Emma Keane (Ackley Bridge)

Emma Keane
Ackley Bridge character
First appearanceEpisode 1
7 June 2017
Last appearanceEpisode 20
25 June 2019
Portrayed byLiz White
In-universe information
OccupationTeacher
Significant otherSamir Qureshi
ChildrenChloe Voyle (daughter)

Emma Keane is a fictional character from the Channel 4 school drama Ackley Bridge, portrayed by Liz White. Emma first appeared in the pilot episode of the series, first broadcast on 7 June 2017. She is introduced as an English teacher at the fictional Ackley Bridge College. Her storylines in the series include her tumultuous relationship with daughter Chloe Voyle (Fern Deacon), supporting student Missy Booth (Poppy Lee Friar) through her life struggles and having an affair with colleague Samir Qureshi (Arsher Ali).

When White went in for her audition, she did not believe that she would be cast as Emma, thinking that people would not be able to envisage her in the role. She auditioned regardless and was happy to have been cast in Ackley Bridge due to liking its subject matter, specifically for its representation of multicultural societies. Emma is shown to be a "strong minded, strong willed and fun" teacher who is not afraid to fight the school system.[1] White was appreciative that her character was not a typical teacher or mother and noted that Emma's journey with motherhood is not often depicted in media. Across her tenure, Emma fights for the students to enjoy and to progress during their time in her class, due to wanting to improve the area she grew up in.

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