Kelli Hollis in Emmerdale played Amelia Spencer‘s mum, Ali.
But the actress – who shot to fame playing Yvonne Karib in Shameless – has actually had two stints in the Yorkshire soap. Here’s what they were!
Who is Kelli Hollis?
Kelli Hollis started her television career playing Lizzy in Playing The Field alongside former Emmerdale stars Gaynor Faye (who played Megan Macey) and James Thornton (aka John Barton).
She went on to have roles in The Bill, Dalziel and Pascoe, and See No Evil: The Moors Murders, as well as playing Yvonne in Shameless for six seasons.
She then moved to Thailand and opened a cannabis bar called La Choza Pratumnak, later returning to acting after closing the business in 2025.
Kelli Hollis in Emmerdale in 2002
In 2002, Zoe Tate was in a bad way.
The vet was struggling with her mental health at the time. She was in the grip of a schizophrenic episode and had been sectioned.
In the hospital, as she recovered, Zoe met fellow patient Melanie Say – played by Kelli Hollis – and the pair struck up a friendship.
When Zoe discovered she was pregnant – with no memory of her one-night stand with Scott Windsor – Melanie offered to go to her ante-natal sessions with her.
Ali Spencer
Nine years later, Kelli returned to Emmerdale. This time she was playing Ali Spencer. Ali was the sister of Rachel Breckle and came to the village with her children Amelia and Sean, and her girlfriend Ruby.
A short while later Ali’s ex-husband, Dan Spencer, came to the village in the mistaken hope he could win Ali back. He decided to stay around though he and Ali were most definitely over.
Ali worked at the Sharma sweet factory and made friends with Lisa Dingle. Her storylines included her illiteracy, and her fierce protectiveness of sister Rachel.
In 2015, Ali was devastated when Ruby died in the same helicopter crash that killed Val Pollard. Wanting to leave the village, she moved to Liverpool with her sister Rachel. Amelia decided to stay behind with Dan and his then fiancée Kerry Wyatt.
In 2018, Ali died – off screen – in a car crash.
Kelli Hollis in Coronation Street
In February 2026, Kelli Hollis resumed acting in the UK. This was for a brief stint as prison ‘Queen Bee’ Paula in Coronation Street.
These scenes focus on Debbie Webster’s prison storyline, with Paula giving Debbie a tough time inside after recognising her as the woman who kicked her out of the Chariot Square Hotel bar when she was drunk.
Can Debbie make it up to Paula or will Paula get her revenge?
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