Fay Ripley – Cold Feet Star, Cookbook Author and Podcaster
Fay Ripley is an English actress, television presenter, and cookbook author best known for playing Jenny Gifford in the ITV drama Cold Feet. She has also built a second career as a food writer and podcast host, balancing nostalgia from her television years with new projects for food and comedy audiences.
Born on 26 February 1966 in the Wimbledon and Merton area of London, Ripley studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1990. Her professional acting career began in the early 1990s, and she quickly gained recognition for her role in one of Britain’s most beloved television series.
Beyond screen work, she has written three cookbooks, co-hosts a comedy and consumer podcast, and remains active on social media. Much of her personal life, including her marriage to Australian actor Daniel Lapaine, has been kept relatively private.
Who is Fay Ripley?
Fay Ripley
26 February 1966 (age 58–59)
Merton, Surrey, England
Cold Feet (Jenny), cookbook author, podcast host
Key Insights
- Fay Ripley is best known for playing Jenny Gifford in the ITV drama Cold Feet, which aired from 1997 to 2003 and was revived from 2016 to 2020.
- She has written three cookbooks: Fay’s Family Food, What’s For Dinner, and Fay Makes It Easy.
- Ripley co-hosts a comedy and consumer podcast, though the official title is not widely cited in public sources.
- She has been married to actor Daniel Lapaine since September 2001, and the couple have two children, including a daughter named Lauren Kim Ripley.
- Despite a successful acting career, her net worth is not officially disclosed; any estimates available online remain speculative.
Snapshot Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Age | 58 (as of 2025) |
| Spouse | Daniel Lapaine (m. 2001) |
| Children | 2, including Lauren Kim Ripley |
| Notable Award | BAFTA TV Award nomination (Best Comedy Performance, 2000) |
| Education | Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
| Cookbooks Published | 3 |
| Podcast | Comedy/consumer podcast (co-host) |
| Instagram Followers | Approximately 57K |
Is Fay Ripley Married? Who is Her Husband?
Yes, Fay Ripley is married to Australian actor Daniel Lapaine. The couple married in September 2001, according to biographical data from IMDb and other sources.
Daniel Lapaine is known for his roles in television and film, including appearances in The Pacifier and Muriel’s Wedding. He and Ripley have two children together. One source identifies the children as Parker (born 2002) and Sunny (born 2006), while their daughter is also named Lauren Kim Ripley in some contexts.
Ripley generally keeps her family life out of the public spotlight, and the full names and ages of her children are not consistently reported across authoritative sources.
Multiple reliable sources, including Wikipedia and IMDb, confirm that Fay Ripley is married to Daniel Lapaine and that they have two children. The specific names and birth years of the children appear in some sources but have not been independently verified by every major biographical record.
What Movies and TV Shows Has Fay Ripley Been In?
Cold Feet and Rise to Fame
Fay Ripley is most famous for her portrayal of Jenny Gifford in the ITV drama Cold Feet. The series first aired in 1997 and became a major cultural hit, running until 2003 before being revived in 2016 for additional series that concluded in 2020.
Her performance earned her a BAFTA TV Award nomination for Best Comedy Performance in 2000, marking a career highlight.
Other Television and Film Credits
Beyond Cold Feet, Ripley appeared in the BBC sitcom Reggie Perrin (2009) and the drama Dead Gorgeous, among other credits listed on IMDb. Her filmography also includes guest roles in various British television series throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
Awards and Recognition
Her BAFTA nomination remains her most notable industry acknowledgment. No other major award wins are recorded in the available research, though she has been recognised as an award-winning food writer in connection with her cookbook career.
Unlike some of her Cold Feet co-stars who continued primarily in dramatic roles, Ripley pivoted significantly toward food writing and podcasting. This shift illustrates a common pattern among UK actors diversifying into lifestyle media after long-running television roles.
What is Fay Ripley Doing Now?
Cookbook Author
Fay Ripley has published three cookbooks, establishing herself as a food writer. Her titles include Fay’s Family Food, What’s For Dinner, and her most recent book, Fay Makes It Easy. She also contributes recipes to various publications, according to information from The Hygiene Bank patron page.
Podcast Host
Ripley co-hosts an unnamed comedy and consumer podcast, as indicated by her Instagram biography. The exact title of the podcast does not appear prominently in the available research, and further details remain limited.
Social Media Presence
She is active on Instagram under the handle @fayripley, where she has approximately 57,000 followers. Her biography there reads: “3 cookbooks, 2 kids, 1 marriage. Some acting in between. And now a comedy/consumer podcast.” This gives a concise snapshot of her current public persona.
Charity Work
Ripley is listed as a patron of The Hygiene Bank, a UK charity that works to tackle hygiene poverty. Her affiliation with the organisation is confirmed on their official website.
What is Fay Ripley’s Net Worth?
No reliable, verifiable net worth figure for Fay Ripley is available from authoritative sources. Any numbers circulating online are speculative and should not be treated as confirmed. Ripley does not publicly disclose her financial information, and no official statement from her or her representatives has been issued on the matter.
Net worth estimates for public figures are often based on unverified data. In Fay Ripley’s case, no high-quality source—such as financial records, official statements, or reputable business publications—provides a confirmed figure. Treat all online estimates as unofficial.
Who Are Fay Ripley’s Parents?
Information about Fay Ripley’s parents is not widely available in public sources. Her father is not named in any of the major biographical records consulted, and her parents are generally not discussed in detail as part of her public biography.
This gap in public knowledge is not unusual for actors who maintain boundaries around their family history. The available research does not provide names, occupations, or other identifying details about her parents.
Fay Ripley Career Timeline
- 1966 – Born 26 February in Merton, Surrey, England.
- Late 1980s – Graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
- 1997 – First appeared as Jenny Gifford in Cold Feet.
- 2000 – Nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy Performance.
- 2001 – Married actor Daniel Lapaine.
- 2009 – Starred in the BBC sitcom Reggie Perrin.
- 2016 – Cold Feet revival began on ITV.
- 2019–2025 – Published three cookbooks, launched a podcast, and became active on Instagram.
What Information is Certain and What Remains Unclear?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Date and place of birth (confirmed by Wikipedia and IMDb) | Net worth – no official disclosure; all figures are speculative |
| Marital status and spouse name (multiple reliable sources) | Exact title of her podcast (not publicly named in top results) |
| Acting credits including Cold Feet, Reggie Perrin, and Dead Gorgeous | Full names and ages of her children beyond Lauren Kim Ripley |
| Number of cookbooks (3) and Instagram follower count (approximately 57K) | Current income streams and future projects |
What is Fay Ripley’s Broader Career Context?
Fay Ripley’s career reflects a notable transition from respected television actress to lifestyle entrepreneur. After achieving widespread recognition through Cold Feet, a show that defined British television drama for a generation, she chose to diversify into food writing and podcasting rather than pursuing further high-profile acting roles.
This pivot is comparable to other British actors who have turned to lifestyle media after long-running television roles. Ripley has maintained a modest public profile, engaging primarily with fans who remember her from Cold Feet while also attracting a new audience interested in her cookbooks and podcast content.
What Do the Sources Say About Fay Ripley?
“3 cookbooks, 2 kids, 1 marriage. Some acting in between. And now a comedy/consumer podcast.”
— @fayripley Instagram bio (2025)
“Renowned actress and BAFTA nominee Fay Ripley found fame as Jenny in the hugely popular drama ‘Cold Feet’.”
— The Hygiene Bank patron page
“Fay Ripley (born 26 February 1966) is an English actress, television presenter and recipe author.”
— Wikipedia
Summary: What Should You Know About Fay Ripley?
Fay Ripley is a versatile English performer who successfully transitioned from a defining television role in Cold Feet to a career as a cookbook author and podcast host. She has been married to actor Daniel Lapaine since 2001 and has two children. While much of her personal life remains private, her professional trajectory offers a clear example of how actors can build enduring careers beyond the screen. For more on fellow British actresses, read about Sarah Parish – Biography Career Family and Charity Work or Sue Johnston – Biography Age Health and Famous TV Roles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fay Ripley
Who is Fay Ripley’s father?
Fay Ripley’s father is not widely named in public sources. Her parents are generally not discussed in detail in her biography.
How tall is Fay Ripley?
Fay Ripley’s height is not officially confirmed.
What is Fay Ripley’s real name?
Fay Ripley is her birth name; she does not use a stage name.
How many children does Fay Ripley have?
She has two children, a son and a daughter named Lauren Kim Ripley.
Is Fay Ripley on Twitter/X?
She does not appear to have an active public Twitter/X account; her primary social media is Instagram.
Was Fay Ripley nominated for a BAFTA?
Yes, she was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy Performance in 2000 for her role in Cold Feet.
Does Fay Ripley still act?
She has not taken major acting roles recently but remains active through cookbooks, a podcast, and social media.
How many cookbooks has Fay Ripley written?
She has written three cookbooks: Fay’s Family Food, What’s For Dinner, and Fay Makes It Easy.
Where can I follow Fay Ripley online?
She is active on Instagram at @fayripley, where she shares updates about her projects and personal life.
What charity is Fay Ripley involved with?
She is a patron of The Hygiene Bank, a UK charity addressing hygiene poverty.
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