Debra Stephenson
Debra Stephenson has acquired different audiences for each of her many facets.
Depending when you first came across her, you might recall Debra Stephenson as the lead vocalist on indie-dance sensation Sensurround’s hit ‘When I get to Heaven’. (But did you know Debra Stephenson had already, at the age of 18, been a vocalist for Manchester’s Rhythm Quest?)
Or perhaps you’re thinking of Debra Stephenson the comedy impressionist, who started out at 13 and by 1987 appeared on the BBC’s Opportunity Knocks.
Maybe, in 1990, you caught Debra Stephenson at the Edinburgh Festival, or in a tour that took her from cult venues such as The Comedy Store to numerous gigs on the student circuit. Around this time, Debra Stephenson was also doing voices for ITV’s satirical show Spitting Image.
Following her training as an actress at the Manchester Metropolitan University School of Drama from 1993, Debra Stephenson’s name has been seen about more and more. Several episodes of Reckless with Robson Green for ITV, a regular role in childrens’ show Cone Zone, and a stint presenting CBBC’s Friday Zone followed, beginning to establish the name Debra Stephenson with audiences older and younger.
A higher profile followed, with stints on Midsomer Murders and a three year role in Playing the Field. Capping it all though, Debra Stephenson was awarded TV Quick Best Actress Award for her work in cult favourite Bad Girls. (For the same role Debra Stephenson was twice nominated National Television Awards Most Popular Actress too!)
Other shows continued to tap into Debra Stephenson’s talents, for straight drama (A Dinner of Herbs, Spooks) and comedy (sketch show TV to Go, and ITV panto Dick Whittington).
Debra Stephenson became one of the nation’s favourites for her portrayal of Frankie Baldwin in Coronation Street. And though the soap kept her busy, she still found time for a solo album, appearance in Celebrity Fame Academy, a fitness DVD and contributions to Channel 4’s Friday Night Project. All that, and the name Debra Stephenson has been up in lights at Blackpool Opera House, where she’s been singing and doing comedy! Having taking some time out after having her second child, Debra is now back in the limelight with a primetime BBC show 'The Impressions Show' alongside Jon Culshaw where she shows her talent for impersonating major celebrities.