Fay Ripley – Cold Feet, Cookbooks, and Life in 2025

Fay Ripley is an English actress, television presenter, and award-winning cookbook author best known for playing Jenny Gifford in the ITV drama Cold Feet. Born on 26 February 1966 in Wimbledon, London, she has built a career spanning more than three decades across television, film, and publishing.

Ripley studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1990 before landing her first professional role in the pantomime Around the World in 80 Days. Her breakthrough came in 1997 when she was cast in Cold Feet, a role that earned her a British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress in 1999 and a BAFTA nomination.

Beyond acting, Ripley has authored three cookbooks and hosts a podcast with her husband, actor Daniel Lapaine. She is also a patron of The Hygiene Bank, a charity focused on hygiene poverty. Her career reflects a deliberate shift from screen acting toward food writing and lifestyle content.

Who Is Fay Ripley?

• Fay Ripley is best known for playing Jenny Gifford in the ITV drama Cold Feet (1997–2003, 2016–2020).
• She has authored three cookbooks since 2009 and is described as an “award-winning food writer.”
• Despite a successful acting career, she has pivoted to food and lifestyle content, including a podcast with her husband.
• She is a BAFTA nominee and a patron of The Hygiene Bank charity.
• Ripley has resisted offers for her own cookery series, preferring to contribute recipes to publications.

What Are Fay Ripley’s Most Famous Movies and TV Shows?

Breakthrough Role: Jenny Gifford in Cold Feet

Ripley’s most recognized role is Jenny Gifford in the ITV drama Cold Feet, which originally aired from 1997 to 2003. She returned for the revival series from 2016 to 2020. The role earned her the British Comedy Award for Best TV Comedy Actress in 1999 and a BAFTA nomination, cementing her status as a household name in British television. Wikipedia and IMDb both list this as her defining performance.

Television Credits Beyond Cold Feet

Ripley has appeared in a range of TV series. She played Nicola Perrin in the 2009 comedy Reggie Perrin and Christine Frances in Monday Monday (2009). She also starred in Suspects, The Delivery Man, and I Saw You — the last of which she has described as the project she is “most proud” of, having acted alongside her husband Daniel Lapaine. More recently, she appeared in DNA Journey (2025) with Hermione Norris, and in What It Feels Like for a Girl (2025). She has also narrated the Channel 5 series Grime & Punishment and served as a team captain on the ITV trivia quiz Showdown.

Film Work

Ripley’s first major film role was Karen Hughes in Mute Witness (1995). She also appeared in The Announcement and had scenes in Kenneth Branagh’s Frankenstein (1994) that were cut before release. Her first professional role was in the chorus of the pantomime Around the World in 80 Days.

Who Is Fay Ripley Married To?

Husband: Daniel Lapaine

Fay Ripley is married to Australian actor Daniel Lapaine. The couple married in October 2001 in Tuscany. Lapaine is known for his roles in Muriel’s Wedding, The Matrix Reloaded, and the TV series Zero Hour. Your’s magazine and Hello! both confirm the marriage and the location of the ceremony.

Children

The couple have two children: a daughter named Parker, born in 2002, and a son named Sonny, born in 2006. Ripley has spoken about balancing family life with her acting and writing careers.

Parents and Family Background

Public records show that Ripley was born in Wimbledon, London, but detailed information about her parents — including her father’s name — is not widely reported in available sources. What is known comes from her birth records and biographical entries on Wikipedia and The Movie Database. Her father’s name remains unclear in the public domain.

What Is Fay Ripley’s Net Worth?

Fay Ripley’s net worth is not publicly disclosed in any available authoritative source. She has maintained a steady career in acting and publishing since 1990, which suggests financial stability, but no official figure has been confirmed by Ripley, her representatives, or any verified financial outlet.

What Is Fay Ripley Doing Now?

As of 2025, Fay Ripley remains active across multiple platforms. She appeared in the genealogy series DNA Journey alongside Hermione Norris, and in the drama What It Feels Like for a Girl. She also narrated the Channel 5 series Grime & Punishment and featured in the mini-series Great Hotels Through Time. Her Instagram bio describes her simply: “3 cookbooks, 2 kids, 1 marriage. Some acting inbetween.”

Ripley continues to write recipes for various publications and has resisted offers for a dedicated cookery series. She and her husband host a podcast together, blending comedy and consumer topics. She also serves as a patron of The Hygiene Bank, a charity addressing hygiene poverty in the UK.

Key Milestones in Fay Ripley’s Career

1. 1966 – Born in Wimbledon, London, England.
2. 1990 – Graduates from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
3. 1995 – First major film role as Karen Hughes in Mute Witness.
4. 1997–2003 – Stars as Jenny Gifford in Cold Feet, earning a British Comedy Award.
5. 2001 – Marries Australian actor Daniel Lapaine in Tuscany.
6. 2009 – Publishes first cookbook, Fay’s Family Food.
7. 2012 – Publishes second cookbook, What’s For Dinner?.
8. 2014 – Publishes third cookbook, Fay Makes It Easy.
9. 2016–2020 – Returns for the Cold Feet revival.
10. 2025 – Appears in DNA Journey, What It Feels Like for a Girl, and Great Hotels Through Time.

What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Fay Ripley?

What Does Fay Ripley’s Career Trajectory Reveal?

Ripley’s career reflects a broader shift in the entertainment industry toward multi-platform personal branding. After establishing herself as a television actress through Cold Feet, she moved into food writing — a niche passion that evolved into a parallel career. Her three cookbooks, published between 2009 and 2014, were well received, and she has been described as an “award-winning food writer.”

The Cold Feet revival from 2016 to 2020 allowed Ripley to revisit her defining role while simultaneously building new ventures in publishing and podcasting. Her decision to resist offers for a dedicated cookery series suggests a preference for creative control over mainstream exposure.

Her charity work with The Hygiene Bank adds a layer of social impact to her public profile. The Hygiene Bank lists her as a patron, and she has used her platform to raise awareness about hygiene poverty in the UK. Another figure in the lifestyle and television space is Kate Humble – Biography, Career, and Life on the Farm.

What Do Available Sources Say About Fay Ripley?

“3 cookbooks, 2 kids, 1 marriage. Some acting inbetween.”

— Instagram bio (@fayripley)

“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

What Is the Overall Picture of Fay Ripley?

Fay Ripley is a British actress and cookbook author who built her reputation on the ITV drama Cold Feet and later expanded into food writing, podcasting, and charity work. She has been married to Australian actor Daniel Lapaine since 2001, and they have two children. While her net worth is not publicly known, her career across acting, publishing, and television presenting has been steady since 1990. In 2025, she remains active in television and continues to write and contribute recipes. For readers interested in similar British television actors, Rosie Cavaliero – Biography, TV Shows, and Movies offers a related profile.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fay Ripley