Holly Aird
Imogen Holly Aird (born 18 May 1969)[1] is an English television actress known for playing Forensic Pathologist Frankie Wharton in the BBC1 drama series Waking the Dead, having previously starred in productions such as Soldier Soldier and the 1997 film Fever Pitch alongside Colin Firth.
Holly Aird | |
---|---|
Born | Imogen Holly Aird 18 May 1969 |
Occupation | Actress |
Spouse(s) | Toby Merritt (m. 2004) |
Early life
Aird was born in Aldershot, Hampshire. She was spotted by a casting director aged nine whilst at Bush Davies Ballet School, and starred in the 1980 dramatisation of the H. G. Wells novel The History of Mr Polly. In 1981 she portrayed the young Elspeth Huxley in the television adaptation of the latter's autobiographical book The Flame Trees of Thika.
Career
In 1981 she portrayed Elspeth Huxley in The Flame Trees of Thika. In 1982 she starred as the young Beatrix Potter in The Tale of Beatrix Potter. She was seen in The Happy Valley in 1987 with Denholm Elliott in which she played a schoolgirl in Kenya in the 1930s. As well as small parts in various television series, Aird became known for playing Nancy Thorpe/Garvey in Soldier Soldier. In 2000, she starred as Frankie Wharton in Waking the Dead.[2] Aird has done voiceover for various BBC natural history projects (including Wild Mallorca), as well as various TV advertisements. In 2007, she played a clinical psychologist, in Channel 4's drama, 'Secret Life', and in 2009 took a leading role in Talkback Thames's Monday Monday.
Family
Aird has two children, Joseph with James Purefoy,[3] and Nelly with husband Toby Merritt who is a freelance photographer.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1992 | Carry On Columbus | Maria | |
1996 | Intimate Relations | Deirdre | |
1997 | Fever Pitch | Jo | |
1998 | The Theory of Flight | Julie | |
1999 | Dreaming of Joseph Lees | Maria | |
1999 | The Criminal | Det. Sgt. Rebecca White | |
2002 | Possession | Ellen Ash | |
2006 | Scenes of a Sexual Nature | Molly |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | The History of Mr. Polly | Miss Polly | TV miniseries |
1981 | The Flame Trees of Thika | Elspeth Grant | TV miniseries |
1982 | Secrets | Wendy Ansell | TV film |
1982 | Spider's Web | Pippa Hailsham-Brown | TV film |
1982 | The Tale of Beatrix Potter | Beatrix Potter (young) | TV film |
1984 | Oxbridge Blues | Lucy | "The Muse" |
1985 | Affairs of the Heart | Rosemary Bonamy | Main role |
1986 | Seal Morning | Rowena Farre | TV series |
1986 | The Happy Valley | Juanita Carberry | TV film |
1988 | Inspector Morse | Angie Hartman | "Last Bus to Woodstock" |
1988 | Double First | Ellen Hobson | TV series |
1989 | Mother Love | Emily | TV miniseries |
1990 | Chain | Vicky Elliott | "Vicky Elliott" |
1990 | Sea Dragon | Ffion | "The Pursuit", "The Blood Feud" |
1991 | Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: They Do It with Mirrors | Gina Hudd | TV film |
1991–92 | Hope It Rains | Jace Elliott | TV series |
1991–1995 | Soldier Soldier | Sgt. Nancy Thorpe | Regular role (series 1–3, 5) |
1993 | 15: The Life and Death of Philip Knight | Karen Painter | TV film |
1995 | Kavanagh QC | Judy Simmons | "A Family Affair" |
1995 | Circles of Deceit: Dark Secret | Sarah Ellis | TV film |
1995–1998 | Dressing for Breakfast | Carla | Main role |
1997 | Have Your Cake and Eat It | Allie Gray | TV miniseries |
1997 | Rules of Engagement | Dawn Boll | TV film |
2000–2005 | Waking the Dead | Dr. Frankie Wharton | Main role (series 1–4) |
2006 | Losing It | Nancy McNaughton | TV film |
2006 | Casualty | Laura Merriman | "The Edge of Fear", "Killing Me Softly", "Silent Night" |
2007 | Secret Life | Emma | TV film |
2007 | Torn | Sarah Hooper / Alice Hooper | TV miniseries |
2009 | Law & Order: UK | Julia Mortimer | "Buried" |
2009 | Monday Monday | Alyson Cartmell | Main role |
2010 | Material Girl | Caroline | "1.2" |
2010 | Identity | Tessa Stein | TV miniseries |
2011 | The Promise | Chris Matthews | TV miniseries |
2011 | Midsomer Murders | Claire Powell | "The Oblong Murders" |
2011 | The Restaurant Inspector | Narrator (voice) | "1.1", "1.2" |
2011 | Page Eight | Anna Hervé | TV film |
2017 | Unforgotten | Elise Dunphy | Regular role (series 2) |
2017 | Grantchester | Alice Dunn | "3.3" |
References
- Thomson, Anna (2018) "On this day: May 18", Metro, 18 May 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018
- Brown, David (2018) "The stars of Waking the Dead on their new prequel drama – and why the show could be coming back to TV'", Radio Times, 4 March 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018
- Farndale, Nigel (2011) "James Purefoy interview", Daily Telegraph, 13 June 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2018