Helen Pearson

Helen Pearson (born 16 November 1959) is a British actress who has been in three major soap operas, EastEnders (during 1990, as April McIntosh), Emmerdale (from 2000 to 2001, as Carol Wareing), and Hollyoaks (from 2002 until 2017, as Frankie Osborne).

Career Her first acting role was in 1987, playing a Nurse in The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole. She also played April in EastEnders in the early 1990s.

She has also appeared in the television dramas The Darling Buds of May and Murder in Mind.

Before making her Hollyoaks debut, she also played the character Mrs. Atkins in Attachments.

On Halloween 2017, after having been the longest-serving female on Hollyoaks as Frankie Osborne for 15 years, the character was killed off and Pearson left the show.

Personal life Pearson married Paul Faulkner in 2013. In 2015, she was convicted of driving under the influence. She is the older sister of Richard Cadell, the incumbent puppeteer for Sooty, and appeared with her brother in the 2013 episode "The Dance Competition".

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1987 The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole Nurse 5 episodes 1988 Consuming Passions Supermarket Assistant Film 1989 Close to Home Winnie Episode: "Helen's Parents" 1990 EastEnders April McIntosh Recurring role, 14 episodes 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996 The Bill Mrs. Styles / Sonia Philips / Jenny Clifford / Mrs. Beaty 4 episodes 1992 The Darling Buds of May Polly Episode: "Le Grand Weekend" 1996 A Touch of Frost Addie Parsons Episode: "Fun Times for Swingers" 1997 Holding On Paula Episode #1.1 2000 Inspector Morse Debbie Rep Episode: "The Remorseful Day" 2000–2001 Emmerdale Carol Wareing Series regular, 79 episodes 2000, 2002 Attachments Mrs. Atkins 2 episodes 2002 Murder in Mind Sophie Cunningham Episode: "Disposal" 2002–2017 Hollyoaks Frankie Osborne Series regular 2013 Cold Blonde Woman Film 2013 Sooty Dame Helena Pearsona Episode: "The Dance Competition" 2017 Lorna Lorna Short 2018, 2021 Doctors Beth Rundle / Regan Hoffman Episodes: "No Fury Like a Woman" and "The Unkindest Cut" 2019 Rome in Love Vivien Daniels Television film