Nicola Stephenson

Nicola Stephenson (born 5 July 1971) is an English actress.

Life and career

Career

She is known mainly for her roles in television, which include Margaret Clemence in Channel 4's Brookside; Stephenson's on-air kiss with Anna Friel was the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss to be broadcast on British television. In 2012 the kiss was broadcast to over 5 billion people when it was included as part of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony directed by Danny Boyle. The opening ceremony was broadcast uncensored in 76 countries where homosexuality is illegal and therefore became the first homosexual kiss to be broadcast in these countries. Other roles have included Julie Fitzjohn/Bradford in Holby City, Suzie Davidson in Clocking Off, Jackie Armstrong in ITV's Christmas Lights/Northern Lights/City Lights, Sarah Williams in BBC's The Chase and All at Sea. In 2012, Nicola played Louise, a series lead in the ITV drama Homefront. In 2014 she joined the regular cast of Waterloo Road as art teacher Allie Westbrook for 11 episodes.

Northern Lights (TV series)

Northern Lights is a 2006 comedy-drama broadcast on ITV starring Mark Benton and Robson Green. It is a spin-off of the 2004 Christmas special Christmas Lights.

A sequel, City Lights, was broadcast in 2007. Also a Christmas special, Clash of the Santas, was broadcast in December 2008. It featured Colin and Howie taking a trip to Lithuania to represent the United Kingdom in a Santa convention. The main problem with this is that miserable Howie is picked as Santa, while true Christmas believer Colin is relegated to the role of cheerleading elf.

Cast

Colin Armstrong - Robson Green The phrase 'one of the lads' was made for Colin. His perfect night would be a kick-about on the football pitch, a pint and a 'craic' with his mates and then going for some nookie with his wife Jackie. Colin would walk over hot coals for his best friend Howard, but he can't help being a little narked at his new-found success at work. He's got a bit of a chip on his shoulder about always being seen as the joker and therefore not taken seriously and so he is fiercely competitive with his mate. Very happily married, he and Jackie have three children, Brooke, Liam and Leyton.