Vanessa Hehir

Vanessa is a screenwriter, RTS-nominated actor, and award-winning filmmaker. Originally from Manchester, Vanessa has spent over 20 years starring in some of the UK's most popular TV dramas such as Waterloo Road, Heartbeat and Unforgotten and can be seen in the upcoming Jimmy Saville drama The Reckoning. In 2019 Vanessa turned her hand to writing and has written and directed two short films, both going on to screen internationally at BAFTA, BIFA and Academy-qualifying festivals. Both films are being developed as features. In 2021 Vanessa was selected to participate in Channel 4's 4Screenwriting mentorship scheme after her comedy pilot Unlucky, about a 6ft, wish-granting leprechaun was chosen out of nearly 4000 submissions. She was mentored by Beth Ainsley from Hillbilly Film & TV. Unlucky was also shortlisted for the BBC Writersroom's Comedy Room in 2020.