Blake's family background is quite impressive. She is the granddaughter of the renowned actress Annette Mills and a grand-niece of the celebrated actor Sir John Mills. Furthermore, Blake is related to actresses Hayley and Juliet Mills, who are her first cousins once-removed.
Blake's television career has been marked by her frequent appearances in shows written by and starring Victoria Wood. One of her most notable roles was as the continuity announcer in the 1985 series "Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV", where she introduced the popular spoof soap "Acorn Antiques" in the mid-1980s. She has also made significant contributions to radio, showcasing her versatility as a performer.
Blake's early television credits include her appearance in the first episode of the sitcom "One Foot in the Grave" in 1990, where her character played a pivotal role in setting the events of the show in motion. She went on to play the character of Bev Unwin in the ITV soap opera "Coronation Street" until her departure in December 2006.
In 2004, Blake took on the role of a witch in the pantomime "Wizard of Oz" at the "Lowry Theatre and Gallery" in Salford. Her subsequent theatre credits include playing the character of Madame Morrible in the West End production of "Wicked", which she began on April 2, 2007, replacing Miriam Margolyes. Blake's final performance was on April 12, 2008, and she was replaced by Harriet Thorpe.
In 2008-2009, Blake starred in the national UK tour of "Boeing Boeing" and appeared as Judith in one episode of the third series of "Wild at Heart". She also joined the national tour of "Grumpy Old Women 2" in 2009, alongside Jenny Eclair and Wendi Peters.
Blake's more recent television credits include her appearance as Hilary Nicholson in the RTÉ and BBC comedy "Mrs. Brown's Boys" in 2011, replacing Sorcha Cusack. She is currently (autumn 2015) playing the role of The Queen in a theatre tour of the West End hit "Handbagged".
Blake briefly reprised her Coronation Street role of Bev Unwin in July 2015 to help the long-running character Deirdre Barlow, played by the late Anne Kirkbride, bow out of the soap due to Kirkbride's death in January 2015.
