Catherine Tyldesley

Catherine Mary Ann Tyldesley (born 17 September 1983) is an English actress, known for her roles as Iris Moss in the BBC drama Lilies (2007), Eva Price on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from (2011–2018) and Karen Norris in the BBC sitcom Scarborough (2019).

Catherine Mary Ann Tyldesley was born on 17 September 1983 in Walkden, Greater Manchester.

She attended St. George's RC High School and Pendleton College before training at the Birmingham School of Acting (formerly the Birmingham School of Speech & Drama), graduating in 2005.

Tyldesley's television credits include Coronation Street, Holby City, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Sorted, Florence Nightingale Red Riding, Shameless and Trollied.

Tyldesley played a midwife in an episode broadcast on 13 January 2006.

She played the lead role of Iris Moss in the Liverpool-set BBC drama Lilies in 2007.

She also appeared in the comedy television pilot Guantanamo Phil, part of the Channel 4 Comedy Showcase 2009.

In 2010, Tyldesley played the role of Abi Peterson in Emmerdale for two months.

Tyldesley sings in the range of mezzo-soprano.

She has also modelled for the House of Fraser.

In May 2011, Tyldesley was cast in the regular role of Eva.

The actress began filming her first scenes that month.

During an interview with Digital Spy, Tyldesley revealed that there had been a lot of competition for the role of Eva and that she felt "incredibly lucky" to have secured the part.

Tyldesley said she felt "nervous" when she first arrived on set.

Speaking to What's on TV, she said that she had a "mini freak out" when filming her first scenes in The Rovers.

Tyldesley added that Coronation Street is "absolutely legendary" and is thrilled to be a part of the cast.

After impressing producers, it was later confirmed that Tyldesley was to be kept on as a permanent member of the cast.

After signing a new six-month contract, an executive said that Eva will be involved in some "cracking" storylines towards the end of the year.

In May 2012, Tyldesley expressed her desire for a long-term stint on the show.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Tyldesley said "I've always wanted to be in Corrie. So when I got the phone call to tell me that I'd got the part, I was thrilled to bits."

She also added that Eva has got "so much scope".

Before she appeared on screen, Eva was described as being "feisty".

Tyldesley revealed more about her character, saying "Eva is a little bit of a princess! She's been spoiled rotten, so she's somewhat high maintenance and a little bit of a drama queen. She's definitely used to getting her own way."

The actress said her character adores her mother and they share a great relationship.

When Eva enters the show, her circumstances force her to be more angry than she normally is.

Tyldesley said that Eva does have a softer side, which she believed viewers would see in the future.

When asked why Eva and Karl do not get along, Tyldesley said "I think it's because they're both quite similar. When Eva first joins the street, she's had a little bit of turmoil with past relationships and things like that, so I think she feels like she wants to be quite selfish at the moment, which annoys Karl. But she's always been full of self-importance because she's always been spoiled – she's not known any different."

Tyldesley revealed that Eva is not a lesbian character, despite a newspaper report, and that she definitely loves the boys.

When asked about Eva's type, Tyldesley said that they would have to be "on her wavelength" as Eva gets bored and frustrated with people who are not on her level.

In May 2012, Tyldesley commented that Eva's glamorous lifestyle can be "straining" and she enjoys time off work so she can wear normal and more comfortable clothes.

She wears the stuff I would never have the nerve to wear.

It's weird, sometimes you just feel really glam and it's a nice feeling.

Then other times you feel she's gone slightly overboard, ridiculous big hair and fake eyelashes – like TOWIE on Red Bull!

In 2016, she released her debut studio album, Rise.

In December 2017, it was announced that Tyldesley had decided to leave the series; her final scenes aired on 3 August 2018.

She also appeared as a contestant on the seventeenth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2019.

In 2019, Tyldesley participated in the seventeenth series of Strictly Come Dancing and was partnered with Johannes Radebe.

They were the fifth couple to eliminated.

Also that year, she starred in the BBC comedy series Scarborough as Karen Norris.

In 2022, Tyldesley appeared in an episode of McDonald and Dodds as Kate Porter.