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Annie Wallace

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Annie Wallace
Wallace in 2023
Born (1965-05-06) 6 May 1965 (age 59)
Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
EducationManchester School of Theatre
OccupationActress
Years active2004–present
Known forRole of Sally St. Claire in Hollyoaks
Websiteanniewallace.com

Annie Wallace (born 6 May 1965) is a Scottish actress, best known for portraying the role of Sally St. Claire in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks for nine years from 2015 - 2024. She was the first transgender person to portray a regular transgender character in British soap opera history.[1]

Life and career

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Wallace was previously a member of the National Youth Theatre in 1981, but she temporarily stopped acting to work in computer science and sound engineering. She spent eighteen months as a research assistant for the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, from 1998-2000, where she advised for and inspired the character of Hayley Patterson, portrayed by actress Julie Hesmondhalgh.[2]

Inspired by her time at ITV Granada, she auditioned successfully for the Manchester School of Theatre in 2001, graduating in 2004. She then appeared in various Manchester theatre productions, including Withnail and I and Wyrd Sisters.

In 2011, Wallace appeared in an episode of Shameless[3] as school headmistress Miss Heller.

Wallace is also a musician, with two albums written and recorded with collaborator John Beresford.[4]

She has also worked on several podcast comedy series,[5] as well as sound and video design for various theatrical productions.

On 9 October 2015, it was announced[6] that she would be joining the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, in a new regular role as Sally St. Claire.[7][8] Wallace made her debut appearance on-screen on 29 October 2015.

On 5 January 2018, Wallace took part in an edition of Celebrity Mastermind,[9] where her specialist subject was "Doctor Who – 1970–1980". She came in second place with 21 points, losing to journalist Martin Bell with 24 points. Her chosen charity was Mermaids.

On 27 May 2023, she appeared on Pointless Celebrities, partnering with ex-Hollyoaks actor Devon Anderson, and managed to get through to the head-to-head section, but did not advance to the final.[10]

She departed Hollyoaks on 11 September 2024, along with several other cast members, when Channel 4 cut the episodes from five per week to three, requiring cuts to the cast, crew and production staff.[11]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 Shameless Miss Heller Episode: "Beginnings and Ends"
2013 Dream On Barmaid Film
2015–2024 Hollyoaks Sally St. Claire Regular role

Awards and nominations

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On 15 November 2015, she was placed at number 17 on the Rainbow List, published by The Independent on Sunday; a list of the most influential openly LGBTI individuals in the United Kingdom, published annually.[12]

On 25 June 2016, Wallace was placed at number 39 on the Pride Power List, published by Out News Global as part of Pride in London; another list of in celebration of the achievements of 100 most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people in Britain, voted for by the public.[13]

On 16 September 2016, she won The National Diversity Awards "Celebrity of the Year" award, at Liverpool Cathedral.[14] On the same day she was placed at No.38 on the DIVA Power List.[15]

On 5 October 2016, she was nominated in the BAFTA Scotland Awards 2016 in the category of "Best Actress - Television" for her role in Hollyoaks;[16] the first ever British transgender actress to be nominated for a BAFTA award.[17]

On 2 October 2021 she was presented with the Judges Award for Outstanding Trans Activism at the Proud Scotland Awards.[18]

On 26 April 2024, Wallace received a special honour at the DIVA Magazine Awards, celebrating their 30th anniversary. The honour was for her 30 years of activism, her advisory work on Coronation Street, and her work at Hollyoaks.[19]

Year Ceremony Award Nominated work Result
2016 Sparkle National Transgender Awards "Trans* Person in the Media/TV of the Year" Hollyoaks
as Sally St. Claire		 Nominated
2016 The National Diversity Awards "Celebrity of the Year" Won
2016 TV Choice Awards "Best Soap Newcomer" Nominated
2016 Icon Awards "Cultural Icon of the Year" Runner-up
2016 Digital Spy Soap Awards "Biggest Unsung Hero" Nominated
2016 BAFTA Scotland Awards 2016 "Best Actress - Television" Nominated
2017 British LGBT Awards "LGBT+ Celebrity Rising Star" Nominated
2018 TRIC Awards "Best Soap Actor" Nominated
2021 Proud Scotland Awards "The Judges Award" for Outstanding Trans Activism Won
2024 DIVA Awards 30th Anniversary Honouree for Acting and Campaigning Won

References

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  1. ^ "Who is transgender Hollyoaks actress Annie Wallace and what else has she been in?". metro.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 February 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Coronation Street's Hayley Cropper inspiration speaks out about being transgender for first time". The Mirror. 26 August 2015. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Shameless - Series 8, Episode 13". www.channel4.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Beresford and Wallace music website". Beresford and Wallace. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  5. ^ "The Chop House comedy podcasts". YouTube - The Chop House. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  6. ^ Lees, Paris (9 October 2015). "A trans actor joining EastEnders is a triumph – but one born from tragedy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 October 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Hollyoaks' first transgender actress says 'times are a-changing'". Liverpool Echo. 14 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  8. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (19 October 2015). "Hollyoaks newcomer Annie Wallace revealed as Hollyoaks High's next headteacher". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  9. ^ Celebrity Mastermind
  10. ^ "Pointless Celebrities". BBC iPlayer. BBC.
  11. ^ Laurie, Dan. "Hollyoaks legend exit confirmed after nine years and final scenes have been filmed". Manchester Evening News. Reach. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  12. ^ Morrison, Sarah (17 November 2015). "The Rainbow List 2015: 1 to 101". The Independent on Sunday. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  13. ^ "The Pride Power List 2016". The Pride Power List. Out News Global. Archived from the original on 28 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  14. ^ "Winner - "Celebrity of the Year 2016"". The National Diversity Awards. 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  15. ^ "DIVA magazine power list voted for by you". Out News Global. 16 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  16. ^ "British Academy Scotland Awards 2016". BAFTA Scotland. 3 October 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  17. ^ "'Hollyoaks' Actress Annie Wallace Makes History With BAFTA Nomination". Huffington Post. 7 October 2016. Archived from the original on 7 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  18. ^ Clark, Jonathan (6 October 2021). "Moray-based teacher John Naples-Campbell named Educator of the Year at National Proud Scotland Awards". Northern Scot. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Sandi Toksvig OBE, Heather Peace, Adele Roberts and Heartstopper win big at the LSEG DIVA Awards 2024". DIVA Awards. DIVA Magazine.
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