Early Life and Career
Kelly was born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and grew up in both Barnsley and Wakefield, West Yorkshire. She attended Wakefield Girls High School. She has strong links with The Lamproom Theatre in Barnsley, established in 1998 by her father John (who is originally from Castleisland, County Kerry, Ireland), and has regularly supported fund-raising events held there.
She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London, with fellow students Meredith MacNeill and Laurence Fox, graduating in 2001. She worked at Chichester Festival Theatre in The Accrington Pals with actress Amy Robbins and at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester in Othello with Andy Serkis and Lorraine Ashbourne. Since then, she has worked in TV, film, radio and voice-over. She was a leading lady at the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2004–2005, performing in both Stratford-Upon-Avon and the West End.
On 18 April 2011 it was announced that she would be leaving Coronation Street at her own request by the end of the year. She will then star as Miss Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer at the National Theatre from 24 January 2012. Kelly appeared on ITV's This Morning to discuss her departure from Coronation Street and she said 'I decided to leave Coronation Street for a change' She also talked about her role in 'She Stoops To Conquer' and said that 'you've got to be careful what you wish for because this couldn't be more different, really!'
Kelly's first television role after leaving Coronation Street is in the ninety minute BBC4 biopic The Best Possible Taste in which she plays Lee Middleton, wife of Kenny Everett. In early 2013 she will play socialite Lady Mae in the ten part ITV1 drama series Mr Selfridge.
On 30 July 2011, Kelly attended the wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall.
In January 2013 it was announced that Kelly would star in The Last Witch - a supernatural drama written by BAFTA nominated writer Sally Wainwright, as part of the Sky Living Reckless series.
Read more about this topic: Katherine Kelly (actress)
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