VOLUntEER FORM

Accrington born actress Julie Hesmondhalgh first became a household name in the late 90s, for her portrayal of Hayley Cropper in the iconic ITV soap – Coronation Street, as the first British transgender character. She was a pivotal part of some of the most intriguing and impactful storylines of the time with her co-star, David Neilson, whose character Roy Cropper also won the hearts of every soap addict. Together they played out the last scene of Hayley’s death from pancreatic cancer, to a TV audience of over 10-million viewers. This portrayal earned her a National TV Award for Best Performance in a Serial Drama.

Her genuine concern also inspired her to work with pancreatic cancer charities and become involved in a petition and Parliamentary debate in 2014.

2015 saw her take on the role of Cleo Whittaker in the Channel4 adaptation of Russell T Davies drama ‘Cucumber’.

In the same year, following the death of Sophie Lancaster, Julie won a Royal Television Society Award for Best Female Actor for her portrayal of Sylvia, Sophie’s Mother, in the TV film ‘Black Roses’: The Killing of Sophie Lancaster.

She is a patron of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

Other 2015 projects included episodes in both ‘Moving On’, a BBC drama, and Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith’s ‘Inside No. 9’.

In 2016 she joined the cast of the already successful BBC drama – ‘Happy Valley’, as Amanda Wadsworth – a long suffering working wife and mother.

A year later she plays rape victim – Trish, in the hard-hitting final series of Broadchurch on ITV.

From 2018 onwards Julie guest starred in Dr. Who, played Amanda in Channel4’s ‘Catastrophe’ and also appeared in ITV’s ‘The Trouble With Maggie Cole’, with Dawn French, played Heather in ‘The A Word’, and Nancy in the BBC production of ‘The Pact’.

She also narrated ‘The Weakest Link’ and starred in ITV’s ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’, as Suzanne.

Julie’s love for the theatre has seen her tread the boards of the most prestigious theatres, including The Royal Court Theatre, London and The Royal Exchange, Manchester.

She is also a founding member of ‘Take Back’, a Manchester-based grassroots theatre company, a keen supporter of Arts Emergency, and mentor to The National Youth Theatre.

Just very recently (July ’24) she and husband Ian Kershaw were pivotal in the team effort to halt the closure of The Oldham Coliseum.

Julie has asked that her fee for our event at the Partington Theatre be donated to the theatre fund.