Brooke Vincent, best known for playing Sophie Webster on Coronation Street, has made her debut on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks as Abigail Matthews, a drug counsellor. The actress has confirmed she will be on the show for a year, allowing for significant character development.
Brooke Vincent's Hollyoaks Role and Future Plans
Vincent's character Abigail is assigned to help Dee Dee Hutchinson (Chloe Atkinson) after Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard) admits her to rehab for ketamine use. Despite her first scenes airing this week, Vincent has already outlined her commitment. 'I’m here for 12 months, so there’s room for Abigail’s story to develop,' she told The Sun’s TV Mag.
Before joining Hollyoaks, Vincent focused on podcasts, her business, and raising her two children, Mexx, six, and Monroe, five, with partner Kean Bryan. She also appeared on ITV's Drama Queens. Vincent expressed a desire for a work-life balance akin to singer Adele's schedule: 'My aim in life is to have the Adele ratio of working a couple of years, having loads of time off, then working again for a couple of years. That’s not yet happened…'
Abigail Matthews: A Different Character from Sophie Webster
Vincent previously revealed to Inside Soap that her first storyline involves following Dee Dee back to the village after she escapes rehab. 'Dee Dee’s going through a time where she desperately needs stability and guidance, and Abigail steps in and does that at rehab. When Dee Dee escapes, Abigail wants to make sure that she gets home okay, so she follows her to the village. Instantly she forms connections and makes friends, which is a really good way of coming in,' she said.
Having played Sophie Webster from age 11 until 2019, Vincent noted the contrast between her old and new roles. 'She’s miles away from Sophie Webster! The best thing is that she’s completely different to what people have seen me play, and it’s a big thing for me coming in to a more mature role. I’ve always played the young girl; Sophie was the baby of the family. Abigail stands her ground with whatever she says, and I’m having lots of fun playing her.'
