Born:
July 15, 1975
in
Gateshead
Best Known For:
Playing Kate in EastEnders.
Early-life:
Born July 15, 1975, in Gateshead. She doesn't come from a theatrical background - her dad was a builder and her mum a classroom assistant - and says she has no idea where her love of acting came from. But she's been doing it from an early age; she attended classes at First Act Theatre in Gosforth and began appearing in Byker Grove, alongside Ant and Dec, at the age of 13.
Career:
After quitting Byker Grove in 1992, Halfpenny took a break from TV for five years, eventually returning with a role in The Bill. Small parts in Birds of a Feather, Heartbeat and Peak Practice followed before she began playing Rebecca in Coronation Street in 1999. A year later, the character left Weatherfield having broken up Martin Platt's marriage to Gail. In 2002 she began a three-year stint as Kate, who married Phil Mitchell, in EastEnders. Since then Halfpenny has popped up in Inspector George Gently, Waterloo Road, Wild at Heart and Mount Pleasant. She was also Strictly Come Dancing champion in 2004 and has appeared in several acclaimed stage productions, including Calendar Girls and Legally Blonde.
Quote:
'Actors are always frustrated by the lack of versatility of the casting people who see you for roles. They do pigeonhole you.'
Trivia:
Her neice, Chelsea, is also an actress and had a three-year stint in Emmerdale.