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Kay Purcell
Kay Purcell.jpg
Purcell as Gina Conway in Tracy Beaker Returns
Born (1963-12-06)6 December 1963
Died 23 December 2020(2020-12-23) (aged 57)
Lancashire, England
Occupation Actress
Years active 1993–2020
Television Emmerdale
Waterloo Road
Tracy Beaker Returns
The Dumping Ground
So Awkward
Children 3

Kay Purcell (6 December 1963 – 23 December 2020) was an English actress. She was known for her roles as Cynthia Daggert in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale (2001–2002), Candice Smilie in the school-based drama series Waterloo Road (2007–2009), Gina Conway in the CBBC children's drama series Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012) and its spin-off series The Dumping Ground (2013), and Mrs. Rennison in the CBBC sitcom So Awkward (2015–2016).

Career

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.

Illness and death

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

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Cracker TV Reporter Episode: "True Romance: Part 2"
1996–1998 Emmerdale Carmel Morgan Recurring role; 9 episodes
1997 Coronation Street Rhona Summers 3 episodes
1998 Casualty WDC McCarthy Episode: "Taking Sides"
1999 City Central Jenny Episode: "Paradise Lost"
My Parents Are Aliens Mrs. Williams Episode: "The Home Team"
2000 Casualty Diane Abley Episode: "Fall Out"
Children's Ward Winsome Series 12: Episode 8
2001–2002 Emmerdale Cynthia Daggert Regular role; 187 episodes
2003 Holby City Heather Nixon Episode: "Read My Lips"
2004–2005 Bernard's Watch Ms. Savage Main role; 21 episodes
2005 Messiah Prof Uhomi Episodes: "The Harrowing: Parts 1–3"
Doctors Mrs. Jane Manners 2 episodes
2006 Ideal Alice Episode: "The Delivery"
My Parents Are Aliens Mrs. Brookman 3 episodes
2007–2009 Waterloo Road Candice Smilie Main role; 24 episodes
2010–2012 Tracy Beaker Returns Gina Conway All 39 episodes
2011–2012 Tracy Beaker Survival Files Main role
2012 Hacker Time Herself Episode: "Connor Byrne and Kay Purcell"
2013 The Dumping Ground Gina Conway Main role; 13 episodes
2014–2016 Hacker Time Mrs. Breadbin 13 episodes
2015–2016 So Awkward Mrs. Rennison Main role; 18 episodes
2020 When It Rains Sonia 5 episodes
2021 Doctors Mo Larkin Episode: "Of Mice and Women"; posthumous release

Theatre

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