Lisa Maria Geoghan (born 1 June 1966 in Southwark, London) is an English actress best known for playing PC Polly Page from 1992 to 2004 in the long-running police drama ''

The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, first broadcast on ITV from 16 August 1983 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, '' Woodentop'', broadcast in August 1983. The programme focused o ...

''.

Career

Geoghan trained at the

Anna Scher Theatre School The Anna Scher Theatre is an independent and co-educational performing arts school based in Islington, Greater London. It was founded in 1968 by Anna Scher. It is considered among the first schools of its kind geared towards working class studen ...

from the age of 12, and acted at the Old Vic Youth Theatre between 1978 and 1980. Her first TV appearance was a small role in

Trevor Preston Trevor Preston was a British screenwriter. He wrote the series '' Out'' and created the series '' Ace of Wands''. He also wrote a 1976 TV movie adaptation of ''James and the Giant Peach''. Writing credits 1960s work 1966 * ''Four People'' (seria ...

's drama ''Fox'' in 1980. She has been well known in the UK since appearing at 16, as Sarah Gill, in ''

Tucker's Luck ''Tucker's Luck'' is a British television series made by the BBC between 1983 and 1985. The series is a spin-off from the school drama ''Grange Hill'' and capitalised on the popularity of one of the series' original characters – Peter "Tucker ...

''. Other leading roles were three seasons in ''The Bill'' creator's

Geoff McQueen Geoffrey McQueen (24 July 1947 – 6 July 1994) was a British television screenwriter. He is best known for creating Thames Television's long-running police procedural ''The Bill'' and the popular comedy-dramas '' Give Us a Break'', '' Big ...

's gambling drama '' Big Deal'' (with Ray Brooks) and 20 episodes of ''

Desmond's ''Desmond's'' is a British television situation comedy broadcast by Channel 4 from 1989 to 1994. Conceived and co-written by Trix Worrell, and produced by Charlie Hanson and Humphrey Barclay, ''Desmond's'' stars Norman Beaton as barber Des ...

'' between 1989 and 1992.

The Bill

After a guest appearance in the episode 'Breakout' in late 1991, Geoghan became a cast regular in ''The Bill'' from 1992 to 2004, a role she played for 12 years. As WPC Polly Page, she made 601 episodes of the long running TV series. Long running storylines included a relationship with colleague Dave Quinnan (played by Andrew Paul) and, after she joined the Community Safety Unit, a murder plot involving PC Cathy Bradford. Geoghan took a year off from the police drama after her son was born and, after returning for a while, she decided to leave permanently to concentrate on her role as a mother.

Later

Geoghan guest-starred in ''Casualty'' in 2015, in her first return to acting in ten years. In 2019 she appeared on stage at the Theatre Peckham's 30th anniversary celebration of ''

'' first ever episode. Also in 2019, Geoghan shared her memories of her career in a two-part interview for The Bill Podcast.https://soundcloud.com/thebillpodcast/41-lisageoghan-part1 In December 2021 Geoghan made a guest appearance in ''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the Ea ...

'' playing Paula, a barmaid in the pub owned by Linda Carter's ( Kellie Bright) mother

Elaine Peacock The following are characters who first appeared, or returned, in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' during 2014 listed by order of first appearance. All new characters in 2014 were introduced by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, executive producer. N ...

( Maria Friedman).

Personal life

Geoghan grew up on a council estate in

Bermondsey Bermondsey () is a district in southeast London, part of the London Borough of Southwark, England, southeast of Charing Cross. To the west of Bermondsey lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe and Deptford, to the south Walworth and Peckham ...

, first meeting her future husband when she was 14. They met again when she was 20, and have been together since. The couple have two children, Oliver and Harry.

References

External links

* 1966 births English stage actresses English television actresses Living people Alumni of the Anna Scher Theatre School {{England-tv-actor-stub