Kellie Shirley

Kellie Shirley (born Kelly Jane Shirley on 11 July 1981 in Croydon, London) is a versatile English actress whose career spans television, film, theatre and radio. She first gained widespread attention with her debut television roles in the early 2000s, appearing in series such as The Bill and the iconic Christmas special of The Office where she played the memorable blind‑date contestant Kym. Shirley’s breakout role came in 2006 when she was cast as Carly Wicks in the long‑running BBC soap EastEnders, a part she reprised in 2012 and which cemented her status as a household name. Following her soap success, she demonstrated her comedic timing in Sky One’s In the Long Run as the sharp‑tongued Kirsty De La Croix, and later joined the medical drama Casualty in 2024 as psych liaison nurse Sophia Peters, showcasing her ability to transition between genres. Her film work includes appearances in Paul Andrew Williams’ Bull and Terence Davies’ Benediction, and she has contributed to radio dramas and stage productions, reflecting a commitment to diverse storytelling. Beyond acting, Shirley writes a column on twin motherhood for Closer Magazine and co‑hosted BBC Two’s Something for the Weekend during Tim Lovejoy’s maternity leave, highlighting her range as a presenter and writer. She was selected for the prestigious BAFTA Elevate cohort in 2020/21, supporting under‑represented talent in the industry. Shirley’s personal life is marked by her marriage to writer Phil Davies in 2013, with whom she has three children—identical twins and a son born in March 2023. An avid fundraiser, she has twice won Celebrity Fundraiser of the Year for her work with the Anthony Nolan Charity and ran the London Marathon in 2019 to raise awareness for dementia in honour of Barbara Windsor.