She gained a BA (Hons) Theatre Arts (Acting) degree in 1997 from Manchester Metropolitan University School of Television & Theatre. She met her husband Jeff Hordley at drama school in 1994. She scooped the Manchester Evening News 'Best Actress in a leading role' title in the Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre's production of Pygmalion for Eliza Doolittle, a hit in February 2002. She later went on to appear in EastEnders in 2009 as police offer Detective Constable Deanne Cunningham investigating the discovery of already established character Trina Johnson's decomposed body.