Famous faces who first appeared in a Catherine Cookson drama

Do you recognise them? During the 90s, we couldn't get enough of Catherine Cookson’s world of family feuds and stormy affairs. Who'd have thought that it'd be a launch pad for many a famous face! How many do you know?

By Helen YoungPublished: 22 January 2015

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Emilia Fox in The Round Tower

Before Silent Witness, Emilia Fox starred in this 1950s drama about a teenager at odds with her socially-climbing family.

You'll also recognise: Ben Miles of Coupling fame and New Tricks' Denis Lawson.

Images: Rex/ITVPictures

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Brendan Coyle in The Glass Virgin

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Long before Bates fell in love with Anna in Downton Abbey, Brendan Coyle appeared as Manuel Mendoza, an Irish groom to a wealthy family in The Glass Virgin.

You'll also recognise: Emily Mortimer and Nigel Havers making star turns.

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Catherine Zeta-Jones and Declan Donnelly in The Cinder Path

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While one went on to become one half of a much-loved TV duo and the other looked to Hollywood for megastar-status, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Declan Donnelly appeared together in historic drama, The Cinder Path, as feisty Victoria Chapman and erm, Stable Boy, respectively.

You'll also recognise: Game of Thrones and Harry Potter actor, Ralph Ineson.

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Ciarán Hinds in The Man Who Cried

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More used to Hollywood scripts these days, appearing in The Woman in Black, There will be Blood and Harry Potter, Irish actor Ciarán Hinds played a young man caught in a loveless marriage.

You'll also recognise: Amanda Root, who pops up in The Iron Lady alongside Meryl Streep.

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Donna Air in A Dinner of Herbs

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Getting in plenty of practice for Ascot's Ladies Day on the arm of boyfriend James Middleton, Donna Air doned a bonnet for Cookson's saga of love, hate and betrayal, spanning three generations.

You'll also recognise: Shameless's David Threlfall and Mr Selfridge/Enigma actor Tom Goodman-Hill.

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Honeysuckle Weeks in The Rag Nymph

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Anyone who is a fan of Foyle's War will know the sweetly named Honeysuckle Weeks who plays Samantha, but did you know she almost met a sticky end in The Rag Nymph? Playing an orphan at the mercy of a wealthy, willing benefactor.

You'll also recognise: Mr Bingley, aka, Crispin Bonham-Carter and Diana Quick.

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Jack Davenport in The Moth

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Before setting sail as James Norrington in Pirates of the Caribbean, Jack Davenport played Robert Bradley, a down-on-his-luck shipyard worker in this drama about class and love.

You'll also recognise: The White Queen and The Village star Juliet Aubrey.

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Janet McTeer in The Black Velvet Gown

This award-winning production, about a woman forced to live her life without love starred the brilliant Janet McTeer of The White Queen and Honourable Women fame as the honour-bound Riah Millican.

You'll also recognise: Younger brother of Colin, Jonathan Firth and CSI's Louise Lombard.

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Niamh Cusack in Colour Blind

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If you've seen Niamh Cusack on stage in the National's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, you're lucky. Before though, she starred in Cookson's Colour Blind, a tale of love across the race divide in 1920s Britain.

You'll also recognise: Carmen Ejoga, appearing in 2015 blockbuster, Selma.

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Robson Green in The Gambling Man

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The Wire in the Blood, Grantchester actor is almost a national treasure - but before then, he played Rory Connor, a down-on-his-luck Geordie with a bit of a habit.

You'll also recognise: A guest appearance by Ron Donachie as Mr McCree in the Downton Christmas special.

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Sean Bean in The Fifteen Streets

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No surpirse that period-drama-stalwart Sean Bean played Dominic O'Brien, stomping through the poverty-stricken streets of turn-of-the-century Tyneside.

You'll also recognise: the lovely Jane Horrocks and Owen Teale of Game of Thrones fame.

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Samantha Bond in The Black Candle

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The perfect employee as Miss Moneypenny to 007, Samantha Bond played hard-working Bridget Mordaunt in The Black Candle.

You'll also recognise: Sian Phillips, Tara Fitzgerald and Nathaniel Parker.

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