Biography

Her grandfather, Josiah Zion Gumede, was the only president of the self-proclaimed, and internationally unrecognized, state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia during 1979, before Rhodesia briefly reverted to British rule until the country's independence as Zimbabwe in 1980. He died in 1989.

Trained at London's Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, graduating in 2003.

Is one of five Coronation Street (1960) actors to have won a Best Dramatic Performance Award at the British Soap Awards; the others are Georgia Taylor, Sue Nicholls, Bradley Walsh and Jane Danson.

Her Coronation Street (1960) character Kirsty Soames became the 26th woman on the soap opera to give birth. Kirsty had a daughter Ruby (played by Macy Alabi), born on September 9, 2012.

Is one of thirteen Coronation Street (1960) actresses who despite their characters giving birth on the show have never become mothers in real life. The others are Doreen Keogh, Anne Kirkbride, Helen Worth, Caroline Milmoe, Joanne Froggatt, Naomi Radcliffe, Angela Lonsdale, Vicky Binns, Georgia May Foote, Michelle Keegan, Ellie Leach and Nicola Thorp.