Jennifer Metcalfe is set to make her debut in new comedy drama Just Act Normal this week.
The 41-year-old actress has played Mercedes McQueen since 2006 but fans are set to see her in a different light as she appears in the new six-part series based on the award-winning play Three Birds by Janice Okoh.
It revolves around three siblings harbouring a dreadful family secret. When their mother vanishes, Tiana, Tionne, and Tanika are desperate to conceal the truth from the world to keep their family intact.
Humans actor Ivanno Jeremiah takes on the role of fun-loving father-of-three Leo, while Jennifer makes a guest appearance as Leo’s new partner Candy.
As the series debuts later this week, let’s take a look at what Jennifer’s life is like away from the cameras.
TV fame
In her early roles, Jennifer appeared in several television programmes, including the children’s television series My Parents Are Aliens and ITV dramas Where The Heart Is, At Home with the Braithwaites and as well as soap opera Emmerdale.
Jennifer’s breakthrough role occurred in 2006, when she was cast as Mercedes in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. She had previously been considered for the role of Claire Devine, played by Gemma Bissix, before her character was created..
Her role in Hollyoaks has led to her appearing in its late-night spin-off series Hollyoaks Later, first appearing in the first series in 2008.
It was announced in April 2010 that she would return to the series for its third series and she continued in the role for series 4 and series 5.
Despite the show concluding in 2013, a one-off special was broadcast in 2020, with Jennifer returning once again in a main role.
In 2010, it was announced Jennifer would take part in the sixth series of ITV’s Dancing on Ice. She was partnered with Sylvain Longchambon and was the seventh celebrity eliminated from the competition.
Hollyoaks exit
Hollyoaks fans will remember that Jennifer left the Channel 4 soap back in 2014 with Mercedes appeared to have been killed off only for her to return in February 2015 alive after all and she’s since been back on a permanent basis.
Jennifer chose to take a break from the Channel 4 soap at the time but was always contracted to return.
Her temporary exit was announced as a permanent departure in order to protect the secrecy surrounding the Mercedes storyline.
Love life
Jennifer has led a colourful love life over the years including romances with footballer Jermaine Pennant and Dancing on Ice co-star Sylvain.
She later got into a relationship with Geordie Shore star Greg Lake, who shares son Daye Lake with, but they split back in 2020.
The actress recently revealed she is dating again but has decided to keep her latest relationship largely out of the spotlight apart from sharing some loved-up snaps with her mystery boyfriend on social media.
Speaking to the Mirror, Jennifer said: “When you’re younger, in your twenties, you’re looking for a unicorn of a man and going, ‘Nah, that one’s not for me’ but now I feel more at peace with where my life is at and it’s nice to share that with somebody.
“It’s not something I’ve ever seen on my path I’ve always wanted a child, and I have my little boy Daye, but I’ve never seen marriage in my plan.”