Adele Silva

Silva was born in Norbury, London, and was educated at the Sylvia Young Theatre School. Her first television appearance was as Squeak in part 3 of the 1989 Doctor Who story Survival, which was the final episode transmitted in the original series' 26-year run. She also appeared in Mr Majeika, The Bill and EastEnders.

Silva is most famous for playing the role of Kelly Windsor in the television soap opera Emmerdale, which she first played from 1993 to 2000 before returning to the soap in 2005. Her plotlines have been amongst the most daring in the soap opera, including a relationship with her stepbrother and running off with one of her school teachers.

During her period away from Emmerdale, Silva appeared on Is Harry on the Boat?, Mile High, The Courtroom, the independent film Jam and Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. Silva became established as a sex symbol and has appeared in men's magazines like Front, FHM and Maxim. Silva has also made appearances in the reality television shows Celebrity Fear Factor, The Salon, I'm Famous and Frightened! and Celebrity 5 Go Dating.

Silva left Emmerdale in late 2007 to pursue other roles, initially promising fans that she would return to play Kelly in late 2008, although it was reported in January 2008 that she would not be returning to the show "in the immediate future".

Silva appeared in the third series of Hell's Kitchen where she came second to Barry McGuigan. Silva had a lead role in the short film Karma Magnet alongside Gary Kemp, which was directed by Martin Kemp. Silva also appeared on Celebrity Weakest Link, which she won.

In September 2008, following her success in Hell's Kitchen, Silva released her own limited edition selection of wines as part of a new Internet reality show Mistress of the Vines, in association with wine merchants Stowell's. She also made a cameo in the cult horror film Doghouse starring Danny Dyer and Noel Clarke. Silva took part in a celebrity version of TV show Total Wipeout which aired on 26 December 2009. In 2011, Silva starred in the comedy/horror film Strippers vs Werewolves with Robert Englund and guest-starred in romcom How to Stop Being a Loser opposite Richard E. Grant. Silva appeared in an episode of The Real Hustle.

It was announced on 5 November 2010 that Silva would return to Emmerdale in early 2011.

She appeared in the one-woman comedy play 51 Shades of Maggie, written by Leesa Harker, inspired by EL James' infamous erotic novels, in the 2013 Autumn UK tour.

In July 2015, Silva appeared in the Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks, for a guest stint as Angela Brown, who expressed an interest in adopting her relative, Peri Lomax's (Ruby O'Donnell), baby daughter Steph.