Eva Pope was born on 16th November 1967 in Wigan. Disliking school, her favourite subject was drama and, after completing her education, she trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Her first role upon graduation was in The Turn of the Screw at the Dundee Theatre. Her first major television role was as Tanya Pooley (initially spelt “Tania Pooley”) in Coronation Street, a part she played from May 1993 to September 1994 and which was dubbed by the press of the day as "Toxic Tanya".