Samantha Elizabeth Giles (born 2 July 1971)[1] is an English actress and author. She is best known for portraying the role of Bernice Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She had also portrayed Sally Boothe in the ITV drama series Where the Heart Is and Valerie Holden in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. She departed from Emmerdale in 2019 to focus on other creative projects, such as writing her debut novel, Rosemary and the Witches of Pendle Hill, released in August 2020. In April 2021, it was confirmed that she would be returning to Emmerdale.
Career
From 1998 to 2002, and again in 2004, Giles portrayed the role of Bernice Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale.[2] For her role as Bernice, she won the TV Quick Award for Best Actress.[3] Giles' other television credits include Doctors, Dangerfield and Midnight Man. Her stage credits include A Taste of Honey (as Helen), Dead Funny (Lisa), and Season's Greetings (Belinda).[4] In December 2007, it was announced that Giles was to join the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks in 2008 as Valerie Holden, a role that she had taken over from actress Jacqueline Leonard. She returned in July 2010,[5] and left again in August 2010. In December 2010, Giles appeared on Celebrity Mastermind where her specialist subject was the works of Alfred Hitchcock.[6] Giles returned to Emmerdale in 2012. However, in 2019, Giles announced her departure from the series to focus on other creative projects.[2] In August 2020, her first book, titled Rosemary and the Witches of Pendle Hill, was published.[7] After Emmerdale producers offered a return to Giles in 2021, she accepted; her return scenes aired on 27 May.[8]
