# Vanessa Hehir

Vanessa Clare Judith Hehir (born 28 October 1981) is an English actress, known for portraying the roles of Rosie Cartwright in the ITV police procedural drama Heartbeat (2004–2007), Kirsten Lind on the BBC medical soap opera Doctors (2008–2009), Sue Spark in the BBC drama Waterloo Road (2013–2014) and Esther Hargrave on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2022–2023).

## Life and career

Vanessa Clare Judith Hehir was born on 28 October 1981 in Manchester, England. She made her acting debut in 2001, appearing in an episode of the ITV police procedural drama Heartbeat. After having minor roles in series including Holby City and Down to Earth, she returned to Heartbeat three years later when she was cast in the regular role of Rosie Cartwright. She departed the series in 2007, with her character being presumed dead after being kidnapped. In 2010, she married co-star Leon Ockenden. The pair share a daughter together. Between 2008 and 2009, Hehir portrayed the role of Kirsten Lind on the BBC medical soap opera Doctors. She subsequently went on to appear in the show on two further occasions as different characters in 2019 and 2023, respectively. Then between 2010 and 2011, she had a recurring role as Nurse Summers in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale.
In 2013, Hehir joined the cast of the BBC school drama Waterloo Road for its ninth series as science teacher Sue Spark. She departed the series during the tenth series, after her character decided to give up teaching following the end of a relationship with Hector Reid, who was portrayed by Hehir's husband, Ockenden. Upon leaving, Hehir portrayed roles in episodes of Unforgotten, Midsomer Murders, Liar, Hollyoaks and The Dumping Ground. She has also appeared in a number of short films, including Eliana (2015), Slaved (2016), Secret Santa (2019), The Beast (2020) and The Willows (2021). Hehir has also directed a number of short films, some of which she starred in. In October 2022, she joined the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Esther Hargrave, a woman whom along with her husband, planned to adopt Summer Spellman's (Harriet Bibby) baby, prior to her suffering a miscarriage. She made her final appearance in January 2023 following the conclusion of the storyline. In 2024, Hehir appeared in an episode of Casualty.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | Heartbeat | Gail Smethurst | Episode: "Gin a Body, Meet a Body" |
| 2001 | Doctors | Carrie | Episode: "Only Skin Deep" |
| 2002 | Cupboard Love | Anges | Short film |
| 2004 | Holby City | Karen Claymore | Episode: "The Buck Stops Here" |
| 2004 | Down to Earth | Kate Foster | Episode: "Can't Buy You Love" |
| 2004 | Grease Monkeys | Nicola Jay | Main role |
| 2004–2007 | Heartbeat | Rosie Cartwright | Main role |
| 2008–2009 | Doctors | Kirsten Lind | Recurring role |
| 2010 | West Is West | Esther | Film |
| 2010 | Ti presento un amico | Beautician | Film |
| 2010–2011 | Emmerdale | Nurse Summers | Recurring role |
| 2012 | Hustle | Louise Holmes | Episode: "Picasso Finger Painting" |
| 2013 | Stella | Katie | 1 episode |
| 2013–2014 | Waterloo Road | Sue Spark | Main role |
| 2015 | Supreme Tweeter | Gina's Assistant | Episode: "#TheRedScare" |
| 2015 | Unforgotten | Thea | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Eliana | Wife | Short film |
| 2016 | Slaved | Sally | Short film |
| 2017 | Midsomer Murders | Belinda Tressel | Episode: "Red in Tooth & Claw" |
| 2017 | Liar | Coffee Shop Woman | Episode: "The White Rabbit" |
| 2018 | Hollyoaks | Mrs. Hartley | Guest role |
| 2019 | Secret Santa | Charlotte | Short film |
| 2019 | Doctors | Trisha Jennison | Episode: "Bad Hair Day" |
| 2020 | The Dumping Ground | Amanda | Episode: "The Replacement" |
| 2020 | The Beast | Charlotte | Short film |
| 2021 | The Willows | Dawn | Short film |
| 2022 | The Bulls | Vanessa | Short film |
| 2022–2023 | Coronation Street | Esther Hargrave | Recurring role |
| 2023 | Doctors | Brooke Hare | Episode: "Lost Time" |
| 2024 | Casualty | Aisling Hagerty | Episode: "Trauma" |
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