Abi Phillips
Abi Phillips | |
|---|---|
Phillips in 2012 | |
| Born | Abigail Louise Phillips 14 January 1994 Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Partner |
Gav Gilly (m. 2025) |
| Musical career | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Label | Transmission |
| Website | www |
Abigail Louise Phillips (born 14 January 1994) is an English singer and actress. She portrayed Liberty Savage in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2010 to 2013, during which time she released the song "Summer Sunshine".
Early and personal life
Phillips was born in the Birmingham town of Sutton Coldfield, to Richard and Linda Phillips.[1] Phillips was a student at Birmingham's Stage Coach performing arts school.[1][2]
In 2011, Phillips began a relationship with Gav Gilly. They announced their engagement in 2023,[3] before getting married in 2025.[4] In March 2012, Phillips, along with some of the Hollyoaks cast and crew, successfully completed a sponsored sleep-out in a bid to raise funds for the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.[5]
In May 2022, Phillips announced that she had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.[6] On 10 September 2023, Phillips was attacked and robbed after sustaining injuries in Ibiza, which resulted in her phone being stolen.[7][8]
Career
Phillips wrote a song for the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks titled "Missing You", which they featured in the character Steph Cunningham's (Carley Stenson) death scene.[9] Phillips penned the song after being inspired by Steph's cervical cancer storyline and later submitted it to be used on the show.[9] Following a strong response to the track, Hollyoaks bosses arranged a meeting with Phillips and subsequently invited her to audition for the part of Liberty Savage, a musical character they had been developing.[9] She debuted as Liberty at the age of 16 in December 2010.[1]
In 2011, Phillips released her debut single, "Summer Sunshine" featuring rapper Fugative. She performed it at T4 on the Beach 2011, in which she performed on the sessions stage. The scenes of Phillips' performance aired on Hollyoaks shortly afterwards.[10] In 2013, Phillips was axed from Hollyoaks and the character was written out until 2018, when Jessamy Stoddart assumed the role.[11] Since departing from the soap, she has focused on singing instead of acting.[12][1] She considers Adele as one of her musical idols and has cited Wynter Gordon and Ellie Goulding as her musical influences.[13][14] From 2013 to 2014, Phillips completed a tour of primary schools in the West Midlands to speak about bullying and the effects it has on young people, drawing from past personal experience.[15] Phillips appeared on The Voice UK as a contestant in 2017, although was unsuccessful in getting a place in the competition.[12]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–2013 | Hollyoaks | Liberty Savage | Regular role |
| 2017 | The Voice UK | Herself | Contestant |
| 2025 | Mr. Men Little Miss Mini Adventures | Little Miss Sunshine / Little Miss Princess | Voice roles |
References
- ^ a b c d Lockley, Mike (3 March 2013). "From TV soap to pop music Shampoo for Birmingham's Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips". BirminghamMail.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Interview with Abi Phillips of Hollyoaks". Channel4.com. 23 November 2012. Archived from the original on 16 March 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Former Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips announces engagement". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips marries in lavish ceremony three years after cancer battle". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (2 March 2012). "'Hollyoaks' stars complete charity sleep-out". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 6 May 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Abi Phillips, actress who starred in Hollyoaks, diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 28". Sky News. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "Hollyoaks star rushed to hospital after being robbed in Ibiza". Daily Mirror. 11 September 2023.
- ^ "Ex-Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips shares hospitalisation after robbery". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ a b c Kilkelly, Daniel (2 December 2010). "'Hollyoaks' confirms three new signings". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Birmingham singer Abi Phillips auditions on The Voice tonight". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips announces engagement to partner of 11 years". Metro. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Former Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips rejected on The Voice despite ditching acting for music". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 19 August 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Interview: Joe Tracini and Abi Phillips". OK.co.uk. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Collinson, Dawn (14 June 2011). "Hollyoaks actress Abi Phillips is single-minded for success". Liverpoolecho.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ "Hollyoaks star Abi Phillips visits Birmingham school to take on internet trolls". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 March 2026.