Lauren McQueen explained

Lauren McQueen
Birth Name:Lauren Louise McQueen
Birth Date:12 July 1996
Birth Place:Liverpool, England
Occupation:Actress
Known For:Hollyoaks (2017–2019)
Yearsactive:2012–present

Lauren Louise McQueen (born 12 July 1996) is an English actress. She gained prominence through her role as Lily Drinkwell on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks (2017–2019), for which she won two British Soap Awards.[1] Her films include The Wasting (2017).

Early life and education

McQueen is from Fazakerley, a suburb in north Liverpool. She attended Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School in Aintree[2] and then St John Bosco Arts College in Croxteth. She took classes with Elliott-Clarke Performing Arts from the age of five and later Allstars Casting.[3]

Career

McQueen's first credited acting role was as Yasmin Goody on the BBC One miniseries Good Cop. She then appeared as Alison on the Christmas-comedy drama Little Crackers.[4]

In 2013, McQueen appeared as Rachel in the CBBC musical-comedy show 4 O'Clock Club for four episodes as a love interest to the main character, Josh. She subsequently played Molly in the Channel 4 series The Mill and Amelie in the BBC One drama Ordinary Lies. McQueen made her feature film debut starring as Shelly in The Violators, for which she was awarded Best Actress at the 2016 Nashville Film Festival. Also in 2016, McQueen portrayed Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England (Richard Ridgins) in an episode of the docuseries Six Wives with Lucy Worsley. She starred as Sophie in the 2017 British-Canadian film-drama The Wasting.[5]

On 22 December 2016, it was announced McQueen had been cast as Lily Drinkwell, Diane O'Connor's (Alex Fletcher) niece, in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.[6] She made her first onscreen appearance on 6 January 2017. McQueen's character was involved in a relationship with Prince McQueen (Malique Thompson-Dwyer) and a self-harming storyline, on which McQueen worked with the charities Samaritan and Mind for an accurate portrayal. The storyline won Best Storyline and Best Single Episode in the British Soap Awards 2018.[7] McQueen exited the soap in 2019.[8] [9]

After leaving Hollyoaks, McQueen appeared in the second series of Bulletproof on Sky One as Chantel. In 2024, McQueen has roles in the Apple TV+ war miniseries Masters of the Air, the MGM+ period drama ,[10] and the American drama film Here.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015The ViolatorsShelly
2017The WastingSophie
2024Strictly ConfidentialRebecca
2024HereElizabethPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012Good CopYasmin Goody1 episode
Little CrackersAlison1 episode
2013–20144 O'Clock ClubRachel4 episodes
2014The MillMolly4 episodes
2015Ordinary LiesAmelie4 episodes
2016Six Wives with Lucy WorsleyCatherine Howard1 episode
2017–2019HollyoaksLily DrinkwellMain role, 163 episodes
2020BulletproofChantel2 episodes
2024Nell3 episodes
2024Masters of the AirRoseMiniseries, 2 episodes

Awards

YearOrganisationAwardWorkResultRef.
2016Nashville Film FestivalBest ActressesSophie in The Violators[11]
2018British Soap AwardsBest NewcomerLily McQueen in Hollyoaks[12]
British Soap AwardsBest StorylineLily's self harm[13]
British Soap AwardsBest Single EpisodeThree Mothers, Three Daughters
2019British Soap AwardsBest ActressLily McQueen in Hollyoaks

Notes and References

  1. Web site: There's a new McQueen – Lauren – arriving in Hollyoaks (VIDEO). 22 December 2016.
  2. Web site: Lauren McQueen interview: Liverpool actress on her career so far & role in 'Band of Brothers' follow-up 'Masters of the Air'. YM Liverpool. Lawrence. Saunders. 16 August 2022. 28 January 2024.
  3. Fazakerley teenager lands role in BBC show. Liverpool Echo. Tina. Miles. 17 July 2012. 31 August 2020.
  4. Web site: Little Crackers. www.imdb.com.
  5. Web site: Lauren McQueen - We Audition.
  6. Web site: Hollyoaks unveils Diane's niece Lily Drinkwell... and reveals her heartbreaking arrival storyline. Daniel. Kilkelly. Digital Spy. 22 December 2016. 28 January 2021.
  7. Web site: 'Hollyoaks' Announce Self-Harm Storyline As Part Of #DontFilterFeelings Campaign. 24 July 2017.
  8. Hollyoaks actress Lauren McQueen 'to leave soap after two years as Lily McQueen'. Metro. Katie. Baillie. 1 March 2019. 28 January 2024.
  9. Hollyoaks star Lauren McQueen explains why she's leaving the soap. Digital Spy. Stephanie. Chase. 29 March 2019. 28 January 2024.
  10. Web site: Belgravia: The Next Chapter Cast & Character Guide. ScreenRant. Angel. Shaw. 17 January 2024. 28 January 2024.
  11. Web site: 2016 Awards - Nashville Film Festival.
  12. Web site: British Soap Awards 2018 winners: Find out which of your favourite shows and stars won a trophy. 2 June 2018. Digital Spy. 28 January 2021. Daniel. Kilkelly.
  13. Web site: All the winners and losers from this year's British Soap Awards. The Independent. 3 June 2018. 28 January 2021. Jack. Shepherd. Independent Digital News & Media Ltd.