Kay was born on February 11, 1971,[1] in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire.[1] She grew up in Levisham on the North York Moors.[2]
Kay trained as a ballet dancer from a young age, with a scholarship at the Royal Ballet School, London for 3 years, until knee injury ended her aspirations.[3] She changed path toward acting, taking a three-year course at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.[3]
In 2004, Kay made her television debut in the episode "Wrecked" of ITV1's Heartbeat.[2] She played the character of Emma Bryden, a lonely single mother who forms a friendship with PC Phil Bellamy. She became a cast regular playing Nurse Carol Cassidy from 2006 to 2010.[1] Kay appeared in the episode "Among the few" (series 2 episode 2) playing Connie Dewar, a driver at a fuel depot, in ITV's Foyle's War.[2]
Kay appeared in the Australian soap Home and Away for two episodes in 2018 as Professor Juliet Pickford. Also in 2018 she appeared in Neighbours as Rita Newland.[1]
