Holly Aird

Imogen Holly Aird (born 18 May 1969) is an English television actress. She was born in Aldershot, Hampshire.

Career Aird was spotted by a casting director at age nine whilst at Bush Davies Ballet School and starred in the 1980 dramatisation of the H. G. Wells novel The History of Mr Polly. In 1981, she portrayed the young Elspeth Huxley in the television adaptation of the latter's autobiographical book The Flame Trees of Thika. In 1982, she starred as the young Beatrix Potter in The Tale of Beatrix Potter. She was seen in The Happy Valley in 1987 with Denholm Elliott, a true story in which she played Juanita Carberry, a 1930s schoolgirl in Kenya who is often severely caned by her governess. She starred in the channel 4 sitcom Dressing for Breakfast in 1995. As well as small parts in various television series, Aird became known for playing Nancy Thorpe/Garvey in Soldier Soldier. She starred in the 1997 film Fever Pitch alongside Colin Firth, and in 2000 as forensic pathologist Frankie Wharton in Waking the Dead. Aird has done voiceover for various BBC natural history projects (including Wild Mallorca) as well as various TV advertisements. In 2007, she played a clinical psychologist in Channel 4's drama 'Secret Life' and in 2009 took a leading role in Talkback Thames's Monday Monday.

Family Aird has one son with her ex-husband James Purefoy, and one daughter with husband Toby Merritt.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1992 Carry On Columbus Maria 1996 Intimate Relations Deirdre 1997 Fever Pitch Jo 1998 Julie1999 Dreaming of Joseph Lees Maria Det. Sgt. Rebecca White 2002 Possession Ellen Ash 2006 Scenes of a Sexual Nature Molly 2021 Silent Night Susie 2022 Fly Free Fiona Short film

Television