# Amy James-Kelly

Amy James-Kelly (born 15 November 1995) is a British actress. She gained prominence through her role as Maddie Heath in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2013–2015). She has since starred in the Netflix series Safe (2018), the BBC One drama Three Families (2021), and the Channel 4 sitcom Everyone Else Burns (2023).

## Early life

James-Kelly was born in Antrim, Northern Ireland and moved to England as a baby. She spent the first year of her life in Catterick, North Yorkshire before settling down in Failsworth, Greater Manchester. She attended The Blue Coat School, Oldham. She took extra-curricular classes at the Manchester School of Acting.

## Career

James-Kelly began her career in theatre productions of Beauty Manifesto, Trojan Women, My Fair Lady and Frank and Ferdinand.
In December 2013, James-Kelly made her television debut in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Maddie Heath, a troubled teenager and Sophie Webster's love interest. James-Kelly found out she had been cast on the bus home from college. In February 2015, she announced she would be leaving Coronation Street and made her final appearance that June when her character was killed off.
On leaving, James-Kelly said, "I made the decision to leave because I'm young and adventurous, and I want to gain more experience and explore and improve my craft. Acting is my passion and I'm excited to see where it takes me." She landed her second television role as Martha Quaintain in the 2016 period drama miniseries Jericho.
James-Kelly starred as Jenny Delaney in the 2018 Netflix series Safe. She also had a guest role in the BBC One series Moving On.
James-Kelly made her feature film debut as Sarah in the 2019 comedy-drama Military Wives. That same year, she had a recurring role as Suzannah Washington in the BBC One and HBO series Gentleman Jack.
In 2021, James-Kelly appeared as Grace Marshbrook in series 2 of the ITV crime drama The Bay and starred as Hannah Kennedy in the two-part BBC One drama Three Families. She has a role in the Channel 4 sitcom Everyone Else Burns.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2017 | Last Summer | Emma | Short film (also writer, director, producer) |
| 2018 | Mission Christmas | Amy | Short film |
| 2019 | Girl Alone | The Girl | Short film |
| 2019 | Military Wives | Sarah | |
| 2021 | Seacole | Miss Eames | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2013–2015 | Coronation Street | Maddie Heath | 131 episodes |
| 2016 | Jericho | Martha Quintain | Miniseries, 7 episodes |
| 2018 | Moving On | Emma | Episode: "The Registrar" |
| 2018 | Safe | Jenny Delaney | Main role. Miniseries, 8 episodes |
| 2019–2022 | Gentleman Jack | Suzannah Washington/Sowden | 7 episodes |
| 2021 | The Bay | Grace Marshbrook | 3 episodes (series 2) |
| 2021 | Three Families | Hannah Kennedy | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2022 | Blood, Sex & Royalty | Anne Boleyn | 3 part docu-drama |
| 2023–present | Everyone Else Burns | Rachel Lewis | Main role |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
| 2014 | British Soap Awards | Best Newcomer | Coronation Street | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Edinburgh International Television Festival | Breakthrough Actor | Everyone Else Burns | Pending | |