Kay Purcell (6 December 1963 – 23 December 2020)[1][2] was an English actress. She was best known for portraying the roles of Cynthia Daggert in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale (2001–2002), Candice Smilie in the BBC school-based drama series Waterloo Road (2007–2009), and Gina Conway in the CBBC drama series Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012) and its spin-off series The Dumping Ground (2013). From 2015 to 2017, she appeared as Mrs. Rennison in the CBBC sitcom So Awkward.[3][4]
Kay Purcell | |
|---|---|
 Purcell as Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns | |
| Born | 6 December 1963 Leyland, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 23 December 2020 (aged 57) Lancashire, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1993–2020 |
| Television | Emmerdale Waterloo Road Tracy Beaker Returns The Dumping Ground So Awkward |
| Children | 3 |
Career edit
Purcell's first acting role was as a TV reporter in the TV series Cracker in 1995. She then later starred in Coronation Street as Rhona Summers for 3 episodes in 1997. She appeared as Jenny in the TV series City Central. In 1998 and 2000, she starred in the BBC One series Casualty. In 1998 she played WDC McCarthy, and in 2000 played Diane Abley. Later in 2000, she starred in the TV series Children's Ward as Winsome. Her first major role was as Cynthia Daggert in ITV's Emmerdale. She starred in 188 episodes from 2001 to 2002. Her next major role was in Bernard's Watch from 2004 to 2005, as Ms. Savage for 21 episodes. Purcell played a supporting role in BBC's Waterloo Road as Bolton Smilie's mum Candice Smilie from 2007 to 2009. She played the role of Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns for three series, as well as the first series of the spin-off series The Dumping Ground.
Illness and death edit
In early 2017, Purcell was diagnosed with breast cancer.[5] Purcell posted images, videos and blogs on social media to show her own experience of the disease.[6] In early 2020, Purcell was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and was given a life expectancy of two years.[7] She died from metastatic breast cancer which had spread to her liver on 23 December 2020, aged 57.[2]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Cracker | TV Reporter | Episode: "True Romance: Part 2" |
| 1996–1998 | Emmerdale | Carmel Morgan | Recurring role; 9 episodes |
| 1997 | Coronation Street | Rhona Summers | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Casualty | WDC McCarthy | Episode: "Taking Sides" |
| 1999 | City Central | Jenny | Episode: "Paradise Lost" |
| My Parents Are Aliens | Mrs. Williams | Episode: "The Home Team" | |
| 2000 | Casualty | Diane Abley | Episode: "Fall Out" |
| Children's Ward | Winsome | Series 12: Episode 8 | |
| 2001–2002 | Emmerdale | Cynthia Daggert | Regular role; 188 episodes |
| 2003 | Holby City | Heather Nixon | Episode: "Read My Lips" |
| 2004–2005 | Bernard's Watch | Ms. Savage | Main role; 21 episodes |
| 2004 | Sex Lives of the Potato Men | Gloria | Film |
| 2005 | Messiah | Prof Uhomi | Episodes: "The Harrowing: Parts 1–3" |
| Doctors | Mrs. Jane Manners | 2 episodes | |
| 2006 | Ideal | Alice | Episode: "The Delivery" |
| My Parents Are Aliens | Mrs. Brookman | 3 episodes | |
| 2007–2009 | Waterloo Road | Candice Smilie | Main role; 24 episodes |
| 2010–2012 | Tracy Beaker Returns | Gina Conway | All 39 episodes |
| 2011–2012 | Tracy Beaker Survival Files | Main role | |
| 2012 | Hacker Time | Herself | Episode: "Connor Byrne and Kay Purcell" |
| 2013 | The Dumping Ground | Gina Conway | Main role; 13 episodes |
| 2014–2016 | Hacker Time | Mrs. Breadbin | 13 episodes |
| 2015–2017 | So Awkward | Mrs. Rennison | Main role; 25 episodes |
| 2016 | Sunny D | Barbara | Episode: "D Is for Declarations" |
| 2020 | When It Rains | Sonia | 5 episodes |
| 2021 | Doctors | Mo Larkin | Episode: "Of Mice and Women"; posthumous release |
Theatre edit
References edit
- ^ Purcell, Kay (5 December 2018). "My thoughts. My Journey. My Story with Cancer". Facebook. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
Tomorrow is my birthday
- ^ a b "Kay Purcell of Emmerdale and Tracy Beaker Returns dies at 57". BBC News. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ "Tracey Beaker Returns Star Kay Purcell's Wicked Role in Doncaster Panto". Doncaster Free Press (Doncaster, England) (subscription required). 26 September 2012. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ "Kay's back home for Christmas". Lancashire Post. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ "TV star Kay Purcell courageously shares her cancer journey". Blog Preston. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "Kay Purcell: My Story". Facebook.
- ^ "Kay Purcell - Facebook". Facebook.
- ^ "THEATRE: Everybody Knows All Birds Have Wings; Pleasance, London". The Independent. 3 February 1997. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ Theatre Record. I. Herbert. 1 January 1997. pp. 128–129.
- ^ "Hidden truths of hormonal housewives tick all the right boxes". Grimsby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ "Theatre review: Hormonal Housewives, Festival Theatre". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ "Review: Rapunzel, York Barbican". York Press. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ "REVIEW: Sleeping Beauty pantomime at Southport Theatre, by Nicola Kenyon". South Port Visiter. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ Riley, Joe (16 December 2014). "SLEEPING BEAUTYSouthport Theatre; Review". Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England) (subscription required). Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
- ^ "Pantomime Reviews: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose and Snow White". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
External links edit
- Kay Purcell at IMDb