Anna Friel's life from Brookside to Hollywood including love life and devastating confession

With beloved soap Brookside poised for a comeback, one of the show's biggest names has gone on to big things since it ended in 2003.

Anna Friel was a breakout star from the soap and went on to appear in all manner of television shows and even Hollywood films. Most recently, she graced our screens in a new BBC drama, Unforgivable. The brainchild of renowned scriptwriter Jimmy McGovern, the drama delves into the repercussions of grooming and sexual abuse on a single family.

It revolves around the Mitchell clan, who are grappling with the harrowing aftermath of an abusive act committed by one of their own, reports the Liverpool Echo. After serving his time behind bars, Joe (Bobby Schofield) finds refuge at St Maura's, an institution that provides him with a home and rehabilitation post-release.

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With the aid of Katherine (Anna Maxwell Martin), a former nun, Joe embarks on therapy sessions in an attempt to comprehend what drove him to commit the abuse and confront the fallout. Meanwhile, his sister, Anna (Anna Friel), is wrestling with the colossal impact that Joe's crime has inflicted on her family - her sons, Tom (Austin Haynes) and Peter (Fin McParland) and her father, Brian (David Threlfall).

The drama, produced by LA Productions for BBC iPlayer and BBC Two, debuted on iPlayer in July 2025. But Anna has led a busy life up to that point.

Anna Friel's early life and career trajectory

The 49-year-old hails from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, where she was raised by mum Julie Bamford Friel, a special needs teacher, and dad Desmond "Des" Friel, a former French teacher and folk guitarist who currently runs a web design business. She also has a sibling called Michael.

Anna launched her professional career at just 13 in the television miniseries GBH, penned by Alan Bleasedale and featuring Robert Lindsay and Michael Palin. The production was billed as an epic—and occasionally comedic—tale exploring the insanity of authority and its impact on two men's lives.

This opportunity paved the way for Anna to secure minor roles in ITV dramas Coronation Street and Emmerdale. But it was another soap that launched her into the mainstream.

Brookside, Anna's iconic kiss and how it changed lives

Among the most triumphant former Brookside performers, Anna Friel portrayed Beth Jordache for a two-year stint on the programme. She initially appeared on the show three decades ago in 1993.

Her portrayal of Beth captured public attention when she participated in British television's inaugural pre-watershed lesbian kiss alongside Margaret Clemence. This pivotal scene revolutionised society for numerous viewers and remains a talking point today, with the programme having been broadcast across more than 70 nations.

Anna's character, Beth, had endured sexual assault by her father throughout her childhood, so when producers proposed a romantic storyline between two young women, Anna insisted that it be explicitly established that Beth's sexuality wasn't a consequence of her traumatic experiences.

Previously chatting to Radio Times, Anna revealed: "I am proud we took on such controversial storylines, and it was new and innovative. I am proud that we got it in the contract that Beth would always stay gay. It wasn't because of her sexual abuse."

Behind the scenes, Anna transformed into something of a lesbian pin-up with her fan mail rocketing from 20 letters weekly to 100. During the same period, she revealed to the Independent: "Being a gay icon is no different to being a straight icon.

"50% of them (fan mail) were from gay people. Most were supportive and positive about Beth, and I had lots of letters from people saying they were confused and that Beth had helped them to come out.

"So I'm glad I'm doing something to help. Kissing a man is just as hard as kissing a woman."

Anna was romantically involved with actor Darren Day at the time and had to adjust to feminine attention. On one occasion, she remembered being at a restaurant when a man approached her with a rose.

He explained that his friend wanted her to have it, and when she glanced around, she discovered that the friend was a woman. It's barely shocking that Anna was regarded as an LGBT+ icon, considering that the kiss was broadcast to six million viewers.

Conquering America with Pushing Daisies

Anna took her career stateside with her role as Charlotte Charles in the ABC comedy series Pushing Daisies, which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination. The programme centres on Ned (Lee Pace), a pie-maker blessed with the extraordinary ability to resurrect the dead through touch.

However, this remarkable gift comes with strict conditions. Should he maintain someone's life beyond sixty seconds, another person must perish in their stead, whilst a second touch results in permanent death.

The programme, celebrated for its distinctive visual aesthetic and fantastical atmosphere, delves into concepts of mortality, romance, and isolation. It wasn't Anna's only award experience.

In 2017, she bagged an International Emmy Award for her portrayal of Marcella Backland in the ITV detective drama Marcella. She has undertaken numerous starring roles across television and cinema, including Broken and Deep Water.

Anna's health, love life and a sad confession

In 2001, Anna embarked on a romance with actor David Thewlis following their encounter on a flight to Cannes. Later that year, the actress suffered a collapse and required urgent hospitalisation.

She underwent emergency surgery and received two blood transfusions for a burst ovarian cyst, subsequently being diagnosed with endometriosis and warned about potential fertility complications. Nevertheless, she later fell pregnant and welcomed daughter Gracie Ellen Mary Friel in July 2005.

Gracie was named after Gracie Fields and her mum's nans, Ellen and Mary. In December 2010, Friel and David separated after almost ten years together. Anna then dated Welsh actor Rhys Ifans from 2011 to 2014.

In 2020, Anna revealed how her four-year romance crumbled during the coronavirus lockdown in merely two weeks. Speaking to You magazine, Anna said: "A relationship I was in for four years broke down after about the first two weeks..."

She continued: "When we went into lockdown, I remember thinking 'God, there's going to be so many people breaking up during this'. While I like to keep my private life incredibly private, I think there's going to be such a fallout at the end of all this that it's important to say, 'I'm human, it happens to all of us, and it is difficult'."

Whilst Anna declined to identify her ex-partner, she was romantically connected to 42-year-old Regimental Corporal Major Mark Jaworski at the time. It has been reported that they had been together since meeting at a charity dinner in Windsor.

Jaworski served with the Life Guards Regiment of the Household Cavalry at Combermere Barracks in Windsor, which counted Princes William and Harry amongst its Blues and Royals section members. Anna said she spent the time during lockdown reflecting on her life at home with her daughter, Gracie.