Amy James-Kelly

{{Multiple issues|

}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Amy James-Kelly

| image = Amy James-Kelly 2.jpg

| caption = James-Kelly in 2009

| birth_name = Amy James-Kelly

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|15 November 1995}}

| birth_place = Antrim, Northern Ireland

| occupation = Actress

| yearsactive = 2013–present

| known for =

}}

Amy James-Kelly (born 15 November 1995) is a British actress. She gained prominence through her role as Maddie Heath in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2013–2015). She has since starred in the Netflix series Safe (2018), the BBC One drama Three Families (2021), and the Channel 4 sitcom Everyone Else Burns (2023).

Early life

James-Kelly was born in Antrim, Northern Ireland and moved to England as a baby. She spent the first year of her life in Catterick, North Yorkshire before settling down in Failsworth, Greater Manchester. She attended The Blue Coat School, Oldham. She took extra-curricular classes at the Manchester School of Acting.{{Cite web|url=https://www.girlalonefilm.com/the-cast/amy-james-kelly|title=Amy James-Kelly|website=Girl Alone|accessdate=19 May 2021|archive-date=1 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201144019/https://www.girlalonefilm.com/the-cast/amy-james-kelly|url-status=dead}}{{Cite journal|url=https://ilovemanchester.com/amy-james-kelly-military-wives-interview|title="I'm a really proud Manc" – Military Wives actress Amy James-Kelly on growing up in Failsworth|journal=I Love MCR|first=Matthew|last=Turner|date=6 March 2020|accessdate=19 May 2021}}

Career

James-Kelly began her career in theatre productions of Beauty Manifesto, Trojan Women, My Fair Lady and Frank and Ferdinand.

In December 2013, James-Kelly made her television debut in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Maddie Heath, a troubled teenager and Sophie Webster's love interest. James-Kelly found out she had been cast on the bus home from college. In February 2015, she announced she would be leaving Coronation Street and made her final appearance that June when her character was killed off.{{cite journal|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/coronation-streets-amy-james-kelly-quits-8605821|title=Coronation Street's Amy James-Kelly quits her role as Maddie Heath|journal=Manchester Evening News|last1=Flanagan|first1=Emma|date=9 February 2015 |accessdate=3 June 2015}}

On leaving, James-Kelly said, "I made the decision to leave because I'm young and adventurous, and I want to gain more experience and explore and improve my craft. Acting is my passion and I'm excited to see where it takes me."{{Cite journal|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-06-01/coronation-street-maddie-heath-dies---and-takes-jenny-bradleys-secret-to-the-grave|title=Coronation Street: Maddie Heath dies|journal=Radio Times|date=1 June 2016|access-date=8 June 2015|archive-date=8 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608033805/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-06-01/coronation-street-maddie-heath-dies---and-takes-jenny-bradleys-secret-to-the-grave|url-status=dead}} She landed her second television role as Martha Quaintain in the 2016 period drama miniseries Jericho.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-commissions-new-eight-part-drama-series-jericho|title=ITV commissions new eight-part drama series Jericho|website=ITV Press Centre|accessdate=3 June 2015}}

James-Kelly starred as Jenny Delaney in the 2018 Netflix series Safe. She also had a guest role in the BBC One series Moving On.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a870936/coronation-street-actors-amy-james-kelly-never-work-again/|title=Coronation Street's Amy James-Kelly was told she'd never work again after quitting Maddie Heath role|journal=Digital Spy|first=Dan|last=Seddon|date=19 November 2018|accessdate=19 May 2021}}

James-Kelly made her feature film debut as Sarah in the 2019 comedy-drama Military Wives. That same year, she had a recurring role as Suzannah Washington in the BBC One and HBO series Gentleman Jack.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/06/24/gentleman-jack-miss-washington-amy-james-kelly/|title=Gentleman Jack: Who plays Miss Washington? From Coronation Street to Netflix|journal=HITC|first=Paul|last=Fogarty|date=24 June 2019 |accessdate=19 May 2021}}

In 2021, James-Kelly appeared as Grace Marshbrook in series 2 of the ITV crime drama The Bay and starred as Hannah Kennedy in the two-part BBC One drama Three Families.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2021/three-families-cast|title=Cast confirmed for BBC One drama Three Families, from the producers of Three Girls|website=BBC Media Centre|access-date=12 April 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/tv-movies/the-bay-cast-grace-amy-james-kelly-coronation-street/|title=The Bay cast: Who is Grace actress Amy James-Kelly and was she in Coronation Street?|date=21 January 2021|accessdate=19 May 2021}} She has a role in the Channel 4 sitcom Everyone Else Burns.

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2017 \| Last Summer \| Emma \| Short film (also writer, director, producer)
2018 \| Mission Christmas \| Amy \| Short film
rowspan="2" \| 2019 \| Girl Alone \| The Girl \| Short film
Military Wives \| Sarah \|
2021 \| Seacole \| Miss Eames \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2017

| Last Summer

| Emma

| Short film (also writer, director, producer)

2018

| Mission Christmas

| Amy

| Short film

rowspan="2" | 2019

| Girl Alone

| The Girl

| Short film

Military Wives

| Sarah

2021

| Seacole

| Miss Eames

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2013–2015 \| Coronation Street \| Maddie Heath \| 131 episodes
2016 \| Jericho \| Martha Quintain \| Miniseries, 7 episodes
rowspan="2" \| 2018 \| Moving On \| Emma \| Episode: "The Registrar"
Safe \| Jenny Delaney \| Main role. Miniseries, 8 episodes
2019–2022 \| Gentleman Jack \| Suzannah Washington/Sowden \| 7 episodes
rowspan="2" \| 2021 \| The Bay \| Grace Marshbrook \| 3 episodes (series 2)
Three Families \| Hannah Kennedy \| Miniseries, 2 episodes
2022 \| Blood, Sex & Royalty \| Anne Boleyn \| 3 part docu-drama
2023–present \| Everyone Else Burns \| Rachel Lewis \| Main role

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

2013–2015

| Coronation Street

| Maddie Heath

| 131 episodes

2016

| Jericho

| Martha Quintain

| Miniseries, 7 episodes

rowspan="2" | 2018

| Moving On

| Emma

| Episode: "The Registrar"

Safe

| Jenny Delaney

| Main role. Miniseries, 8 episodes

2019–2022

| Gentleman Jack

| Suzannah Washington/Sowden

| 7 episodes

rowspan="2" | 2021

| The Bay

| Grace Marshbrook

| 3 episodes (series 2)

Three Families

| Hannah Kennedy

| Miniseries, 2 episodes

2022

| Blood, Sex & Royalty

| Anne Boleyn

| 3 part docu-drama

2023–present

| Everyone Else Burns

| Rachel Lewis

| Main role

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! {{Ref heading}}
2014 \| British Soap Awards \| Best Newcomer \| Coronation Street \| {{nom}} \|
2023 \| Edinburgh International Television Festival \| Breakthrough Actor \| Everyone Else Burns \| {{pending}} \|

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

Year

! Award

! Category

! Work

! Result

! {{Ref heading}}

2014

| British Soap Awards

| Best Newcomer

| Coronation Street

| {{nom}}