Annie Wallace (born 6 May 1965) is a British actress, known for portraying the role of Sally St. Claire in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, a role she has portrayed since 2015. She is the first transgender person to portray a regular transgender character in British soap opera history.[1]
Annie Wallace | |
|---|---|
 Wallace in 2023 | |
| Born | 6 May 1965 |
| Education | Manchester School of Theatre |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Known for | Role of Sally St. Claire in Hollyoaks |
| Website | anniewallace |
Life and career edit
Wallace was previously a member of the National Youth Theatre in 1981, but she temporarily stopped acting to work in computer science and sound engineering. After eighteen months as a research assistant for the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, from 1998 to 2000, where she advised for and inspired the character of Hayley Patterson, portrayed by actress Julie Hesmondhalgh,[2] she auditioned successfully for the Manchester School of Theatre in 2001, graduating in 2004. She then appeared in various Manchester theatre productions, including Withnail and I and Wyrd Sisters. In 2011, she appeared in an episode of Shameless[3] as school headmistress Miss Heller. Wallace is also a musician, with two albums written and recorded with collaborator John Beresford.[4] She has also worked on several podcast comedy series,[5] as well as sound and video design for various theatrical productions.
On 9 October 2015, it was announced[6] that she would be joining the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, in a new regular role as Sally St. Claire.[7][8] Wallace made her first appearance on 29 October 2015.
On 5 January 2018, Wallace took part in an edition of Celebrity Mastermind,[9] where her specialist subject was "Doctor Who – 1970–1980". She came in second place with 21 points, losing to journalist Martin Bell with 24 points. Her chosen charity was Mermaids.
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Shameless | Miss Heller | Episode: "Beginnings and Ends" |
| 2013 | Dream On | Barmaid | Film |
| 2015–present | Hollyoaks | Sally St. Claire | Series regular |
Awards and nominations edit
On 15 November 2015, she was placed at number 17 on the Rainbow List, published by The Independent on Sunday; a list of the most influential openly LGBTI individuals in the United Kingdom, published annually.[10] On 25 June 2016, Wallace was placed at number 39 on the Pride Power List, published by Out News Global as part of Pride in London; another list of in celebration of the achievements of 100 most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Britain, voted for by the public.[11] On 16 September 2016, she won The National Diversity Awards "Celebrity of the Year" award, at Liverpool Cathedral.[12] On the same day she was placed at No.38 on the DIVA Power List.[13] On 5 October 2016, she was nominated in the BAFTA Scotland Awards 2016 in the category of "Best Actress - Television" for her role in Hollyoaks;[14] the first ever British transgender actress to be nominated for a BAFTA award.[15] On 2 October 2021 she was presented with the Judges Award for Outstanding Trans Activism at the Proud Scotland Awards.[16]
| Year | Ceremony | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Sparkle National Transgender Awards | "Trans* Person in the Media/TV of the Year" | Hollyoaks as Sally St. Claire |
Nominated |
| 2016 | The National Diversity Awards | "Celebrity of the Year" | Won | |
| 2016 | TV Choice Awards | "Best Soap Newcomer" | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Icon Awards | "Cultural Icon of the Year" | Runner-up | |
| 2016 | Digital Spy Soap Awards | "Biggest Unsung Hero" | Nominated | |
| 2016 | BAFTA Scotland Awards 2016 | "Best Actress - Television" | Nominated | |
| 2017 | British LGBT Awards | "LGBT+ Celebrity Rising Star" | Nominated | |
| 2018 | TRIC Awards | "Best Soap Actor" | Nominated | |
| 2021 | Proud Scotland Awards | "The Judges Award" | for Outstanding Trans Activism | Won |
References edit
- ^ "Who is transgender Hollyoaks actress Annie Wallace and what else has she been in?". metro.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 February 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "Coronation Street's Hayley Cropper inspiration speaks out about being transgender for first time". The Mirror. 26 August 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ "Shameless - Series 8, Episode 13". www.channel4.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Beresford and Wallace music website". Beresford and Wallace. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "The Chop House comedy podcasts". YouTube - The Chop House. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ Lees, Paris (9 October 2015). "A trans actor joining EastEnders is a triumph – but one born from tragedy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 October 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Hollyoaks' first transgender actress says 'times are a-changing'". Liverpool Echo. 14 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (19 October 2015). "Hollyoaks newcomer Annie Wallace revealed as Hollyoaks High's next headteacher". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ Celebrity Mastermind
- ^ Morrison, Sarah (17 November 2015). "The Rainbow List 2015: 1 to 101". The Independent on Sunday. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ "The Pride Power List 2016". The Pride Power List. Out News Global. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ "Winner - "Celebrity of the Year 2016"". The National Diversity Awards. 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- ^ "DIVA magazine power list voted for by you". Out News Global. 16 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "British Academy Scotland Awards 2016". BAFTA Scotland. 3 October 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
- ^ "'Hollyoaks' Actress Annie Wallace Makes History With BAFTA Nomination". Huffington Post. 7 October 2016. Archived from the original on 7 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ Clark, Jonathan (6 October 2021). "Moray-based teacher John Naples-Campbell named Educator of the Year at National Proud Scotland Awards". Northern Scot. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.