Emma Kearney

Emma Kearney (born 1981) is a Northern Irish film, television and theatre actress. She is best known for her roles in British television series such as her recurring role as Rita Brannigan in soap opera Emmerdale and the sitcom The Gemma Factor.

Career

Television Kearney has made guest appearances on many British television series. Her first role was in Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks in 2003. In 2006, Emma landed a recurring role as Rita Brannigan on Emmerdale as Paddy's love interest. In 2010, she had a lead role in BBC Three sitcom The Gemma Factor. Emma also appeared on the made-for-television films Omagh and The Baby War.

On 9 December 2010 she appeared as a midwife on the live episode of ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, which was her second appearance on the show, and her first being back in 2004. Emma's other acting credits include Where the Heart Is, Shameless, Spooks: Code 9, and Doctors.

Theatre Kearney trained at Manchester Metropolitan Capitol School of Theatre and has appeared in several theatre productions throughout her acting career.

Between 2001 and 2003 she starred in productions at the Capitol Theatre in Manchester including Love's Labour's Lost, The Cherry Orchard, The Provok'd Wife, The Taming of the Shrew, and Dancing at Lughnasa.

In 2003, she appeared in Translations at the Library Theatre. She appeared in three plays in 2006, the first was Separate Tables at the Royal Exchange Theatre, and the others, The Mortal Ash, and Midden at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre. In 2009, she appeared in the touring play Pack of Lies at the Devonshire Park Theatre.

Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2003 Hollyoaks Nurse 2004 Donovan Dental Receptionist Omagh TV Receptionist TV movie Coronation Street Midwife Outlaws Prostitute 1 episode: Damaged Goods The Courtroom Sarah Wright 1 episode: Balloon Rage I Deal Jackie 2005 The Baby War Receptionist TV movie Ideal Jackie 1 episode: The Party Where the Heart Is Jennifer 1 episode: Stamp of Approval Northern Lights Kim Ashby Nice House, Shame About the Garden Herself/Landscape Team 2006 Shameless Reporter 1 episode: #3.1 Goldplated Hospital Manager 2 episodes: The Funeral, Lauren's Affair 2007 Emmerdale Rita Brannigan recurring role Torn Up Tales Bev 2008 Spooks: Code 9 Police Officer Interviewee Wired Linda Greeves 2010 The Gemma Factor Janet Grantham main character Doctors Pat Jameson 1 episode: Best Laid Plans Coronation Street Midwife live episode dated Thursday 9 December 2010 2012 Mr. Bhatti on Chutti Alice First role in Bollywood movie