Kelli Hollis

Kelli Hollis is a highly experienced British actress, best known for her memorable roles in some of the UK’s most popular and acclaimed television dramas, including Emmerdale, Shameless and Coronation Street.

Born and raised in Leeds, Kelli first attracted attention with her performance as Tina Crabtree in Penny Woolcock’s acclaimed Tina Goes Shopping. She reprised the character in Tina Takes a Break and later in the feature film Mischief Night, establishing herself as a compelling and instinctive screen performer with a particular talent for bringing strong, authentic working-class characters to life.

She became widely known to television audiences as Yvonne Karib in Channel 4’s award-winning Shameless, appearing across numerous series of the hugely successful comedy drama. As the formidable local shopkeeper and mother of Chesney and Meena, Kelli became a familiar face on the Chatsworth Estate and an integral part of one of British television’s most distinctive ensemble casts.

Kelli subsequently joined ITV’s Emmerdale as Ali Spencer, mother of Amelia and Sean Spencer and partner of Ruby Haswell. The role placed her at the centre of a number of major storylines and further established her with mainstream television audiences. Interestingly, this was not Kelli’s first appearance in the soap, having previously played a different character, Melanie Say, in 2002.

Her extensive television career has also included appearances in Ackley Bridge, Waterloo Road, Casualty, Holby City, Doctors, Moving On, Wolfe, The Bill, Dalziel and Pascoe, Justice and the prison drama Clink, in which she played Maggie Simms. She also appeared as Mandy in the BBC drama Pitching In.

Among her dramatic credits is the powerful television film See No Evil: The Moors Murders, in which she portrayed Ann West, mother of Lesley Ann Downey. Her film work also includes The Principles of Lust, Creep, The Death of Klinghoffer and Mischief Night.

In 2026, Kelli returned to one of Britain’s biggest soaps with a guest role in ITV’s Coronation Street, playing Paula, a fellow prisoner alongside Debbie Webster. The appearance marked another high-profile television credit in a career spanning more than 25 years.

Known for the warmth, humour and realism she brings to her performances, Kelli has built a career playing characters with genuine depth and personality. Equally at home in hard-hitting drama and comedy drama, she remains a distinctive and instantly recognisable presence on British television.

With major roles across ITV, BBC and Channel 4, Kelli Hollis continues to be an accomplished and versatile actress with an impressive body of work across television and film.