Amanda Mealing

Amanda Jane Mealing (born 22 April 1967) is an English actress, director and producer, known for playing Connie Beauchamp in the BBC medical dramas Holby City and Casualty.

Early life The only adopted member of her family, Mealing was the youngest of four children, with two sisters and an elder brother.

Career Originally known as Mandy Mealing, her first professional performance was in a Julie Andrews special on BBC television at the age of six. She then started Saturday classes at the Italia Conti Academy, before enrolling full-time at the age of nine. Parts in Just William, The Morecambe & Wise Show and Premiere followed, before she was cast as comprehensive-school pupil Tracy Edwards in Phil Redmond's long-running BBC One children's drama series Grange Hill. to 28 December 2010, announcing her decision to quit Holby City in October 2010.

On 16 July 2010, Mealing appeared on ITV's The Five O'Clock Show with Jason Donovan and Corrine Bailey Rae. In 2011, Mealing appeared in the Sky1 series Strike Back: Project Dawn as Colonel Eleanor Grant. In 2013, Mealing appeared in an episode of the BBC series Death in Paradise. Mealing also appeared in the latest series of ITV's Law and Order: UK playing a solicitor. On 29 March 2014, Mealing reprised her role as Connie Beauchamp in Holby City'''s sister show Casualty. After seven years on Casualty, she announced in March 2021 that she would be taking an "extended break" from the series, but confirmed that she would return in the future.

Directing On 26 February 2016, when being interviewed on This Morning, Mealing was asked about directing, and about her directing three episodes of Casualty. She also directed a short film titled Another Man's Shoes. In 2019, Mealing directed an episode of the CBBC series The Dumping Ground. In 2021, while on her extended break from Casualty, Mealing joined the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as a director.

On 20 April 2022, Mealing announced via Instagram she has joined Waterloo Road as a director.

Personal life Relationships and children Mealing has been married to screenwriter Richard Sainsbury since 1998, they have two sons. The family originally lived on a farm in Lincolnshire, but when filming of Casualty moved to Cardiff from Bristol, the family relocated to South Wales. Paul O'Grady was a close friend of Mealing and, alongside Charlie Condou, was a godfather to her sons. She has appeared on The Paul O'Grady Show'' on several occasions, sometimes with her sons. Mealing is the godmother of TV presenter Miquita Oliver.

After the birth of her first son, the desire to find out more about her background became "hard to ignore"; she also wanted him to "know his heritage". Mealing was asked to be an ambassador for Breast Cancer Care in early 2010. She has developed a close bond with the charity. "When I was diagnosed the first leaflet I received was from Breast Cancer Care. They have been there for me ever since. I am deeply honoured to be given a chance to give something back to them." After losing a close friend to breast cancer early the same year Amanda decided to dedicate a JustGiving page to raise money in memory of her friend. She ran the 2012 London Marathon on her 45th birthday for Breast Cancer Care.

Car collision Mealing was involved in a three-vehicle collision on the A1175 near Hop Pole, Lincolnshire, on 26 January 2024. At a hearing at Boston Magistrates' Court on 14 March 2025, she pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of drugs, having tested positive for cocaine and benzoylecgonine in a roadside test. She also pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention. Mealing was banned from driving for 22 months, fined £485, and ordered to pay £400 in court costs and a surcharge of £194.

Charity Since 2015, Mealing has been a Patron to the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes.

Filmography Year Title Roles Notes 1980 Grange Hill Tracy EdwardsTV series 1985 Relative Strangers AmandaTV series 1990 Capital City FiorellaTV series 1990 The Gravy Train DeliseTV miniseries 1992 Anglo-Saxon Attitudes Elvira PortwayTV miniseries 1992 The House of Eliott Jessie ChristyTV series 1994 Grushko TanyaTV miniseries 1994 Requiem Apache MarilynTV movie 1994 Blood on the Dole LauraTV movie 1994 Four Weddings and a Funeral Naughty Nicki – Wedding TwoFilm 1995 The Detectives Emily FordTV series 1995 Jake's Progress KateTV series 1997 The Grand Ruth ManningTV series 1997 The Girl with Brains in Her Feet Vivienne JonesFilm 1999 The Lakes Jo Jo SpiersTV series 2001 Midsomer Murders Sally Boulter Episode: "Electric Vendetta" 2001 In Deep Anee-Marie Griffin Series 1 2004–2010, 2014, 2016, 2019 Holby City Connie Beauchamp TV series 2004–2005, 2007, 2014–2021 Casualty Connie Beauchamp Guest (2004–2007)Main role; also directed 4 episodes (2016–2022) 2004 Lie With Me Carolyn Henson TV miniseries 2005 Zemanovaload Dr. Zemekis Film 2011 Strike Back: Project DawnColonel Eleanor Grant TV series 2013 Death in Paradise Eloise Morrison TV series 2014 Still Rachel Film 2016 Bucky Newsreader Short film 2017 Retribution Captain Whittard Film 2019 The Dumping Ground Director: "Reunion" (series 7, episode 22) 2021 Coronation Street Director: 3 episodes 2023 Waterloo Road Director: Series 11, episode 5 and Series 12, episode 2