Kay Purcell

Kay Purcell (6 December 1963 – 23 December 2020)[1][2] was an English actress, who appeared as Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns and in the spin-off series The Dumping Ground, Cynthia Daggert in Emmerdale, Mrs. Rennison in So Awkward and Candice Smilie in Waterloo Road.[3][4]

Kay Purcell
Purcell as Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns
Born(1963-12-06)6 December 1963
Leyland, Lancashire, England
Died23 December 2020(2020-12-23) (aged 57)
Lancashire, England
OccupationActress
Years active1993–2020
TelevisionEmmerdale
Waterloo Road
Tracy Beaker Returns
The Dumping Ground
So Awkward
Children3

Career

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 1 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 187 episodes from 2001 to 2002. Her next major role was in Bernard's Watch in 2004–2005, as Ms. Savage for 21 episodes. Purcell played a recurring role in BBC's Waterloo Road as Bolton Smilie's Mum Candice Smilie from 2007–2009. 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, her departure was unexplained in later episodes, although head writer Elly Brewer stated that Gina left to get a position in order to have more money to pay for her Mother, who has dementia. In 2002, Purcell took part in the show Celebrity Fit Club, where she and the other celebrities lost weight for charity.[5] In February 2021, Purcell will be featured in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors; her final acting role before her death.[6]

Personal life

In early 2017, Purcell was diagnosed with breast cancer.[7] Purcell posted images, videos and blogs on social media to show her own experience of the disease.[8] In early 2020, Purcell was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and was given a life expectancy of two years.[9] She died from metastatic breast cancer which had spread to her liver on 23 December 2020, aged 57.[2]

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1995CrackerTV ReporterEpisode: "True Romance: Part 2"
1996–1998EmmerdaleCarmel MorganRecurring role; 9 episodes
1997Coronation StreetRhona Summers3 episodes
1998CasualtyWDC McCarthyEpisode: "Taking Sides"
1999City CentralJennyEpisode: "Paradise Lost"
1999My Parents Are AliensMrs. WilliamsEpisode: "The Home Team"
2000CasualtyDiane AbleyEpisode: "Fall Out"
2000Children's WardWinsomeEpisode #12.8
2001–2002EmmerdaleCynthia DaggertRegular role; 187 episodes
2003Holby CityHeather NixonEpisode: "Read My Lips"
2004–2005Bernard's WatchMs. SavageMain role; 21 episodes
2004Sex Lives of the Potato MenGloriaFilm
2005MessiahProf UhomiEpisodes: "The Harrowing: Parts 1–3"
2005DoctorsMrs. Jane Manners2 episodes
2006IdealAliceEpisode: "The Delivery"
2006My Parents Are AliensMrs. Brookman3 episodes
2007–2009Waterloo RoadCandice SmilieMain role; 24 episodes (series 3–5)
2010–2012Tracy Beaker ReturnsGina ConwayMain role
2011–2012Tracy Beaker Survival FilesGina ConwayMain role
2012Hacker TimeHerselfEpisode: "Connor Byrne and Kay Purcell"
2013The Dumping GroundGina ConwayMain role; 13 episodes (series 1)
2014–2016Hacker TimeMrs. Breadbin13 episodes
2015–2016So AwkwardMrs. RennisonMain role; 18 episodes
2020When It RainsSoniaVoice role; 5 episodes
2021DoctorsMo LarkinEpisode: "Of Mice and Women"; post-humous release

Theatre

References
  1. Purcell, Kay (5 December 2018). "My thoughts. My Journey. My Story with Cancer". Facebook. Retrieved 13 September 2018. Tomorrow is my birthday
  2. "Kay Purcell of Emmerdale and Tracy Beaker Returns dies at 57". BBC News. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  3. "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.
  4. "Kay's back home for Christmas". Lancashire Post. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  5. "TV review: Fats of life for celebs". Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England) (subscription required). 18 October 2002. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  6. Timblick, Simon (9 February 2021). "Doctors spoilers: Al Haskey is SPOOKED by Lily Walker's behaviour". Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  7. "TV star Kay Purcell courageously shares her cancer journey". Blog Preston. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  8. "Kay Purcell: My Story".
  9. "Kay Purcell - Facebook".
  10. "THEATRE: Everybody Knows All Birds Have Wings; Pleasance, London". The Independent. 3 February 1997. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  11. Theatre Record. I. Herbert. 1 January 1997. pp. 128–129.
  12. "Hidden truths of hormonal housewives tick all the right boxes". Grimsby Telegraph. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  13. "Theatre review: Hormonal Housewives, Festival Theatre". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  14. "Review: Rapunzel, York Barbican". York Press. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  15. "REVIEW: Sleeping Beauty pantomime at Southport Theatre, by Nicola Kenyon". South Port Visiter. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  16. 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.
  17. "Pantomime Reviews: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose and Snow White". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.