Holli Cara-Rhian Dempsey (born 11 May 1990)[1] is an English actress, writer and comedian. On television, she is known for her roles in the ITV drama The Ice Cream Girls (2013), the Channel 4 series Derek (2013–2014), the E4 series The Aliens (2016), and the Hulu series Harlots (2017–2019). Her films include Aaaaaaaah! (2015) and Dad's Army (2016).
Early life
Dempsey is from East London.[2] Her first experience of acting was in a school play, as Detective Bernstein in Little Shop of Horrors.[3] Dempsey was trained in Joan Littlewood improvisation style as part of the junior group at Theatre Royal Stratford East.[1]
Career
In 2013, she had a regular role as Maureen Mulliganin the tv series Breathless.[4] In 2014, she appeared as Vicky for ten episodes of the Ricky Gervais comedy series Derek.[5] In 2015, she appeared as Jolene in You, Me and the Apocalypse for a single episode: "Right in the Nuts".[4]
In 2019, she appeared in After Life,[8] then in 2020, she played a lead role as Emily Lacey in the TV series Harlots,[9] alongside Samantha Morton.[9] In 2020, she appeared in the BBC comedy Ghosts.[8]
In 2021 Dempsey played the role of Grace Melbury in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of the Thomas Hardy novel The Woodlanders. In 2022 and 2023 she took the lead role of Jess in three series of Matthew Broughton’s radio thriller Broken Colours. [11]
