Claire Cooper

Claire Cooper
Cooper in 2010
Born
Claire Elizabeth Cooper

(1980-10-26) 26 October 1980 (age 46)
Wakefield, England, United Kingdom
EducationGuildford School of Acting
Occupations
Years active1999–present
Known forRole of Jacqui McQueen in Hollyoaks
Spouse
​
(m. 2015)​
Children2

Claire Elizabeth Cooper (born 26 October 1980) is a British actress and former gymnast from Wakefield, England, best known for portraying Jacqui McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, a character she played full time from 2006 to 2013 and returned to for one episode in 2023.

In 2010, Cooper opened a clothing rental boutique called The Closet in Liverpool with Hollyoaks co-stars Jennifer Metcalfe and Leah Hackett.

Since 2024, Cooper has played the lead role of Mary Hardacre in the Channel 5 period drama The Hardacres.

Early life

Cooper was a British champion gymnast for 10 years.

Cooper attended the Guildford School of Acting.

Career

Cooper has appeared in various British television shows, including a two-part episode on Waking the Dead in 2004. She has also made appearances on Coronation Street and Waterloo Road.

Cooper made her on-screen debut as Jacqui McQueen in Hollyoaks in September 2006. She played the character for several years, including in spin-offs Hollyoaks Later in 2009 and Hollyoaks: King of Hearts in 2010. She departed from the cast in 2013, but made a cameo appearance in an episode in 2023.

In 2016, Cooper played the part of Claire in the second series of In the Club. Cooper co-owns clothing rental boutique The Closet in Liverpool with Hollyoaks co-stars Jennifer Metcalfe and Leah Hackett.

Personal life

Cooper married Hollyoaks co-star Emmett J. Scanlan in 2015. On 8 May 2020, she announced she was pregnant with their first child. On 18 July, she gave birth to a boy named Ocean. On 12 November 2022, she gave birth to their second child, a daughter named Fiáin.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1999Red Dwarf50s woman
/(uncredited)		Series 8: Episode 5
2004Waking The DeadAudrey ClaytonSeries 4: Episodes 1 and 2
2006Waterloo RoadZoe RamsdenSeries 1: Episode 3
Coronation StreetAnya SpaderSeries 47: Episode 161
2007–2013, 2023HollyoaksJacqui McQueenSeries regular, 529 episodes
2007Most HauntedHerselfEpisode - Most Haunted Live at Halloween: Tatton Park
2008All Star Family FortunesHerselfEpisode – Hollyoaks vs Emmerdale
This MorningHerselfSeries 20: Episode 4900
Big Brother's Big MouthHerselfSeries 10: Episode 2
The Hollyoaks Music ShowJacqui McQueenSeries 13: Episode 60
Big Brother: Celebrity HijackCelebrity HiJacker
/Herself		Series 1: Episodes 22 and 23
2009Hollyoaks LaterJacqui McQueenSeries 2: Episodes 1–5
Strictly Come DancingHerselfRound 6
Ready, Steady, CookHerselfSeries 20: Episode 9
2010Derren Brown InvestigatesHerselfEpisode - The Man Who Contacts The Dead
Hollyoaks: King of HeartsJacqui McQueenLate night special one-off episode
2011Hollyoaks Best Bits 2011HerselfTelevision film
2014From There to HereMatildaTwo episodes
2014Scott & BaileyJenny RedheadSeries 4: Episode 5
2015A.D. The Bible ContinuesHerodiasSix episodes
2016In the ClubClaireSeries 2
Six Wives with Lucy WorsleyAnne BoleynTwo episodes
201712 MonkeysEliza1 episode
Still Star-CrossedTessa Montague3 episodes
Love, Lies & Records Sarah 1 episode
2017-2018 Snatch Miss Teri Dwyer 8 episodes
2019KnightfallSister AnneSeries 2
London Kills Gloria Tanner 1 episode
2020Strike BackAmy McAllisterSeries 8: Episode 6
2022The PeripheralDominika ZubovCo-Starring
The Witcher: Blood Origin Elfyn Woman 1 episode
2023The Continental: From the World of John WickRosalind Davenport1 episode
2024-presentThe HardacresMary HardacreMain lead; 12 episodes
2025 Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale Angela Otis 6 episodes

Awards and nominations

Cooper won Best Actress at British Soap Awards in 2013 and Best Family at Inside Soap Awards in 2009. She has also received several nominations:

Year Award Category Role / Character Result Ref.
2007 Inside Soap Awards Best Actress Hollyoaks / Jacqui McQueen Longlisted
2008 TV Now Awards Favourite Soap Couple Nominated
2009 Inside Soap Awards Best Actress Longlisted
2010 Best Actress Longlisted
2011 National Television Awards Best Serial Drama Performance Longlisted
All About Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated
British Soap Awards Best Actress Shortlisted
Best Dramatical Performance Nominated
TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress Longlisted
Inside Soap Awards Best Actress Shortlisted
Best Dramatical Performance Longlisted
Best Wedding Longlisted
RTS North West Awards Best Performance in a Continuing Drama Nominated
2012 National Television Awards Outstanding Serial Drama Performance Longlisted
All About Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated
Digital Spy Awards Best Female Soap Actor Nominated
2013 British Soap Awards Best Actress Won
Best Dramatic Performance Nominated
TV Choice Awards Best Actress Shortlisted

References

  1. ↑ Cave, Lucie (2010). Hollyoaks: Girl Talk. London: Channel 4 Books. p. 49. ISBN 9781905026722.
  2. 1 2 Collinson, Dawn (3 March 2010). "Hollyoaks actresses opening a new boutique called The Closet". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  3. 1 2 Tansley, Janet (25 July 2007). "My Last Supper: Claire Cooper". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  4. ↑ "Claire Cooper- GSA (Guilford School of Acting".
  5. 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel (27 February 2013). "'Hollyoaks': Claire Cooper thanks soap after final scenes". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  6. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (10 December 2010). "Claire Cooper on Rhys, Jacqui and much more". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  7. ↑ Sarkisian, Jacob (27 November 2023). "Hollyoaks confirms return for Claire Cooper as Jacqui McQueen". Digital Spy. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  8. 1 2 Gardner, Alison (1 March 2016). "'It's a dream come true!' Newlywed Hollyoaks ex Claire Cooper is In The Club!". WhatToWatch. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  9. 1 2 Campbell, Tina (19 December 2022). "Hollyoaks' Emmett J. Scanlan and Claire Cooper announce birth of second child". Evening Standard. Evening Standard Ltd. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "Claire Cooper and Emmett J Scanlan welcome baby boy". The Impartial Reporter. 19 July 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  11. ↑ Saunders, Emmeline (19 July 2020). "Hollyoaks' Claire Cooper gives birth to her and Emmett Scanlan's first baby". Daily Mirror. Reach PLC. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  12. ↑ Smith, Stephanie (14 December 2023). "The makers of All Creatures Great and Small announce cast of Yorkshire-set TV saga The Hardacres". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  13. ↑ Green, Kris (3 July 2007). "Inside Soap Awards 2007: The Nominations". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  14. ↑ "Favourite Soap Couple 2008". TV Now. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (13 July 2010). "In Full: Inside Soap Awards 2010 Nominees". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  16. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (21 September 2010). "National Television Awards 2011 - Nominees". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  17. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (27 March 2011). "In Full: All About Soap Bubble winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  18. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (18 April 2011). "British Soap Awards 2011 shortlist revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  19. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (14 May 2011). "British Soap Awards 2011: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  20. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (18 May 2011). "In Full: TV Choice Awards 2011 - Nominees". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  21. ↑ Davies, Rebecca (18 September 2011). "Inside Soap Awards nominations shortlist revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  22. ↑ Love, Ryan (11 July 2011). "In Full: Inside Soap Awards 2011 Nominees". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  23. ↑ Sperling, Daniel (30 November 2011). "'Coronation Street' biggest winner at RTS North West Awards". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  24. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (25 March 2012). "All About Soap Awards 2012: Full winners list". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  25. ↑ Kilkelly (25 March 2012). "'EastEnders', Corrie, 'Hollyoaks' all win in Digital Spy's 2012 poll". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  26. 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel (18 May 2013). "British Soap Awards 2013 - winners in full". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  27. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (2 July 2013). "EastEnders leads TV Choice soap shortlist". RTÉ. Retrieved 30 November 2021.