Wikipedia

Dawn Hope

For the character from Emmerdale, see Dawn Woods.

Dawn Hope
At the 2023 British Soap Awards
OccupationActress
Years active1971–present
TelevisionWaiting for God
Hollyoaks

Dawn Hope is a British actress. She began her career with roles in movies such as Melody (1971) and Black Joy (1977). From 1983 to 1985, she played Ronnette in the UK stage production of Little Shop of Horrors. She played the role of Jenny in all five series of the British sitcom Waiting for God, which aired from 1990 to 1994. From 2012 to 2013, she played the recurring role of Alison Soames in the soap opera Coronation Street. From 2017 to 2018, she played Stella Deems in the Royal National Theatre's production of Follies. Since 2021, she has portrayed Pearl Anderson in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. She has also appeared in various other movies and television series, including The Fosters, Play for Today, Midnight Breaks, Hale and Pace, I Live with Models, Casualty, Pointless Celebrities and The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Life and career

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Dawn Hope portrayed Maureen in the 1971 children's romantic comedy-drama film Melody.[1] She later played Saffra in the 1977 film Black Joy.[2][3] She appeared in a 1977 episode of the second series of the British television series The Fosters.[4] She also played Yvonne in the Play for Today episode "Not for the Likes of Us", which was broadcast on 10 April 1980.[5] Hope then played Ronnette in the UK stage production of the musical Little Shop of Horrors, which ran from 1 January 1983 to 5 October 1985 at the Harold Pinter Theatre (then known as "the Comedy Theatre").[6][7] Hope played a leading role in the 1990 movie Midnight Breaks.[8][9] Between 1990 and 1994, Hope portrayed Jenny in all five series of the British sitcom Waiting for God.[2][10][11] In 1995, she guest-starred in episode of the eighth series of Hale and Pace.[2] Hope has also appeared in a few episodes of medical drama Casualty.[7]

In 2012, it was reported that Hope would be debuting on Coronation Street as Alison Soames.[12] Alison and her husband Edwin Soames (David Lonsdale) were introduced as the parents of established character Kirsty Soames (Natalie Gumede).[12] Hope and Lonsdale made their debut in the episode originally airing on 24 May 2012.[12][13] They reprised their roles for another stint later in 2012, and Hope also played Alison again in 2013.[14][15] In 2017, Hope guest-starred in the first episode of the second series of the sitcom I Live with Models, which was originally broadcast on 6 February of that year.[16] Hope played the role of Stella Deems in Follies, which ran at the Royal National Theatre from 22 August 2017 to 3 January 2018.[17] The production won several awards.[17] Hope also played the role in its filmed production National Theatre Live: Follies (2017).[18] Hope has also appeared in various other movies, including Richard's Things (1980), and other television series such as Pickersgill People, Out, Dempsey and Makepeace and Endeavour.[19] Hope has also appeared as herself in the 1988 concert Hey, Mr. Producer! and an episode of the quiz show Pointless Celebrities which was originally broadcast on 6 January 2024.[19][20]

In 2021, Hope had a role in the online streamed musical The Sorcerer's Apprentice.[21] In August of that year, it was announced that Hope had been cast as regular character Pearl Anderson on the British soap opera Hollyoaks.[7] Pearl was introduced as the family friend of established character Walter Deveraux (Trevor A. Toussaint).[7] Speaking about joining the soap opera, Hope said in a statement, "I'm absolutely thrilled to be introducing the fun-loving Pearl, with her vibrant and stylish energy, as I join the warm and welcoming Hollyoaks team".[7] Hope made her first appearance as Pearl in Episode 5675, which was originally broadcast on 10 September 2021.[7] Since Hope has joined the soap, Pearl's storylines have included her attempts to integrate herself into the Deveraux family, the introduction of her daughter Sharon Bailey (Jamelia) and granddaughter Zoe Anderson (Garcia Brown),[22][23] being arrested for hiding DeMarcus Westwood (Tomi Ade) from the police,[24] developing a romance with Jack Osborne (Jimmy McKenna),[25] and confiding about the abuse that her sister faced by their brother.[26] Hope enjoyed working with McKenna and revealed that the pair had mutual friends going back 40 years, and Hope believed that her scenes with McKenna were similar to improv.[27]

Selected credits

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Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes Ref(s).
— Casualty — Guest role(s) [7]
1971 Melody Maureen Children's film [1]
1977 Black Joy Saffra Film [3]
1977 The Fosters Celia 1 episode ("That's My Boy" – Season 2, Episode 11) [4]
1980 Play for Today Yvonne 1 episode ("Not for the Likes of Us") [5]
1980 Richard's Things Movie — [19]
1990 Midnight Breaks Cassie/Sarah Movie [8]
1990–94 Waiting for God Jenny All 5 series [2]
1995 Hale and Pace Ensemble Actor 1 episode (Series 8, Episode 5) [2]
2012–13 Coronation Street Alison Soames Recurring role [12]
2017 I Live with Models Carrie 1 episode ("New York" – Series 2, Episode 1) [16]
2017 National Theatre Live: Follies Stella Deems Musical filmed live on stage [18]
2021 The Sorcerer's Apprentice — Online streamed musical [21]
2021–present Hollyoaks Pearl Anderson Regular role [7]
2024 Pointless Celebrities Herself 1 episode (Series 16, Episode 9) [20]

Theatre

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Year Production Theatre Role Ref.
1983–85 Little Shop of Horrors Harold Pinter Theatre (then known as "The Comedy Theatre") Ronmette [6]
2017–18 Follies Royal National Theatre Stella Deems [17]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Melody - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Dawn Hope". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Black Joy". TV Guide. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Series 2, Episode 11 - That's My Boy". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Play for Today: Not for the Likes of Us". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Little Shop of Horrors". Theatricalia. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Harp, Justin (17 August 2021). "Hollyoaks casts Dawn Hope as a face from Walter Deveraux's past". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Midnight Breaks". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Midnight Breaks". BFI Player. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Waiting For God". BBC. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Waiting For God". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d Kilkelly, Daniel (18 May 2012). "'Coronation Street': Update on Kirsty's parents". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  13. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (15 May 2012). "Kirsty lashes out at Tyrone again". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  14. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (9 August 2012). "'Coronation Street' producer Phil Collinson shares gossip and teasers". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  15. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (29 January 2013). "'Coronation Street' spoiler roundup: Jail twist, Gail discovery, more". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Series 2, Episode 1 - New York". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "Follies". Royal National Theatre. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  18. ^ a b "National Theatre Live: Follies - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  19. ^ a b c "Dawn Hope". TV Guide. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  20. ^ a b "Episode 9". BBC One. BBC. Archived from the original on 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  21. ^ a b Performing Pilchards (15 January 2021). "The Sorcerer's Apprentice (26 Feb - 14 Mar 2021) Trailer". YouTube. Archived from the original on 1 September 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  22. ^ Penwill, Alice (18–24 March 2023). ""I've always been a fan of Hollyoaks!"". Inside Soap. No. 11. pp. 50–51.
  23. ^ Harp, Justin (15 February 2022). "Hollyoaks casts Garcia Brown as new detective for the village". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  24. ^ Anderton, Joe (10 August 2022). "Hollyoaks airs shock arrest in murder story". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  25. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (12 August 2024). "Hollyoaks reveals new romance story in 12 new spoiler pictures". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  26. ^ Newbould, Chris (13 August 2024). "Sibling sexual abuse survivor charity praises Hollyoaks Frankie Osborne abuse storyline". Prolific North. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  27. ^ Ellis, Sarah (12–18 August 2023). "Love for Pearl & Jack!". Inside Soap. No. 32. pp. 14–15.
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