From soap opera star to acclaimed playwright and screenwriter
In short: Amelia Bullmore has mastered the art of the British screen and stage. After being discovered while performing in a Manchester cabaret, she transitioned from a regular on Coronation Street to a versatile writer and actress, crafting narratives for everything from cult comedies to West End plays.
Born in Chelsea, London, in January 1964, Bullmore’s career is defined by its remarkable breadth. She began her journey in the performing arts by studying drama at Manchester University. It was during her time performing at the Contact Theatre in Manchester, as part of the cabaret group Red Stockings with Helen Edmundson, that a casting director spotted her. This led to her role as Steph Barnes in the long-running soap Coronation Street, where she was a regular from February 1990 to September 1991, with brief returns in 1992 and 1995.
Beyond acting, Bullmore has established herself as a significant voice in British writing. She began writing in 1994 and has since produced a diverse body of work. Her theatrical achievements include the play Mammals, which she wrote in 2005 and staged at the Bush Theatre, and Di and Viv and Rose, written in 2013. The latter saw a successful transfer from the Hampstead Theatre to the West End's Vaudeville Theatre in early 2015, where it ran until March.
Her television and radio credits reflect a deep engagement with contemporary drama and comedy. She appeared in the BBC comedy Big Train in 1998 and played Sonja in the second series of I'm Alan Partridge. Her more recent work includes starring in the second series of Happy Valley in 2016 as Vicky Fleming, and appearing in the BBC One drama Riot Women alongside writer Sally Wainwright. Her prolific radio work for BBC Radio 4 spans many years, including contributions to series like Craven between 2009 and 2014.
This multifaceted career is built on a foundation of both performance and authorship. Whether she is acting opposite Steve Coogan or writing episodes for crime dramas like Scott & Bailey, Bullmore has become a staple of British culture, moving from her decade spent in Manchester to a prominent place in the London arts scene.
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