As a child she appeared in several television commercials. Daniela Jolanta Denby-Ashe (born 9 August 1978) is an English actress. She is known for portraying the roles of Sarah Hills in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders (1995–1999), Janey Harper in the BBC One sitcom My Family (2000–2002, 2004–2011), Margaret Hale in the BBC One period drama series North & South (2004), and Lorraine Donnegan in the BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road.