Samantha Giles

Samantha Elizabeth Giles (born 2 July 1971) is an English actress and author. She is best known for playing Bernice Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She had also played Sally Boothe in the ITV drama series Where the Heart Is and Valerie Holden in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. She departed from Emmerdale in 2019 to focus on other creative projects, such as writing her debut novel, Rosemary and the Witches of Pendle Hill, released in August 2020. In April 2021, it was confirmed that she would be returning to Emmerdale.

Career From 1998 to 2002, and again in 2004, Giles played Bernice Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. For her role as Bernice, she won the TV Quick Award for Best Actress. Giles' other television credits include Doctors, Dangerfield and Midnight Man. Her stage credits include A Taste of Honey (as Helen), Dead Funny (Lisa), and Season's Greetings (Belinda). In December 2007, it was announced that Giles was to join the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks in 2008 as Valerie Holden, a role that she had taken over from actress Jacqueline Leonard. She returned in July 2010, and left again in August 2010. In December 2010, Giles appeared on Celebrity Mastermind where her specialist subject was the works of Alfred Hitchcock. Giles returned to Emmerdale in 2012. However, in 2019, Giles announced her departure from the series to focus on other creative projects. After Emmerdale producers offered a return to Giles in 2021, she accepted; her return scenes aired on 27 May. She left the role again in 2023, and had returned for a guest stint in 2025.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1994–1995 Coronation Street Kirsty Recurring role 1997 New Voices Michelle Roberts Episode: "Supplies" 1997 Midnight Man Mary Farmer Television film 1998 Dangerfield Amy Episode: "The Long Weekend" 1998–2002, 2004, 2012–2019, 2021–2023, 2025 Emmerdale Bernice Blackstock Regular role 2003–2006 Where the Heart Is Sally Boothe Main role; 28 episodes 2007 Doctors Pia Marshall Episode: "Bon Voyage" 2008, 2010 Hollyoaks Valerie Holden Regular role; 34 episodes 2011 Doctors Felicia Bennett Episode: "An Inspector Calls" 2011 The Case Monica Sauzer Episode #1.4 2012 Crime Stories Kate Spencer Episode #1.7 2015 Nomads Penny Television series 2025 The Football Fantastics Val Television series

Stage 1993, Rosalind in Double D directed by June Brown 2004, Jennifer in Party Piece at the Theatre Royal Windsor directed by Mark Piper 2010, Marge in Absent Friends at the Oldham Coliseum/Harrogate/Anvil Arts Production directed by Nikolai Foster 2007, Lisa in Dead Fully at the Oldham Coliseum and National Tour directed by Nikolai Foster 2006, Helen in A Taste of Honey - National Tour at the Oldham Coliseum directed by Stuart Wood 2006, Belinda in Seasons Greetings at the Liverpool Playhouse directed by Nikolai Foster

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Result 1999 5th National Television Awards Most Popular Newcomer 2000 6th National Television Awards Most Popular Actress 2002 British Soap Awards Best Actress 2002 British Soap Awards Sexiest Female 2015 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Female 2016 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Female 2018 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Female 2019 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Female 2021 Inside Soap Awards Funniest Performance 2023 2023 British Soap Awards Best Comedy Performance 2023 Inside Soap Awards Best Comic Performance