| Character Profile | List of appearances |
Holly Geri Victoria Madonna Cunningham (previously Roscoe, Hutchinson and Longford) is the daughter of Cindy Cunningham and the late Lee Stanley, who was killed in a car accident two months before Holly's birth. She is also the half-sister of Alfie Nightingale and Hilton Cunningham as well as the ex-wife of Jason Roscoe.
Holly had a relatively difficult start to life with her mother attempting to kill her and moving from one country to the next it's safe to say Holly has her fair share of scenery in life.
Holly made two quick returns in 2002 and 2004 before returning full time with Cindy in June 2010 where her storylines involve her closeness with Tom Cunningham and feeling left out by her mother which leads her to run away from home, Holly departs Hollyoaks once again in August 2010 where she would attend a boarding school in Switzerland despite Cindy returning by May 2011, Holly would continue to attend the boarding school.
Holly returns in November 2012 and has a relationship with Callum Kane whom is later murdered. Holly then enters in a love triangle with twin brothers Jason and Robbie Roscoe. In March 2016, Holly caused the death of Rachel Hardy when she crashed into her car which would later explode with Rachel inside.
Holly entered a few more relationships with Nick Savage who rapes her. Damon Kinsella whom cheats on her with her own mother and eventually Zack Loveday who falls in love with Holly and vice versa. Holly departs Hollyoaks in September 2018 with Ellie Nightingale to move to Paris and in January 2019 they are joined in Paris by Zack.
Biography[]
1997-2004: Early life[]
Before she was born Holly's soon to be father, Lee Stanley was tragically killed in a car accident and later in the year, Christmas Day to be precise, Holly was born but Cindy struggles to be a single parent and abandons Holly in the hospital and on top of giving birth to Holly, Holly's auntie, Dawn Cunningham has died after a long battle with leukaemia later on Holly's grandparents discover of Holly and they then make Cindy step up as a mother however Cindy continues to struggle and goes as far as to try and kill Holly by suffocating her but is stopped by her older sister and Holly's other auntie, Jude Cunningham just in time.
After attempting to kill Holly, Cindy realises just how much she loves her daughter and begins to step up as a mother but Holly's life again is put in danger in October 2000 when her mother Cindy is made to work a shift at The Loft while briefly unsupervised, Holly swallows an ecstasy pill. Holly is then taken to hospital and fearing that social services will take Holly off her, Cindy makes the decision to flee with Holly with the help of Ben Davies and later takes Holly and she and Ben take a car belonging to Tony Hutchinson and Cindy leaves the country with Holly after arriving at the airport but not before hitting Anna Green with Tony's car.
Holly then later briefly returns with Cindy in August 2002, where she gets to know her grandparents Gordon and Gordon's now wife Helen Cunningham as well as briefly seeing her mother constantly flirting with the villainous Scott Anderson and attempting to con her bother Max Cunningham and his friend O.B. and after Cindy is successful, Holly then leaves the village once more with her mother. Holly made a brief return in March 2004 for the funeral of Gordon and Helen.
2008-2010: Child Life[]
Holly makes another return to Hollyoaks, now aged 10 years old, with her mother Cindy in June 2008 and Holly had been living in Spain for the past six years. Holly with her mother had returned for the wedding of Max and his now fiancée, Steph Dean but tragically Max is killed in his wedding by being run over accidentally by Niall Rafferty after which Cindy decides to stay in the village for good meaning Holly is also to so also and later Holly discovers that Max has left £3,000 in his will for Holly which she will get as soon as she turns 18.
Holly is later put to the task by Cindy to spy on Warren Fox after Cindy was accused by Warren's fiancée, Louise Summers of having an affair with Warren. Holly later begins school but Cindy does not pick her up this leads Tony to do so but Cindy isn't thankful and accuses Tony of being a paedophile as it became public knowledge that Tony had slept with a 15 year old Theresa McQueen and when Cindy ends up dating Rhys Ashworth, Holly does not take a liking to him and does not see eye to eye with Rhys however when Holly hides out bit the villagers assume she's missing but has a heart to heart with Rhys and finally strikes a liking to him but Cindy soon calls thing off between them.
By 2009, Holly has grown a lot closer to her uncle Tom Cunningham and they join a dance class hosted by Steph and Sarah Barnes at the Loft but cause trouble when they sneak into the office and are caught by Warren who threatens to end the dance classes if he catches any of the children sneaking around again. She and Tom later find out that Mercedes Fisher is selling profits from Tony's restaurant Il Gnosh and the two expose Mercedes whom ends up being fired. Holly is pleased when her mother ends up in a relationship and engaged by Tony. Holly escapes death in December 2009, Holly is accidentally electrocuted by some Christmas light at The Dog in the Pond but is saved when she's resuscitated by Darren Osborne who tells the villagers that is was Jake Dean in an effort to get Jake back accepted by the villagers.
By February 2010, Holly is put forward for a talent show by Cindy and although Holly does not want to do the talent show not wanting to disappoint her mother, Holly agrees to do the show. Holly later attempts to confide in Tony's brother, Dominic Reilly but Dom ends up shouting at Holly for distracting him from his cooking after Dom drops cooking food in a pan on the floor this leads Holly to run off upset. Holly then later discovers that Cindy wants to send her to boarding School. Holly lashes out at Tony thinking his the reason Holly will get sent away this later leads Holly to run away and Cindy and Tony have no choice to call the Police and make a television appeal. Its later revealed that Holly has been receiving the help of Spencer Gray. Holly is later spotted by Jake and he attempts to chase her down but Holly takes a fall and bangs her head off a rock. Jake then takes Holly to Cindy who blames Jake for taking her. Holly is then taken to hospital where at first she refuses to speak to Cindy and Tiny but eventually forgives both of them and tells them the truth about her hiding out.
By August 2010, Cindy's marriage with Tony has ended and Holly isn't too pleased when her mother gets engaged and later marries rich old millionaire, Alistair Longford and Holly later leaves with Cindy after the wedding when Cindy promises her a better life but Cindy returns in May 2011 as a widow but without her daughter, Holly as Holly is said to be attending a boarding school in the country of Switzerland.
2012-2013: Return and Relationship with Callum Kane[]
After two years away, Holly returns in November 2012 for her mothers double wedding too Tony along with Ste Hay and Doug Carter but tragedy strikes when a mini bus driven by Maddie Morrison and causes the deaths of four people, however, Holly and her loved ones manage to survive the disaster and Holly later leaves to go back to Switzerland but would later return after her mother, Cindy is attacked on Christmas Day and Holly is then offered a place to stay by Myra McQueen much to Holly being unkeen to do so. After Cindy and Tony split, Holly is surprised to learn that Tony will not pay her school fees and as a result Holly has no option but to move back in with Cindy and start attending Hollyoaks High School despite living with Cindy and Tony and their crashing marriage.
Holly starts to feel neglected by both Cindy and Tony and decides to go clubbing despite being under age at Chez Chez along with Theresa and Sinead O'Connor and Holly attempts to make a move on new barman Kevin Foster but is rejected Sinead then takes Holly to her home and the next day Holly gets into an argument with Sinead's step mother Diane O'Connor this lead Holly to then have a heated argument with her mother and they both decide to move out of Tony's flat and live elsewhere. Holly then moves into the flat with Cindy above Price Slice.
After moving in Holly takes an envelope full of cash off Nancy Osborne when Holly lies and tells Nancy that the cash belongs to her and her mother and threatens Darren that she will tell Nancy that his back gambling if he asks for the money. Holly then shows a spiteful side when she grasses Sinead up to the social services after a heated row with Sinead telling them that Sinead is dealing drugs. Holly then grows closer and closer with Callum Kane and finally begins a relationship with Callum.
After months of romance with Callum it comes to a tragic end by October 2013 when Holly along with Callum accompanied both Esther Bloom and her girl Tilly Evans away to a country mansion own by the girls new friend Jade Hedy but Holly along with Callum and their friends are unaware of Jade's sinister intentions of getting Esther's kidney until Jade murders Wes Anderson whom Holly nearly shot when messing around with a gun with Callum. Jade attempts to later kill Holly and Esther and Callum attempts to save them this leads to Jade stabbing Callum through the back killing him much to Holly's devastation but no time to think Holly along with Esther and Tilly fight of Jade and Jade later falls on her own knife which kills her.
2013-2016: Cindy's Illness and relationships with Jason and Robbie Roscoe[]
Holly returns a few months after Callum's death and is seen struggling greatly over his demise to the point she heavily drinks alcohol and clashes with her mother. Holly later gets drunk with fellow teen Robbie Roscoe but instead ends up kissing his twin brother Jason Roscoe and after a few minor issues the two begin a relationship and decide to sleep together. Later on, when Holly's phone in taken off her by headteacher, Patrick Blake when Holly is caught using it inside School. This leads Jason to tried and retrieve Holly's phone but runs into Patrick's girlfriend Maxine Minniver and is caught and gets arrested for assault and Holly supports Jason when his sent to jail for some time. Holly is surprised when Jason is released and takes her for a picnic at the Deli but unknown to them the Deli has been set of fire by Trevor Royle who was told to do say by his boss and Jason's step father, Fraser Black and after the fire is started both Holly and Jason shout for help and are heard by Ste and the two are rescued by Leela Lomax.
Holly is accused by her mother of purposely opening the Price Slice freezers which keeps defrosting the stock, Holly swear blind that she has nothing to do with opening the freezers and its later revealed that Cindy is in fact sleep walking as Holly is unaware that her mother is struggling over the murder of Paul Browning which Cindy had hand in covering up. In April 2014 both Holly and Jason blackmail Sonny Valentine over the death of Superintendent Marlow as Sonny did not intervene to save him while he was drowning after a beating from Fraser on the night of Fraser's murder and Holly along with Jason are scared of what Sonny will do to them so they go on the run but return weeks later. When Holly returns she discovers that she has a baby brother, Hilton Cunningham whom has been diagnosed with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency and needs a bone marrow transplant and Holly puts herself forward but sadly isn't a match for Hilton.
Holly and Jason's relationship is majorly tested when Holly sleeps with Dodger Savage and in an attempt to cover her tracks Holly lies to everyone that Dodger raped her but is soon caught out on her lies this leads Holly to be finished by Jason whom calls off their relationship. Holly then is devastated when Cindy develops bipolar disorder and receives support from Cindy's now boyfriend, Dirk Savage and Holly is thankful when her mother is sectioned after Cindy claimed she was running away with Rhys who dead over three and half years ago. Holly is shocked when she is told her mother is coming for a visit and sadly to Holly, Cindy has not progressed and runs away with Holly behind her to stop her own mother however Holly is pit in danger when Cindy falls in the lake, Holly attempts to help her but Cindy attempt to drown her however Dirk saves them and Cindy is again sectioned.
By November 2014, Holly discovers that Jason has an eating disorder after months of battling it. Holly vows to support Jason but is upset that he wasn't honest. Holly then prepare for her mothers return for Christmas/her birthday and the two slowly build back their relationship and is delighted when her mother gets engaged to Dirk after a rocky and testing start to their relationship. 2015 arrives and Holly is pleased when Harry Thompson returns to live in Hollyoaks and attends Hollyoaks High and Holly later befriends both Cleo McQueen and Zack Loveday on top of all this Holly continues to support her boyfriend Jason who is not in a place that helps people alike. Holly later enters a car along with Jason, Cleo and Zack but Zack accidentally runs over Dylan Jenkins the teens are then questioned by new officer, Ben Bradley but Dylan survives the incident.
Holly is surprised when Jason proposes to her by June 2015 but Holly rejects the proposal as she's not ready to marry. Holly is heartbroken when Cindy has a bipolar relapse and kisses Jason this devastates Holly and is more angry at the fact Jason did another to stop Cindy kissing him this leads Holly to later sleep with Jason's twin brother, Robbie unaware that Robbie has pushed Jason of a ravine during an argument. Holly is later kidnapped by Trevor who was told to do so by Ashley Davidson as Holly was thought to have been the one whom ruin their plan to kidnap Patrick however Jason finds her and helps her escape the two later reconcile but Trevor threatens Holly to keep quite and is also unaware that Robbie has fallen in live with her but Holly stills continues to also sleep with Robbie behind Jason's back. Holly is later devastated when her mother is sectioned again but is unaware like everyone else that Cindy was drugged by Lindsey Roscoe who has been revealed to be The Gloved Hand Killer so no one believes Cindy is she attempts to expose Lindsey's crimes. Holly ends the year speaking to Alfie Nightingale unaware that his her half brother, Jason again proposing to her and entering into a mini feud with Nico Blake as she fancies Jason whom later hears Holly speaking to Robbie over their feeling and affair with one another.
Holly continues her affair with Robbie into 2016. Holly would learn that her mother is still married to Mac Nightingale whom Cindy had a child too, Alfie. Holly is furious with her mother there for disowns her however would later forgive Cindy. Holly would marry Jason but Nico would send a video to the ceremony revealing Holly's affair with Robbie. Later Holly begins a relationship with Robbie which devastates Jason who later forces himself on Holly but Holly only tells Robbie when Freddie Roscoe tells Robbie that he saw Holly kiss Jason this leads to a fight between Robbie and Jason and Freddie accuses Holly being the main reason Jason has relapsed on steroids after Jason collapses again but is okay.
2016: Killing Rachel Hardy and Relationship with Nathan Nightingale[]
After months of playing Jason and Robbie against each other. Holly is devastated when the two brother decide to move to South Africa to live with their mother, Sandy Roscoe. Holly drinks a full bottle of champagne with Cleo and receives a call from Jason who tells Holly if she loves him then to quickly come to the airport to stop him from leaving. Holly along with Cleo quickly drive to the airport with Holly driving but she just misses the twins as they board their flights as a result Holly is devastated and quickly leaves the airport in her car with Cleo but Holly is upset and she speeds on the road and Holly who briefly takes her eye of the road collides with an another car driven by Rachel Hardy and passenger Nathan Nightingale. Although Cleo and Nathan survive, Rachel is killed when she cannot escape due to being trapped and the car she's in catches fire and explodes.
After the accident and causing the death of Rachel. Holly tells Cleo she's going to be in heaps of trouble for drink driving and causing the death of another person. Cleo takes the blame but she was unaware that Rachel was killed due to being unconscious at the time. Although Holly does her best to get Cleo not to take the blame but Cleo refuses to reveal it was Holly. Holly is later questioned by the police over the accident and she tells the police ongoing with Cleo that a bird flew pass the window screen which caused the crash. Holly is shocked when Cleo is told she's facing a long prison sentence but is later released on bail. Holly grows close with Nathan when they both talk about the crash this leads them to a kiss and enter somewhat of a relationship to Cleo's anger. After a few months with Nathan, Holly is finally outed by Cleo as the one who caused Rachel's death this angers and devastates Nathan and Holly is arrested for causing death by dangerous driving but after Nathan forgives her. Holly is released without charge. Holly is devastated when Nathan dies in February 2017.
2016-2017: Relationship & Rape to Nick Savage[]
Holly meets the nephew of Dirk, Nick Savage when he moves in to live with Dirk in her home and Holly starts to fancy Nick and the two begin a secret relationship with one another but Holly is unaware that Nick has raped Ellie Nightingale. Holly and Nick's relationship becomes public knowledge when the two are caught by Cindy and Dirk in bed together. Holly is later taken aback when Nick is arrested for raping Ellie and at first Holly does not believe Ellie and has many clashes with her and her family but Holly herself is later raped by Nick and seeing no option Holly turns to Ellie for help and the two girls then report Nick to the Police with the support of each other and this leads Nick to confess to the rapes of Hilly and Ellie and his sentence to seven years imprisonment.
2017-2019: Relationships, Dirk's Death and Departure[]
After Nick is sentenced, Holly becomes close friends with Ellie and the two decide to go on holiday to Ibiza in July 2017 where they meet, Brody Hudson and when they return to England, Holly meets Brody's friend Damon Kinsella whom offers to teach both Holly and Ellie self defence this leads Damon to touch Holly in an innocent manner but not over her rape ordeal to Nick, Holly lashes out by punching Damon in the face and is furious with Ellie when she tells Damon about Nick but Holly apologise to both Damon and Nick for her aggressive behaviour of late but Holly threatens Damon not to harm Ellie during a spa day.
In November 2017, Holly is left sick to her stomach when she finds a sex tape of her and Nick on Dirks laptop, however, unaware it was uploaded by Milo Entwistle in attempt to set Dirk up. Despite Holly's disgust and telling her mother about her find, Cindy marries Dirk anyways this leads Holly to pack up and temporarily leave the village for a few weeks to Mexico. When Holly returns from Mexico she cannot seem to forgive Dirk. During a Christmas grotto Holly bags herself a job working alongside Damon she grows closer to Damon and kisses him but ends up freaking out a little.
Holly finally forgives Dirk and grows finder of Damon and eventually after months of being in a relationship with Damon, Holly ends up getting engaged to Damon albeit a misunderstanding as Damon assumed she was proposing to him in June 2018. Holly is unaware that her close friend, Zack is in love with her and Damon sleeps with Cindy a month later in July 2018 on the day of the wedding Holly is heartbroken to learn that Damon slept with Cindy and later that night Dirk is accidentally killed by Milo via electrocution despite also that evening starting to take Zacks feelings serious.
Holly learns that Alfie is battling his mental health and has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and begins to support him but by September 2018, Holly along with Ellie decide to go travelling unaware Zack was about to propose to her. Holly says an emotional farewell to her family and friends before she and Ellie head off in a car driving away from the village to go travelling around the world. Holly makes a cameo return in January 2019 when she video calls Zack and confesses her love to him as he himself is leaving Hollyoaks afterwards Zack boards a plane to Paris where Holly is said to be staying with Ellie to join Holly and start a fresh with her.
Kill Count[]
Murders/Manslaughters[]
- Rachel Hardy, March 2016 - Rachel died from an explosion when her car set alight after Holly accidentally crashed her car and caused the accident which led to Rachel being killed.
Attempted Murders[]
None.
Other Information[]
- Holly is the first Hollyoaks character to be born on-screen.
Background Information[]
- In 2013, actress Wallis Day quit the role of Holly. The character was immediately recast to Amanda Clapham as producers wanted the character to remain in the show.
- In 2018, actress Amanda Clapham decided to quit the role of Holly. The character made her final appearance in September 2018 before making a brief return in January 2019.
Introduction Sequence[]
- 2012-2013: Holly licks a lollypop.
- 2015-2016: Holly has a pillow fight with Cleo McQueen.
- 2016-2018: Holly splashes in a pool with Cleo McQueen, Harry Thompson and Zack Loveday.
