Dawn Hope

Dawn Hope is a British actress. She began her career with roles in movies such as Melody and Black Joy (1977). From 1983 to 1985, she played Ronnette in the UK stage production of Little Shop of Horrors. She played the role of Jenny in all five series of the British sitcom Waiting for God, which aired from 1990 to 1994. She received praise for her performance in the 2006 production of Porgy and Bess and for her singing voice in the 2007 theatre production of Rough Crossings. From 2012 to 2013, Hope played the recurring role of Alison Soames in the soap opera Coronation Street. From 2017 to 2018, she played Stella Deems in the Royal National Theatre's production of Follies and she later played Betty Currie in Devil with the Blue Dress at the Bunker in 2018 and General Cartwright in Guys and Dolls at the Crucible Theatre from 2019 to 2020. Since 2021, she has portrayed Pearl Anderson in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. She has also appeared in various other movies and television series, including The Fosters, Play for Today, Midnight Breaks, Hale and Pace, I Live with Models, Casualty, Pointless Celebrities and The Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Life and career Dawn Hope portrayed Maureen in the 1971 children's romantic comedy-drama film Melody. She later played Saffra in the 1977 film Black Joy. She appeared in a 1977 episode of the second series of the British television series The Fosters. She also played Yvonne in the Play for Today episode "Not for the Likes of Us", which was broadcast on 10 April 1980. Hope then played Ronnette in the UK stage production of the musical Little Shop of Horrors, which ran from 1 January 1983 to 5 October 1985 at the Harold Pinter Theatre (then known as "the Comedy Theatre"). Between 1990 and 1994, Hope portrayed Jenny in all five series of the British sitcom Waiting for God. In 1995, she guest-starred in episode of the eighth series of Hale and Pace. She received praise for the role; Philip Fisher from British Theatre Guide opined that Hope and Lorraine Velez were the best singers in the production, adding that Hope had a "soulful force", Michael Coveney from WhatsOnStage.com also listed Hope as one of the performers in the play to "stand out". The following year, Hope performed in the theatre production of Rough Crossings, playing Phyllis George. Cecily Boys from British Theatre Guide praised Hope's "stunning gospel voice" in the production, writing that it could "inspire anyone to fight for freedom from the depths of despair". Alison and her husband Edwin Soames (David Lonsdale) were introduced as the parents of established character Kirsty Soames (Natalie Gumede). They reprised their roles for another stint later in 2012, and Hope also played Alison again in 2013. In 2017, Hope guest-starred in the first episode of the second series of the sitcom I Live with Models, which was originally broadcast on 6 February of that year. Hope played the role of Stella Deems in Follies, which ran at the Royal National Theatre from 22 August 2017 to 3 January 2018. The production won several awards. In 2018, Hope played Betty Currie in Devil with the Blue Dress, a play about the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal, at the Bunker.

Dawn later played General Cartwright in an adaptation of Guys and Dolls, which ran from 7 December 2019 to 18 January 2020 at the Crucible Theatre. Speaking of what attracted her to join this production, Hope explained, "I grew up watching Guys and Dolls. So when I got an invitation to be in this 'Iconic Show', I knew it had to be now or never. Also to come back home to Sheffield, after a twenty four year absence is very special me...and over Christmas". Hope has also appeared in various other movies, including Richard's Things (1980), and other television series such as Pickersgill People, Out, Dempsey and Makepeace and Endeavour. Hope has also appeared as herself in the 1988 concert Hey, Mr. Producer! and an episode of the quiz show Pointless Celebrities which was originally broadcast on 6 January 2024.

In 2021, Hope had a role in the online streamed musical The Sorcerer's Apprentice. In August of that year, it was announced that Hope had been cast as regular character Pearl Anderson on the British soap opera Hollyoaks. Pearl was introduced as the family friend of established character Walter Deveraux (Trevor A. Toussaint). Since Hope joined the soap, Pearl's storylines have included her attempts to integrate herself into the Deveraux family, the introduction of her daughter Sharon Bailey (Jamelia) and granddaughter Zoe Anderson (Garcia Brown), being arrested for hiding DeMarcus Westwood (Tomi Ade) from the police, developing a romance with Jack Osborne (Jimmy McKenna), and confiding about the abuse that her sister faced by their brother. Hope enjoyed working with McKenna and revealed that the pair had mutual friends going back 40 years, and she believed that her scenes with McKenna were similar to improv.

Personal life Hope has a brother and a sister in law. Hope considers herself to be a "bit of a romantic".

Selected credits Filmography Year Title Role Notes Casualty Guest role(s) 1971 Melody Maureen Children's film 1977 Black Joy Saffra Film 1977 The Fosters Celia 1 episode ("That's My Boy" – Season 2, Episode 11) 1980 Play for Today Yvonne 1 episode ("Not for the Likes of Us") 1980 Richard's Things Movie 1990 Midnight Breaks Cassie/Sarah Movie 1990–94 Waiting for God Jenny All 5 series 1995 Hale and Pace Ensemble Actor 1 episode (Series 8, Episode 5) 2012–13 Coronation Street Alison Soames Recurring role 2017 I Live with Models Carrie 1 episode ("New York" – Series 2, Episode 1) 2017 National Theatre Live: Follies Stella Deems Musical filmed live on stage 2021 The Sorcerer's Apprentice Online streamed musical 2021–present Hollyoaks Pearl Anderson Regular role 2024 Pointless Celebrities Herself 1 episode (Series 16, Episode 9)

Theatre Year Production Theatre Role 1983–85 Little Shop of Horrors Harold Pinter Theatre (then known as "The Comedy Theatre") Ronmette 2006 Porgy and Bess Savoy Theatre Serena 2007 Rough Crossings Various Phyllis George 2017–18 Follies Royal National Theatre Stella Deems 2018 Devil with the Blue Dress The Bunker Betty Currie 2019–20 Guys and Dolls Crucible Theatre General Cartwright