Kay Purcell

Purcell's first acting role was as a TV reporter in the TV series Cracker in 1995. She then later starred in Coronation Street as Rhona Summers for 3 episodes in 1997. She appeared as Jenny in the TV series City Central. In 1998 and 2000, she starred in the BBC 1 series Casualty. In 1998 she played WDC McCarthy, and in 2000 played Diane Abley. Later in 2000, she starred in the TV series Children's Ward as Winsome. Her first major role was as Cynthia Daggert in ITV's Emmerdale. She starred in 187 episodes from 2001 to 2002. Her next major role was in Bernard's Watch in 2004–2005, as Ms. Savage for 21 episodes. Purcell played a recurring role in BBC's Waterloo Road as Bolton Smilie's Mum Candice Smilie from 2007–2009. She played the role of Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns for three series, as well as the first series of the spin-off series The Dumping Ground, her departure was unexplained in later episodes, although head writer Elly Brewer stated that Gina left to get a position in order to have more money to pay for her Mother, who has dementia. In 2002, Purcell took part in the show Celebrity Fit Club, where she and the other celebrities lost weight for charity.[5] In February 2021, Purcell will be featured in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors; her final acting role before her death.[6]

In early 2017, Purcell was diagnosed with breast cancer.[7] Purcell posted images, videos and blogs on social media to show her own experience of the disease.[8] In early 2020, Purcell was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and was given a life expectancy of two years.[9] She died from metastatic breast cancer which had spread to her liver on 23 December 2020, aged 57.[2]

• The Winter's Tale (1993, as Paulina, Dorcas)
• Everybody Knows All Birds Have Wings (1997)[10][11]
• Hormonal Housewives (2012)[12][13]
• Rapunzel (2013, as Gothel the Enchantress)[14]
• Sleeping Beauty (2014, as Carabosse)[15][16][17]

• Kay Purcell at IMDb