Amy James-Kelly
Birth nameAmy James-Kelly
Birth placeAntrim, Ireland
OccupationActress
Years active2013–present

Amy James-Kelly (born 15 November 1995) is a Northern Irish actress. She gained prominence through her role as Maddie Heath in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2013–2015). She has since played leading and recurring roles in numerous television series, such as Jericho (2016), Safe (2018), Gentleman Jack (2019–2022), The Bay (2021), Three Families (2021), and Everyone Else Burns (2023–2024), as well as portraying Anne Boleyn in the Netflix miniseries Blood, Sex & Royalty (2022). She made her feature film debut in Military Wives (2019).

Early life

James-Kelly was born in Antrim, Northern Ireland and moved to England as a baby. She spent the first year of her life in Catterick, North Yorkshire before settling down in Failsworth, Greater Manchester. She attended The Blue Coat School, Oldham. She took extra-curricular classes at the Manchester School of Acting.[1][2]

Career

James-Kelly began her career in theatre productions of Beauty Manifesto, Trojan Women, My Fair Lady and Frank and Ferdinand.

In December 2013, James-Kelly made her television debut in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Maddie Heath, a troubled teenager and Sophie Webster's love interest. James-Kelly found out she had been cast on the bus home from college. In February 2015, she announced she would be leaving Coronation Street and made her final appearance that June when her character was killed off.[3]

On leaving, James-Kelly said, "I made the decision to leave because I'm young and adventurous, and I want to gain more experience and explore and improve my craft. Acting is my passion and I'm excited to see where it takes me."[4] She landed her second television role as Martha Quaintain in the 2016 period drama miniseries Jericho.[5]

James-Kelly starred as Jenny Delaney in the 2018 Netflix series Safe. She also had a guest role in the BBC One series Moving On.[6]

James-Kelly made her feature film debut as Sarah in the 2019 comedy-drama Military Wives. That same year, she had a recurring role as Suzannah Washington in the BBC One and HBO series Gentleman Jack.[7]

In 2021, James-Kelly appeared as Grace Marshbrook in series 2 of the ITV crime drama The Bay and starred as Hannah Kennedy in the two-part BBC One drama Three Families.[8][9] She has a role in the Channel 4 sitcom Everyone Else Burns.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2017Last SummerEmmaShort film (also writer, director, producer)
2018Mission ChristmasAmyShort film
2019Girl AloneThe GirlShort film
Military WivesSarah
2021SeacoleMiss Eames

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013–2015Coronation StreetMaddie Heath131 episodes
2016JerichoMartha QuintainMiniseries, 7 episodes
2018Moving OnEmmaEpisode: "The Registrar"
SafeJenny DelaneyMain role. Miniseries, 8 episodes
2019–2022Gentleman JackSuzannah Washington/Sowden7 episodes
2021The BayGrace Marshbrook3 episodes (series 2)
Three FamiliesHannah KennedyMiniseries, 2 episodes
2022Blood, Sex & RoyaltyAnne Boleyn3 part docu-drama
2023–presentEveryone Else BurnsRachel LewisMain role
2026IndustryJennifer Bevan7 episodes

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2014British Soap AwardsBest NewcomerCoronation Street[10]
2023Edinburgh International Television FestivalBreakthrough ActorEveryone Else Burns[11]

References

  1. ^ "Amy James-Kelly". Girl Alone. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  2. ^ Turner, Matthew (6 March 2020). ""I'm a really proud Manc" – Military Wives actress Amy James-Kelly on growing up in Failsworth". I Love MCR. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  3. ^ Flanagan, Emma (9 February 2015). "Coronation Street's Amy James-Kelly quits her role as Maddie Heath". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Coronation Street: Maddie Heath dies". Radio Times. 1 June 2016. Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  5. ^ "ITV commissions new eight-part drama series Jericho". ITV Press Centre. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  6. ^ Seddon, Dan (19 November 2018). "Coronation Street's Amy James-Kelly was told she'd never work again after quitting Maddie Heath role". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. ^ Fogarty, Paul (24 June 2019). "Gentleman Jack: Who plays Miss Washington? From Coronation Street to Netflix". HITC. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Cast confirmed for BBC One drama Three Families, from the producers of Three Girls". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ^ "The Bay cast: Who is Grace actress Amy James-Kelly and was she in Coronation Street?". 21 January 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  10. ^ Brown, David (24 May 2014). "British Soap Awards 2014: full list of winners revealed". Radio Times. Archived 17 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Edinburgh TV awards winners 2023". Edinburgh TV Festival. Archived 14 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 February 2026.