A lot of famous faces have walked through the ED doors at Holby City Hospital (Pictures: BBC)
Casualty’s Holby City Hospital has welcomed many a famous face over the last four decades.
The BBC medical drama kicked off in 1986, which means multiple cast members that have featured in the show have gone on to become well-known faces in the entertainment industry.
We thought it was high time to take another delve into the Casualty history books and remind you of the very famous stars who were once caught up in classic Casualty drama.
Let’s take a look!
Christopher Eccleston – Doctor Who and Lucan
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Before becoming Doctor Who, Christopher Eccleston appeared as a patient on Casualty (Picture: BBC)
Episode – A Reasonable Man – 1990
He was once the nation’s favourite Timelord, travelling through time and space alongside Billie Piper in the first series of the revived Doctor Who, but fifteen years prior, Christopher Eccleston popped up in Casualty!
He played a patient with HIV and delivered a powerful performance that now gives viewers an insight into people’s attitudes over the disease in the early 90s.
Alfred Molina – Spider-Man and The Da Vinci Code
Episode – Jump Start – 1986
Tony award-winning actor Alfred Molina starred in the show all the way back in episode four,playing a smarmy reporter on the hunt for a life and death story.
He’s gone on to appear in Spider-Man as well as having an illustrious West End and Broadway career.
Jerome Flynn – Ripper Street and Game of Thrones
Episode – Living in Hope – 1991
Better known as sellsword Bronn in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, in a Casualty episode that centred on conflict in marriage, Jerome played a husband whose ambitions led to his wife collapsing.
Julia Sawalha – Absolutely Fabulous
Episode – Living in Hope – 1991
Featuring in the same episode as Jerome Flynn, Julie appeared in the medical drama playing a domestic abuse victim who was admitted to the ED with concerning injuries.
At the time, she was a series regular in CITV drama Press Gang.
This was just one year before she would become a huge hit in the Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley sitcom vehicle Ab Fab. Julia, playing Saffy, would continue in the series for two decades as well as reprising the part for the 2016 big screen spin-off.
Hermione Norris – Spooks, Cold Feet and Innocent
Episode – The Last Word – 1991
Another episode back in 1991 saw Hermione play a ballet dancer who had fallen ill after some shocking career advice.
Five years later, she would land the part of Karen Marsden in ITV drama Cold Feet, which, following a successful pilot, aired 9 series between 1997 and 2020.
Minnie Driver – Good Will Hunting and Tarzan
Episode – The Last Word – 1991
Also appearing in the same episode as Hermione was Minnie Driver.
She played a patient admitted with cuts and a cold and was convinced she had something else wrong with her aside from her obvious symptoms.
Kathy Burke – Absolutely Fabulous, The Harry Enfield Show, Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie and countless documentaries
Episode – Facing Up – 1991
1991 was certainly quite the year for famous faces in Casualty as Kathy Burke also featured in an episode.
When a loaded gun fell into the arms of a child, Kathy gave quite the performance as she was just about the become one of the biggest faces of the 90s in a number of comedys, including French & Saunders.
Jonny Lee Miller – Trainspotting
Episode – Tender Loving Care – 1992
A year later, Jonny Lee Miller popped up in Casualty playing a lovesick teenager.
This teenager developed feelings for his teacher and his life turned upside down due to bullying.
Kate Winslet – Mare of Easttown and Titanic (obviously)
Episode – Family Matters – 1993
Back in 1993, the Kate Winslet appeared on the show playing an innocent babysitter whose boyfriend had uncovered a dark web of abuse within a family.
We’re sure that walking the corridors of Holby City is her biggest achievement, followed by the Hollywood blockbuster Titanic.
Helen Baxendale – Cold Feet, Friends
Episode – Give Us This Day – 1993
Playing a brainwashed character, Helen featured in an episode that looked at the growing concern of religious cults. When the character’s family tried to rescue her, things went terribly wrong…
She would later go on to play Rachel in Cold Feet alongside Hermione Norris, though the character was killed off in the fifth series in 2003.
She also played Ross’ British wife Emily in Friends.
Orlando Bloom – Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean (if we listed all of his credits we’d be here all day)
Episode – Another Day in Paradise – 1996
A young Orlando appeared in Casualty playing a labourer suspiciously prone to accidents.
Surprisingly, Orlando also featured in this episode with comedian Kevin Bishop and former EastEnders star Nadia Sawalha – what a small world!
We needn’t bother listing what he went onto next, as we’d be here all day!
Martin Freeman – The Office, The Hobbit and Sherlock
Episode – She Loved the Rain – 1998
Way before Martin featured in the hit BBC One drama Sherlock, he also made an appearance in Casualty.
He played a villain who enticed his friends into committing robberies that led to tragic consequences.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson – Kick-Ass and Avengers: Age of Ultron
Episode – Silent Ties – 2006
Playing a troubled teenager, Aaron’s character saw him involved in an accident with his best friend.
He became a huge star after playing John Lennon in the film Nowhere Boy, at the age of 19. He met director wife Sam Taylor-Johnson on set and has gone on to appear in Kick-Ass, Godzilla and 28 Years Later.
He’s also tipped to be the next James Bond.
Scott Mills – Radio 2 DJ
Episode – All Through the Night – 2006
Host of the lunchtime show on Radio 1, Scott Mills appeared as a journalist called Paul Lang. Suppose he didn’t have to do much research for the part!
He interviewed three characters who were taking part in a protest against the closure of the ED.
Tom Hiddleston – Loki, Kong Skull Island, and The Night Manager
Episode – The Killing Floor – 2007
Introduced in a classic Casualty way, Tom’s character abseiled down a building which we all know is never a good idea as it turned out he and his mates were keeping a dark secret.
Will Sharpe – Too Much, The White Lotus
Episode – Series regular from 2009-10
Too Much star Will Sharpe joined the cast of Casualty in 2009, playing junior Doctor Yuki Reid.
He joined the ED along with a group of new F2 trainees.
Sophia Di Martino – Loki
Episode – Series regular from 2009-11
Sophia Di Martino played a young ambulance technician in the show called Polly Emmerson.
The character was killed in 2011 after getting stabbed by a patient called Hannah Fleet.
Daisy Ridley – Star Wars
Episode – And the Walls Come Tumbling Down – 2013
Playing Robyn Miller’s (Amanda Henderson) friend, Daisy’s character Fran was a spiteful character who caused Robyn an awful lot of drama.
Michelle Collins – Coronation Street, EastEnders
Episode – In the Name of Love – 2014
Michelle appeared in Casualty playing a love interest for beloved paramedic Jeff Collier.
She also appeared in the show back in 2010, and most recently 2019.
Danny Dyer – EastEnders
Episode – Love Is – 2012
Best known for his roles in shows including EastEnders and Rivals, back in 2012, Danny appeared in Casualty playing a paramedic called Rossy, who was hiding quite the secret.
