# Georgia Taylor

Georgia Taylor (born Claire Marie Jackson; 26 February 1980) is an English actress. Her TV roles include Toyah Battersby in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (1997–2003, 2016–present), Ruth Winters in the BBC One medical drama series Casualty (2007–2011), and Kate Barker in the ITV crime series Law & Order: UK (2013–2014).

## Early life

Taylor was born Claire Marie Jackson, on 26 February 1980 in Wigan, Greater Manchester. She attended the Willpower Youth Theatre in Wigan as a teenager.

## Career

In 1997, Taylor began playing Toyah Battersby in Coronation Street. In 2001, she won the Best Dramatic Performance British Soap Award for playing Toyah. She quit the show in 2003 and has since appeared in episodes of Where the Heart Is, New Street Law, Lilies, Red Cap, the BBC's The Afternoon Play series and Life on Mars.
In September 2016 it was announced that Taylor would return to Coronation Street as Toyah Battersby. She resumed her role in the episode aired on Christmas Day 2016.
In 2003, she appeared with Duncan Bannatyne in the Tyne Tees Television comedy pilot Girls' Club. In 2004 and 2006, Taylor played a recurring role in the Golden Globe award nominated series Blackpool and its follow up Viva Blackpool for BBC One.
In May 2005, Taylor appeared in The Woman Before at the Royal Court opposite Helen Baxendale. In the same year, she received rave reviews for her role in Christmas is Miles Away at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.
In 2006, Taylor played Fiona in the film version of the transatlantic stage hit The History Boys. She appeared in an independent short film Soul Shutter in 2008, and also had a small role in the 2008 feature film The Bank Job. Her radio credits include Dakota of the White Flats by Phillip Ridley.
Taylor joined the cast of the BBC One medical drama Casualty as series regular Ruth Winters in September 2007.
She left Casualty in December 2011, along with co-star Ben Turner, who played her main love interest in the show.
In 2013 and 2014, Taylor played Junior Crown Prosecutor Kate Barker for two series (seasons) of Law & Order: UK.

## Personal life

In 2003 Taylor was in a relationship with musician Mark Eyden, and was planning marriage and children. As of 2013, she was living in Bristol with her partner, actor Mark Letheren, whom she met on the set of Casualty.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997–2003, 2016–present | Coronation Street | Toyah Battersby | Series regular |
| 1998–1999, 2013 | This Morning | Herself | 4 episodes |
| 1998 | Sooty & Co. | Toyah Battersby | Episode: "Estate Agents" |
| 2000, 2007, 2017 | Loose Women | Herself | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | Where the Heart Is | Jodie Walters | Episode: "Archangel" |
| 2004 | The Royal | Ellen | Episode: "Home to Roost" |
| 2004 | Blackpool | Shyanne Holden | Main cast; 6 episodes |
| 2006 | The Afternoon Play | Molly Connolly | Episode: "Molly" |
| 2006–2007 | Life on Mars | Denise Williams | Series 1: Episodes 4 Series 2: Episode 4 |
| 2006 | Viva Blackpool | Shyanne Holden | Television film |
| 2006 | The History Boys | Fiona | Film |
| 2007 | Lilies | Phyllis Cook | Episode: "The Chit Behind King Billy" |
| 2007 | New Street Law | Lorraine Granger | Series 2: Episode 4 |
| 2007–2011 | Casualty | Ruth Winters | Series regular; 176 episodes |
| 2008 | The Bank Job | Ingrid Burton | Film |
| 2012 | Lewis | Honey Addams | Episode: "Fearful Symmetry" |
| 2012 | Love in the Afternoon | Audrey | Short film |
| 2013–2014 | Law & Order: UK | Kate Barker | Series regular; 14 episodes |
| 2013 | 70 Stone: The Man Who Can't Be Saved | Herself; narrator | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | One in Five | Lucy | Short film |
| 2014 | Street Kid World Cup | Herself; narrator | Series 1: Episodes 1 & 2 |
| 2014 | The Chase: Celebrity Special | Herself; contestant | Series 4: Episode 12 |
| 2015 | Midsomer Murders | Bella Summersbee | Episode: "The Dagger Club" |
| 2016 | Agatha Raisin | Steph | Episode: "Hell's Bells" |
| 2018, 2020 | Lorraine | Herself; guest | 2 episodes |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2001 | The British Soap Awards | Best Dramatic Performance | Coronation Street | Won |
| 2001 | 7th National Television Awards | Most Popular Actress | Coronation Street | Nominated |
| 2008 | 14th National Television Awards | Most Popular Newcomer | Casualty | Nominated |
| 2011 | 16th National Television Awards | Drama Performance | Casualty | Nominated |
| 2011 | TV Choice Awards | Best Actress | Casualty | Nominated |
| 2012 | 17th National Television Awards | Drama Performance: Female | Casualty | Nominated |
| 2018 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Actress | Coronation Street | Nominated |
| 2018 | Digital Spy Reader Awards | Best Soap Actor (Female) | Coronation Street | Eleventh |
| 2022 | 27th National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance | Coronation Street | Nominated |
| 2022 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Actress | Coronation Street | Nominated |