Nicole Brodie

While Nicole is mature for her years in looks and attitude, her emotional intelligence still has some catching up to do.

When her mum suddenly decided to go and live in Canada, Nicole and brother Conor were sent to live with their dad, Michael, his new wife, Leyla, and step-brother, Adeeb, in Shieldinch. Unhappy with this turn of events, Nicole transferred her frustrations towards step-mum Leyla acting like a stroppy, hard-to-please teenager at every turn.

Feeling rejected by her real mum and hating her step mum, Nicole looked for affirmation elsewhere – often in the arms of older men. She briefly found love with Stevie Burns but he too grew tired of her immature behaviour and dumped Nicole.

But by far her most dangerous liaison was with pimp Cammy, a relationship which sent her father, Michael, over the edge and straight to prison after he committed murder.

Guilt-ridden, Nicole became even more withdrawn when she discovered Leyla had had an affair with her beloved uncle Gabriel and when Michael was killed in prison it sent her into a downward spiral. She went further off the rails and ended up pregnant and alone, facing a future as a single mother wasn’t what this ambitious young girl had in mind.

Despite the heartache the criminal world has brought her, Nicole was drawn to gangster go-between Gareth. He loved Nicole and her unborn baby but happily-ever-after was never guaranteed and she was left bereft by his death and alone as a single mum to baby Grace.

Motherhood has been far from rewarding for Nicole who broke loose from the pressure by leaving baby Grace home-alone in favour of a night out on Christmas Eve. Her actions had far-reaching consequences for the Brodies with social services being called in, leading Nicole to consider giving Grace up for adoption.

This little girl lost is even more confused about what future awaits and knows she’s going to have to grow up – fast.

Holly plays Nicole Brodie in River City.