Helen Flanagan (born 7 August 1990) is an English actress. She is best known for playing the role of Rosie Webster in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2000 to 2012; she returned to the role in 2017, before going on maternity leave on 8 June 2018, from which she did not return.
Early life
Flanagan was born in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. She attended Westholme School in Blackburn, Lancashire.
Career
Flanagan first appeared as Rosie Webster in Coronation Street in January 2000. In 2006, she was nominated for the award of "Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress" at the British Soap Awards, losing to Ellis Hollins of Hollyoaks. In 2007, she was nominated for "Villain of the Year" at the same awards, this time losing to Coronation Street co-star Jack P. Shepherd. In 2010, Flanagan appeared in Coronation Street spin-off Coronation Street: A Knights Tale as her character Rosie Webster. In 2011, she had her own Coronation Street spin-off Just Rosie, which explored her character Rosie Webster trying to build a modelling career in London. Flanagan left Coronation Street in February 2012 to pursue other interests.
In November 2012, Flanagan participated in the twelfth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, finishing in seventh place. In September 2013 she appeared in Celebrity Super Spa, a reality-television programme based in a Liverpool Salon on Channel 5. In January 2014, Flanagan starred in an episode of Celebrity Wedding Planner alongside Hugo Taylor on Channel 5. The following August she appeared as agency nurse Kirsty Brompton in an episode of Holby City. In October 2016, it was announced Flanagan would reprise her role as Rosie in Coronation Street in February 2017. She left on maternity leave in June 2018.
In 2023, Flanagan was a contestant in I'm a Celebrity... South Africa, leaving on day 12 of the show in joint 7th place, after a double eviction with Dean Gaffney
Personal life
Flanagan's parents are Roman Catholic.
Flanagan became engaged to Bristol Rovers winger Scott Sinclair on 31 May 2018. They have two daughters, and one son. In October 2022, the media reported that her relationship with Sinclair had ended after 13 years.