‘Neil's sister’ from Inbetweeners was forced to quit job and live new life following show
After making the hearts of teenage boys race in a lilac silk robe while starring in The Inbetweeners, Kacey Clarke had to bid her former career goodbye.
Although she was 'only in a couple of episodes' of the legendary Channel 4 series, her character Katie Sutherland - AKA, 'Neil's sexy sister' - is still etched in the minds of fans of the sitcom.
We last saw the actress working alongside her on-screen brother Blake Harrison and his socially awkward pals Simon Bird, James Buckley and Joe Thomas back in 2010, but she's been very busy over the last 16 years.
Clarke, who is also known as Kacey Louisa Barnfield, made her start in the entertainment industry by bagging roles in a host of beloved British TV shows, including Grange Hill, The Bill and Casualty.
Advert
The London-born actress then joined the cast of The Inbetweeners in 2009, which has arguably become her lasting legacy in the UK.
She only featured in the 'A Night Out in London' episode in season two, as well as 'Will's Dilemma' the following year - but despite having just a handful of lines, Clarke quickly became a fan favourite.
Perhaps it was her dry sense of humour when asking Will, Simon and Jay to 'stop staring at her t*ts' that left people swooning, eh?
Either way, the brunette beauty became a pin up for a lot of lads in wake of her portraying the deliciously sarcastic Katie Sutherland.
Clarke, now 38, previously revealed that her role as Neil's sister forced her to abandon her former career as a substitute teacher.
"Even though I was only in a couple of episodes, my character became iconic because the show is iconic, so people always remember it," she said of her time on The Inbetweeners, as per the Mirror.
"The funniest experience was about four years ago when I was a substitute teacher covering for my mum's partner," Clarke went on.
"Everything was normal until one of the boys put his arm up and said 'are you Neil's sister' - which was pretty funny.
"Then, of course, the whole class knew so they kept going on about it. So, a lot of people do remember me from the show."
She went on to star in the 2010 horror Resident Evil: Afterlife, followed by roles in Girl on a Bicycle, Green Street 3: Never Back Down, Seeking Dolly Parton and Welcome to Curiosity.
While discussing her appearance in the 2016 thriller Blood Orange alongside Iggy Pop, Clarke explained that she naturally transitioned from TV to film.
"It wasn't a conscious effort to get away from TV, it was just the way it's gone," she said in 2016. "I just seemed to do a lot of film recently.
"I'd love to do a TV show again, especially in the US where the budgets are similar to films now, so there's some really interesting stuff now."
She explained that, similarly to her character in The Inbetweeners, she 'came across quite sexual' in Blood Orange while portraying the rocker's younger partner.
Discussing the 'really interesting' character of Isabelle, she added: "It was very fun to play her, she's very strong and I like the fact she always does and says what she wants."
As well as swapping TV series for the big screen, Clarke - who made FHM's 100 sexiest women in the world list back in 2014 - also made the move to Los Angeles.
However, fans struggle to keep up with the actress these days, as it appears she is no longer active on social media.
That doesn't mean she is without work, though - as according to Clarke's IMDB page, she has got at least three projects in the pipeline.
It states that she is in the process of shooting two flicks - titled The Sugar Moon Tribe and Skinny Buddha - while a movie she stars in named Enchanting the Mortals is now in post-production.
So, it sounds like the actress best known for playing Neil's sister might soon be welcoming another generation of fans into the fold.
In a previous interview with Regard Magazine, Clarke explained acting became 'second nature' to her as she 'grew up in front of the camera'.
"I really didn’t want to do anything else, but that’s not to say it hasn’t been a challenging road full of ups and downs," she told the publication.
"There have been times where I’ve had to dig deep, pick myself up and just keep on going.
"But, I’m incredibly grateful to have had the experiences I have, because of the industry and to still be working. I feel grateful for every job that I do."
Where are the cast of The Inbetweeners now?
Simon Bird
Since his days of playing briefcase w*nker Will McKenzie, Simon Bird has starred in the beloved sitcom Friday Night Dinner (2011-2020), and Everyone Else Burns (2023-present).
The 41-year-old has also moved behind the camera to direct projects like Days of the Bagnold Summer (2019) and the BBC's BAFTA-winning Such Brave Girls, and is set to feature in the upcoming Star Wars film, Starfighter.
Bird married author Lisa Owens back in 2012, and the pair have two children together.
James Buckley
The Jay Cartwright actor has utilised his character’s crudeness to his advantage, making a mint on personalised video platform Cameo.
Over the years, James Buckley, now 39, has performed in the West End and had occasional roles in TV and film, recently starring in the British comedy-drama film Mother's Pride.
He’s also made a name for himself in the podcast world, including Joe and James Fact Up, which he hosts alongside his Inbetweeners co-star Joe Thomas, and The Buckleys with his wife of 13 years, Clair. The couple share two sons together.
Joe Thomas
After playing Simon in The Inbetweeners series and its subsequent hit films, the actor bagged some major roles on our screens, including Chickens (2011-2013), White Gold (2017-2019) and most memorably as Kingsley Owen in Fresh Meat (2011-2016).
In a life imitates art moment, the 42-year-old is engaged to his Inbetweeners co-star, Hannah Tointon, who played Simon’s girlfriend Tara in the third season of the show. They have been together since meeting on set in 2010 and welcomed a daughter in 2022.
Blake Harrison
From the Dad's Army film (2016) and shows like World on Fire (2019-2023) and Kate & Koji (2020-2022) to voiceover work in the Bob the Builder reboot, Blake Harrison has made moves (perhaps not as good as Neil’s) in the entertainment industry.
The 41-year-old recently appeared in the movie Fing! and is starring in the upcoming Mark Gatiss mystery series Bookish.
Harrison met his now-wife, Kerry Ann Lynch, during a pub crawl for Joe Thomas' birthday in 2009. They got married in 2015 and have two kids together.
Emily Head
Since her breakout role as Carli D'Amato in the E4 sitcom, Emily Head, 37, has built a successful career in TV and theatre.
Most notably, she appeared in Emmerdale (2016-2018), BBC drama The Syndicate (2021), and wrote and performed in her own one-woman play, The System (2021).
Greg Davies
While Mr Gilbert was a memorable character, it’s now just a small part of Greg Davies’ career as he’s since established himself as one of the most recognisable figures in British comedy.
The 58-year-old has starred in sitcoms like Cuckoo (2012-2019), created and fronted Man Down (2013-2017), and regularly appeared on panel shows.
However, Davies’ biggest success has been as the host of the BAFTA-winning game show, Taskmaster.
Topics: Channel 4, The Inbetweeners, Nostalgia, Jobs, TV and Film
Olivia Burke