Gillian Louise Kearney was born on 9 May 1972 and is an English actress best known for her early role as Debbie McGrath in Channel 4's Liverpool-based soap opera Brookside and the spin-off mini-series Damon and Debbie, and for playing Jessica Harrison in the long-running BBC television medical drama series Casualty, as well as Emma Barton in the ITV Yorkshire-based soap opera Emmerdale.
18 Facts About Gillian Kearney
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One of four children born to Gerard and Barbara Kearney, Kearney has three brothers, including Tom, a professional footballer.
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Gillian Kearney's father is a retired civil engineer, and her mother a school care worker.
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Gillian Kearney landed the role of Debbie McGrath, the girlfriend of Damon Grant, played by Simon O'Brien.
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Gillian Kearney played the young Shirley in the award-winning 1989 film Shirley Valentine.
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In 2002, Gillian Kearney landed the role of June Forsyte in the ITV1 adaptation of John Galsworthy's classic novel The Forsyte Saga.
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Gillian Kearney later reprised the role for the second series.
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Gillian Kearney was cast as Dr Deborah "Deb" Sweet, and starred alongside Jason Merrells, who played her husband, and Patricia Hodge as her formidable mother-in-law.
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In 2005, Gillian Kearney landed a role in Channel 4's hit series Shameless, playing the role of Marty Fisher's girlfriend, Sue Garland.
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Gillian Kearney left the show along with her on-screen partner in 2007.
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Gillian Kearney had a number of television roles following her departure before landing the role of Jessica Harrison in Casualty, in January 2008.
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Gillian Kearney left Casualty in February 2010, but returned briefly to tie up the loose ends of her character's storyline in May 2010.
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Gillian Kearney has received critical acclaim for her performance, particularly when it came to the "No Return" week which saw the character hold James hostage and cause a huge crash that endangered the lives of seven Emmerdale residents; after Emma accidentally pushed James off the bridge, he later died.
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Gillian Kearney was nominated for Best Serial Drama Performance at the 2016 National Television Awards.
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In 2019, Gillian Kearney directed the 5Star woman's prison drama Clink.
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Gillian Kearney lived in Crouch End, North London, from July 2000, and then rented a property in Clifton, Bristol, during her time appearing in Casualty.
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Gillian Kearney returned to live in Liverpool after the birth of her son; she rented a home in Yorkshire where she filmed Emmerdale, and a holiday home on the Atlantic coast of County Clare, Ireland.
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Early in 2010, Gillian Kearney announced her engagement to Eddie Foo and their intention to marry later that year in Ireland, but the plans were soon put on hold when she discovered that she was expecting their first child.