Amanda Mealing

London-born Amanda, who's part Sierra Leonean, made her onscreen debut aged 12 in long-running children's show Grange Hill. When her foray into acting proved successful the offers came flooding in. A handful of parts in TV favourites followed, including The Darling Buds Of May, Midsomer Murders, and The Bill, though her most memorable role to date is as man-eater Connie in medical drama Holby City. In 2002, just days after the birth of her second child, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but has since made a full recovery. The pretty actress, who's close friends with TV host Paul O'Grady, now lives in Lincolnshire with her husband Richard and their sons Milo and Otis.