A history Of Liverpool Thespians - Olivia Frances-Brown

 

Olivia Frances Brown was born on the 20th of December 1998 in Liverpool and after school she trained at LIPA. She says, " I always liked drama. I went to LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) and ended up doing my degree in Barcelona at the Institute of the Arts Barcelona because LIPA had a connection to a university there. While I was there, I got a little bit sidetracked by the jazz scene. I met all these musicians and then wanted to focus on my singing - I write and record my own music and worked as a jazz singer right up until I joined Corrie - and I still do." However in 2022 she decided to give acting another go alongside singing. She had a few small TV roles in things like the TV series 'Boiling Point' (2023) as Johnny's wife, with several other Liverpool actors; in the drama mystery 'The Trap' (2023) as Katie alongside James Nelson-Joyce and then as Gloria in 'Archie' (2023), the 4 part drama depicting the life of Cary Grant. In 2024 she had a more substantial role in the horror film 'Dinosaur Hotel'; in 2 episodes of the Channel 4 TV crime drama series 'The Gathering' and the drug crime drama 'Reputation', again alongside James Nelson-Joyce which alll gave her back a taste for acting again.   

Summertime covered by Olivia and Micky Dunne

It was in early 2025 that she made a striking music debut with her single 'Shade of Red'. This track marked  the first offering from her highly anticipated EP, capturing the essence of Olivia’s unique sound, a fusion of classic Motown influences and modern sensibilities. Inspired by her time in Barcelona, where her love for jazz flourished, she blends a catchy bassline reminiscent of 'The Temptations' with shuffling live drum patterns, creating an infectious rhythm that invites listeners in. 'Shade of Red' explores the complexities of forbidden love, encapsulating the intense desire and guilt that accompany it. Olivia said, "I wanted to capture that feeling of being utterly consumed by something you know you shouldn’t want." This duality of passion and conflict is palpable in her sultry, jazzy vocals, which add an alluring depth to the instrumentation. The song pulses with a raw, frantic energy, highlighting Olivia’s storytelling prowess and her ability to convey emotion through music. Already making waves on BBC networks, with tracks like 'You’ll Just Have To Do' gaining airplay on Radio 1, Olivia is positioning herself as a rising star in the UK music scene and 'Shade of Red' not only showcases her eclectic influences but also signals her arrival as an artist capable of reimagining classic sounds for contemporary audiences.

 

In 2026 Olivia first appeared during the 'Corriedale' crossover as a mystery woman being seen tied up in the back of a van driven by Emmerdale's Graham Foster. She was next seen Hotten General Hospital at the same time Shona Platt but it was only revealed in a subsequent episode that she was in fact Jodie Ramsey, Shona Platt's estranged half-sister. Olivia said: "It really, truly has been a dream come true for us. I watched Coronation Street since I was a little girl, since I was a baby, and my Mum watched it since she was little as well, and this was back in the '60s. I mean, it's always been massive for my family, and to see myself in and amongst those sets has just been unbelievable. To see that my mum has been so proud as well, because it's a big deal to her. I don't think there was a show that I could have done that would have made her prouder, because it means so much to her." She adds that Coronation Street is the first steady job where she can really sink her teeth into a character and develop them extensively. The role of Jodie isn't the first Olivia went for when it came to auditioning for Corrie. She revealed: "I actually first auditioned for Corrie about three or four years ago for a smaller part called Crystal. I'm half-Scouse, so I was really crossing my fingers for it, and I was gutted when I didn’t get it. At the time, they said they’d keep me in mind for the future, but as an actor, you take that with a pinch of salt. When they got back in touch three years later remembering me for the role of Shona's sister, I was made up. I couldn't believe they remembered who I was! The full process felt really smooth from there." Additionally, it emerges that Olivia is engaged to a rather famous partner, 'This City Is Ours' actor James Nelson-Joyce who she has appeared alongside a few times.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2026/06/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-ellis.html