Coleman was born in Blackpool, Lancashire. She attended Arnold School in Blackpool, where she was head girl and gained straight As in her A-levels. Discussing her role on Emmerdale, Coleman said that she regrets not having a conventional university experience. While at school, Coleman was a member of a theatre company called "In Yer Space", with whom she performed at the Edinburgh Festival in the play Crystal Clear. She won an award for her performance, while the play was also received favourably. Whilst auditioning for drama schools, Coleman landed the part of Jasmine Thomas in Emmerdale in 2005. In 2007 Coleman was nominated for two awards. At the British Soap Awards she was nominated as "Best Newcomer", and at the National Television Awards she was nominated as "Most Popular Newcomer". At the 2009 British Soap Awards she was nominated in the "Best Actress", "Sexiest Female" and "Best Dramatic Performance" categories. Coleman received a nomination for "Best Actress" from the TV Choice Awards. In May 2009 it was announced that Coleman would be joining BBC drama Waterloo Road, as "hard girl" Lindsay James. As she was 23 at the time of her casting, Coleman found the experience of playing a schoolgirl again "surreal". In December 2010, it was announced that Coleman would be appearing in a new BBC Four television adaptation of the John Braine novel Room at the Top playing the role of Susan Brown.

• Me Before You (2016)

  
• Victoria (2016)

  
• Death Comes to Pemberley (2013)

  
• Titanic (2012)

  
• The Cry (2018)