Isabelle Smith
Isabelle Smith | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Arden School of Theatre (BA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Television | Hollyoaks |
Isabelle Smith is an English actress. She made her acting debut in a stage production of Gypsy, before going on to make minor appearances in British television series including Coronation Street and Maternal. Then, in 2024, she appeared in the BBC soap opera Doctors, as well as being cast in the regular role of Frankie Osborne on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. For her role as Frankie, she has received nominations for various accolades, as well as winning Best Newcomer at the Inside Soap Awards.
Early and personal life
[edit]Smith attended Fairfield High School for Girls in Droylsden, before going on to attend Ashton Sixth Form College from 2018 to 2020. At the latter, she studied drama, photography and history for her A-levels.[1] Then, from 2020 to 2023, she studied at the Arden School of Theatre, where she attained a BA degree.[2] She has since been vocal on her thoughts of the acting industry being "elitist" and holding working-class women back from acting. She stated: "people have paid to go to private school, or to RADA or whatever, you're constantly having to prove yourself into every room that you’re going into, because you've maybe not had the same education as other people that you (are) sat next to."[3]
Since 2023, she has been in a relationship with accountant Adam Seel.[2]
Career
[edit]Smith made her acting debut in a production of Gypsy at the Garrick Theatre in 2014. Two years later, she sang at A Night at the Musicals on West End theatre.[4] In 2022, she made her television debut as Sonya on the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street.[5] She appeared in three episodes as a love interest for Max Turner (Paddy Bever).[6] A year later, she appeared in an episode of ITV1's Maternal.[1]
In January 2024, Smith began appearing in the regular role of Frankie Osborne on the Channel 4 soap opera.[7] Smith filmed for an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors that aired in October 2024, marking her third soap role.[citation needed] She portrayed Bea Reynolds, a teenager who killed her sister.[8] Shortly into Smith's tenure on Hollyoaks, she was featured at the centre of a storyline about sibling sexual abuse, with JJ Osborne (Ryan Mulvey) abusing Smith's character.[9] For her portrayal of Frankie, she was nominated for numerous accolades, including winning the Best Newcomer award at the Inside Soap Awards and being nominated for Best Leading Performer at the upcoming 2025 British Soap Awards.[10]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Real Voices | Sacha | Short film |
| 2021 | The Eighteenth Silence | Bailey | Film |
| 2021 | Indecision | Paige Shuman | Short film |
| 2022 | Coronation Street | Sonya | Recurring role |
| 2023 | Maternal | Jenny Thompson | 1 episode |
| 2023 | Kiss | Carley | Short film |
| 2024 | Ridley | Donna Burnside | 1 episode |
| 2024–present | Hollyoaks | Frankie Osborne | Regular role |
| 2024 | Doctors | Bea Reynolds | Episode: "Little Triggers" |
Stage
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Gypsy | Baby Louise | Garrick Theatre |
| 2016 | A Night at the Musicals | Singer | West End |
| 2020 | Real Voices | Sacha | Act4TV |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | I Talk Telly Awards | Best Soap Newcomer | Hollyoaks | Nominated | [11] |
| Best Soap Performance | Nominated | ||||
| Inside Soap Awards | Best Newcomer | Won | [12] | ||
| TVTimes Awards | Favourite Soap Actor | Nominated | [13] | ||
| 2025 | TV Choice Awards | Best Soap Newcomer | Nominated | [14] | |
| British Soap Awards | Best Leading Performer | Pending | [15] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Speaker of the Month October 2024 - Isabelle Smith". Ashton Sixth Form College. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Hollyoaks' Frankie star Isabelle Smith's life off-screen from accountant boyfriend to Corrie past". OK!. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "'Elitism' holds back working-class women from acting, Culture Secretary told". The Independent. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Isabelle Smith". Spotlight. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "ITV Coronation Street fans think they know Sonya star as Max actor Paddy Bever sends her sweet message". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Coronation Street fans predict heartbreaking Max twist as they 'work out' Sonya's real identity". Plymouth Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "The Arden Alumni Joins cast of Hollyoaks". Arden School of Theatre. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Doctors spoilers: Rob investigates a MURDER MYSTERY!". What to Watch. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Spotlight behind Hollyoaks sibling sexual abuse (SSA) storyline". SARSAS. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "British Soap Awards public vote nominations 2025 – full list". Radio Times. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "I Talk Telly Awards 2024". I Talk Telly. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Coronation Street wins big at the Inside Soap Awards 2024". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "TV Times Awards 2024 — voting is now closed". What to Watch. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Winners Revealed – The TV Choice Awards 2025". TV Choice. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "British Soap Awards 2025 announces first nominees as Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks compete". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.