Abi Phillips | |
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| Born | Abigail Louise Phillips (1994-01-14)14 January 1994 (age 31) Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England |
| Occupations |
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| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Labels | |
Musical artist | |
Abigail Louise Phillips (born 14 January 1994) is an English actress and singer. She is best known for playingLiberty Savage inChannel 4 soap operaHollyoaks and for her debut single "Summer Sunshine".
Phillips got her big break after writing a song for soap operaHollyoaks titled "Missing You", which proved popular with viewers when it was featured in the characterSteph Cunningham's death scene.[1] Phillips penned the song after being inspired by Steph's cervical cancer storyline and later submitted it to be used on the show.[1] Following the strong response to the track,Hollyoaks bosses arranged a meeting with Phillips and subsequently invited her to audition for the part of Liberty – a musical character they had been developing for some time.[1] She debuted as Liberty at the age of 16 in December 2010.[2] In April 2011, Phillips showcased her vocals as Liberty when the character took part in a karaoke competition giving a show-stopping rendition of Adele's version of Bob Dylan's "Make You Feel My Love".
In 2011 Abi released her debut single "Summer Sunshine" featuring popularrapperFugative. The song's music video was uploaded onto YouTube and to date has received almost 400,000 views. As a gesture of goodwill Phillips offered a free sample of a song she recorded called "Somebody Without You". Abi has climbed Mt Snowdon for the checkemlads.com charity which helps young men going through testicular cancer.
Phillips performed her debut single atT4 on the Beach 2011 in which she performed on the sessions stage. The scenes of Phillips' performance aired onHollyoaks shortly afterwards. At the time Abi also announced to fans on her Twitter account that herself,Jorgie Porter (Theresa McQueen) andCraig Vye (Ethan Scott) also recorded scenes forHollyoaks at the event.
From the age of 12, Phillips has been a member of the Birmingham pub band Shampoo, which is fronted by hairdresser dad Richard and mum Linda at wedding receptions and clubs. More recently Phillips has toured and fronted premier function band Capital Groove at large corporate events and parties. In September 2014, Phillips sang a show stopping rendition ofSia's 'Titanium' and one of her own songs 'On My Way' at The Pride of Birmingham Awards to over 2,000 people including rock legendTony Iommi,UB40'sAli Campbell, comedianJason Manford and footballerDion Dublin. Phillips continues to perform and write her own material and plans to release her debut EP during 2015.[2] She considersAdele as one of her musical idols.[3] And also citesWynter Gordon andEllie Goulding as her musical influences.[4]
Phillips appeared onThe Voice UK in 2017 as a contestant, although was unsuccessful in getting a place in the competition.
Phillips was born in the Birmingham town ofSutton Coldfield, to Richard and Linda Phillips.[2] Phillips was a student at Birmingham'sStage Coach performing arts school.[2] She is close friends with her co-starsHollie Jay Bowes andTamaryn Payne.[5]
In May 2022, Phillips announced that she had been diagnosed withthyroid cancer.[6]
On 10 September 2023, Phillips was attacked and robbed after sustaining injuries in Ibiza which resulted in her phone being stolen.[7]
In March 2012, Phillips along with some of theHollyoaks' cast and crew successfully completed a sponsored sleep-out in a bid to raise funds for youth homelessness charityCentrepoint.[8] Later in the night, Phillips andHollie-Jay Bowes provided some musical entertainment.[8] Lights went out in the village at 1 am and the challenge was complete when the sun rose just after 6 am.
During 2013–14, Phillips completed a tour of primary schools in the West Midlands in relation to bullying and the effects it has on young people, drawing from past personal experience. Phillips' school campaign achieved national coverage on Television with the BBC, ITV and on radio.[citation needed]