Faye Brookes
{{short description|English actress (born 1987)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Faye Lewis
| image = Faye Brookes 2019.jpg
| imagesize = 150px
| caption = Brookes in 2019
| birth_name = Faye Alicia Brookes
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|9|3|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Stretford, Trafford, England
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 2011–present
| television = {{Ubl | Coronation Street | Dancing on Ice}}
| spouse = Iwan Lewis (m. 2023)
| education = {{Plainlist|
}}
}}
Faye Alicia Brookes (born 3 September 1987) is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Kate Connor on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. In 2021, she competed in the thirteenth series of Dancing on Ice, where she finished in second place.
Early life
Brookes was born on 3 September 1987{{cite news |title=Who is Dancing On Ice's Faye Brookes? Age, Coronation Street career and boyfriend revealed |url=https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/celebrities/faye-brooks-age-coronation-street-career-boyfriend/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Heart}} in Stretford, Trafford.{{cite news |title=Urmston actress starring in Shrek the Musical |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/in-your-area/urmston-actress-starring-shrek-musical-8263210 |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Manchester Evening News}} Whilst growing up, Brookes attended Flixton Junior School and Knutsford High School. She then expressed an interest in musical theatre, initially studying performing arts at Pendleton College from 2004 onwards, before later attending Guildford School of Acting. She graduated in 2010, after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Musical Theatre and being awarded the Principal’s Choice Award.{{Cite news|title = Faye Brookes stars in award winning Legally Blonde|url = https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/theatre/faye-brookes-stars-award-winning-4811191|work = SurreyLive|access-date = 2018-09-19|date = 2012-04-24}}
Career
Prior to appearing on television, Brookes starred in various theatre productions, including Grease, Shrek, Legally Blonde and The Sound of Music.{{cite news |title=Dancing on Ice: DOI star Faye Brookes had an unusual request for Holly Willoughby's sister |url=https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/10-facts-about-coronation-streets-faye-brookes/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Entertainment Daily}} In mid-2015, it was announced that the Connor family in Coronation Street was being extended. The family first appeared in the street in 2006 and have featured in many storylines.{{Cite news|title=Coronation Street: Faye Brookes on newcomer Kate Connor - "There's rivalry between her and Aidan"|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-10-01/coronation-street-faye-brookes-on-newcomer-kate-connor---theres-rivalry-between-her-and-aidan|website=Radio Times|access-date=29 December 2015}} Brookes was cast as Kate Connor and after her on-screen brother Aidan Connor made his first appearance, played by The X Factor winner Shayne Ward, Brookes first appeared as Kate in October 2015. She won Best Newcomer for her portrayal of Kate in January 2017 at the 22nd National Television Awards. In April 2019, it was announced that Brookes had decided to leave Coronation Street. Her final scenes were to air later in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a27319585/coronation-street-kate-connor-exit-faye-brookes/|title=Coronation Street star Faye Brookes announces shock exit for Kate Connor|last=McCreesh|first=Louise|date=2019-04-30|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-30}}
On 24 September 2020, Brookes was announced as a contestant for the 2021 series of Dancing on Ice.{{cite news |title=Meet Faye Brookes, Dancing on Ice 2021 contestant and Corrie star |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/talent-shows/2021-01-24/faye-brookes-dancing-on-ice-2021-contestant/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Radio Times}} Brookes was originally partnered with Hamish Gaman; however, after he withdrew due to an injury in week 6, Brookes was re-partnered with Matt Evers.{{Cite web|last=Earp|first=Catherine|date=16 February 2021|title=Dancing on Ice professional Hamish Gaman withdraws from the show|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a35518561/dancing-on-ice-hamish-gaman-injury-exit/|access-date=14 March 2021|website=Digital Spy|language=en}} She finished the competition in second place.{{cite magazine |last1=McManus |first1=Samuel |title=Dancing On Ice 2021: Sonny Jay announced as winner in grand finale |url=https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/reality/breaking-sonny-jay-ice-winner-23717982 |access-date=14 March 2021 |magazine=OK! |publisher=Reach plc |date=14 March 2021}}
In November 2021, it was announced that in 2022 Brookes would take over as Roxie Hart in the UK tour of the musical Chicago.{{Cite web|title=Chicago announces new tour cast for 2022 - WhatsOnStage|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/liverpool-theatre/news/chicago-announces-new-tour-cast-for-2022_55370.html|access-date=2021-11-20|website=WhatsOnStage.com}}
Personal life
{{More citations needed section|date=April 2024}}
In 2012, while appearing in a production of Legally Blonde, Brookes met Gareth Gates, who was portraying the role of her character's boyfriend. The pair began a relationship, and became engaged. The pair split in 2018.{{cite magazine |title=Why did Dancing on Ice star Faye Brookes and Gareth Gates split? |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/20210124105119/faye-brookes-gareth-gates-relationship-history-engagement-split/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |magazine=Hello!}} While together, the pair set up a stage school, Fates Academy.{{cite news |title=Coronation Street star Faye Brookes confirmed for Dancing on Ice 2021 |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/2020-09-24/dancing-on-ice-2021-line-up-faye-brookes/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |work=Radio Times}}
In August 2023, Brookes married Legally Blonde co-star Iwan Lewis.{{CN|date=April 2024}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| 2013
| Atlantis | Helena | 1 episode |
| 2014
| Our Zoo | Frankie | 1 episode |
| 2015–2019
| Series regular; 433 episodes |
| 2016
| Herself | Celebrity special |
| 2018
| Coronation Street's DNA Secrets | Herself | One-off documentary |
| 2021
| Herself | Contestant |
| 2022
| Herself | Celebrity Contestant |
Stage
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| 2010–2011
| Grease | Frenchy and Sandy |
| 2011–2012
| UK tour{{cite web |author= |date= |title= UK Tour (2011) |url= https://www.legallyblondethemusical.com/uk-tour/ |website= Legally Blonde: The Musical |location= |publisher= |access-date= 2 June 2025}} |
| 2013
| Liesl Von Trapp |
| 2013-2014
| That Day We Sang | Ann/Edna |
| 2014-2015
| UK Tour |
| 2021-2022
| Chicago | UK Tour |
| 2023
| Fran | UK Tour |
| 2024
|Constellations |Marianne |
| 2024-2025
| UK Tour |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|5980860}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brookes, Faye}}
Category:Actresses from Greater Manchester
Category:English soap opera actresses