Michelle Hardwick (born 26th February 1976 in Wakefield) appeared on Coronation Street in February 1997 as Firman's Freezers assistant Sheila Dixon, and made a return to the programme in November 1998 as Naomi Russell.
Having studied Performing Arts at Park Lane College, Leeds she then attended Scala Performing Arts and has appeared on Emmerdale as vet Vanessa Woodfield since December 2012. She previously portrayed receptionist Lizzie Hopkirk in The Royal between 2003 and 2011. Other credits include roles in Heartbeat, The Courtroom and Hollyoaks.
She has taken part in Race for Life events near her home to raise money for Cancer Research UK, and spoken out about her brother's successful fight against skin cancer. In December 2018 she became engaged to former Coronation Street storyliner and story editor Kate Brooks who at that time was the producer of Emmerdale.