Meet Leeds-born Corrie Star Alexandra Mardell Ahead of New TV Show Smoggie Queens

Alexandra is known for playing Emma Brooker on Coronation Street (for which she won the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer), winning the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2022, and more recently starring in the family sitcom Family Pile. She describes herself as ‘a proud Yorkshire lady’. ‘I have Jamaican and Irish heritage and I currently just got my Irish passport which is so exciting for me,’ she adds, ‘I trained in drama school down in Guildford, lived in London for a while, and now I’m in Manchester with my husband, and loving it.’

She made her professional acting debut in an episode of ITV’s Vera (which is filmed across the region) in 2017, a year before appearing on Corrie. She says working with Brenda Blethyn was a huge highlight for her. ‘Learning and soaking everything up from her like a sponge was an incredible first job to have,’ she says. ‘Another highlight for me was being lucky enough to work with Angela Griffin [in Corrie] who is a mixed-raced actor from Leeds, and someone I’ve always looked up to. To have that opportunity to work with her and to have her give me tips and advice on the acting world was definitely a highlight. I do hope I get to work with her again at some point.’

Smoggie Queens has been filmed in Middlesbrough, will guest star Michelle Visage and Steph McGovern, and will air at the end of November. It’s written by Middlesbrough’s Phil Dunning and stars Guisborough-born Mark Benton. 

‘It’s a lot of fun,’ Alexandra says. ‘It follows drag queen Dickie, who is feral and fabulous, and his misfit friends. There’s a group of five of us, all besties, and it goes through their highs and lows together and individually. It follows them living their best life, and having a laugh along the way. I play lovely Lucinda. She is the loud and proud ally of the group. She’s always dolled up to the max. She wears her heart on her sleeve but she’s definitely a bit feisty – she’s not a push over! But I think she’s a really good friend to have.

‘Ultimately it’s a comedy. We want [viewers] to have a good laugh, and that’s the main aim of the show. But we do obviously focus on some more serious topics and a lot of that needs discussing within the LGBTQ+ community. Smoggie Queens definitely highlights and shows the diversity within that community.

‘I’ve done comedy before but never something that’s focused on such a current and important topic. This is different but it’s nice to focus on something so important whilst still having a laugh. That’s the easiest way to open up these conversations, by doing it through something a bit more light-hearted. Also, I think Middlesbrough sometimes has a bit of a bad rep, and it’s nice to show the positive side and show Middlesbrough in a nice, shiny new light.'

Alexandra has enjoyed her first time in Middlesbrough whilst filming. ‘Everyone from Middlesbrough is so proud of their community and they ‘proper love the Boro’, as they call it,’ she laughs. ‘It was nice to experience that, and to be an honorary Smoggie for a while. I think my favourite thing I discovered is a parmo – a local delicacy. Oh my gosh, I was obsessed! I think I was trying to be a true Smoggie, I had one all the time.’

Whilst we look forward to tuning into Smoggie Queens, Alexandra is preparing for her next project. ‘I’ve got a new role coming up which is very different to my role in Smoggie Queens so it’ll be a big change,’ she tells us. ‘I’m really looking forward to exploring a new character and genre. Being busy is the best thing, so I definitely can’t complain!’

Smoggie Queens will air on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer this November 2024.