Kelli Hollis: Drug baron father and unexpected career.

Kelli Hollis, recently introduced to Coronation Street as Paula, has a life story far removed from typical soap opera narratives. The Leeds-born actress previously managed a 'weed bar' in Thailand with her partner. This venture followed a period where she lived in Thailand for two and a half years after her partner secured employment there. This unexpected career move occurred after her character, Ali Spencer, was killed off-screen in Emmerdale in 2018.

Hollis has acknowledged the influence of personal loss and the desire to live life fully, stating a new mentality to embrace opportunities. This philosophy contrasts sharply with her family background; her father, Gwynne, is a convicted drug baron serving a 17-year prison sentence for his involvement in a major drug operation. Despite his criminal activities, he encouraged Hollis to pursue acting and distance herself from his lifestyle.

Her father's conviction for conspiring to supply class A drugs in June 2023, following a manhunt after he absconded before his trial, brought further scrutiny. Hollis, now a mother herself, reflected that while his legal troubles were not entirely unexpected, his flight from justice likely resulted in a harsher sentence. Her acting career spans notable roles in "Shameless," "Ackley Bridge," and "Waterloo Road."