Jill Halfpenny

Jill Halfpenny (born 15 July 1975) is an English actress, best known for her roles as Rebecca Hopkins in the British soap opera Coronation Street (1999–2000); as Kate Mitchell (née Morton) in rival soap EastEnders, (2002–05), and as the winner of the second series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Her career began in 1989 with a regular role in the BBC children's drama serial Byker Grove. She has subsequently appeared in numerous television roles including Wild at Heart, Peak Practice and Waterloo Road, for which she won a Best Actress prize at the TV Quick Awards.

Halfpenny also enjoys a successful theatre career with roles ranging from pantomime to high-profile West End productions such as Abigail's Party, Calendar Girls and musicals like Chicago. In 2011, she won the Theatregoers' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her performance in Legally Blonde.

She is the aunt of ex-Emmerdale actress Chelsea Halfpenny.