Ruby O'Donnell

Ruby Victoria O'Donnell is an English actress who spent twelve years playing Peri Lomax on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. She joined the show as a teenager in 2013 and grew up on screen, becoming one of the soap's most recognisable faces before her character was killed off in October 2025 during the show's 30th anniversary week.

Her performance as Peri earned her the Best Young Performance award at the 2016 British Soap Awards. Over the years, she tackled storylines ranging from teenage pregnancy to grief and complex relationships, building a devoted fanbase who watched her mature from a child actor into a leading soap star.

Since leaving Hollyoaks, O'Donnell has been exploring new opportunities. She remains active on social media, where she shares glimpses of her life and her love of baseball, and she is currently in a relationship with her former co-star Nathaniel Dass. [edit]

Ruby O'Donnell was born on 26 October 2000 in Warrington, Cheshire, and grew up in the town. Her childhood was fairly typical until she landed a role that would change everything. At just 12 years old, she auditioned for Hollyoaks with no prior acting experience whatsoever. As she later wrote on Instagram, "13 years ago I got offered this incredible role with no acting experience and my life completely changed."

She made her debut as Peri Lomax in October 2013, stepping into the spotlight as a young teen. The transition from schoolgirl to soap actress was rapid, and O'Donnell balanced her education with filming schedules. Her early months on set were a steep learning curve, but she quickly found her footing, impressing producers and audiences alike with her natural talent.

Before Hollyoaks, she had no professional training or stage experience. Her rise was pure instinct, and it set the stage for a career that would span more than a decade on one of Britain's most beloved soaps. [edit]

Ruby O'Donnell's breakthrough came in 2013 when she was cast as Peri Lomax in Hollyoaks at just 12 years old. The role became her life's work, and she played Peri continuously for twelve years, from October 2013 to October 2025. In 2014, she appeared in the spin-off series Tom's Life, expanding her presence within the Hollyoaks universe.

Her big moment came in 2016 when she won the Best Young Performance award at the British Soap Awards, a recognition of her mature handling of difficult storylines. Over the years, she tackled some of the soap's most challenging plots, including Peri's teenage pregnancy, her struggles with identity, and the emotional death of her on-screen partner Juliet in 2023.

In 2020, she took part in Hollyoaks' flashforward episode, a stunt that kept the cast in the dark about the details. In 2019, she also stepped into film with a role in Portals. Her final Hollyoaks storyline saw Peri killed off during the soap's 30th anniversary week in October 2025, a decision that shocked both her and fans. Since then, she has been considering her next move, with her future projects yet to be announced. [edit]

Ruby O'Donnell's public image is inseparable from her long-running role as Peri Lomax. Audiences watched her grow up on screen, which created a unique bond with viewers who felt like they knew her personally. Her social media presence is warm and relatable, mixing professional updates with personal interests like baseball and her dog. She has a reputation for being down-to-earth, often interacting with fans and sharing candid moments. The soap opera community was notably vocal when her character was killed off, with many expressing shock and sadness. O'Donnell's style is casual and modern, and she has become a fashion influence for younger fans, though she has never courted tabloid attention. Her authenticity is her trademark, and she remains a beloved figure in British television. [edit]

Ruby O'Donnell cultivated a devoted following through her twelve-year portrayal of Peri Lomax, a character whose journey from teenager to young adult mirrored the real-life maturation of the actress herself. The bond with viewers was intimate and enduring, characterized by emotional investment in storylines ranging from teenage pregnancy to the devastating on-screen death of her character in October 2025. This exit, timed with the show's 30th anniversary, generated widespread shock and media attention, cementing a legacy defined by longevity rather than organized fan campaigns or branded collectives. Her audience engages primarily through general Hollyoaks discussion channels rather than a distinct, named fandom entity. Beyond the soap opera sphere, O'Donnell expanded her cultural footprint by winning RuPaul's Drag Race UK, a transition that added a layer of modern mythos to her career and linked her public persona to a broader reality television demographic. Recent developments confirm her return to Hollyoaks specials alongside fellow winners, further intertwining her drag achievements with her acting history. Despite this high profile and significant social media presence, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Ruby O'Donnell but determined she does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, including the Global Top 1,000 or any scope-specific lists. Consequently, no numeric rank or score is assigned at this time.[edit]

Ruby O'Donnell's Instagram bio proudly states she is now a baseball fan, a quirk that has endeared her to audiences. She has frequently joked about learning to act entirely on the job due to a lack of formal training. Her TikTok account features a mix of behind-the-scenes content and personal vlogs for her 325K followers. She once described a departing co-star as literally my best friend, highlighting the close bonds formed during her tenure. Her character Peri was originally introduced as the daughter of Leela Lomax before becoming a fan favourite. Despite her long career, she has never pursued stage work, preferring screen roles. A defining moment in her legend occurred when her character Peri Lomax died in October 2025 after a record-breaking twelve-year run, an event described as a shocking twist that stunned fans during the show's anniversary week. Another notable chapter involves her victory on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, which created a unique dual identity for her public image. Fans often reference the meta-narrative of her confirmed romance with co-star Nathaniel Dass, which blurred the lines between her real life and on-screen dynamics.[edit]

Details about Ruby O'Donnell's family are largely kept private, but it's known she grew up in Warrington, Cheshire. Her parents supported her early career, allowing her to take on the Hollyoaks role at such a young age. She has not publicly shared information about siblings. As of now, she has no children. Her current household includes her boyfriend, Nathaniel Dass, whom she met on the set of Hollyoaks. The couple have kept their home life relatively low-key, but they have occasionally shared glimpses of their life together on social media. [edit]

Ruby O'Donnell is closely associated with her Hollyoaks co-stars, particularly Nathaniel Dass, who plays Dillon Ray and is her real-life boyfriend. She also shares a strong friendship with Jorgie Porter, whose exit from the show she publicly commented on. Kieron Richardson, who presents Hollyoaks Unwrapped, interviewed the couple about their relationship. Her long tenure on the soap links her to a generation of actors who grew up on the show. [edit]

Ruby O'Donnell's dating life has been relatively private. She was in a long-term relationship with a rugby player named Sam, which lasted around four years. The couple split in June 2023, shortly after emotional scenes aired involving her character's on-screen partner's death. Both removed photos of each other from social media at the time.

In late 2023 or early 2024, she began dating her Hollyoaks co-star Nathaniel Dass, who plays Dillon Ray. They went public with their romance in July 2024, confirming it on social media. By October 2025, they had been together for nearly two years. The couple have been open about their relationship, appearing together on the Hollyoaks Unwrapped podcast. As of 2026, they are still together. [edit]

As of 2026, per iFANN's editorial analysis, Ruby O'Donnell's net worth is estimated at $1 Million. Her primary income source throughout her career was her salary from Hollyoaks, where she starred for 12 years. UK soap actors typically earn between £50,000 and £200,000 per year depending on tenure and prominence, which suggests her cumulative earnings from the show could be in the range of £600,000 to £2.4 million before taxes. She has also earned from appearances in spin-offs and public appearances. Since leaving the soap, her income has likely come from brand endorsements and social media partnerships, though she has not disclosed specific figures. Her net worth is modest compared to primetime stars, but her long-running role has provided financial stability.[edit]

Ruby O'Donnell won the Best Young Performance award at the 2016 British Soap Awards for her portrayal of Peri Lomax in Hollyoaks. This was a significant recognition for a young actress in a demanding role, and it remains her most notable industry honour. [edit]