Holli Dempsey
Holli Dempsey | |
|---|---|
| Born | Holli Cara-Rhian Dempsey 11 May 1990 |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Website | hollidempsey |
Holli Cara-Rhian Dempsey (born 11 May 1990)[1] is an English actress, writer and comedian. On television, she is known for her roles in the ITV drama The Ice Cream Girls (2013), the Channel 4 series Derek (2013–2014), the E4 series The Aliens (2016), and the Hulu series Harlots (2017–2019). Her films include Aaaaaaaah! (2015) and Dad's Army (2016).
Early life
[edit]Dempsey is from East London.[2] Her first experience of acting was in a school play, as Detective Bernstein in Little Shop of Horrors.[3] Dempsey was trained in Joan Littlewood improvisation style as part of the junior group at Theatre Royal Stratford East.[1]
Career
[edit]In 2013, she had a regular role as Maureen Mulliganin in the TV series Breathless.[4] In 2014, she appeared as Vicky for ten episodes of the Ricky Gervais comedy series Derek.[5] In 2015, she appeared as Jolene in You, Me and the Apocalypse for a single episode: "Right in the Nuts".[4]
In 2016, she played Holly in the TV series The Aliens,[4] and appeared in ITV's Plebs.[6] The same year, she was in 2016 film version of Dad’s Army.[7] In 2016, she appeared in "Hated in the Nation", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.[3]
In 2019, she appeared in After Life,[8] then in 2020, she played a lead role as Emily Lacey in the TV series Harlots,[9] alongside Samantha Morton.[9] In 2020, she appeared in the BBC comedy Ghosts.[8]
She has also appeared in an episode of BBC's Call the Midwife,[1] as prostitute 'Bridget Cole', and ITV’s The Delivery Man (2015),[8] and The Ice Cream Girls (2013),[10] an ITV drama based on the novel by Dorothy Koomson. Dempsey also appears in the 2015 British comedy film Aaaaaaaah! directed by Steve Oram.[8]
In 2021, Dempsey played the role of Grace Melbury in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel The Woodlanders. In 2022 and 2023, she took the lead role of Jess in three series of Matthew Broughton’s radio thriller Broken Colours.[11]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | After Effects | Liz (Friend) | Short film. Credited as Holli Wood |
| 2011 | This Time Next Year | Jacqui Morgan | Video |
| The Fighter's Ballad | The Fighter's Sister | ||
| 2012 | Full Firearms | Bianca | |
| 2013 | Lost Girl | Tara Stokes | Short film |
| 2014 | A Wonderful Christmas Time | Charlotte | |
| 2015 | Aaaaaaaah! | Helen | [8] |
| Drift | Courtney | Short film | |
| 2016 | Dad's Army | Vera | |
| Donald Mohammed Trump | Campaign Helper | Short films | |
| 2017 | Tom | Helen | |
| 2018 | None of the Above | Cassie | |
| Songbird | Tara | Also known as Alright Now | |
| 2019 | Londonstani | Mrs. Hancock | Short film |
| A Guide to Second Date Sex | Bianca | ||
| 2020 | A Christmas Carol | Fan (voice) | |
| Ecstasy | Gary the Drug Dealer | Short film | |
| 2021 | Evie: Evil Has a New Name | Evie | Premiered at Arrow Video FrightFest |
| 2023 | Bolan's Shoes | Zoe | |
| 2024 | Housewarming | Liz | Short film |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Bill | Willow | Series 26; episodes 30 & 31: "Respect: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2011 | Tracy Beaker Returns | Kali | Series 2; episode 11: "Snake Bite" |
| Doctors | Titch | Series 13; episode 54: "Protection" | |
| Holby City | Alison Newton | Series 13; episode 48: "Night Cover" | |
| Doctor Who | Kelly | Series 6; episode 12: "Closing Time" | |
| 2012 | Whitechapel | Elsa Durham | Series 3; episode 6 |
| Wizards vs Aliens | Meena | Series 1; episode 5: "Rebel Magic, Part 1" | |
| 2013 | The Ice Cream Girls | Young Poppy Carlisle | Mini-series; episodes 1–3[8] |
| Big Bad World | Katie | Episode 4 | |
| Breathless | Maureen Mulligan | Mini-series; episodes 1–6[4] | |
| 2013–2014 | Derek | Vicky | Series 1 & 2; 10 episodes[5] |
| 2014 | New Worlds | Agnes | Mini-series; episodes 1–4 |
| 2015 | Call the Midwife | Bridget Cole | Series 4; episode 4 |
| DCI Banks | Jodie Nash | Series 4; episode 1: "What Will Survive: Part 1" | |
| The Delivery Man | Claire Fisher | Episode 1: "Youth" | |
| You, Me and the Apocalypse | Jolene | Mini-series; episode 5: "Right in the Nuts" | |
| Jekyll and Hyde | Ginnie | Mini-series; episode 6: "Spring-Heeled Jack" | |
| 2016 | The Aliens | Holly | Mini-series; episodes 1–3, 5 & 6 |
| Plebs | Alba | Series 3; episode 7: "The New Master"[6] | |
| People Just Do Nothing | Atlantic Receptionist | Series 3; episode 2: "Record Deal" | |
| Black Mirror | Clara Meades | Series 3; episode 6: "Hated in the Nation"[3] | |
| Blink | Herself - Contestant | Series 2; episode 2 | |
| 2017–2019 | Harlots | Emily Lacey | Main role. Series 1–3; 24 episodes |
| 2019 | Flack | Carly | Series 1; episode 2: "Summer" |
| 2020 | Endeavour | Jenny Tate | Series 7; episodes 1 & 3: "Oracle" & "Zenana" |
| After Life | Plastic Surgery Woman | Series 2; episode 4 | |
| The Alienist | Masie | Series 2; episode 6: "Angel of Darkness: Memento Mori" | |
| I Hate Suzie | Danielle | Series 1; episode 6: "Guilt" | |