| Birth name | Holli Cara-Rhian Dempsey |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 11 May 1990 (age 36) |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Website | hollidempsey.com |
Holli Cara-Rhian Dempsey (born 11 May 1990)[1] is an English actress, writer and comedian. On television, she is known for her roles in the ITV drama The Ice Cream Girls (2013), the Channel 4 series Derek (2013–2014), the E4 series The Aliens (2016), and the Hulu series Harlots (2017–2019). Her films include Aaaaaaaah! (2015) and Dad's Army (2016).
Early life
Dempsey is from East London.[2] Her first experience of acting was in a school play, as Detective Bernstein in Little Shop of Horrors.[3] Dempsey was trained in Joan Littlewood improvisation style as part of the junior group at Theatre Royal Stratford East.[1]
Career
In 2013, she had a regular role as Maureen Mulliganin the tv series Breathless.[4] In 2014, she appeared as Vicky for ten episodes of the Ricky Gervais comedy series Derek.[5] In 2015, she appeared as Jolene in You, Me and the Apocalypse for a single episode: "Right in the Nuts".[4]
In 2016, she played Holly in the TV series The Aliens,[4] and appeared in ITV's Plebs.[6] The same year, she was in 2016 film version of Dad’s Army.[7] In 2016, she appeared in "Hated in the Nation", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.[3]
In 2019, she appeared in After Life,[8] then in 2020, she played a lead role as Emily Lacey in the TV series Harlots,[9] alongside Samantha Morton.[9] In 2020, she appeared in the BBC comedy Ghosts.[8]
She has also appeared in an episode of BBC's Call the Midwife,[1] as prostitute 'Bridget Cole', and ITV’s The Delivery Man (2015),[8] and The Ice Cream Girls (2013),[10] an ITV drama based on the novel by Dorothy Koomson. Dempsey also appears in the 2015 British comedy film Aaaaaaaah! directed by Steve Oram.[8]
In 2021, Dempsey played the role of Grace Melbury in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel The Woodlanders. In 2022 and 2023, she took the lead role of Jess in three series of Matthew Broughton’s radio thriller Broken Colours.[11]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | After Effects | Liz (Friend) | Short film. Credited as Holli Wood |
| 2011 | This Time Next Year | Jacqui Morgan | Video |
| The Fighter's Ballad | The Fighter's Sister | ||
| 2012 | Full Firearms | Bianca | |
| 2013 | Lost Girl | Tara Stokes | Short film |
| 2014 | A Wonderful Christmas Time | Charlotte | |
| 2015 | Aaaaaaaah! | Helen | [8] |
| Drift | Courtney | Short film | |
| 2016 | Dad's Army | Vera | |
| Donald Mohammed Trump | Campaign Helper | Short films | |
| 2017 | Tom | Helen | |
| 2018 | None of the Above | Cassie | |
| Songbird | Tara | Also known as Alright Now | |
| 2019 | Londonstani | Mrs. Hancock | Short film |
| A Guide to Second Date Sex | Bianca | ||
| 2020 | A Christmas Carol | Fan (voice) | |
| Ecstasy | Gary the Drug Dealer | Short film | |
| 2021 | Evie: Evil Has a New Name | Evie | Premiered at Arrow Video FrightFest |
| 2023 | Bolan's Shoes | Zoe | |
| 2024 | Housewarming | Liz | Short film |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Bill | Willow | Series 26; episodes 30 & 31: "Respect: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2011 | Tracy Beaker Returns | Kali | Series 2; episode 11: "Snake Bite" |
| Doctors | Titch | Series 13; episode 54: "Protection" | |
| Holby City | Alison Newton | Series 13; episode 48: "Night Cover" | |
| Doctor Who | Kelly | Series 6; episode 12: "Closing Time" | |
| 2012 | Whitechapel | Elsa Durham | Series 3; episode 6 |
| Wizards vs Aliens | Meena | Series 1; episode 5: "Rebel Magic, Part 1" | |
| 2013 | The Ice Cream Girls | Young Poppy Carlisle | Mini-series; episodes 1–3[8] |
| Big Bad World | Katie | Episode 4 | |
| Breathless | Maureen Mulligan | Mini-series; episodes 1–6[4] | |
| 2013–2014 | Derek | Vicky | Series 1 & 2; 10 episodes[5] |
| 2014 | New Worlds | Agnes | Mini-series; episodes 1–4 |
| 2015 | Call the Midwife | Bridget Cole | Series 4; episode 4 |
| DCI Banks | Jodie Nash | Series 4; episode 1: "What Will Survive: Part 1" | |
| The Delivery Man | Claire Fisher | Episode 1: "Youth" | |
| You, Me and the Apocalypse | Jolene | Mini-series; episode 5: "Right in the Nuts" | |
| Jekyll and Hyde | Ginnie | Mini-series; episode 6: "Spring-Heeled Jack" | |
| 2016 | The Aliens | Holly | Mini-series; episodes 1–3, 5 & 6 |
| Plebs | Alba | Series 3; episode 7: "The New Master"[6] | |
| People Just Do Nothing | Atlantic Receptionist | Series 3; episode 2: "Record Deal" | |
| Black Mirror | Clara Meades | Series 3; episode 6: "Hated in the Nation"[3] | |
| Blink | Herself - Contestant | Series 2; episode 2 | |
| 2017–2019 | Harlots | Emily Lacey | Main role. Series 1–3; 24 episodes |
| 2019 | Flack | Carly | Series 1; episode 2: "Summer" |
| 2020 | Endeavour | Jenny Tate | Series 7; episodes 1 & 3: "Oracle" & "Zenana" |
| After Life | Plastic Surgery Woman | Series 2; episode 4 | |
| The Alienist | Masie | Series 2; episode 6: "Angel of Darkness: Memento Mori" | |
| I Hate Suzie | Danielle | Series 1; episode 6: "Guilt" | |
| Ghosts | Isabelle | Series 2; episode 5: "The Thomas Thorne Affair" | |
| 2020–2022 | The Emily Atack Show | Various characters | Series 1–3; 12 episodes |
| 2022 | Agatha Raisin | Chelsea / Samantha | Series 4; episode 2: "Love, Lies and Liquor" |
| Murder in Provence | Delphine Jourdain | Episode 3 | |
| 2023 | Black Ops | Senior Nurse | Series 1; episode 1 |
| Mrs Sidhu Investigates | Amelie Cook | Episode 1: "Ripped" | |
| 2024 | McDonald & Dodds | Lilith Wood | Series 4; episode 3: "Wedding Fever" |
| Stags | Sam | Episode 1: "The Bath" | |
| Gut Punch | Viv | Mini-series. Also known as How to Break Up with Your Link | |
| 2024–2025 | The Marlow Murder Club | DC Alice Hackett | Series 1 & 2; 10 episodes |
| 2025 | Grace | Sam Fordwater | Series 5; episode 2: "Dead at First Sight"[12] |
| Lynley | Emma Kilfoyle | Episode 4: "With No One as a Witness" |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | The Diofield Chronicle | Tremina Umbert (voice) | English versions |
| Valkyrie Elysium | Valkyrie / Nora (voice) |
References
- ^ "Holli Dempsey". en.kinorium.com. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ Nambiar, Prerna (16 February 2020). "'Harlots' Season 2 will be all about falling from grace, says Holli Dempsey". MEAWW. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ Byrne, John (2 November 2022). "Actor Holli Dempsey: 'Fear is normal. Say hello to it, but don't let it get in your way'". The Stage
- ^ Kasia Delgado (8 March 2016). "Meet the cast of The Aliens". radiotimes.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016.
- ^ "Derek - Holli Dempsey interview". comedy.co.uk. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ "Derek's Ladies Kerry Godliman And Holli Dempsey Reveal What Kind Of 'Office' Ricky Gervais Really Runs". huffingtonpost.co.uk. May 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ^ Holli Dempsey,exclusive to HELLO! Online: Holli Dempsey, star of Ricky Gervais's comedy Derek and the new Dad's Army film speaks exclusive to HELLO! Online, accessdate: 8 February 2016
- ^ "Holli Dempsey". comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (10 June 2020). "Harlots Cancelled After 3 Seasons at Hulu". TVLine
- ^ "Holli Dempsey The Ice Cream Girls". The Arts Desk. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 – Broken Colours". Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Debnath, Neela (April 13, 2025). "ITV Grace season 5 cast from Unforgotten star to brand new actor joining". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2025-12-29.
External links
- Holli Dempsey at IMDb
- Holli Dempsey at Curtis Brown