She attended the secondary community school Swanmore College. Holden was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire and spent much of her childhood in Bishop's Waltham, and aged nine she joined Bishop's Waltham Little Theatre Company. In 2020, she released her debut studio album, Songs from My Heart, which reached the top 5 on the UK Albums Chart.
In 2013, Holden released her autobiography book, No Holding Back, which became a Sunday Times bestseller. Holden has also presented various television shows for ITV, including The Sun Military Awards (2009–2014), Superstar (2012), This Morning (2014–2015, 2017), Text Santa (2015), and Give a Pet a Home (2015). She played the title role in the musical stage show Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2004, for which she was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award. Holden grew up in Bishop's Waltham and took an interest in acting and musical theatre while at school. She also co-hosts the national Heart Breakfast radio show with Jamie Theakston on weekday mornings. Since 2007, she has been a judge on the television talent show competition Britain's Got Talent on ITV. Amanda Louise Holden (born 16 February 1971) is an English media personality, actress and singer.
