Laura Norton

Laura Norton (born 19 June 1983) is an English actress, known for her role as Kerry Wyatt on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale.

Norton has also appeared in numerous television series working for ITV and the BBC, and has significant theatre credits, including The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Live Theatre Company.

Norton was born on 19 June 1983 in Newcastle upon Tyne.

She attended Seaton Burn Community High School.

Norton began her acting career at the age of fourteen with a youth theatre project with Live Theatre in Newcastle.

Norton auditioned for the opening play of the project called Get Out of That Then.

She continued to work with the youth theatre until she was 19.

It was there that Paul James, the actor and associate director for education and participation at the Live Theatre in Newcastle, got Norton her first professional audition for a television series called Badger; Norton booked the role.

Wanting to pursue an acting career, she undertook a BTEC and HND performing arts courses at North Tyneside College.

Norton returned to the Live Theatre youth project when she was 21 years old, after completing her performing arts courses at North Tyneside College.

It would be with the theatre that she would earn her first major stage role.

The Royal Shakespeare Company in partnership with the Live Theatre, Newcastle, collaborated on a project called Keepers of the Flame.

Norton booked a role with the production, portraying Lisa in Keepers of the Flame. Before she undertook her role in 2003, Norton discussed booking her first major professional stage role, "I cried when I was told I had got through the audition. I still can't believe it. It really is a dream come true. Lisa's the one who brings lightness to the play. She's quite humorous - the only character who there's a bit of hope for. Am I like her at all? Well, I can be feisty sometimes!"

Building upon her first professional stage role, Norton booked a role in Live Theatre's production Smack Family Robinson.

A tale of a family of drug dealers, she played the youngest daughter, Cora.

Alfred Hickling of The Guardian commented on Norton's performance: "Laura Norton is quietly outstanding as the younger daughter Cora."

In 2004, she also took part in A City on the Tyne at the Live Theatre, a celebration of local writer Sid Chaplin.

Norton read extracts from one of Chaplin's works, Grace Before Meat.

From 27 November to 23 December 2004, Norton appeared as Pepita, in The Weather Kitchen at the Chelsea Theatre London.

In 2004, Norton played small roles as Geordie Girl in 55 Degrees North and Susie in Steel River Blues.

Norton also worked as an extra on Byker Grove before she was cast as Sam, a local journalist.

Roles in Angel Cake, The Royal Today and Vera followed.

Norton also featured in Hoops, a short feature sitcom as part of collaboration with Newcastle-based comedy improvisational group, The Suggestibles.

Also in 2004, she appeared as Charity Girl in Paul Gilbert's Would You Like to Meet.

She also featured in Dene Film's Apple Crush as Beatrice and in Aggro, a short for Shakabuku Films.

After two years away from the stage, Norton returned, booking a role as Sharon in Writing Wrong at The Customs House, South Shields as part of the theatre's February Drama Festival in 2006.

She then appeared in New Writing North's production of Immaculate Deception.

In 2007, Norton returned to the Customs House to take her first foray into Pantomime.

Starring as Princess Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk alongside David Ducasse and Victoria Elliot.

In 2008, she appeared at the Northern Stage (formerly Newcastle Playhouse) as Blackie the Cat in Hansel and Gretel.

In 2009, Norton appeared in You Couldn't Make It Up, "A fascinating and satirical look at the recent media circus surrounding the trials and tribulations of The Toon Army."

In the same year, Norton appeared at the Customs House in Lucky Numbers a comedy by playwright Mike Yeaman.

She played the role of a Goth.

In 2009, Norton portrayed the role of Dara, a "20 something good time girl" in the Live Theatre's production of Jump.

In 2010, Norton also booked a role as Carol, a businesswoman, in Canoeing For Beginners.

Carol was in a desperate search for her father Frank, who faked his own death and subsequently tracks him down in Cuba to find out the truth.

She earned good reviews for her performances with one reviewer calling her performance "superb".

The production was performed at the Customs House, South Shields.

Also in 2010, Norton booked a role in A Nightingale Sang portraying the role of Helen.

The production toured the North of England and was performed at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre and at the Stephen Joseph Theatre Scarborough in early 2010.