Lisa Geoghan

Lisa Geoghan
Born
Lisa Maria Geoghan

(1966-06-01) 1 June 1966 (age 58)
Southwark, London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1980–2004, 2015–
SpouseMichael Power (1996–present)[1]
Children2

Lisa Maria Geoghan (born 1 June 1966 in Southwark, London)[1] is an English actress best known for playing PC Polly Page from 1992 to 2004 in the long-running police drama The Bill.

Career

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Geoghan trained at the Anna Scher Theatre School from the age of 12,[2] and acted at the Old Vic Youth Theatre between 1978 and 1980. Her first TV appearance was a small role in Trevor Preston's drama Fox in 1980.[3] She has been well known in the UK since appearing at 16, as Sarah Gill, in Tucker's Luck.[2] Other leading roles were three seasons in The Bill creator's Geoff McQueen's gambling drama Big Deal[2] (with Ray Brooks) and 20 episodes of Desmond's between 1989 and 1992.[4]

The Bill

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After a guest appearance in the episode 'Breakout' in late 1991,[5] Geoghan became a cast regular in The Bill from 1992 to 2004, a role she played for 12 years. As WPC Polly Page, she made 601 episodes of the long running TV series.[4] Long running storylines included a relationship with colleague Dave Quinnan (played by Andrew Paul) and, after she joined the Community Safety Unit, a murder plot involving PC Cathy Bradford.[6] Geoghan took a year off from the police drama after her son was born and, after returning for a while, she decided to leave permanently to concentrate on her role as a mother.[7]

Later

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Geoghan guest-starred in Casualty in 2015, in her first return to acting in ten years.[8]

In 2019 she appeared on stage at the Theatre Peckham's 30th anniversary celebration of Desmond's first ever episode.[9][10]

Also in 2019, Geoghan shared her memories of her career in a two-part interview for The Bill Podcast.[11]

In December 2021 Geoghan made a guest appearance in EastEnders playing Paula, a barmaid in the pub owned by Linda Carter's (Kellie Bright) mother Elaine Peacock (Maria Friedman).

Personal life

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Geoghan grew up on a council estate in Bermondsey,[2] first meeting her future husband when she was 14.[2] They met again when she was 20, and have been together since.[2] The couple have two children, Oliver and Harry.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lisa Geoghan - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Myskow, Nina (29 December 2000). "The real real me - Lisa Geoghan: Men think I'm going to handcuff them to the nearest railings ..in their dreams!; Lisa Geoghan reveals all to Nina Myskow. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. The Mirror. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  3. ^ ""Fox" If It's Good Enough for New Orleans It's Good Enough for Clapham (TV Episode 1980)". IMDb. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Lisa Geoghan". IMDb. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. ^ ""The Bill" Breakout (TV Episode 1991)". IMDb. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  6. ^ Lambert, Doug (14 August 2017). "The Bill from the beginning to end". ATV Today. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Time for PC Polly to Go, says Mum Lisa". Mirror. Sunday People. 29 February 2004. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  8. ^ "BBC One - Casualty, Series 30, Avoidable Harm". BBC. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  9. ^ Johnston, Katherine (16 January 2019). "Desmond's crew came back on the manor for thirty year anniversary reunion at Theatre Peckham". Southwark News. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  10. ^ Porter, Toby (14 January 2019). "Classic sitcom 'Desmonds' marks 30 years anniversary". South London News. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  11. ^ a b "The Bill Podcast 41: Lisa Geoghan (WPC Polly Page) Part 1".
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