The BBC high school drama has seen the likes of Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor and Rege-Jean Page, as well as Hollywood star Jodie Comer, grace its halls over the years
Waterloo Road, the beloved BBC high school drama, has been a launchpad for many of its young stars ever since it started in 2006.
After an eight-year hiatus, the show made a triumphant return, much to the delight of fans, but over the years some may have forgotten about some of the show’s cast who have gone on to great things since.
The reboot saw the story return to Rochdale school, now helmed by Kim Campbell, with familiar faces returning as their children prepared to tread the same corridors they once did. The casting team of the BBC One soap had a knack for spotting future big screen talent, propelling many young British actors to stardom.
Here are some of the screen star you may have forgotten had a role in the BBC school-based soap…
Jack O’Connell
Many of Jack O’Connell’s fans think it all began for him on the small screen when he landed the role of Cook on E4’s Skins, but he actually made an appearance in Waterloo Road as Dale Baxter way before that.
Dale was a problematic pupil who struggled with his behaviour and with Overactive Bladder Syndrome, which left him the target of taunting.
Jack has gone on to huge success after securing spots in Unbroken, Back to Black, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, SAS Rogue Heroes, among many more acting credits.
Phoebe Dynevor
Before she shot to fame as Daphne Bridgerton in Netflix’s smash hit, Phoebe cut her acting teeth as a student on Waterloo Road. The fiery redhead portrayed Siobhan Mailey after Waterloo Road, a state comprehensive, merged with private school John Fosters.
During her stint on the BBC One show, the budding actress made her mark by capturing the hearts of several school heartthrobs, including TV hunk Luke Pendle (played by Richie Jeeves) and Finn Sharkey (portrayed by Jack McMullen).
Since then, the actress has flourished in her role, embracing her stunning auburn locks and securing roles in TV shows like Prisoners’ Wives in 2012 and period dramas such as The Village in 2014 and Dickensian in 2015. However, her most significant role to date is undoubtedly her performance in the wildly popular romantic series Bridgerton, which she also returned to for the second series.
Rege-Jean Page
But Phoebe isn’t the only Waterloo Road alum to walk the halls of Bridgerton House. Her future co-star Rege-Jean Page also wowed audiences with his striking good looks when he joined the cast in its 10th series.
The handsome actor played the role of Guy Braxton, a newly qualified graphics and design teacher, on the BBC One show. Despite his brief stint on the show, his role left a lasting impression on viewers who found it hard to focus when he appeared on screen.
Interestingly, even though both stars of Bridgerton were in the same series, they never crossed paths at school because Page joined the show five years after Dynevor left. After the series ended, the actor starred in the renowned 70s miniseries Roots in 2016 and in the legal drama For The People in 2018.
Since then, he’s become a big name in Hollywood thanks to his award-winning role as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, in the period drama.
Jenna Coleman
Another actor who captivated viewers with her acting prowess was Jenna Coleman from Doctor Who.
The gifted actress first graced the show in 2009, after a stint on Emmerdale, and quickly won over audiences with her stellar performance. She portrayed Lindsay James, a troubled and occasionally violent character in the hit TV series, captivating fans with her thrilling storyline.
After her role as the troubled teen, Jenna joined the ranks of British sci-fi series Doctor Who, playing Clara Oswald – the companion to Matt Smith’s and Peter Capaldi’s Doctors. The star continued to dazzle viewers when she bagged the lead role in ITV drama Victoria, playing Queen Victoria herself.
More recently, the actress has been impressing audiences with her portrayal of Johanna Constantine in the Netflix series The Sandman.
Jodie Comer
Another familiar face from the show is blonde bombshell Jodie Comer. The award-winning actress made an appearance in an episode of Waterloo Road in series six, episode three back in 2010, marking one of her earliest acting roles.
She played Sarah Evans, the girlfriend of student Ronan Burley, and despite only appearing in one episode, she had a significant storyline. The day after having unprotected sex with the student, we see her secretly obtaining a morning-after pill.
Since then, the star has captured the nation’s heart with her stunning looks and has featured in numerous acclaimed shows. Some of her most notable roles include Chloe in the Channel 4 series My Mad Fat Diary, Kate Parks in Doctor Foster, and the infamous assassin Villanelle in the BBC drama Killing Eve.
Lucien Laviscount
Lucien Laviscount was a familiar face on Waterloo Road back in 2010, where he played the role of school heartthrob Jonah Kirby until his departure in 2011. The actor won over audiences with his good looks and charming grin, and it’s evident that he hasn’t lost any of his appeal.
Over time, he’s charmed fellow Waterloo Road star Chelsee Healey, Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock, and is even rumoured to have had a fling with Kelly Osbourne. He later entered the Celebrity Big Brother house, making it to the final five before finishing in fifth place.
His acting career has taken off since his stint on the BBC show, securing a leading role in Netflix series Emily in Paris where he continues to win hearts. He also starred as Ennis Ross in Supernatural: Bloodlines, a spin-off of the US show Supernatural, and played Earl Grey in Fox’s US horror comedy series Scream Queens.
Denise Welch
Beloved Loose Women presenter Denise Welch was one of the most popular teachers on the BBC One TV drama. She portrayed Modern Foreign Languages teacher Steph Haydock, who found herself at the centre of plenty of drama from 2006 to 2010.
Fans of the long-running show remember her tenure fondly. After leaving the Rochdale school, she returned to Loose Women as a permanent panellist on the ITV show.
She soon returned to acting, landing a significant role in Cheshire-based soap opera Hollyoaks.
Matty Healy
Alongside his famous mum Denise, The 1975 singer Matty Healy also joined the show for a brief cameo but didn’t actually ever speak on screen.
They also ended up making it a full family affair when her then-husband Tim Healy joined the ranks to play security guard Dave Miller, who had unrequited feelings for her, in series four.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
