# Hannah Tointon
**Hannah Tointon** is an English actress known for playing Katy Fox in the [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4) soap opera *Hollyoaks* and Tara Brown in the third series of the E4 sitcom *The Inbetweeners*, with later television work including *Mr Selfridge*, *Penny Dreadful*, *The Midwich Cuckoos*, and *[Patience](https://www.edgepedia.org/patience-tv-series)*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987, Southend, Essex, England[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1482510/) |
| Breakthrough role | Katy Fox in *Hollyoaks* (Channel 4), 2007–2008, 32 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1482510/) |
| Best-known comedy role | Tara Brown in *The Inbetweeners* series 3, episodes 2–4[2](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-242325/filmographie/) |
| Period drama | Violette Selfridge in *Mr Selfridge* (ITV1), series 3 and 4[2](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-242325/filmographie/) |
| Film work | Casey in *The Children* (2008); Hannah Schoen in *Walking with the Enemy* (2013); Caitlin in *The Festival* (2018)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1482510/) • [3](https://www.walkingwiththeenemy.com/cast/2/hannah-tointon) • [4](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/hannah-tointon/) |
| Family | Younger sister of actress Kara Tointon (*EastEnders*)[3](https://www.walkingwiththeenemy.com/cast/2/hannah-tointon) |
| Recent television | Rachel Saunders in *The Midwich Cuckoos* (2022); Joy in *Patience* (2025)[4](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/hannah-tointon/) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/2877/hannah-tointon) |
## Early life and family
Tointon was born in Southend, Essex, England, in 1987[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1482510/). She comes from an acting family and is the younger sister of [Kara Tointon](https://www.edgepedia.org/kara-tointon), known for *EastEnders* and *Strictly Come Dancing*[3](https://www.walkingwiththeenemy.com/cast/2/hannah-tointon) • [6](https://coffeetablenotes.blogspot.com/2018/01/hannah-tointon-strangers-on-train.html). Both sisters became regulars on Sky's football drama *[Dream Team](https://www.edgepedia.org/dream-team-tv-series)*, though once casting directors realized how similar they looked, they made sure the siblings never shared a scene[6](https://coffeetablenotes.blogspot.com/2018/01/hannah-tointon-strangers-on-train.html). She has said she felt insecure early in her career because she had not attended drama school, and has described her *Hollyoaks* role as her acting "university"[7](https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/news/hannah-tointons-hollyoaks-uni-role-1157959.html).
## Television
**Hollyoaks.** Tointon joined the Chester-set soap in April 2007 as Katy Fox, the younger sister of [Warren Fox](https://www.edgepedia.org/warren-fox) ([Jamie Lomas](https://www.edgepedia.org/jamie-lomas))[8](https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/how-former-hollyoaks-star-hannah-tointon-refused-to-slim-down-for-the-teen-soap-6853627.html). She appeared in 32 episodes between 2007 and 2008[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1482510/). In a 2012 interview she said she had felt pressure to look a certain way on the show, where many cast members were former models, and that she had refused to slim down, saying "I'm never going to be a size zero and, to be honest I don't want to be"[8](https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/how-former-hollyoaks-star-hannah-tointon-refused-to-slim-down-for-the-teen-soap-6853627.html).
**The Inbetweeners.** In the third series of the E4 sitcom she played Tara, the romantic interest of Simon Cooper (Joe Thomas)[6](https://coffeetablenotes.blogspot.com/2018/01/hannah-tointon-strangers-on-train.html). She has called it her most fun job, saying she learned a lot about comic timing[6](https://coffeetablenotes.blogspot.com/2018/01/hannah-tointon-strangers-on-train.html).
**Later drama work.** Her credits across the 2010s include *The Hour* series 2 (as Kiki Delaine), *Switch* (ITV2, as Hannah), *Sinbad* ([Sky One](https://www.edgepedia.org/sky-one), as Kuji), *Call the Midwife* (as [Kathleen Baker](https://www.edgepedia.org/kathleen-baker)), *Death in Paradise* (as Susie), *Midsomer Murders* (as Pippa Fergus-Johnson), and *Penny Dreadful* (Showtime for [Sky Atlantic](https://www.edgepedia.org/sky-atlantic), as Maud Gunneson in four episodes)[2](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-242325/filmographie/) • [9](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/switch/interviews/hannah_tointon/). In *Mr Selfridge* she played Violette Selfridge, a real historical figure, in series 3 and 4; her sister Kara played her on-screen older sister Rosalie, the first time the two played siblings on screen[2](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-242325/filmographie/) • [10](https://www.whattowatch.com/mr-selfridge/kara-and-hannah-tointon-well-be-at-selfridges-on-the-days-that-episodes-air-waving-72301).
In 2022 she appeared as Rachel Saunders in the Sky Max science fiction horror adaptation of [John Wyndham](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-wyndham)'s *The Midwich Cuckoos*, and she plays Joy in the Channel 4 detective drama *Patience*[4](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/hannah-tointon/) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/2877/hannah-tointon).
## Film and theater
Her film roles include Casey in the horror film *The Children* (Vertigo Films, 2008), Hannah Schoen in the Second World War drama *Walking with the Enemy* (2013), Madeline Chaddock in *Captain Webb* (2015), and Caitlin in the comedy *The Festival* (2018), directed by Iain Morris, co-creator of *The Inbetweeners*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1482510/) • [3](https://www.walkingwiththeenemy.com/cast/2/hannah-tointon) • [4](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/hannah-tointon/). She has said that *The Children*, made straight after *Hollyoaks*, helped her move away from playing "this really straight girl"[6](https://coffeetablenotes.blogspot.com/2018/01/hannah-tointon-strangers-on-train.html).
On stage she appeared in the West End production of the musical *Waitress* at the [Adelphi Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/adelphi-theatre), directed by Diane Paulus, and toured the UK in Craig Warner's stage adaptation of *Strangers on a Train*, directed by Anthony Banks, playing Anne Faulkner[4](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/hannah-tointon/) • [6](https://coffeetablenotes.blogspot.com/2018/01/hannah-tointon-strangers-on-train.html). Her other theater credits include *The Jazz Age* at The Playground Theatre and *Negative Space* at the New End Theatre[4](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/hannah-tointon/).
## Personal life
In January 2017 she announced her engagement to [Joe Thomas](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-thomas-actor), whom she met on the set of *The Inbetweeners*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1482510/). She also works as a voiceover artist, described by her voice agency as a "fresh, upbeat, friendly voice with enthusiastic delivery"[11](https://www.advoice.co.uk/clients/hannah-tointon/).
## References
1. [Hannah Tointon, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1482510/)
2. [Filmographie Hannah Tointon, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-242325/filmographie/)
3. [Hannah Tointon, Walking with the Enemy official movie site](https://www.walkingwiththeenemy.com/cast/2/hannah-tointon)
4. [Hannah Tointon, Independent Talent](https://www.independenttalent.com/actors/hannah-tointon/)
5. [Hannah Tointon, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/2877/hannah-tointon)
6. [Hannah Tointon – Strangers on a Train, Coffee Table Notes](https://coffeetablenotes.blogspot.com/2018/01/hannah-tointon-strangers-on-train.html)
7. [Hannah Tointon's Hollyoaks' uni role, FemaleFirst](https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/news/hannah-tointons-hollyoaks-uni-role-1157959.html)
8. [How former Hollyoaks star Hannah Tointon refused to slim down for the teen soap, London Evening Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/how-former-hollyoaks-star-hannah-tointon-refused-to-slim-down-for-the-teen-soap-6853627.html)
9. [Hannah Tointon interview – Switch, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/switch/interviews/hannah_tointon/)
10. [Kara and Hannah Tointon, What to Watch](https://www.whattowatch.com/mr-selfridge/kara-and-hannah-tointon-well-be-at-selfridges-on-the-days-that-episodes-air-waving-72301)
11. [Hannah Tointon, AdVoice](https://www.advoice.co.uk/clients/hannah-tointon/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Soap operas and continuing serials › British and Australasian soaps and characters › British soap actors and production people*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license