Amanda Holden Biography
Summary
"Amanda Louise Holden" (born 16 February 1971 in Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire) is an English actress. She made her television debut as an unsuccessful contestant on the long-running ITV series "Blind Date".
Amanda trained at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Her first television role was in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders" in 1994, but she is perhaps best known for playing Mia Bevan in the BAFTA Award-nominated drama series "Cutting It" from 2002 to 2004.
Acting career
Amanda Holden has appeared in several stage musicals and in 2004 was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the West End production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie". On November 19 2004 she appeared on the BBC's "Children in Need" charity appeal singing Aretha Franklin's '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman'. On that night also, she announced her engagement to record boss Chris Hughes.
Her most recent TV appearance was in the ITV1 drama "Wild at Heart", alongside Stephen Tompkinson. The first series aired in 2006 and a second series followed in early 2007.
Amanda's other TV credits include three series of the hit comedy "Kiss Me Kate" alongside Caroline Quentin, three series of the ITV comedy series "The Grimleys", "Celeb" with Harry Enfield, the critically acclaimed BBC series "Hearts and Bones" alongside Damien Lewis, the comedy series "Mad About Alice" with Jamie Theakston, and a Boxing Day special "Marple" alongside Geraldine McEwan and John Hannah. She also co-starred with Bill Nighy and Sir Tom Courtenay in "Ready When You Are, Mr McGill", Jack Rosenthal's classic comedy drama.
In June 2007 she appeared as one of the judges, alongside Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan, on the talent show Britain's Got Talent. The show was hosted by Ant and Dec and won by opera singer Paul Potts.
Personal life
Holden married television presenter Les Dennis in 1995, but separated from him following her affair with actor Neil Morrissey. These events made her a popular target for the British tabloid press. The couple were divorced on November 18 2003. Holden's affair was later parodied in the TV series Extras.
On January 21 2006, Holden gave birth to her first child, Alexa Louise Florence Hughes, by Caesarean section.
Trivia
She is an Everton FC supporter, expressing her dismay in April 2007 on Parkinson to Everton's 4-2 loss to Manchester United after leading 2-0.
Filmography
"Britain's Got Talent" (TV show) (2007)
"Wild at Heart" (2006) (TV Series)
"Mad About Alice" (2004) (TV Series)
"4:50 From Paddington" (2004) (TV Movie)
"Eternal Rectangle" (2003) (TV Series)
"Cutting It" (2002) (TV Series)
"Celeb" (2002) (TV series)
"Now You See Her" (2001) (TV Movie)
"Happy Birthday Shakespeare" (2000) (TV Movie)
"Hearts and Bones (TV series)" (2000) (TV Series)
"The Grimleys" (1999) (TV Series)
"Virtual Sexuality" (1999)
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1998)
"Kiss Me Kate" (1998) (TV series)
"Intimate Relations" (1996)
"EastEnders" as Carmen (1994) (TV series)
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Amanda Holden.
