Elisabeth Dermot Walsh

Born in the London Borough of Merton on 15 September 1974, Walsh is the daughter of Irish actor Dermot Walsh and English actress Elisabeth Madeleine Annear.^[1][2] She has a sister, Olivia, and, from her father's previous marriages, a half-sister, Sally, and a half-brother, Michael.^[2] Walsh was educated at West Heath School in Sevenoaks, Kent.^[1] She then studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.^[3] Before pursuing a career in acting, Walsh worked as an intern for an American senator in Washington, D.C. when she was 17.^[4]

Walsh made her television debut in the 1998 television film Falling for a Dancer.^[5] She has also made appearances in television series such as Love in a Cold Climate, Unfinished Business,^[6] Midsomer Murders, Love Soup and Holby City.^[4] She also played the lead role of Elinor Carlisle in the 2003 ITV adaptation of Agatha Christie's Sad Cypress.^[7] Also in 2003, Walsh made her professional stage debut in The Misanthrope at the Gate Theatre.^[8] Alongside her television roles, she continued to make various theatre appearances. These included a role in The Rivals at the Bristol Old Vic and touring the United Kingdom in a production of Rebecca.^[9][10]

In June 2009, she joined the regular cast of the BBC drama Doctors, in the role of Zara Carmichael.^[11] In an interview with OK! Magazine, Walsh talked about her character, saying: "I think it would be fair to call Zara a bit of a handful! She's quite the volatile personality, and I grabbed the character with both hands. She's been a bit of a home-wrecker in the past, but I like her; even when you’re playing a baddie, you have to play a baddie like you’re playing a heroine. She behaves appallingly. I don’t think I’d particularly want her as a friend, but she’d be a great fun ride if you’re with Zara!".^[12] For her portrayal of Zara, Walsh won the award for Best Female Acting Performance at the 2015 RTS Midlands Awards.^[13] Walsh expressed interest in writing episodes of Doctors,^[4] and directed nine episodes.^[14] She portrayed Zara until 2024, when the series ended. Following Doctors, Walsh appeared in Sister Boniface Mysteries, as well as starting a podcast, Chicken Soap for the Soul. It followed Walsh interviewing Doctors cast and crew members to ask them about their careers.^[15] In 2025, Walsh returned to the stage for a touring production of The Party Girls, a play about the Mitford family. She was cast as Diana Mitford.^[16] She also made an appearance in the Alibi series Miss Scarlet and The Duke. Walsh is next set to appear in the upcoming BBC series The Hairdresser Mysteries.^[17]

Walsh lives in Birmingham with her partner, Dylan Charles.^[18] The pair had a son born in 2012,^[19] with a second child born in 2015. Walsh took maternity breaks from Doctors for each pregnancy, with her character's temporary exits being written into the series.^[20]