Jessamy Helen Stoddart (born 20 June 1993) is an English actress. She is known for taking over the role of Liberty Savage in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, having portrayed the role since 2018. Prior to joining the soap, Stoddart appeared in numerous theatre productions, including Legally Blonde, Mack and Mabel, Follies and Songs for a New World.

Jessamy Stoddart
Born
Jessamy Helen Stoddart

(1993-06-20) 20 June 1993 (age 31)
EducationNational Youth Music Theatre
Guildford School of Acting
OccupationActress
Years active2016–present
TelevisionHollyoaks
Spouse
Ryan O'Gorman
(m. 2021)
Children1

Early and personal life

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Stoddart was born on 20 June 1993 in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.[1][2] She studied at the National Youth Music Theatre and the Guildford School of Acting, graduating from the latter in 2014.[3] Stoddart announced her engagement to her long-term partner Ryan O'Gorman in December 2020.[4] The couple got married in November 2021.[5] In August 2022, Stoddart announced that she and O'Gorman were expecting their first child. Their daughter was born on 4 January 2023.[6]

Career

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Stoddart began her career in stage productions and musicals, and portrayed characters such as Vivienne in Legally Blonde, Mabel in Mack and Mabel, a young Phyllis in Follies and Company in Songs for a New World.[7] She has also appeared in various ensemble roles and as an understudy in Little Women, Les Misérables and Wicked.[7][8] In 2016, she made her television debut in an episode of the Channel 4 sitcom The Windsors, portraying a witch in the fourth episode of the first series.[9][10]

In June 2018, Stoddart joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, taking over the role of Liberty Savage, who had previously been portrayed by Abi Phillips.[11][12] Since joining the soap, her storylines have included coming to terms with the death of the character's father Dirk Savage (David Kennedy), agreeing to be a surrogate and suffering from post-partum psychosis.[13][14][15][16][17] For her portrayal of Liberty, she was nominated for Best Comedy Performance at the British Soap Awards in 2019, but lost out to Sarah Moyle who plays Valerie Pitman in Doctors.[18]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016 The Windsors Witch 1 episode [9]
2018 The Common Cesca Film [7]
2018–present Hollyoaks Liberty Savage Regular role [11]

Stage

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Title Role Ref(s)
Legally Blonde Vivienne [7]
Water Babies Mrs D [7]
Mack and Mabel Mabel [7]
Follies Young Phyllis [7]
Songs for a New World Company [7]
Little Women Swing/Ensemble [7]
Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary Ensemble / 2nd Cover Fantine [7]
Les Misérables Ensemble / 1st Cover Fantine [7][8]
Wicked Ensemble and Cover Elphaba [7]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref(s)
2019 British Soap Awards Best Comedy Performance Hollyoaks Nominated [18]

References

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  1. ^ Stoddart, Jessamy (20 June 2021). "Thank you all so much for the birthday love. I've had the best weekend and been truly spoilt 🤍🤍🤍". Instagram. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Dagenham glow stick service helps raise £40k for charity". Barking & Dagenham Post. 10 January 2016. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Jessamy Stoddart at Stage Faves". Stage Faves. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Hollyoaks star Jessamy Stoddart announces her engagement". Digital Spy. 28 December 2020. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Hollyoaks star Jessamy Stoddart shares pictures from her wedding day to Ryan O'Gorman". Digital Spy. 28 November 2021. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Hollyoaks star Jessamy Stoddart announces pregnancy". Digital Spy. 10 August 2022. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Jessamy Stoddart - CV". Curtis Brown. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Les Miserables London Queen's Theatre 2016 Cast". London Theatre 1. 7 January 2016. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Jessamy Stoddart - British Comedy Guide". British Comedy Guide. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  10. ^ "The Windsors by Jessamy Stoddart". Curtis Brown. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Hollyoaks recast confirmed for Liberty Savage as Jessamy Stoddart takes over the role". Digital Spy. 21 May 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Hollyoaks: Who is Liberty Savage again? 7 things you need to know about Dirk's daughter". Digital Spy. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Hollyoaks star confirms exit after that shocking swimming pool twist". Digital Spy. 24 July 2018. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Hollyoaks spoilers: Jessamy Stoddart reveals huge consequences for Liberty and Sienna after baby twist". Metro. 25 September 2020. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Hollyoaks' Anna Passey admits concerns over Sienna surrogacy storyline: "I worry where it will lead"". Radio Times. 1 August 2019. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Hollyoaks star Jessamy Stoddart reveals real-life emotion over Liberty's birth scenes". Digital Spy. 11 October 2020. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Hollyoaks works with expert charity on Liberty's emotional storyline". Digital Spy. 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  18. ^ a b "British Soap Awards 2019 shortlist revealed as EastEnders and Hollyoaks top the nominations". Digital Spy. 30 April 2019. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
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