Kitty McGeever becomes British soap’s first blind actress with Emmerdale role

Kitty McGeever has become the first blind actress to star in a British soap after landing a role in Emmerdale.

Lizzie Lakely – an old mate of Lisa (Jane Cox) – will arrive in the village this spring, ITV say, causing uproar amongst the locals due to her mischievous antics. She has even fallen foul of the law and will on arrival be tagged to ensure she doesn’t breach her curfew conditions.   

“I’m thrilled to be joining Emmerdale as Lizzie and delighted that the show is challenging stereotypes in this way. Lizzie spells trouble from the word go and will be causing all kinds of strife in the village.” –Kitty McGeever

Lizzie will be played by actress Kitty McGeever who is the first blind actress to be cast in a British soap. Kitty lost her sight at the age of 33 due to diabetic retinopathy. She trained at RADA and her previous television credits include Beautiful People and London’s Burning.

In addition to her acting career, Kitty works as a stand-up comedienne and is a regular performer on the comedy circuit. Kitty will arrive on-screen in April. 

“Kitty is an extremely talented actress and I’m pleased that she will joining the show, marking the arrival of such a fascinating character. Lizzie is forthright and fun and she’ll soon prove that she isn’t afraid to manipulate circumstances to her advantage. She’ll no doubt ruffle feathers and make friends in equal measure and we looking forward to embracing the opportunity to explore how the residents of Emmerdale react to that.” – Gavin Blyth, Series Producer