Irish actress Denise Gough is on our screens this week in ITV's The Stolen Girl, which sees her star alongside Holliday Grainger and Ambika Mod.
The 45-year-old plays flight attendant Elisa Blix, whose life is turned upside down when her daughter Lucia stays over at a friend's house. When Lucia fails to return the following day, Elisa's world spirals into a nightmare as she realises the home she dropped her daughter off at was actually a holiday rental.
© Disney +Alongside her TV roles in shows like Disney+'s Andor and ITV's Too Close, as well as films including Colette and Robin Hood, Denise has also enjoyed an impressive career in theatre, delivering an acclaimed performance in People, Places & Things and receiving two Laurance Oliver Awards.
But while you may be familiar with the actress's many roles, did you know Denise is not the only famous Gough in the family? Keep reading to find out more…
Who is Denise Gough's famous sister?
Denise, who hails from County Clare in Ireland, is one of 11 siblings, one of whom is Kelly Gough, who is also an actress. Kelly is best known for her role as Kate Kelly in Prime Video's Dublin-based series Raw, and has also appeared in ITV's Marcella and the BBC's Casualty.
In a 2025 interview with The Irish World, Kelly explained how Denise inspires her, much like all of her siblings do. "We are both blessed enough to be part of a very good family," she said. "Though we are far from perfect, I know all of us do our best, and – to me – there is nothing more inspirational than that."
Growing up in such a large family helped shape Kelly into the person she is today. "I'd have been lost without them," she said. "I don't always like them, but holy smokes I love them more than anything. My parents, brothers and sisters (by blood and in law), nieces, nephews, and Shelley and Denise are – inarguably – my anchor. Come for them at your peril."
Denise's struggles with addiction
Away from TV, one of Denise's most significant stage roles was in People, Places & Things, in which she played Emma, a struggling actress battling addiction. The role proved deeply personal for Denise, who has previously spoken about her own struggles with alcohol and drug addiction when she was younger.
In her mid-teens, Denise was groomed and raped by a man in his 20s, and later experienced a period of homelessness before acting helped her work through her darkest times. She went on to secure a place at Wandsworth's Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, eventually building the acclaimed career she is known for today.
Speaking to London Theatre about the parallels between the play and her own life, Denise said: "I'm sober now – 17 years. I know what it's like to want to switch everything off. I know what it's like to need something to help me stay alive."
