# Samantha Giles

Samantha Elizabeth Giles (born 2 July 1971) is an English actress and author. She is best known for portraying the role of Bernice Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She had also portrayed Sally Boothe in the ITV drama series Where the Heart Is and Valerie Holden in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. She departed from Emmerdale in 2019 to focus on other creative projects, such as writing her debut novel, Rosemary and the Witches of Pendle Hill, released in August 2020. In April 2021, it was confirmed that she would be returning to Emmerdale.

## Career

From 1998 to 2002, and again in 2004, Giles portrayed the role of Bernice Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. For her role as Bernice, she won the TV Quick Award for Best Actress. Giles' other television credits include Doctors, Dangerfield and Midnight Man. Her stage credits include A Taste of Honey (as Helen), Dead Funny (Lisa), and Season's Greetings (Belinda). In December 2007, it was announced that Giles was to join the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks in 2008 as Valerie Holden, a role that she had taken over from actress Jacqueline Leonard. She returned in July 2010, and left again in August 2010. In December 2010, Giles appeared on Celebrity Mastermind where her specialist subject was the works of Alfred Hitchcock. Giles returned to Emmerdale in 2012. However, in 2019, Giles announced her departure from the series to focus on other creative projects. In August 2020, her first book, titled Rosemary and the Witches of Pendle Hill, was published. After Emmerdale producers offered a return to Giles in 2021, she accepted; her return scenes aired on 27 May.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994–1995 | Coronation Street | Kirsty | Recurring role |
| 1997 | New Voices | Michelle Roberts | Episode: "Supplies" |
| 1997 | Midnight Man | Mary Farmer | Television film |
| 1998 | Dangerfield | Amy | Episode: "The Long Weekend" |
| 1998–2002, 2004, 2012–2019, 2021–2023 | Emmerdale | Bernice Blackstock | Regular role |
| 2003–2006 | Where the Heart Is | Sally Boothe | Main role; 28 episodes |
| 2007 | Doctors | Pia Marshall | Episode: "Bon Voyage" |
| 2008, 2010 | Hollyoaks | Valerie Holden | Regular role; 34 episodes |
| 2011 | Doctors | Felicia Bennett | Episode: "An Inspector Calls" |
| 2011 | The Case | Monica Sauzer | Episode #1.4 |
| 2012 | Crime Stories | Kate Spencer | Episode #1.7 |
| 2015 | Nomads | Penny | Television series |

## Stage

* 1993, Rosalind in Double D directed by June Brown
* 2004, Jennifer in Party Piece at the Theatre Royal Windsor directed by Mark Piper
* 2010, Marge in Absent Friends at the Oldham Coliseum/Harrogate/Anvil Arts Production directed by Nikolai Foster
* 2007, Lisa in Dead Fully at the Oldham Coliseum and National Tour directed by Nikolai Foster
* 2006, Helen in A Taste of Honey - National Tour at the Oldham Coliseum directed by Stuart Wood
* 2006, Belinda in Seasons Greetings at the Liverpool Playhouse directed by Nikolai Foster

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Result |
| 1999 | 5th National Television Awards | Most Popular Newcomer | Nominated |
| 2000 | 6th National Television Awards | Most Popular Actress | Nominated |
| 2002 | British Soap Awards | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2002 | British Soap Awards | Sexiest Female | Nominated |
| 2002 | British Soap Awards | Best On-Screen Partnership (shared with John Middleton) | Nominated |
| 2014 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Female | Nominated |
| 2015 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Female | Nominated |
| 2016 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Female | Nominated |
| 2018 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Female | Nominated |
| 2019 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Female | Nominated |
| 2021 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Performance | Nominated |
| 2023 | 2023 British Soap Awards | Best Comedy Performance | Nominated |
| 2023 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Comic Performance | Pending |