North West nominees lead the way for BAFTAs

Credit: PA Images

Three of the region's leading actresses have been nominated for the leading actress award at this year's BAFTAs.

Stockport-born Claire Foy, who's plays the Queen in Netflix series The Crown, is up for the award.

She'll face competition from Liverpool's Jodie Comer, who stared in Thirteen on the BBC, and Oldham-born Sarah Lancashire's Shortlisted for Happy Valley. It means three quarters of the nominees are from the North West.

Find out a bit more about our nominees below.

CLAIRE FOY - LEADING ACTRESS - THE CROWN

Claire Foy fact file

  • Born in Stockport's Stepping Hill Hospital on the 16th of April 1984

  • Moved to Buckinghamshire at the age of eight, but later returned to the North West to study at Liverpool John Moores University

  • Came to prominence after roles in Little Dorritt, Wolf Hall and The Crown

SARAH LANCASHIRE - LEADING ACTRESS - HAPPY VALLEY

Sarah Lancashire stars as Catherine Cawood in the BBC One drama Credit: PA Images/BBC

Sarah Lancashire fact file

  • Born in Oldham on the 10th of October 1964

  • Taught drama at Salford University for five years during the early years of her career

  • Cast as Raquel Wolstenhulme in Coronation Street in 1991

  • Became the highest paid actress on British television after signing with ITV in 2000

  • Married Burnley-born television producer Peter Salmon in 2001

JODIE COMER - LEADING ACTRESS - THIRTEEN

Jodie Comer has been nominated for her role in the BBC drama '13' Credit: Pa Images/BBC

Jodie Comer fact file

  • Born in Liverpool on the 11th of March 1993

  • Attended St Julie's Catholic High School in Woolton, where she first started to act

  • Took her steps into the industry with roles in Holby City & Waterloo Road

  • Most recently appeared in Thrirteen, Rillington Place and Doctor Foster

Elsewhere Siobhan Finneran, who's also from Oldham and also in Happy Valley, is nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Steve Coogan's up for a comedy award for Alan Partridge's Scissored Isle and Liverpool-made Hollyoaks is competing for Continuing Drama.

Middleton's Steve Coogan is up for another BAFTA for Alan Partridge Credit: PA Images