is such an intriguing character because there's more to her than meets the eye. I'm really looking forward to starting filming and I think viewers can expect some interesting encounters as we explore the relationship between Danielle and Eli." Emmerdale series producer Anita Turner added: "I'm so pleased to welcome an actress with Nicola's calibre to the show. Eli likes to manipulate people, but Danielle is a different proposition and she'll definitely get under his skin." In September 2009, Stapleton appeared in Channel 4's Hollyoaks Later, as the friend of Cindy Cunningham called Savannah. In October 2009, Nicola appeared in the UK Film Council funded short film Hands Solo, a mockumentary about the world's most famous deaf porn star. Aside from lending her voice to Thomas & Friends, Stapleton has also provided voice talents to the video games Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Assassin's Creed Syndicate: Jack the Ripper and Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom in which she voiced Ratja in the English version. Personal life In October 2001, Stapleton's father was jailed for his part in an £11million VAT computer-chip fraud. Her brother was also fined £10,000, for helping in the fraudulent business, which involved importing VAT-exempt microchips from EU countries and selling them to firms with added VAT, before claiming money back from Customs and Excise. Nicola Stapleton provided the £125,000 bail, for her brother during the trial. In September 2005, Mr. Stapleton was eventually told by the Court of Appeal, to pay a confiscation order of £1.6 million. In July 2008, Nicola Stapleton battled against the Customs Prosecution Office at the High Court in order to keep her property in South Norwood, which she had purchased from her father for £175,000 before his imprisonment for fraud. The prosecution claimed that the house had originally been purchased from "ill-gotten gains", and wanted to seize the property as part of the confiscation order. Stapleton maintains that she bought the property out of her earnings as an actress in 2000. The court found in favour of Nicola Stapleton. In January 2014, Nicola gave birth to her first child (with fiancé David Luck), a boy named Ray. Filmography Film Television Video games Radio Time Hops (BBC, 1994) (5 episodes) [Science Fiction, rerun on BBC Radio 4Extra, 2012] References External links 1974 births Living people English child actresses People from Elephant and Castle Actresses from London English film actresses English stage actresses English