Career
Before landing the role in Coronation Street, she was at the Manchester School of Acting
James-Kelly"s career began when she landed her first role in Britain"s longest-running soap opera Coronation Street as troubled teenager Maddie Heath. She made her debut on 25 December 2013 when Sophie Webster (Brooke Vincent) began volunteering at a homeless shelter where she be-friended Maddie, much to her mother Sally"s (Sally Dynevor) dismay. The friendship soon leads to something more and the pair fall in love.
In February 2015, James-Kelly announced that she had decided to leave Coronation Street.
On leaving, she said, "I made the decision to leave because I’m young and adventurous, and I want to gain more experience and explore and improve my craft. Acting is my passion and I’m excited to see where it takes medical " She made her final appearance on 1 June 2015 when trying to alert Sophie to danger, but was caught in an explosion in the building yard in the process from the fire at the Victoria Court flats.
She landed her second television role as Martha in a new eight-part period drama, Jericho, which commenced airing on 7 January 2016. Before appearing in Coronation Street, James-Kelly had starred in productions of Beauty Manifesto, Trojan Women, My Fair Lady and Frank and Ferdinand.