Kimberly Hart-Simpson

{{Infobox person

| name = Kimberly Hart-Simpson

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|5|28|df=y}}

| birth_place = Rhyl, Wales, United Kingdom

| education = {{Plainlist|

}}

| occupation = {{Hlist|Actress|businesswoman}}

| yearsactive = 2009–present

| television = {{Plainlist|

}}

Kimberly Hart-Simpson (born 28 May 1987) is a British actress and businesswoman from Rhyl, Wales, known for portraying the role of Nicky Wheatley in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. As well as being the founder of the fashion company Hart-Work, she has also appeared in the E4 reality series Celebs Go Dating: The Mansion.

Early and personal life

Hart-Simpson was born on 28 May 1987{{Cite tweet|number=339291408089350144|title=its my birthday. and i would love some extra followers as a present from twitter!!!!|user=kimberly_h_s|date=28 May 2013}} in Rhyl.{{cite news |title=Who is Kimberly Hart-Simpson from Coronation Street and Celebs Go Dating? |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a35308028/kimberly-hart-simpson-celebs-go-dating-coronation-street/ |access-date=30 January 2021 |work=Digital Spy |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126075921/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a35308028/kimberly-hart-simpson-celebs-go-dating-coronation-street/ |url-status=live }} Her father, who died in 2007, was an English drummer from Oldham, and her mother is Welsh.{{cite news |title=How Kimberley Hart Simpson went from working in McDonald's in Oldham to starring in Coronation Street |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/how-kimberley-hart-simpson-went-18439204 |access-date=30 January 2021 |work=Manchester Evening News |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101040909/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/how-kimberley-hart-simpson-went-18439204 |url-status=live }} Growing up, she attended Rhyl High School.{{Cite news|url=https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/18917579.coronation-street-actress-kimberly-hart-simpson-moves-celebs-go-dating-mansion/|title=Coronation Street actress Kimberly Hart-Simpson moves into Celebs Go Dating mansion|work=Denbigshire Free Press|access-date=30 January 2021|archive-date=3 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203114529/https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/18917579.coronation-street-actress-kimberly-hart-simpson-moves-celebs-go-dating-mansion/|url-status=live}} When she was 16, Hart-Simpson and her family then relocated to Oldham, where she attended Oldham College.{{Cite news|url=https://www.oldham.ac.uk/from-oldham-college-to-celebs-go-dating-kimberly-hart-simpson/|title=from oldham college to celebs go dating: kimberly hart-simpson|work=Oldham College|access-date=30 January 2021|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120143103/https://www.oldham.ac.uk/from-oldham-college-to-celebs-go-dating-kimberly-hart-simpson/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/coronation-streets-kimberly-hart-simspons-22236388.amp|title=Coronation Street's Kimberly Hart-Simpson's rise from teen McDonald's boss to soap star|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=30 January 2021|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125020039/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/coronation-streets-kimberly-hart-simspons-22236388.amp|url-status=live}} From 2006 to 2009, she trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. Prior to acting professionally, Hart-Simpson worked in various jobs, including being a manager at a McDonald's restaurant in Oldham, working at Fitness First, a seamstress of stage decorations, and an architectural company in Hyde. While working at the architectural company, she drove from Stockport to Ibiza alone using their van. The van broke down, and she stayed abroad for a season, also visiting Dubai. She stated that the road trip changed her "outlook on life", as the year away from acting allowed her to be happy in her personal life. She explained that this benefitted her professional career, stating: "When you audition it's less about that moment on tape - they want to see the personality of the person they’re going to work with and I think that's really important."

In 2018, Hart-Simpson founded a fashion company, Hart-Work.{{cite news |title=Coronation Street star Kimberly Hart-Simpson comes out as bisexual |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/coronation-street-star-kimberly-hart-simpson-comes-out-as-bisexual/ |access-date=30 January 2021 |work=Gay Times |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118173858/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/coronation-street-star-kimberly-hart-simpson-comes-out-as-bisexual/ |url-status=live }} In 2020, in an interview on Lorraine, she came out as bisexual. She explained that a year prior, she designed a rainbow-themed dress for actress Jessica Ellis for the British Soap Awards. She said: "we were representing the LGBTQ community and I'm part of that as well. I represent the B. So for me to do that was really, really important."{{cite news |title=Coronation Street's Kimberly Hart-Simpson comes out as bisexual during Lorraine chat |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/coronation-streets-kimberly-hart-simpson-22252671 |access-date=30 January 2021 |work=Daily Mirror |archive-date=21 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121021111/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/coronation-streets-kimberly-hart-simpson-22252671 |url-status=live }} In January 2021, Hart-Simpson stated that she is pansexual, rather than bisexual.{{cite news |title=Coronation Street star Kimberly Hart-Simpson just came out as pansexual: 'Gender is completely irrelevant to me' |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/01/18/coronation-street-kimberly-hart-simpson-coming-out-pansexual-lgbt/ |access-date=30 January 2021 |work=Pink News |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118104934/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/01/18/coronation-street-kimberly-hart-simpson-coming-out-pansexual-lgbt/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Coronation Street's Kimberly Hart-Simpson says she's pansexual after signing up for Celebs Go Dating |url=https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/kimberly-hart-simpson-pansexual-dating-23336971 |access-date=30 January 2021 |work=OK! |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125214314/https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/kimberly-hart-simpson-pansexual-dating-23336971 |url-status=live }} She stated that everybody is on a "different spectrum" and that gender is "irrelevant" to her when dating,{{cite news |title=What is a pansexual? Corrie's Kimberly Hart-Simpson wants to date Alesha Dixon after coming out |url=https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/what-is-a-pansexual-corries-kimberly-hart-simpson-wants-to-date-alesha-dixon-after-coming-out/ |access-date=30 January 2021 |work=Entertainment Daily |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118022816/https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/what-is-a-pansexual-corries-kimberly-hart-simpson-wants-to-date-alesha-dixon-after-coming-out/ |url-status=live }} and added that when adjusting her Tinder preferences to display men and women, she was worried that somebody she knew would find her, but later realised "it would mean they were gay too".{{cite news |title=Coronation Street's Kimberly Hart-Simpson comes out as pansexual |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a35237235/coronation-street-kimberly-hart-simpson-pansexual/ |access-date=30 January 2021 |work=Digital Spy |archive-date=29 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129121123/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a35237235/coronation-street-kimberly-hart-simpson-pansexual/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Coronation Street star reveals she's pansexual as she signs up for Celebs Go Dating |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/coronation-street-star-reveals-shes-23332485 |access-date=30 January 2021 |work=Daily Record |archive-date=27 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127172323/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/coronation-street-star-reveals-shes-23332485 |url-status=live }}

Career

Hart-Simpson made her television debut in the Sky series Mount Pleasant as Chantelle, a guest role she portrayed for two episodes.{{Cite news|url=https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/tv-movies/how-old-kimberly-hart-simpson-coronation-street/|title=How old is Kimberly Hart-Simpson and who did she play in Coronation Street?|work=Heart|access-date=30 January 2021|archive-date=30 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130205404/https://amp.heart.co.uk/showbiz/tv-movies/how-old-kimberly-hart-simpson-coronation-street/|url-status=live}} Then in 2017, she appeared in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Davina, a firefighter.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/18528426.actress-kimberly-hart-simpson-rhyl-makes-debut-coronation-street/|title=Actress Kimberly Hart-Simpson from Rhyl makes her debut on Coronation Street|work=Rhyl Journal|access-date=30 January 2021|archive-date=15 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215220344/https://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/18528426.actress-kimberly-hart-simpson-rhyl-makes-debut-coronation-street/|url-status=live}} She appeared in Hollyoaks again in 2020 as Beverly, a landlord.{{Cite news|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/coronation-street/coronation-street-cast-kimberly-hart-simpson-hollyoaks/|title=Hollyoaks actress Kimberly Hart-Simpson joins Coronation Street|work=Radio Times|access-date=30 January 2021|archive-date=30 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130205405/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/coronation-street/2020-06-02/coronation-street-cast-kimberly-hart-simpson-hollyoaks/amp/|url-status=live}} Later in 2020, she was cast in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Nicky Wheatley.{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a32810255/coronation-street-rob-mallard-daniel-osbourne-romance/|title=Coronation Street star Rob Mallard speaks out on Daniel Osbourne's new romantic twist|work=Digital Spy|access-date=30 January 2021|archive-date=9 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609173013/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a32810255/coronation-street-rob-mallard-daniel-osbourne-romance/|url-status=live}} Prior to being cast as Nicky, Hart-Simpson had auditioned for the roles of Maddie Heath, Lolly and various minor roles, all of which were unsuccessful. She later made the decision to tell her agent not to submit her for minor roles on the soap, stating that she would do minor parts on any other series, but with Coronation Street, she wanted the role to be "substantial". She expressed her joy at being cast in the soap, revealing that her father's last words were "Just do me a favour and get in Corrie love."{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/rhyl-coronation-street-star-landing-18433040.amp|title=Rhyl Coronation Street star on landing role in the soap after 10 years and being cast as sex worker|work=Daily Post|access-date=30 January 2021|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926200015/https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/rhyl-coronation-street-star-landing-18433040.amp|url-status=live}} In 2021, she appeared in the E4 reality series Celebs Go Dating: The Mansion.{{Cite news|url=https://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/502085-celebs-go-dating-cast-line-up-of-celebrities-revealed-for-new-look-series.html?amp|title=Celebs Go Dating 2021 cast: Line up of celebrities revealed for new look series|work=TellyMix|access-date=30 January 2021|archive-date=30 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130205405/https://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/502085-celebs-go-dating-cast-line-up-of-celebrities-revealed-for-new-look-series.html?amp|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/coronation-streets-kimberly-hart-simpson-19622924.amp|title=Coronation Street's Kimberly Hart-Simpson reveals 'deal breaker' dating rules ahead of Celebs Go Dating|work=Daily Post|access-date=30 January 2021|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128040154/https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/coronation-streets-kimberly-hart-simpson-19622924.amp|url-status=live}} Later that year, she announced that she would be returning to Coronation Street in 2022.{{cite news |last1=Kitson |first1=Calli |title=Coronation Street's Kimberly Hart Simpson to return in explosive storyline |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/12/21/coronation-streets-kimberly-hart-simpson-to-return-in-new-storyline-15805261/ |access-date=21 December 2021 |work=Metro |publisher=(DMG Media) |date=21 December 2021}}