Career
She is also known for playing Mission Heller, a headmistress in an episode of Shameless in 2011, for various appearances on the Manchester Theatre Fringe. She is the first transgender person to play a regular transgender character in British soap history. Subsequently she gave up acting for some time to work in the fields of computer science and sound engineering.
After eighteen months as a research assistant for the Independent Television drama serial Coronation Street from 1998 to 2000, where she advised for and inspired the character of Hayley Cropper, she auditioned successfully for the Manchester School of Theatre in 2001, graduating in 2004.
In 2011, she appeared in an episode of Shameless as school headmistress Mission Heller, where she was the catalyst for splitting up Frank Gallagher and Libby Croker. Annie is also a keen musician, with two albums written and recorded with collaborator John Beresford.
She has also worked on several podcast comedy series, as well as sound and video design for various theatrical productions. On 9 October 2015, it was announced that she would be joining Hollyoaks in a new regular role as a teacher called Mrs Street Claire in October.
Her Hollyoaks character was officially announced as Sally Saint Claire, Hollyoaks High"s new headmistress, on 20 October 2015, and she made her first appearance on 29 October 2015.
On 15 November 2015, she was placed at Number.17 on the Rainbow List, published by the The Independent on Sunday. A list of the most influential openly LGBTI individuals in the United Kingdom, published annually.
