Jacqueline Denise Welch Biography: Age, Depression, Awards, Marriage, Net Worth, Books, Children, Movies

Jacqueline Denise Welch is an English actress, television personality, writer and broadcaster who rose to widespread recognition after portraying Natalie Barnes on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 1997 to 2000.

Her profile further expanded through her long-running role as Steph Haydock in the BBC school drama Waterloo Road between 2006 and 2010, and as a regular panellist on the daytime talk show Loose Women. Beyond acting, Denise has authored books and has been open about her personal struggles and recovery.

Profile

• Full name: Jacqueline Denise Welch
• Date of birth: 22 May 1958
• Age: 67 years old
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Tynemouth, Northumberland, England
• Nationality: British
• Profession: Actress, television personality, writer, broadcaster
• Height: 5 ft 4 inches (approx. 1.63 m)
• Weight: 60 kg (approximate)
• Eye colour: Blue
• Hair colour: Blonde
• Parents: Vin Welch (father) and Ann/Annie Welch (mother)
• Siblings: Debbie Welch (sister)
• Spouse(s): David Easter (m. 1983–1988), Tim Healy (m. 1988–2012), Lincoln Townley (m. 2013–present)
• Children: Matthew “Matty” Healy (son) (born 8 April 1989), Louis Vincent Healy (son) (born 2 March 2001)
• Relationship status: Married
• Ethnicity: White British
• Net worth: US$4 million

Early Life and Education

Jacqueline Denise Welch (67 years old) was born on 22 May 1958 in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England to Vin and Annie Welch. She grew up with a sister Debbie.

She first attended Bygate School in Whitley Bay and La Sagesse School in Newcastle upon Tyne. At age 13 she moved to Ebchester, County Durham, where she attended Blackfyne Grammar School in Consett and passed five GCEs. At age 17, she applied to and attended the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London between 1976 and 1979.

Personal Life

Denise Welch’s first marriage was to actor David Easter (1983–1988). In 1988 she married actor Tim Healy, and they have two sons: Matty (born 1989) and Louis (born 2001). The couple separated in 2012. In 2013 she married artist Lincoln Townley in Portugal. (They remain married as of 2025.)

Welch has been open about her struggles with depression, alcoholism and drug use, including post-natal depression after the birth of her eldest son.

Career

Denise Welch began her acting career in theatre and television in the early 1980s. Her TV debut was in the Tyne Tees production Barriers in 1981. She also appeared in series such as Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Byker Grove. Her breakthrough role came as Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street from 1997 to 2000. Between 2006 and 2010 she starred as French teacher Steph Haydock in Waterloo Road.

She has been a regular panellist on Loose Women from 2005–2013 and again from 2018 to present. More recently, she appeared in Hollyoaks (as Trish Minniver) in 2021-22. She has also authored books, and become an advocate for mental health awareness.

Awards

• Winner of the 9th series of Celebrity Big Brother (2012)

Net Worth

Denise Welch‘s net worth is estimated at US$4 million.

Social Media

• Instagram: @denise_welch
• X (formerly Twitter): @RealDeniseWelch

Filmography

• Barriers (1981)
• Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1986)
• Byker Grove (1990–1991)
• Soldier Soldier (1993–1995)
• Coronation Street (1997–2000)
• Waterloo Road (2006–2010)
• Hollyoaks (2021–2022)

Books

• Pulling Myself Together (2010) – her autobiography.