Helen George – Biography, Career, and Personal Life
Helen George is an English actress who has played Nurse Trixie Franklin on the BBC series Call the Midwife since 2012. Her career spans television, film, musical theatre, and a memorable run on Strictly Come Dancing. Off screen, her relationship with co-star Jack Ashton and the birth of their two daughters have drawn consistent public attention.
Born in Birmingham and trained at the Royal Academy of Music, George initially dreamed of becoming a long jumper or the first female football manager for Aston Villa. A teenage encounter with Les Misérables changed her course. She has since built a steady career anchored by one of British television’s most beloved period dramas.
As of mid-2026, Call the Midwife has concluded its original run after 116 episodes, and George remains active in theatre. The following sections cover her biography, career milestones, personal relationships, and what lies ahead.
Who is Helen George?
Key Facts at a Glance
- Helen George has been a core cast member of Call the Midwife since 2012, portraying nurse Trixie Franklin across 116 episodes.
- She was in a long-term relationship with actor Jack Ashton, with whom she has two daughters.
- Her filmography includes The Three Musketeers (2011) and appearances in The Bill, Doctors, and Hollyoaks.
- George participated in the 2015 series of Strictly Come Dancing, finishing in 6th place with professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec.
- She trained at the Birmingham School of Acting and later the Royal Academy of Music in London.
- As of 2025, Call the Midwife has concluded its broadcast run after thirteen series.
Snapshot Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Helen Elizabeth George |
| Born | 19 June 1984, Birmingham, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Former partner | Jack Ashton (2016–2023) |
| Children | 2 daughters (born 2017 and 2021) |
| Notable role | Trixie Franklin in Call the Midwife (2012–2025) |
| Other notable work | Strictly Come Dancing (2015, 6th place), The Three Musketeers (2011) |
For a broader look at British actresses with similar career arcs, see our profile on Anita Rani – Biography, Age, Husband.
What is Helen George’s role in Call the Midwife?
Helen George portrays Nurse Beatrix “Trixie” Franklin, later Trixie, Lady Aylward, in the BBC drama Call the Midwife. She first appeared in the series premiere in 2012 and remained a main cast member through the show’s conclusion in 2025. Over that period, she appeared in all 116 episodes.
How long has Helen George been on Call the Midwife?
George joined Call the Midwife at the start of its first series in 2012 and stayed with the programme for its entire thirteen-series run. She took maternity leave during Season 7 while eight months pregnant with her first daughter, Wren, but returned to filming after a break. The series aired its final episode in 2025.
Who does Helen George play in Call the Midwife?
Her character, Trixie Franklin, begins as a confident and stylish young nurse at Nonnatus House in Poplar, East London. Over the course of the series, Trixie matures into a senior midwife, struggles with personal challenges including alcoholism, and eventually marries into the aristocracy, becoming Lady Aylward. The role has earned George widespread recognition and a loyal fan following.
Is Trixie Franklin leaving Call the Midwife?
With the series having concluded in 2025, Trixie Franklin’s story has reached its natural end. There have been no official announcements regarding a spin-off or special featuring the character. George has not publicly commented on any future projects involving Trixie.
Trixie Franklin is one of the few original cast members to remain with Call the Midwife for its entire run. Her character’s trajectory — from a young nurse to a titled lady — reflects the show’s broader themes of social change and personal resilience in post-war Britain.
Helen George’s Personal Life: Husband and Children
Helen George’s personal life has been a subject of public interest, particularly her relationships and family. She was previously married to actor Oliver Boot and later had a long-term relationship with Call the Midwife co-star Jack Ashton.
Who is Helen George’s husband?
George married actor Oliver Boot in December 2011. The couple separated in 2015, and their divorce was finalized, according to some sources, in 2017. She has not remarried. Her subsequent relationship with Jack Ashton is widely described as a partnership rather than a legal marriage, and she is not publicly known to be married to him or anyone else.
Helen George’s relationship with Jack Ashton
In April 2016, George began dating Jack Ashton, her Call the Midwife co-star, while filming the show’s Christmas special in South Africa. The couple had two daughters together: Wren Ivy Ashton, born on 28 September 2017, and Lark Ashton, born on 16 November 2021. Wren arrived three weeks early via caesarean section due to Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy. In July 2023, George announced that she and Ashton had split after about seven years together, stressing that they continue to prioritize their children.
Does Helen George have children?
Yes. She has two daughters with Jack Ashton: Wren Ivy Ashton (born September 2017) and Lark Ashton (born November 2021). Both pregnancies involved early deliveries, and George has spoken candidly about the health challenges she faced, including her diagnosis of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy during her first pregnancy.
Although many media outlets refer to Jack Ashton as Helen George’s “husband,” no official source confirms a legal marriage between them. Both public statements and biographies consistently refer to Ashton as her “partner.” The distinction matters when evaluating reports about her marital status.
For another example of a British actress navigating public and private life, read about Keeley Hawes – Biography, Husband, Age and Best TV Roles.
Helen George Movies and TV Shows
Beyond Call the Midwife, Helen George has built a varied portfolio of film, television, and stage work. Her credits range from Hollywood adaptations to popular British soap operas and major West End productions.
What movies has Helen George been in?
Her most prominent film role came in 2011, when she played Blonde in The Three Musketeers, a big-budget adaptation directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. She also appeared in the short film The Monster (2015). Most of her work, however, has been in television and theatre.
Helen George on Strictly Come Dancing
In 2015, George competed in the 13th series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. She finished in 6th place, eliminated in week 11 despite receiving high marks from the judges. Her participation introduced her to a wider audience beyond period drama fans.
Other TV appearances
Earlier in her career, George appeared in episodes of Hotel Babylon, Doctors, Hollyoaks, and The Bill. These roles, while smaller, helped establish her as a working actress before she landed the role of Trixie Franklin.
Theatre work
George has maintained a parallel career in musical theatre. She played Anna Leonowens in the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical The King and I at the Dominion Theatre in London and in Birmingham during 2022 and 2024. Earlier stage credits include The Woman in White, Into the Woods, and High School Musical.
Some sources incorrectly list Helen George’s Strictly Come Dancing appearance as 2020 with a 5th-place finish. Verified records from the show confirm she competed in the 2015 series and finished 6th. Always consult primary broadcast data when citing competition results.
What is Helen George doing in 2025 and beyond?
As of 2025, Call the Midwife has concluded its television run after thirteen series and 116 episodes, according to IMDb. George’s most recent confirmed screen credit is the final series of the show. She has not announced any new television or film projects as of mid-2026.
On stage, she has remained active. Her performance as Anna Leonowens in The King and I in both London and Birmingham demonstrates her continued commitment to musical theatre. Whether she will take on new acting roles in television or film remains unconfirmed, and no official statements about future projects have been released.
Helen George’s career is closely tied to the long-running success of Call the Midwife, which remained a BBC ratings staple for more than a decade. Her Strictly Come Dancing appearance broadened her public profile, but she has not taken on major roles outside the series. Future relevance will likely depend on the direction she chooses after the show’s conclusion.
What is the timeline of Helen George’s career and personal life?
- 1984 – Born in Birmingham, England.
- 2005–2009 – Early acting roles in theatre and television, including The Bill and Doctors.
- 2011 – Appeared as Blonde in the film The Three Musketeers. Married actor Oliver Boot in December.
- 2012 – Cast as Trixie Franklin in BBC’s Call the Midwife.
- 2015 – Separated from Oliver Boot. Competed in Strictly Come Dancing, finishing 6th.
- 2016 – Began relationship with co-star Jack Ashton while filming the Christmas special in South Africa.
- 2017 – Gave birth to first daughter, Wren Ivy Ashton, in September.
- 2021 – Gave birth to second daughter, Lark Ashton, in November.
- 2022/2024 – Performed as Anna Leonowens in The King and I in London and Birmingham.
- 2023 – Announced split from Jack Ashton in July.
- 2025 – Call the Midwife concluded after 116 episodes.
What is confirmed and what remains unclear about Helen George?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Date of birth is 19 June 1984. | Whether she was legally married to Jack Ashton (reports refer to partner, not husband). |
| She has two children with Jack Ashton. | Any confirmed plans to leave acting or join new projects after 2025. |
| She was a regular on Call the Midwife from 2012 to 2025. | Exact net worth details, which are not publicly disclosed. |
| She appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 and finished 6th. | Whether she will return for a potential future spin-off or special. |
What is the broader context of Helen George’s career?
Helen George’s professional identity remains closely tied to Call the Midwife, a series that defined a decade of British Sunday-night television. The show’s longevity — thirteen series and numerous Christmas specials — provided her with rare job stability in an industry where long-running contracts are uncommon. Her personal life with co-star Jack Ashton generated steady tabloid coverage, though both have maintained a relatively private stance in public.
The lack of major screen roles outside Call the Midwife may reflect her commitment to the series or the limited opportunities that arise for actors anchored to one long-running production. Her Strictly Come Dancing appearance gave her a national profile beyond period drama audiences, and her theatre work, particularly in The King and I, shows a sustained interest in musical performance. What comes next will likely depend on the continuation of Call the Midwife in any form and her own choices about future roles.
What do official sources say about Helen George?
“Helen Elizabeth George (born 19 June 1984) is an English actress, best known for playing Trixie Franklin, later Trixie, Lady Aylward, on the BBC drama series Call the Midwife.”
— Wikipedia entry for Helen George
“TV and stage actress, best known for starring as leading role & much-loved nurse Trixie Franklin in the BAFTA award-winning series Call the Midwife.”
— Curtis Brown (official agent biography)
“Helen George was born on 19 June 1984 in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK. She is an actress, known for The Three Musketeers (2011), Call the Midwife (2012–).”
— IMDb profile
Who is Helen George in summary?
Helen George is an English actress best known for playing Trixie Franklin across all 116 episodes of BBC’s Call the Midwife from 2012 to 2025. She has appeared in films such as The Three Musketeers, competed in Strictly Come Dancing, and performed in West End musicals including The King and I. Her personal life — including her relationship with co-star Jack Ashton and their two daughters — has been widely covered, though she keeps a relatively low public profile. As of 2026, she has not announced new screen projects but remains active in theatre. For a similar biography, see Keeley Hawes – Biography, Husband, Age and Best TV Roles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Helen George
Is Helen George married?
Helen George is not publicly known to be married. She was previously married to actor Oliver Boot from 2011 to 2015. Her later relationship with Jack Ashton is described as a partnership, not a legal marriage.
How many children does Helen George have?
She has two daughters with Jack Ashton: Wren Ivy, born in September 2017, and Lark, born in November 2021.
What is Helen George’s age?
She was born on 19 June 1984, making her 42 years old as of 2026.
Did Helen George leave Call the Midwife?
The series concluded in 2025 after thirteen series. George remained with the show for its entire run and did not leave early.
Has Helen George been on Strictly Come Dancing?
Yes, she participated in the 2015 series of Strictly Come Dancing and finished in 6th place.
Who is Helen George’s partner?
Her former partner is actor Jack Ashton, whom she met on the set of Call the Midwife. They split in July 2023.
What movies has Helen George appeared in?
Her most notable film role is Blonde in The Three Musketeers (2011). She also appeared in the short film The Monster (2015).
What is Helen George doing now?
As of 2026, she has no confirmed new screen projects. She most recently performed in The King and I on stage in London and Birmingham.
Is Trixie Franklin leaving Call the Midwife?
The series has ended, so Trixie Franklin’s story is complete. No spin-off or special has been announced.
What is Helen George’s net worth?
Her net worth has not been publicly disclosed by reliable sources. Estimates found online are speculative and unconfirmed.
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