Kacey Ainsworth (born 19 October 1968) is an English actress, known for her roles as Little Mo Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and Cathy Keating in the ITV drama series Grantchester.[1]
Kacey Ainsworth | |
|---|---|
 Ainsworth in 2013 | |
| Born | 19 October 1968 Ware, Hertfordshire, England. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse | Darren Hales (m. 2005–2022) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
Ainsworth trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama from 1991 to 1994.[2]
Career
In 2000, Ainsworth joined the cast of BBC soap opera EastEnders, playing Little Mo. She made her final appearance in May 2006. Ainsworth has also appeared in other television series such as ITV police drama The Bill and detective serial A Touch of Frost. She also starred in Famous and Fearless on Channel 4. In February 2007, Ainsworth appeared in an episode of Hotel Babylon as a tabloid editor. From 2007 to 2008, she appeared in BBC drama HolbyBlue as Inspector Jenny Black.[3]
On 29 March 2014, Ainsworth appeared in Casualty as DS Annie Reardon.[4] Later that year, she began appearing in ITV detective drama Grantchester as Cathy Keating.[5] In 2017, she played Miss Gullet in CBBC sitcom The Worst Witch.[3]
In 2019, she gave, according to Michael Billington of The Guardian, an "outstanding performance" as Mrs. Lovett in a revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, at Liverpool's Everyman Theatre.[6]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Practice | Julia | |
| 1996 | A Touch of Frost | Carole Nash | |
| 1996–1997 | The Bill | Paula Sheriton / Gail Painter | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Where the Heart Is | Tracey | |
| 1999 | Topsy-Turvy | Miss Dorothea Fitzherbert | |
| 2000–2006 | EastEnders | Little Mo Mitchell | Regular role |
| 2001 | Girl from Rio | Sales Assistant | |
| 2007 | Hotel Babylon | Maria Henson | |
| 2007–2008 | HolbyBlue | Inspector Jenny Black | Main role |
| 2010 | Rock & Chips | Edna | |
| 2011 | M.I. High | Margaret Fontana | |
| Tracy Beaker Returns | Xanthe | ||
| Midsomer Murders | Nikki Rowntree | Episode: "Echos of the Dead" | |
| 2014 | Casualty | DS Annie Reardon | 1 episode |
| Doctors | Ruby Slade | ||
| Call the Midwife | Nancy | ||
| 2014–present | Grantchester | Cathy Keating | Main role |
| 2016 | Agatha Raisin | Francie Juddle | |
| 2017 | The Worst Witch | Miss Gullet | Recurring role |
| 2017–2018 | Loose Women | Herself/Guest panellist | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Lynn + Lucy | Caroline | |
| 2020 | Moving On | Vicky | |
| Then & Now | Claire | Also co-writer | |
| 2021 | The Battersea Poltergeist | Lily Chibbett | Horror podcast |
| Sliced | Denise | Episode: "Mad Innit?" | |
| The Mallorca Files | Linda Ball | Episode: "The Blue Feather" |
Awards
- British Soap Awards – Best Actress (2002–2003)
- National Television Awards – Most Popular Actress (2002)
- Inside Soap Awards – Best Actress (2002)
- TV Quick and Choice Awards – Best Soap Actress (2003)