Vanessa Hehir

Vanessa Clare Judith Hehir (born 28 October 1981) is an English actress, known for portraying the roles of Rosie Cartwright in the ITV police procedural drama Heartbeat (2004–2007), Kirsten Lind on the BBC medical soap opera Doctors (2008–2009), Sue Spark in the BBC drama Waterloo Road (2013–2014) and Esther Hargrave on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2022–2023). Life and career Vanessa Cla...

Vanessa Clare Judith Hehir (born 28 October 1981) is an English actress, known for portraying the roles of Rosie Cartwright in the ITV police procedural drama Heartbeat (2004–2007), Kirsten Lind on the BBC medical soap opera Doctors (2008–2009), Sue Spark in the BBC drama Waterloo Road (2013–2014) and Esther Hargrave on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2022–2023). Life and career Vanessa Clare Judith Hehir was born on 28 October 1981 in Manchester, England. She made her acting debut in 2001, appearing in an episode of the ITV police procedural drama Heartbeat. After having minor roles in series including Holby City and Down to Earth, she returned to Heartbeat three years later when she was cast in the regular role of Rosie Cartwright. She departed the series in 2007, with her character being presumed dead after being kidnapped. In 2010, she married co-star Leon Ockenden. The pair share a daughter together. Between 2008 and 2009, Hehir portrayed the role of Kirsten Lind on the BBC medical soap opera Doctors. She subsequently went on to appear in the show on two further occasions as different characters in 2019 and 2023, respectively. Then between 2010 and 2011, she had a recurring role as Nurse Summers in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. In 2013, Hehir joined the cast of the BBC school drama Waterloo Road for its ninth series as science teacher Sue Spark. She departed the series during the tenth series, after her character decided to give up teaching following the end of a relationship with Hector Reid, who was portrayed by Hehir's husband, Ockenden. Upon leaving, Hehir portrayed roles in episodes of Unforgotten, Midsomer Murders, Liar, Hollyoaks and The Dumping Ground. She has also appeared in a number of short films, including Eliana (2015), Slaved (2016), Secret Santa (2019), The Beast (2020) and The Willows (2021). Hehir has also directed a number of short films, some of which she starred in. In October 2022, she joined the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Esther Hargrave, a woman whom along with her husband, planned to adopt Summer Spellman's (Harriet Bibby) baby, prior to her suffering a miscarriage. She made her final appearance in January 2023 following the conclusion of the storyline. In 2024, Hehir appeared in an episode of Casualty. Filmography References External links Vanessa Hehir at IMDb