Michelle Collins

{{Infobox person

| name = Michelle Collins

| image = Michelle Collins.jpg

| caption = Collins in 2006

| birth_name = Michelle Danielle Collins

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1962|05|28}}

| birth_place = Homerton, London, England

| occupation = {{Hlist|Actress|model|television presenter}}

| years_active = 1984–present

| television = EastEnders
Coronation Street

| spouse = {{marriage|Mike Davidson|2022}}

}}

Michelle Danielle Collins (born 28 May 1962) is an English actress. She is known for her role as Cindy Beale in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (1988–1990, 1992–1998, 2023–present), as well as appearing as Stella Price in ITV's Coronation Street (2011–2014). Her other notable television roles include the BBC dramas Real Women (1998–1999), Sunburn (1999–2000) and Two Thousand Acres of Sky (2001–2003).

Early life and education

Collins was born on 28 May 1962 at Hackney Hospital, Homerton High Street in Hackney, East London, to a Welsh mother, Mary, and a father of English and Flemish heritage.{{cite web |title=BBC One – Coming Home, Series 4, Michelle Collins |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p1ghs |publisher=BBC |access-date=22 December 2014}} Her Flemish grandfather was Belgian from Antwerp and had emigrated to the UK in 1915 when aged five.{{cite news |last=Lambert |first=Victoria |title=Michelle Collins: 'I signed up to be an actress, not a celebrity' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/michelle-collins-i-signed-up-to-be-an-actress-not-a-celebrity/ |work=The Telegraph |date=10 October 2016 |access-date=29 May 2019 |issn=0307-1235}} She, alongside her elder sister Vicki, were brought up by their mother in Highbury, London.{{cite book |last=Collins |first=Michelle |title=This Is Me |publisher=Michael O'Mara Books |year=2014 |page=9 |isbn=978-1782432326}}{{cite news|title=Life after Cindy|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/television-in-wales/2009/07/17/wm-interview-life-after-cindy-91466-24176847|work=WalesOnline|access-date=22 December 2014}} When Collins was 14, her mother went back to university to obtain a law degree.{{cite news |title=Exclusive Michelle Collins on Her Looks, The Toyboy, Pole-Dancing, Yoga.. And Why She Stopped Watching X Factor |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/exclusive-michelle-collins-on-her-looks-the-toyboy-1650768 |work=Daily Mirror |date=9 March 2008 |access-date=26 January 2015}} In the 1970s, Collins was a member of the youth organisation the Woodcraft Folk, and visited Romania with the group.{{cite news |last=Lam |first=Sophie |title=My Life in Travel: Michelle Collins |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/my-life-in-travel-michelle-collins-796139.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/my-life-in-travel-michelle-collins-796139.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Independent |date=15 March 2008 |access-date=17 September 2018}}

Collins trained at the Royal Court Activists and Cockpit Youth Theatre from the age of 14, and Kingsway Princeton College, where she studied drama and theatre at O/A-level.{{cite news |last=Charalambous |first=Anthi |title=How We Met: Michelle Collins & Aldo Zilli |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-michelle-collins--aldo-zilli-1098597.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-michelle-collins--aldo-zilli-1098597.html |archive-date=14 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=6 June 1999 |access-date=26 January 2015}}

Career

=Early career=

After her exams, Collins landed a role in Mikhail Bulgakov's The Crimson Island, directed by Lou Stein, at the Gate Theatre. Her career changed direction after performing in the 1978 video for the Squeeze song "Cool For Cats", and as a backing singer for Mari Wilson and the Wilsations. The band spent 18 months touring the country.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/interview-michelle-collins-on-a-thoroughly-modern-career-1457354|title=Interview: Michelle Collins on a thoroughly modern career | The Scotsman|access-date=22 June 2023|archive-date=22 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622214312/https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/interview-michelle-collins-on-a-thoroughly-modern-career-1457354|url-status=live}} When the band broke up in 1982, she went back into acting and with the help of her friend, the British actor Tim Roth, she gained a part in a musical with Gary Hutton and Gary Shail.{{Cite web|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/lifestyle/winter-in-the-city/15114043.michelle-collins-i-love-acting-but-i-need-more/|title=Michelle Collins: I love acting, but I need more|date=23 February 2017|website=Glasgow Times}}

Collins's first TV appearance was with Gary Oldman in the BBC drama Morgan's Boy. Other TV credits included: two series of the sitcom Running Wild, where she played Ray Brooks daughter; a part in ITV drama The Bill; a Screen Two production Lucky Sunil, directed by Michael Caton-Jones and a BBC play Pressures. She later appeared in three films: Personal Services, Empire State and Stephen Poliakoff's Hidden City. Collins appeared in an episode of the BBC's Bergerac (series 4) in 1985.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/tv/eastenders-actress-michelle-collins-life-27180091|title=Michelle Collins' life from forgotten Corrie role to husband 22 years younger|first=Angie|last=Quinn|date=22 June 2023|website=MyLondon}}

=''EastEnders''=

While she was filming the BBC play Pressures in 1988, Collins was spotted by EastEnders producer Julia Smith, who asked her to audition for the role of Cindy Beale, who was to feature in 11 episodes of the soap. The manipulative, reckless nature of her character was a hit with viewers so her contract was extended and the character became a major villain in the series. Cindy was the unfaithful wife of EastEnders stalwart Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), between 1988 and 1998. During breaks from EastEnders she filmed the drama Real Women for the BBC, with Pauline Quirke and Frances Barber. On 14 November 2014, Collins reprised the role of Cindy for a short stint for Children in Need.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/nov/07/why-its-time-to-stop-bringing-old-eastenders-characters-back |title=Why it's time to stop bringing old EastEnders characters back|author=Liz Cookman |work=The Guardian |date=7 November 2014|access-date=26 January 2015}}

In May 2023, it was announced that Collins would be returning to the soap after 25 years, alongside Woodyatt, thus resurrecting the character from the dead.{{cite web |title=EastEnders spoilers: Cindy Beale returns from the dead in massive shocking twist |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/05/19/eastenders-spoilers-cindy-beale-returns-from-the-dead-with-ian-18815039 |website=Metro |access-date=19 May 2023 |date=19 May 2023 |archive-date=19 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519210344/https://metro.co.uk/2023/05/19/eastenders-spoilers-cindy-beale-returns-from-the-dead-with-ian-18815039/ |url-status=live }} Collins returned to the role permanently in June 2023, where it is revealed that Cindy hadn't died in childbirth, but had entered a witness protection programme and had taken on the identity of 'Rose Knight', the wife of George Knight (Colin Salmon) and the mother of Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna (Molly Rainford).{{cite web |title=EastEnders: Michelle Collins returns as Cindy Beale after 25 years |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-65986136.amp |website=BBC |access-date=22 June 2023 |date=21 June 2023}}

=After ''EastEnders''=

After leaving EastEnders in 1998, her career saw a series of drama roles. These included: two series of Real Women (BBC One); two series of Sunburn (BBC One), for which Collins sang the theme song (which was a no. 28 hit in the UK singles chart in 1999);{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher= Guinness World Records Limited|location=London, UK|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=115|title-link=British Hit Singles & Albums}} Daylight Robbery (ITV); The Sleeper (BBC One); Uprising (ITV): three series of Two Thousand Acres of Sky (BBC One):{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/sky/meetthecast/abby.shtml|title=BBC Drama – Two Thousand Acres of Sky – Michelle Collins|publisher=BBC|access-date=13 February 2013|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924214208/http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/sky/meetthecast/abby.shtml|url-status=live}} the two-part series Perfect (ITV); Lloyd and the Hill (ITV) and Ella and the Mothers (BBC One). In 2003, Collins played Sarah Barton in Single.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/nov/03/broadcasting.ITV|date=3 November 2003|first=Claire|last=Cousens|work=The Guardian|title=ITV drama hopes dashed|accessdate=15 April 2021}}

In 2003, Collins filmed the BBC drama Sea of Souls and then went on to star in a film for Granada/Channel 4 called The Illustrated Mum, which told the story of two girls coping with the unpredictable behaviour of their depressed, alcoholic mother. The film, written by Jacqueline Wilson, was based on the children's novel of the same name. It was screened over Christmas 2003 and won an Emmy Award and two BAFTAs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_illustrated_mum|title=The Illustrated Mum – Rotten Tomatoes|website=www.rottentomatoes.com}}

In 2004, she starred in an episode of French and Saunders and also starred with fellow EastEnders actor Martin Kemp in the ITV drama Can't Buy Me Love.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cant_buy_me_love_2004|title=Can't Buy Me Love – Rotten Tomatoes|website=www.rottentomatoes.com}} In 2005, Collins starred in the ITV drama The Last Detective and in the BBC drama The Family Man, alongside Daniela Denby-Ashe, which aired in March 2006. She starred in the West End musical Daddy Cool, and while working during the night there shot sequences for a cameo in the short film Broken written and directed by Vicki Psarias, which went on to win the several international awards. She also featured in the film Don't Stop Dreaming, released in 2007. She left Daddy Cool in January 2007 to shoot the Doctor Who episode "42".{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2007/01/31/40436.shtml|title=Collins cast|access-date=31 January 2007|work=BBC Doctor Who website|archive-date=3 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203155745/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2007/01/31/40436.shtml|url-status=live}}

On 2 July 2007, it was announced that Collins has been cast for the lead role of Karina Faith in new ITV drama series, Rock Rivals, produced by Shed Productions.[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a63747/michelle-collins-lands-rock-rivals-role.html "Michelle Collins lands 'Rock Rivals' role"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726002735/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a63747/michelle-collins-lands-rock-rivals-role.html |date=26 July 2009 }}, Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 December 2014. In 2009, Collins took part in the BBC Wales programme Coming Home about her Welsh family history. On 21 May 2009, it was rumoured that Collins had auditioned to star in US drama Desperate Housewives, but she did join the cast.[http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/a165144/eastenders-star-auditions-for-housewives.html "EastEnders" Star Auditions for "Housewives"], Digital Spy, 14 July 2009.[http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/us-series/desperate-housewives-2009/news/michelle-collins-has-desperate-housewives-audition/6387 "Michelle Collins Has 'Desperate Housewives' Audition"]{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, What's on TV, 14 July 2009.[http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/a168319/michelle-collins-would-do-soap-again.html Michelle Collins "Would Do Soap Again"], Digital Spy, 30 July 2009.

In June 2010, it was announced that Collins would make a six-episode guest appearance as a patient's mother in Casualty.{{cite web|author=Staff|url=http://www.holby.tv/michelle-collins-to-guest-star|title=Michelle Collins to Guest Star|date=27 March 2014 |publisher=Holby.tv|access-date=26 August 2014}} In 2010, she also guest-starred in Romeo & Juliet at the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, playing the Nurse. From 7 April-7 May 2011, Collins starred as Sheila Grundy, Fred Dibnah's third wife, in The Demolition Man at Octagon Theatre, Bolton.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2011/apr/11/the-demolition-man-review|title=The Demolition Man – review|first=Alfred|last=Hickling|date=11 April 2011|newspaper=The Guardian}}

=''Coronation Street''=

{{Quote box|width=246px|bgcolor=#c6dbf7|align=right|quote="I am honoured to be joining the cast of Coronation Street. The show has been part of my life since I was a child, so to become a part of it is extremely exciting."| }}

In January 2011, a rumour was posted on Digital Spy that Collins was in talks to join EastEnders{{'}} main rivalling soap Coronation Street, after she allegedly met with soap's producer and close friend Phil Collinson.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a299605/michelle-collins-for-coronation-street.html|title=Michelle Collins for 'Coronation Street'?|work=Digital Spy|first=Colin|last=Daniels|date=23 January 2011|access-date=22 December 2014}} Three months later it was confirmed Collins had joined the cast as Stella Price, new landlady of the Rovers Return pub, beating Lisa Maxwell for the role.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13099147|website=BBC News|title=Michelle Collins joins Coronation Street|date=15 April 2011|archive-date=21 October 2018|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021062938/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13099147|url-status=live}} Her first episode aired on 16 June 2011 and gained a rating of 8.4 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3/coronation-street/news/a325436/michelle-collinss-coronation-street-debut-nabs-84m.html|title=Michelle Collins's 'Coronation Street' debut nabs 8.4m |work=Digital Spy|first=Andrew|last=Laughlin|date=17 June 2011|access-date=22 December 2014}} It was announced on 22 August 2013 Collins had decided to leave Coronation Street.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-23792788|title=Michelle Collins to leave Coronation Street|website=BBC News|date=22 August 2013|access-date=23 January 2020|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326023504/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-23792788|url-status=live}} In January 2014, Collins claimed she was "unhappy" over the lack of screen time for her and her character. Collins filmed her final scenes on 19 February 2014, and made her final appearance as Stella on 2 April 2014.{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2014/04/02/bye-bye-stella-michelle-collins-waves-goodbye-to-coronation-street-and-opens-up-on-life-after-the-cobbles-4686660/ |title=T'rah Stella! Michelle Collins waves goodbye to Coronation Street and opens up on life after the cobbles|work=Metro|author=Michelle Collins|date=2 April 2014 |access-date=26 January 2015}}

=After ''Coronation Street''=

Since leaving Coronation Street, Collins has had various guest roles in television dramas: Casualty as Samantha Kellman (2014), Death in Paradise as Annette Burgess (2015), and Midsomer Murders as Nadine Campbell (2016). In October 2019 Collins appeared in Casualty as Lorna Rowle/Hammond.{{cite web |title=BBC Richard Osman's House of Games: Michelle Collins' 22 year age gap with younger boyfriend who she was introduced to by her niece |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/celebs/bbc-richard-osmans-house-games-21890841 |website=My London |access-date=22 June 2023 |date=18 October 2021 |archive-date=22 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622214322/https://www.mylondon.news/news/celebs/bbc-richard-osmans-house-games-21890841 |url-status=live }} In 2016, Collins took part in the ITV reality series Bear Grylls: Mission Survive.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a788111/bear-grylls-mission-survive-michelle-collins-left-hanging-terrifying-video/|title=Michelle Collins is left hanging on Mission Survive|date=24 March 2016|website=Digital Spy}}

Personal life

Collins has a daughter by ex-partner Fabrizio Tassalini, Maia Rose (b. 29 September 1996).{{cite book|title=This Is Me|publisher=Michael O'Mara Books|author=Michelle Collins|page=112 |year=2014|isbn=978-1782432326}}

In 2014, Collins revealed that in 1998 – distraught by the end of her relationship with Tassalini and feeling career pressure – she attempted suicide while filming Sunburn in Cyprus. She took an overdose of sleeping pills but later woke up and asked her costar to take her to hospital.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/michelle-collins-tells-suicide-bid-3300746 |title=Michelle Collins tells of suicide bid: I took pills and decided no one would miss me|date=30 March 2014|author=Doug Wight|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=26 January 2015}}

After their split, Collins had an amicable relationship with Tassalini, who lived close by, and they raised their daughter together until he died in 2014. In April 2022 Collins announced she was engaged to her partner of 10 years, Mike Davidson. They married in August that year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/eastenders-michelle-collins-wedding-exclusive-27728091|title=Michelle Collins' wedding pics from rule-breaking reception to barefoot dancing|first=Gemma|last=McCartney|date=15 August 2022|website=OK! Magazine}}

In August 2014, Collins was one of 200 public figures to sign a letter to The Guardian in opposition to Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/07/celebrities-open-letter-scotland-independence-full-text|title=Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories|work=The Guardian|date=7 August 2014|access-date=26 August 2014|archive-date=17 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817131736/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/07/celebrities-open-letter-scotland-independence-full-text|url-status=live}}

Collins is involved in charitable causes. She is an ambassador for Oxfam and has visited Brazil, South Africa and Armenia, promoting the need for the basic right to education.{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/where_we_work/armenia/health/collins.htm|title=Countries we work in | Oxfam GB|publisher=Oxfam.org.uk|access-date=13 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223142434/http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/where_we_work/armenia/health/collins.htm|archive-date=23 February 2007}} She is also an ambassador for Ambitious about Autism and a patron for the Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation.{{cite web|url=http://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/page/who_we_are/aaa_people/ambassadors.cfm|title=Ambassadors|publisher=Ambitious about Autism|access-date=13 February 2013|archive-date=14 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014051043/http://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/page/who_we_are/aaa_people/ambassadors.cfm|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.awtf.org/patrons.html|title=Patrons|website=Alexandra Wylie Tower Foundation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818014456/http://www.awtf.org/patrons.html|archive-date=18 August 2013}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable"

style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"

! Year

! Title

! Role

rowspan="3"| 1987

| Personal Services

| June

Empire State

| Emma

Hidden City

| Applicant at Hairdressing Salon

1992

| Come by Chance

| Young cowgirl

rowspan="2" | 1993

| John Virgo: Playing for Laughs

| Herself

A Place to Be Loved

| Julie

1995

| Ten Years in Albert Square

| Herself

1996

| Darkman III: Die Darkman Die

| Nurse

1999

| Real Women II

| Susie Ball

rowspan="2" | 2000

| A Question of EastEnders

| Herself

Waking Mele

| Bar Patron

rowspan="2" |2001

| Perfect

| Julie

Lloyd & Hill

| DI Judy Hill

2002

| Ella and the Mothers

| Gina

rowspan="2" | 2003

| It Shouldn't Happen to a TV Actor

| Kathy Lawrence

Life After the Square

| Herself

rowspan="4" | 2004

| PJ's Storytime

| rowspan="2" | Herself

Essential Poems for Christmas

Bubblegum

| Jenny

Can't Buy Me Love

|Donna Harris

2006

|The Family Man

|Gillian

rowspan="3" |2007

|Jackie Magazine: A Girl's Best Friend

|Herself

Don't Stop Dreaming

|Jessica

Broken

|Janet

rowspan="4" |2008

|An Audience with Neil Diamond

| rowspan="2" |Herself

The Bill Made Me Famous

Play

|Mother

Getting Out

|Chelle

2011

|EastEnders: Greatest Exits

|Cindy Beale

rowspan="2" |2012

|National Television Awards: The Party

|Herself

Coronation Street: A Christmas Corrie

|Stella Price

rowspan="2" |2013

|Daily Mirror: The Pride of Britain Awards

| rowspan="3" |Herself

Shades

rowspan="2" |2014

|Coronation Street: A Moving Story

Eastenders: The Ghosts of Ian Beale – Children in Need Special

|Cindy Beale

rowspan="2" |2015

|20 Moments That Rocked the 80's

| rowspan="3" |Herself

20 Moments That Rocked the 90s

rowspan="2" |2017

|What Does and Idea Sound Like?

Black Road

|Maggie Laine

rowspan="2" |2018

|My Dad's Gap Year

|Cath

To Provide All People

|Maternity Admin

rowspan="4" |2019

|Coronation Street at Christmas

|Stella Price

Celebrity 5 Go Camping

| rowspan="2" |Herself

Soaps' Most Controversial Storylines

Madam Mayor

|Denise

rowspan="3" |2020

|Coronation Street: Complications

|Stella Price

The Winter's Tale – Rehearsed Reading

|Hermione

Dealer

| rowspan="2" |Herself

rowspan="2" |2021

|When Soap Stars Go Horribly Wrong

Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins

|Mandy Williams

2022

|The Long Walk

|Suzanne James

rowspan="4" |2023

|My House

|Sarah

Stephen

|Max

Children in Need

|Cindy Beale

Searching for Lily

|Queenie

rowspan="2" |2024

|The Cancellation of Jim Davidson

|Herself

A Gangster's Kiss

|Sadie

=Television=

class="wikitable"

style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Note(s)

rowspan="2"|1984

|Scene

|Ria

|Episode: "Good Neighbours"

Morgan's Boy

|Carol

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 1"

rowspan="2"| 1985

| Marjorie and Men

| Debbie

| 2 episodes

Bergerac

|Trace

|Episode: "Chrissie"

rowspan="2"| 1986

| The Bill

| Sharon Brand

| Episode: "Loan Shark"

Gems

|Pru Murphy

|10 episodes

1987

| Full House

| Abby

| Episode: "The First Day of School"

1987, 1989

|Running Wild

|Stephanie Wild

|13 episodes

rowspan="2" |1988

|Family Ties

|Louise

|Episode: "Sign of the Times"

Screen Two

| Daisy

| Episode: "Lucky Sunil"

1988–1990, 1992–1998, 2023–present

|EastEnders

| Cindy Beale

| Regular role

rowspan="3" | 1990

| Style Trial

| rowspan="8" | Herself

| Episode: "Series 1, episode 8"

Wogan

| Episode: "Series 10, episode 90"

Juke Box Jury

| Episode: "Series 4, episode 1"

1990–1991

| The Word

| 4 episodes

rowspan="5" | 1991

| Star Test

| Episode: "Michelle Collins"

Cluedo

| Episode: "A Traveller's Tale"

Gone to the Dogs

| Episode: "Series 1, episode 4"

Motormouth

| Episode: "Series 4, episode 18"

Gabriel's Fire

| Young Girl

| Episode: "Birds Gotta Fly"

rowspan="3" | 1992

| TV Squash

| rowspan="7" | Herself

| Episode: "Series 1, episode 4"

Telly Addicts

| Episode: "Series 8, episode 17"

Baywatch

| Episode: "Big Monday"

rowspan="3" | 1993

| The Main Event

| Episode: "Series 1, episode 4"

The Music Game

| Episode: "Series 2, episode 3"

The Talking Show

| Episode: "Body Language and Final Touches"

1993, 1995–1996

| That's Showbusiness

| 4 episodes

1993

| Blossom

| Jennie

| 2 episodes

rowspan="3" |1995

| What's Up Doc?

| rowspan="4" | Herself

| Episode: "Series 3, episode 32"

Steve Wright's People Show

| Episode: "Series 2, episode 3"

Dear Dilemma

| Episode: "Series 1, episode 5"

1996–1997

| You Bet!

| 2 episodes

1996

| Champs

| Stacy

| Episode: "Home Alone"

rowspan="2"| 1997

| The Big Breakfast

| rowspan="9" | Herself

| Episode: "20 August 1997"

Light Lunch

| Episode: "Cor Blimey, Luv a Duck, Ain't the Queen Mum Got a Lovely Smile?"

1997, 1999–2000

|Live & Kicking

|3 episodes

rowspan="4" |1998

|The National Lottery Big Ticket

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 8"

Ruby

|Episode: "Series 2, episode 2"

Blankety Blank

|2 episodes

Holiday Heaven

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 6"

1998–2000

|TFI Friday

|3 episodes

1998, 2004

|GMTV

|2 episodes

1998

|Verdict

|Camille Backhouse

|Episode: "Neighbours from Hell"

1998–1999

|Real Women

|Susie Ball

|7 episodes

rowspan="2" |1999

|Late Lunch

| rowspan="4" |Herself

|Episode: "Series 2, episode 11"

The National Lottery

|Episode: "13 February 1999"

1999

|The British Soap Awards

|Episode: "1999"

rowspan="2" |1999

| rowspan="2" |Stars in Their Eyes

|Episode: "1999 Celebrity Special"

Chrissie Hynde

|Episode: "1999 Celebrity Special"

1999–2000, 2002

|This Is Your Life

| rowspan="2" |Herself

|3 episodes

1999, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2013–2014, 2016–2017, 2019

|This Morning

|10 episodes

rowspan="2" |1999–2000

|Sunburn

|Nicki Matthews

|14 episodes

Daylight Robbery

|Kathy Lawrence

|8 episodes

2000

|The Priory

| rowspan="2" |Herself

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 13"

2000, 2005–2011, 2013–2014, 2016, 2022

|Loose Women

|17 episodes

rowspan="2" |2000

|Up Rising

|Maxine Gaines

|5 episodes

The Sleeper

|Diana Wakeham

|2 episodes

rowspan="3" |2001

|Top Ten

| rowspan="3" |Herself

|Episode: "TV Bitches"

It's Only TV... But I Like It

|Episode: "Series 3, episode 8"

The Brian Conley Show

|Episode: "Series 2, episode 4"

2001–2003

|Two Thousand Acres of Sky

|Abby Wallace

|22 episodes

rowspan="3" |2002

|Johnny Vaughan Tonight

| rowspan="4" |Herself

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 13"

Pride of Britain Awards

|Episode: "2002"

Parkinson

|Episode: "4 May 2002"

rowspan="2" |2003

|Loose Lips

|Episode: "22 October 2003"

The Illustrated Mum

| Marigold Westward

| Television film

2003, 2006

|Today with Des and Mel

| Herself

|2 episodes

2003

|Single

|Sarah Barton

|6 episodes

2004, 2006, 2009

|The Paul O'Grady Show

|Herself

|4 episodes

rowspan="2" |2004

|Sea of Souls

|Katie Quinn

|2 episodes

French and Saunders

|Regan Lear

|Episode: "Series 6, episode 4"

rowspan="3" |2005

|Big Brother's Efourum

| rowspan="2" |Herself

|Episode: "Series 2, episode 12"

Totally Scott-Lee

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 2"

The Last Detective

|Maureen Fallon

|Episode: "Willesden Confidential"

rowspan="4" |2006

|Davina

| rowspan="4" |Herself

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 5"

Loose @ 5.30

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 2"

Daily Politics

|Episode: "21 June 2006"

The F Word

|Episode: "Series 2, episode 6"

2007

|Comedy Connections

|Nicki Matthews

|Episode: "Don't Wait Up"

2007, 2009

|EastEnders Revealed

|Cindy Beale

|2 episodes

rowspan="3" |2007

|Doctor Who Confidential

| rowspan="2" |Herself

|Episode: "Space Craft"

Come Dine with Me

|Episode: "Celebrity Special: All In One"

Doctor Who

|Kath McDonnell

|Episode: "42"

rowspan="3" |2008

|All Star Family Fortunes

| rowspan="4" |Herself

|Episode: "Christopher Biggins vs Michelle Collins"

Strictly Come Dancing

|2 episodes

Celebrity Ding Dong

|Episode: "Series 2, episode 6"

2008, 2011

|Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

|2 episodes

2008

|Rock Rivals

|Karina Faith

|8 episodes

rowspan="4" |2009

|Revealed

| rowspan="6" |Herself

|Episode: "Jack the Ripper: Tabloid Killer"

As Seen on TV

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 3"

Doctor Who Greatest Moments

|Episode: "The Enemies"

Live from Studio Five

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 68"

2009, 2014

|Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

|2 episodes

2009, 2023–2024

|The One Show

|3 episodes

2009

|Hotel Babylon

|Karen

|Episode: "Series 4, episode 8"

rowspan="6" |2010

|What Do Kids Know?

| rowspan="7" |Herself

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 8"

Undateable

|Episode: "Hour 3"

Celebrity Pressure Cooker

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 2"

The Michael Ball Show

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 12"

The Alan Titchmarsh Show

|Episode: "26 October 2010"

The Wright Stuff

|Episode: "Series 14, episode 59"

2010–2011

|Daybreak

|2 episodes

2010

|Marple

|Treadwell

|Episode: "The Secret of Chimneys"

rowspan="3" |2010, 2014, 2019

| rowspan="3" |Casualty

|Camille Lewis

|4 episodes

Samantha Kellman

|3 episodes

Lorna Rowle

|Episode: "Series 34, episode 8"

rowspan="4" |2011

|Cash in the Celebrity Attic

| rowspan="5" |Herself

|Episode: "Michelle Collins"

Paul O'Grady Live

|Episode: "Series 2, episode 11"

Celebrity Chase

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 2"

Celebrity Juice

| rowspan="2" |2 episodes

2011, 2014

|Let's Do Lunch with Gino & Mel

2011–2014

|Coronation Street

| rowspan="2" |Stella Price

|Regular role, 447 episodes

rowspan="2" |2012

|Innuendo Bingo

|Episode: "Chris and Rhianna"

12 Again

| rowspan="7" |Herself

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 12"

rowspan="3" |2013

|You Saw Them Here First

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 1"

Show Me the Telly

|7 episodes

Catchphrase

|Episode: "Christmas Special: Michael Ball, Michelle Collins and Carol Vorderman"

2014

|Weekend

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 1"

rowspan="5" |2015

|The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore

|Episode: "Ben Carson's Gun Policy & the Right to Die"

Countdown

|5 episodes

Death in Paradise

|Annette Burgess

|Episode: "She Was Murdered Twice"

Doctor Who: The Novel Adaptations

|Winnie Tyler

|Episode: "Damaged Goods"

SunTrap

|Coco

|Episode: "Casino"

rowspan="2" |2016

|Bear Grylls: Mission Survive

|Herself

|5 episodes

Midsomer Murders

|Nadine Campbell

|Episode: "The Incident at Cooper Hill"

2017

|Partners in Rhyme

| rowspan="2" |Herself

|Episode: "...At Christmas Time"

2017, 2019–2020

|Lorraine

|4 episodes

rowspan="2" |2017

|Sparebnb

|Jill

|Episode: "Derek"

The Mayoress

|Denise

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 1"

2018

|The Dumping Ground

|Fiona

|4 episodes

rowspan="2" |2019

|Jeremy Vine

| rowspan="3" |Herself

|2 episodes

Good Morning Britain

|Episode: "19 September 2019"

2019, 2021, 2024

|Pointless Celebrities

|3 episodes

2019

|Queens of Mystery

|Electra Bliss

| rowspan="2" |2 episodes

rowspan="10" |2020

|EastEnders: Secrets from the Square

|Cindy Beale

Isolation Interviews

| rowspan="18" |Herself

|Episode: "Michelle Collins"

The Drew Barrymore Show

|2 episodes

Sky News at Ten

| rowspan="5" |Episode: "11 December 2020"

Sky News Today

The News Hour with Mark Austin

Sky News Tonight

Sky News at 9

Sky Midnight News

| rowspan="2" |Episode: "12 December 2020"

Sky World News

rowspan="3" |2021

|Celebrity Masterchef

|Episode: "Series 16, episode 10"

Richard Osman's House of Games

|5 episodes

The Weakest Link

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 5"

2021–2022

|Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

|2 episodes

rowspan="2" |2022

|Garraway's Good Stuff

|Episode: "Series 1, episode 10"

The Viall Files

|Episode: "Going Deeper – Love Is Blind Recap with Michelle Collins"

rowspan="2" |2023

|Today

|Episode: "14 April 2023"

Breakfast

|Episode: "24 August 2023"

2023–2024

|The National Television Awards

|2 episodes

rowspan="1" |2024

|After Midnight with Taylor Tomlinson

|Episode: "Season 2, episode 18, 3 Oct 2024"

[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33506494/?ref_=ttep_ep18]https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33506494/?ref_=ttep_ep18

{{Cite web |title=October 2, 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-cwa6ZvflaAQoMbh4l8WxPvf-gmaJKga&si=CgNOe6Qqayvn_Vbd |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=YouTube |language=en}}

2025

| EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square

| Herself

| Interviewed Guest

Stage

class="wikitable"

style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Note(s)

1990–1991

| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

| Snow White

| Oxford Apollo

1991–1992

| Aladdin

| The Princess

| Oxford Apollo

1994–1995

| Jack and the Beanstalk

| Jack

| Hackney Empire

1996–1997

| Dick Whittington

| Alice Fitzwarren

| Orchard Theatre, Dartford

2004

| Rattle of a Simple Man

| Cyreene

| Harold Pinter Theatre

2004–2005

| The Play What I Wrote

| Various

| UK Tour

2006–2007

| Daddy Cool

| Ma Baker

| Shaftesbury Theatre

2008–2009

| Cinderella

| Wicked Stepmother

| Bristol Hippodrome

2010

| Calendar Girls

| Cora

| Phoenix Theatre; Various

2011

| Romeo and Juliet

| Nurse

| Octagon Theatre, Bolton

2011

| The Demolition Man

| Sheila Grundy

| Octagon Theatre, Bolton

2014

| The Glass Supper

| Wendy

| Hampstead Theatre, London

2016

| Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

| Baroness Bombhurst

| UK Tour

2016–2017

| Aladdin

| The Genie

| Aylesbury Waterside

rowspan=2|2017

| A Dark Night in Dalston

| Gina

| Park Theatre, London

Thoroughly Modern Millie

| Mrs. Meers

| UK Tour

2017–2018

| Cinderella

| Wicked Stepmother

| Orchard Theatre, Dartford

2018–2019

| Jack and the Beanstalk

| Fairy Nuff

| Crewe Lyceum

rowspan=2|2019

| My Dad’s Gap Year

| Cath

| Park Theatre, London

How Love is Spelt

| Marion

| Southwark Playhouse

2019–2020

| Sleeping Beauty

| Carabosse

| Wyvern Theatre, Swindon

2020

| The Birthday Party

| Meg

| UK Tour

2021

| Safe Sex

| Marion

| The Turbine Theatre, London

2021–2022

| Sleeping Beauty

| Nightshade

| Poole Lighthouse Theatre

2022

| Cluedo

| Miss Scarlett

| UK Tour

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Ceremony

! Category

! Work

! Result

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

2013

| British Soap Awards

| Best Actress

| Coronation Street

| {{longlisted}}

| align="center" | {{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/scoop/a464745/british-soap-awards-2013-voting-opens-nominations-revealed|title=British Soap Awards 2013 voting opens, nominations revealed|publisher=Digital Spy|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=11 March 2013|access-date=11 March 2013|archive-date=1 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101015643/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/scoop/a464745/british-soap-awards-2013-voting-opens-nominations-revealed.html|url-status=live}}

2023

| I Talk Telly Awards

| Best Soap Partnership (with Adam Woodyatt)

| EastEnders

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{cite news |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Elliot |title=Nominations revealed for the I Talk Telly Awards 2023 as voting opens |url=https://www.italktelly.com/post/nominations-revealed-for-the-i-talk-telly-awards-2023-as-voting-opens |work=I Talk Telly |date=11 November 2023 |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=27 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112115508/https://www.italktelly.com/post/nominations-revealed-for-the-i-talk-telly-awards-2023-as-voting-opens |url-status=live }}

2024

| National Television Awards

| Serial Drama Performance

| EastEnders

| {{longlisted}}

| align="center" | {{cite magazine|last=Hibbs|first=James|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/national-television-awards-2024-longlist/|title=NTAs 2024 longlist revealed – Mr Bates, Death in Paradise and more|magazine=Radio Times|date=21 May 2024|access-date=21 May 2024|archive-date=12 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712153208/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/national-television-awards-2024-longlist/|url-status=live}}

2024

| National Film Awards UK

| Best Actress in a TV Series

| EastEnders

| {{won}}

| align="center" | {{cite web|url=https://www.nationalfilmawards.org/10th-anniversary-of-the-national-film-awards-celebrating-a-decade-of-excellence-in-film-and-television/|title=10th Anniversary of the National Film Awards: Celebrating a Decade of Excellence in Film and Television|publisher=National Film Academy|date=4 July 2024|access-date=20 February 2025}}

2024

| Inside Soap Awards

| Best Actress

| EastEnders

| {{longlisted}}

| align="center" | {{cite web |last1=Harp |first1=Justin |title=Emmerdale's Tom and Belle story and EastEnders' Six drama among Inside Soap Award nominees |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a61602668/inside-soap-awards-nominations-2024/ |website=Digital Spy |publisher=Hearst Communications |access-date=16 July 2024 |date=16 July 2024}}