1. Bernie Nolan was the second youngest of sisters Anne, Denise, Maureen, Linda and Coleen.
21 Facts About Bernie Nolan
1. 2.
Bernie Nolan left the group in 1995 to become an actress.
3.
Bernie Nolan was a member of the Nolans line-up that reformed for a successful tour of the UK and Ireland in 2009.
4.
Bernie Nolan was born in Dublin in 1960, the seventh of eight children born to Tommy and Maureen Bernie Nolan.
5.
Bernie Nolan composed songs during this time, when she wrote two tracks for their 1982 album Portrait.
6.
Bernie Nolan first acted as a cast member on the BBC Saturday morning children's show On the Waterfront.
7.
The Nolan sisters and their music were a running gag on the show, and Bernie was joined by her sisters for a musical performance during at least one episode.
8.
Bernie Nolan left the group in 1995 to concentrate on her own acting career, which began with her 1993 performance in the stage play, The Devil Rides Out.
9.
Bernie Nolan played Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers in the UK tour for over two years.
10.
Bernie Nolan was the first of four Nolan sisters to have played the role, being followed by Denise, Linda and then Maureen.
11.
In 2000, Bernie Nolan joined the cast of Channel 4's soap opera Brookside as Diane Murray after being noticed by Paul Marquess whilst starring in Blood Brothers.
12.
Bernie Nolan left Brookside in 2002 when her character was killed off.
13.
Bernie Nolan then went on to play Sheelagh Murphy in ITV's police drama series The Bill, in which she starred until 2005.
14.
In 2006, Bernie Nolan took part in Channel 4's series The Games.
15.
In 2008, Bernie Nolan appeared in the UK touring production of Flashdance the Musical for over a year, playing Hannah Owens.
16.
Bernie Nolan released the single "Macushla" in 2004 with the proceeds going to charity.
17.
The album consists mainly of power ballads, including the song "Better Place", written by Bernie Nolan's husband in memory of their daughter, Kate, who was stillborn in 1998.
18.
Bernie Nolan had previously been in a relationship with Bradley Walsh.
19.
On 23 April 2010, it was announced that Bernie Nolan was suffering from breast cancer.
20.
Bernie Nolan died in her sleep, at her home in Surrey, on 4 July 2013, aged 52.
21.
Bernie Nolan's ashes were then buried alongside those of her stillborn daughter.