Sophie Abelson


Sophie Abelson is an English stage and television actress. She is best known for playing nurse Cherry Clay in the BBC One's daytime soap opera, Doctors, from 2009 to 2012.

Early life

Born in Ainsdale, Merseyside, to Laurence and Dorothy, she has a brother, Dan. Ever since she was a child she wanted to be an actress. She studied at Kingswood Junior School and Greenbank High School before completing a degree in BA Media & Drama at the University of Salford.

Career

After touring nationally with her theatre schools, Abelson began her professional career in theatre, including appearances in Death of a Salesman for York Theatre Royal, the David Freeman production of As you like it, the Braham Murray production of She Stoops to Conquer for Royal Exchange Manchester, and the Carole Rodd tour of Girls Night Out. In 2000 she took many parts in theatrical productions and first appeared on television in 2002 in a one-off Holby City episode.
In 2006, she starred as actress Barbara Windsor in the Paul Hunter production of 2006 revival of the Olivier Award-winning comedy Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick at the Octagon Bolton, for which she received many positive reviews.
Abelson appeared in the second episode of HBO's 2013 mockumentary-style television comedy Family Tree, playing policewoman WPC Sharon Bullivant in the 1970s show-within-the-show Move Along, Please!.

Doctors

In a July 2007 episode of the BBC One's daytime TV soap opera, Doctors, she played the role of Tilly Ruffell. She was brought back to the series in 2009 in the role of Cherry Malone, a bubbly and gullible nurse who first appeared on 6 April 2009. In November 2009, Abelson had a major storyline, which saw her character's boyfriend, Scott Nielson, die of a drugs overdose. The police thought Cherry was also taking drugs, with the case being closed due to lack of evidence. The storyline helped Abelson receive a nomination for Best Newcomer & Sexiest Female at The British Soap Awards 2010. Abelson departed Doctors on 19 October 2012.