Nicola Stephenson (born 5 July 1971) is an English actress. She played the roles of Margaret Clemence in Brookside, Julie Fitzjohn in Holby City, Sarah Williams in The Chase, Allie Westbrook in Waterloo Road, and Tess Harris in Emmerdale.
Life and career
She was born in Oldham, Lancashire and attended North Chadderton School for her secondary education.
Career She is known mainly for her roles in television, which include Margaret Clemence in Channel 4's Brookside; Stephenson's on-air kiss with Anna Friel (Beth Jordache) was the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss to be broadcast on British television. In 2012 the kiss was broadcast to over 5 billion people when it was included as part of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony directed by Danny Boyle. The opening ceremony was broadcast uncensored in 76 countries where homosexuality is illegal and therefore became the first homosexual kiss to be broadcast in these countries. Other roles have included Julie Fitzjohn/Bradford in Holby City, Suzie Davidson in Clocking Off, Jackie Armstrong in ITV's Christmas Lights/Northern Lights/City Lights, Sarah Williams in BBC's The Chase and Helen Enright in All at Sea. In 2012, Nicola played Louise, a series lead in the ITV drama Homefront. In 2014 she joined the regular cast of Waterloo Road as art teacher Allie Westbrook for 11 episodes.
Her theatre roles include A Patriot for Me at the Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Peter Gill, His Girl Friday and Edmund at the National Theatre, directed by Ed Hall, and War Horse at the New London Theatre in London's West End, directed by Marianne Elliot. In 2025 she played Dorothy Pizer in the play Liberation written by Zodwa Nyoni at Royal Exchange Theatre as part of Manchester International Festival.
In 2007, she had a lead role in the BBC TV 3 part series Superstorm directed by Julian Simpson. In 2014 she worked with Simpson again when he directed her as a guest lead in the BBC TV series New Tricks.
She appeared in the ITV drama Safe House in early 2015.
From 2015 to 2016, she played the part of Tess Harris in the soap-opera Emmerdale. Her five-month stint on the serial came to a sudden end when her character was killed off in a hit-and-run incident. Stephenson's role in the soap also reunited her with her co-star from The Chase, Gaynor Faye, who had played the character of Megan Macey since 2012.
Filmography Films Year Title Role Notes 1989 The Rainbow Ethel 1998 The Duke Edith Short film 1999 The Last Yellow Karen2004 Nits Mum Short film Floating Grace2005 Mr John Carol 2019 Tales from the Lodge Amanda 2023 Scoffed Jane Short film Stone Rita Taylor Television Year Title Role Notes 1988 Coronation Street Priscilla Millbanks Recurring role; 3 episodes1990 Children's Ward Amanda Recurring role; 5 episodes Medics Suzie Episode: "Annie"The Final FrameLouiseTV film 1990–1994 Brookside Margaret Clemence Series regular; 238 episodes 1994 Nice Day at the Office Lizzie Kershaw Series regular; 6 episodes1995Go Back OutSamTV film1996Kiss and TellAlex Reynolds Out of the Blue Lucy Shaw Recurring role; 5 episodes1997 Wokenwell Fran Rainford Series regular; 6 episodes The Bill Julie Hicks Episode: "Shades of Grey Part 1 & 2" 1998–1999 My Wonderful Life Gail Recurring role 1998–2001 Casualty Julie Fitzjohn Recurring role; 4 episodes 1999 Big Bad World Jennifer Episode: "What's Wrong with Bees?" 1999–2001 Holby City Julie Fitzjohn Series regular; 50 episodes 2002–2003 Clocking Off Suzie Davidson Recurring role; 11 episodes2003Without YouJessTV film 2004 Animated Tales of the World Wife Episode: "The Shoemaker's Son"Christmas LightsJackieTV film2005 The Afternoon Play Nicola Passmore Episode: "The Hitch" Dead Man Weds Donna Havercroft Recurring role; 4 episodes Waking the Dead Julia Henderson Episode: "Subterraneans"The WalkChristineTV filmLegless 2006 Northern Lights Jackie Armstrong Series regular; 6 episodesAll in the GameJennifer 2006–2007 The Chase Sarah Williams Series regular; 20 episodes2007 Superstorm Sara Hughes Miniseries; 3 episodes City Lights Jackie Armstrong Series regular; 6 episodes2008 Hotel Babylon Justine Episode: "Series 3, Episode 1" Lark Rise to Candleford Susan Braby Episode: "Series 1, Episode 7"Clash of the SantasJackie ArmstrongTV film 2009 Law & Order: UK Mandy Jackson Episode: "Unloved"2010 Strike Back Diane Porter Recurring role; 3 episodes Moving On Lindsay Episode: "Skin Deep"2012 Life Stories Megan's Mum Episode: "Megan's Friend" Homefront Louise Mancetta Miniseries; 6 episodes 2013–2015 All at Sea Mum Series regular; 26 episodes2014 New Tricks Emily Fraser Episode: "London Underground" Waterloo Road Allie Westbrook Series regular; 10 episodes 2015 Safe House Ali Blackwell Recurring role; 4 episodes 2015–2016 Emmerdale Tess Harris Series regular; 31 episodes 2017–2020 The Worst Witch Julie Hubble Recurring role; 25 episodes 2018 The Alienist Maebh Connor Recurring role; 3 episodes2019 Agatha Raisin Liz Jellop Episode: "The Curious Curate" Midsomer Murders Izzy Silvermane Episode: "With Baited Breath"2020 Silent Witness Grace Beaty Episode: "Hope" Broke Marnie Series regular; 6 episodes Dun Breedin''' | Sandra | Miniseries; 1 episode |- | 2021 | Whitstable Pearl| Connie Rowe | Episode: "The Free Waters" |- | rowspan="3"|2022 | Call the Midwife| Thelma Haig | Episode: "Series 11, Episode 3" |- | The Dumping Ground| Delilah Fortune | Episode: "Saviour" |- | The Walk-In| Renshaw's Mother | Miniseries; 3 episodes |- | rowspan="3"|2023 | Maternal| Debbie Wares | Recurring role; 2 episodes |- | London Kills| Kathy Lawrence | Episode: "Fallout" |- | The Long Shadow| Olive Smelt | Miniseries; 3 episodes |- | 2026 | The Good Ship Murder| Erin Daniels | Episode: "Cannes" |- | TBA | The Siege'' TBA Upcoming drama series
Personal life Stephenson was in a relationship with actor Kieran O'Brien for eight years. The relationship ended in 1999. Stephenson has two daughters.
References
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