21. (14 March 2019). "Flack: 5 fast facts from Season 1, Episode 4".
22. "7 Questions With… Cheat's Katherine Kelly".
23. (9 September 2019). "Katherine Kelly and the 'Criminal' cast reveal why it's a police drama with a difference". Good Housekeeping.
24. Fenwick, George. (2 March 2020). "Who is DI Karen Renton in Liar season 2? Katherine Kelly's character explained". [[Evening Standard]].
25. Jessop, Vicky. (2 October 2023). "Who is Katherine Kelly, the star of true crime show The Long Shadow?".
26. (25 September 2023). "The Guardian".
27. Fitzpatrick, Katie. (2020-08-15). "Coronation Street star Katherine Kelly has split from her husband".
28. (30 November 2022). "Katherine Kelly 'dating Tony Pitts'".
29. (11 November 2024). "Channel 4 announces thrilling new drama In Flight starring Katherine Kelly". Channel 4.
30. Pelley, Rich. (12 September 2025). "'Partridge is more popular than me – that's a given!' Steve Coogan on Alan's glorious return". [[The Guardian]].
31. (10 December 2025). "Rafe Spall, Jenna Coleman and Katherine Kelly to lead the cast of Steven Moffat comedy drama 'Number 10' for Channel 4".