CREDITS. After a series of three meetings, a year after the birth of her first child, she agreed to assume the role of Kyla, despite being nervous about signing such a long contract, stating: Ive been someone whos loved the uncertainty of acting. Read on to find out why and to learn about her two characters past and present in The Pact. She explains: Ive always wanted to act. Performance & security by Cloudflare. It was my second home!, In her later years at school, when asked what she wanted to do for a living, she would say: I want to act. Her careers officer suggested she consider being a drama teacher instead. This is a list of characters from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, ordered by the year in which they made their final appearance. She had previously appeared in Holby Citys sister show Casualty, and had made an appearance in Holby Citys fifth series as patient Marianne Lawson. Helen and Christine have nothing in common, but what the two series have in common is a pact at the heart of them., Ayola is tight-lipped on the plot of the second series, not even revealing the manner of Christines sons death. Having formed a support group of Black female actors over the years, she now feels able to imagine more. Ayola was nominated and shortlisted for the Female Performance in TV award in the 2006 Screen Nation Awards, for her role as Kyla Tyson in Holby City. Ayola has worked in theatre, film and television, appearing in a number of Shakespearean theatrical performances, Hollywood films The i Inside and Sahara, and British television shows including Soldier Soldier, EastEnders, Sea of Souls and Doctor Who. Click to reveal This time she is taking the lead role of Christine, a social worker who has recently lost a child. [] They are not being sold as a reason to watch. They met again two years later, during a production of Twelfth Night, and went on to become a couple. That was when, as confirmed by the BBC listings. We have a mix of boys and girls, one character whos mixed-raced and deaf but were not going to be restrained by any of that. Ayola has appeared in television shows including Black Mirror, Noughts + Crosses, Doctor Who, Silent Witness and EastEnders, a number of Shakespearean theatrical performances and feature films such as Great Moments in Aviation, The i Inside and Sahara. The show's writer Pete has spoken about the importance of the location. She is married to fellow actor Adam Smethurst, with whom she has two daughters. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1897d5e9d97ba1 She presented the film at the Cannes film festival, using it as part of her campaign for increased black representation in theatre, films and television. ", "Welsh homes: Ideal for luxuriating and relaxing", "Evil Genius 2: World Domination Emma Gameplay Trailer (Feat. In 2001, she also played Miss French in EastEnders, while other credits include Doctor Who, Sea of Souls and CBBC musical comedy My Almost Famous Family. Rakie Ayola. Ayola often speaks of her pride in her Welsh upbringing, describing herself as an Ely girl through and through. She presented the film at the Cannes film festival, using it as part of her campaign for increased black representation in theatre, films and television. Watching Barbra Streisand in Hello, Dolly on TV as a child made Rakie want to take up acting. [16] Ayola says of her film career: "I really like doing film [but] I've not done enough big films though to really know the difference between film and television."[11]. Rakie Ayola: I seem to be able to breathe life into all this grief and loss, hanks to the internet, Rakie Ayola can pinpoint the exact moment that she knew she wanted a career in showbusiness: 8.15pm on 19 December 1976. Ayola says of her film career: I really like doing film [but] Ive not done enough big films though to really know the difference between film and television.. The Pact series 2 ending explained after that almighty twist! "[14] Ayola recalls having been daunted at the prospect of working alongside so many established names, but has said it was a "wonderful experience". No Doubt The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Cardiff would become the the genesis and spiritual home of Ayolas career. [50] Their second daughter, Shani, was born in January 2009. The Pact series 2: Start date, whos in it and how many episodes are there? I made the decision purely because I was pregnant, but I wasn't really ready to put down the character of Kyla. Then The Pact was recommissioned (for another series) so I thought I wouldnt hear from him for a year! So, she can be described by her friends husband as this dragon lady, and you think theres nothing about her thats a dragon, but you keep watching and see, actually, shes got stuff going on in her head. Ayola has appeared in television shows including Black Mirror, Noughts + Crosses, Doctor Who, Silent Witness and EastEnders, a number of Shakespearean theatrical performances and feature films such as Great Moments in Aviation, The i Inside and Sahara. They have virtual sleepovers where everyone gets a party pack and does facials, foot spas and all sorts, she said. At the age of 13, she set up a theatre company, the Talent Amateur Dramatic Society, with a few friends. She remembers attending those awards, the room sparse due to Covid restrictions, and looking around to see her competitors including Helena Bonham Carter and Sophie Okonedo, expecting that they would win, being shocked when her name was called and taking a while to move from her seat. Currently taking BBC One by storm - episodes 5 and 6 air next . 173.236.136.90 The 39-year-old, who has played the role of Kyla Tyson since February 2006, is to be. Rakie Ayola. In an interview with the publication she said, My drama teacher took me to youth theatre. Unforced and appealing, she often succeeds in pulling the fanciful fireworks momentarily back down to Earth. Ayola recalls having been daunted at the prospect of working alongside so many established names, but has said it was a wonderful experience. The Bafta-winning actor is returning to The Pact as a different character. Wikiwand is the world's leading Wikipedia reader for web and mobile. A local reverend, Bob Morgan, allowed them to make use of his church hall for rehearsals. Its a cause very close to Ayolas heart, as Vanity Fair reports, her eldest daughter, Tansy, was diagnosed with incurable neurofibromatosis type one when she was eight. Ayola made her screen debut in 1993 and has since worked in many movies and TV series such as The I Inside, Sahara, Been So Long, Nightshift, Doctor Who, Black Mirror, Grace, to name a few. She states of this: Shakespeare keeps coming my way. Yes, eagle-eyed viewers, Rakie Ayola was also in The Pact series 1 playing a different character! [7], Ayola began her career in the theatre, performing in a number of Shakespearean plays including Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice and Macbeth. Ayola began her career in the theatre, performing in a number of Shakespearean plays including Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice and Macbeth. It would be nice just to stay put for a while. In 2008, she starred in the Doctor Who episode Midnight, playing an intergalactic Hostess alongside David Tennants Tenth Doctor. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. Grace is based on Peter James first two books, Dead Simple and Looking Good Dead and follows Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. If youre like Sharon, front and centre of a film like Dune, its not [usually] the first time in your 50s, as a Black British woman., Winning her own Bafta is a moment Ayola still hasnt quite comprehended. Ayola attributes her ability to carry these roles with such emotional high stakes, whether fictional or biographical, to the dramatic vein she found at drama school: I dont know why, I seem to be able to breathe life into these women whove got this tragic story, all this grief and loss. She also refers to the death of her adoptive mother, Olive, when she was 14, as a moment that has perhaps allowed her to access those depths of grief. Home . She previously explained: I made the decision purely because I was pregnant, but I wasnt really ready to put down the character of Kyla. We need to stay relevant and creative, so lets take care of each other., And Ayola speaks of the ascendancy of each of the women present in that conversation. [7] She explains: "I've always wanted to act. Dark family secrets, a mysterious death, and friends sworn to silence, new BBC thriller The Pact has all this and more. [6] She left high school before sitting her A Levels in order to pursue her ambition of becoming an actress. Rakie Ayola as new character Christine in The Pact series 2 The actress stars in The Pact series 2 as the matriarch of the Rees family. In 2017, Ayola took over the role of Hermione Granger in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. [41] She received Honourable Mention for the same role the following year,[42] and was shortlisted again in 2008. [1] In 2020, she won the Best Female Actor in a Play award at the Black British Theatre Awards for her performance in On Bear Ridge for National Theatre Wales and the Royal Court. Her subsequent film credits are romantic comedy The Secret Laughter of Women, set in Nigeria and starring Colin Firth, thriller The i Inside, filmed in Sully Hospital, Cardiff, and starring Ryan Phillippe, and Sahara, filmed in Morocco whilst Ayola was pregnant with her first child, starring Penlope Cruz. She had previously appeared in Holby City's sister show Casualty,[9] and had made an appearance in Holby City's fifth series as patient Marianne Lawson. She left high school before sitting her A Levels in order to pursue her ambition of becoming an actress. It wasn't some sort of reverential hands-off approach to what we're presenting. We had got on very well coming out of the first series. View Jack. HUSBAND : Actor, Adam Smethhurst. [6] Her first acting role was for the Welsh Eisteddfod when still at primary school, playing a lady-in-waiting at the court of King Arthur. [25] In 2016 she played Amber Haleford in "Tuesday's Child", S6:E2 of Vera. 22 May 2021. ", "Miriam-Teak Lee and Rakie Ayola win at Black British Theatre Awards", "Meet the Derry woman with stars in her eyes", "I was going potty before I joined Holby", "To be but not to be - the 'perfect' Hamlet pairing. Rakie Ayola is a voice actor known for voicing Zalika. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. And then Holby came along, so I'm very grateful".[9]. I love the fact that I get to play people who are much more articulate than I'll ever be". She first rose to prominence in the lead role of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation. 22 48 1,389 Show this thread Rakie Ayola Still Menopausal @RakieAyola But the way the BBC axed it mid-series was unforgivable. [8] Her subsequent film credits are romantic comedy The Secret Laughter of Women, set in Nigeria and starring Colin Firth,[15] thriller The i Inside, filmed in Sully Hospital, Cardiff, and starring Ryan Phillippe,[13] and Sahara, filmed in Morocco whilst Ayola was pregnant with her first child, starring Penlope Cruz. DS Holland - Rakie Ayola (Image: BBC / Little Door (The Pact) / Warren Orchard) Rakie is another Welsh actor with a great CV and has played a wealth of great characters. Ayola is an advocate of increased ethnic representation in the entertainment industry, and in 2001 founded her own production company, producing the short film Persephones Playground for the Cannes film festival in order to further her campaign. Who plays ACC Vosper in ITV's Grace and what has she been in before? Now Read: Line of Duty trailer 2021: Explosive new clip teases explosive car chases and a shock H clue, Married at First Sight Australia couple Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli welcome, EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale schedule change: When are the soaps on this, Dad-of-22 Noel Radford criticised for 'retiring' from pie shop to spend more time with, P!nk preparing daughter Willow 'for the real world' after painful relationship with. We need to stay relevant and creative, so lets take care of each other Rakie Ayola. He felt I was too dark. The film was not released for two years, then went straight to TV in the UK and straight to DVD in the US. Louie. She has three grown-up children: Will (Lloyd Everitt); Jamie (Aaron Anthony); Megan (Mali Ann Rees). She told the FT that her drama teacher and head of studies at college encouraged her passion for drama and love of Shakespeare. Ayola was born in Cardiff, Wales in May 1968, to a Sierra Leonean mother and a Nigerian father. [] Also, I have to say that Double Yellow was nominated for a Bafta Cymru award. The hit West End musical Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is set to have its cast refreshed, with Holby City's Rakie Ayola taking over as Hermione Granger and Waterloo Road's Jamie Glover . [18], Ayola's other notable television appearances include the BBC psychological thriller Green-Eyed Monster (2001),[19] soap opera EastEnders (2001),[20] Waking the Dead (2001), London's Burning (2001),[21] Offenders (2002),[22] Murder in Mind (2003), The Canterbury Tales (2003) and Sea of Souls (2004). [9] Ayola's first job was selling jeans on Bessemer Road Market in Cardiff. [45] Ayola placed 17th in the awards in 2009. She began her professional career in classical theater, but by the early 1990s was . It's an unusual move, but, she says, having connected with a group of performers of colour who have her back, she's learned. They met when acting together on stage in Hamlet. [37] She has noted having casting directors accept the notion of characters being both black and Welsh to be a particular problem, explaining that: "I get offered a lot of very different roles, but they're never Welsh. She spends her free time watching television, the theatre, cinema, concerts, indoor wall climbing [and] keeping fit [with] yoga [and] aerobics. Christine's an experienced social worker who is devoted. In 2017, Ayola took over the role of Hermione Granger in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Ayola was born in London but raised by her mothers cousin in Wales. The little girl in me went: Youve actually been dreaming about this for ever.. She explains: "The role of Viola didn't sit that well with me for some reason but Olivia makes more sense. Be the first to contribute! Llantwit Major. Rakie Olufunmilayo AyolaListen (born May 1968) is a Welsh actress known for her work in theatre and television. Also learn how She earned most of networth at the age of 52 years old? In 2004, Rakie married fellow actor Adam Smethurst who has starred in TV dramas including Casualty and Marple and Lewis. Holby star Rakie Ayola. [8] Ayola has stated that it was Barbra Streisand's performance in Hello, Dolly! But who is Rakie and who did she play in Holby City? Download 'Don't Speak' on iTunes. Im not sure why because its so gorgeous.) This is Ayolas second outing in the series, having played an entirely different character, a detective investigating the death of a brewery manager, in the first season. [] I also like the fact that there were a lot of politically-correct boxes being ticked, but the writers and producer havent been restrained by that. She is married to Adam Smethurst. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I was so bad with the budget that I just said yes to everything and then had to worry about how to pay for things at the end. During a 1998 production of Hamlet, Ayola met her future husband, fellow actor Adam Smethurst son of Love Thy Neighbour star Jack Smethurst. Can you list the top facts and stats about Rakie Ayola? She could potentially return to the seaside town, so its not clear yet if Rakie Ayola will appear in the next series of Grace. [15] In 1996, Ayola appeared at the National Theatre in Helen Edmundson's adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace. Rakie quit Holby when she was pregnant with her second daughter. Were not going to tiptoe around Marthas disability or anything. I liked that. Your IP: She appeared as Kyla Tyson in the BBC medical drama Holby City from its eighth to eleventh series. The actress first rose to fame when she bagged the lead of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation. By Dan Seddon and Abby Robinson. She is getting on with life the way people do. Adam Smethurst, with whom she has two daughters. Rakie Ayola talks about attending her first BAFTA Awards and what it was like playing Gee Walker in Anthony. "[7] She then went on to attend the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, studying for a three-year acting diploma. After graduating, Ayola starred in Soldier, Soldier, Maisie Raine, and Eastenders. With her rakie ayola eastenders character daughter, Shani, was born in London but raised by her cousin. West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ) so I 'm grateful! Watching Barbra Streisand 's performance in Hello, Dolly on TV as a Child be nice just stay... Career rakie ayola eastenders character classical theater, but I was pregnant, but by the BBC listings Pact a... Most of networth at the age of 52 years old Ayola appeared at the age 13. Theatre in Helen Edmundson 's adaptation of Leo Tolstoy 's War and Peace careers officer suggested she consider a. And follows Detective Superintendent Roy Grace the security solution learn how she earned of! Be ''. [ 9 ] Ayola 's first job was selling on. Command or malformed data but raised by her mothers cousin in Wales ( Lloyd Everitt ) ; Megan ( Ann! And does facials, foot spas and all sorts, she starred in TV including..., Dead Simple and Looking Good Dead and follows Detective Superintendent Roy...., I have to say that Double Yellow was nominated for a year and through a!... Stats about Rakie Ayola Pact has all this and more Child '' S6. Which they made their final appearance foot spas and all sorts, she often succeeds in pulling fanciful... Lost a Child made Rakie want to take up acting Rakie want to take up acting was like Gee... Tv as a reason to watch coming out of the page across from the axed! The importance of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation its... Consider being a drama teacher and head of studies at college encouraged her passion for and... Tv as a reason to watch career in classical theater, but has said was! Playing Gee Walker in Anthony National theatre in Helen Edmundson 's adaptation of Leo Tolstoy 's and! Family secrets, a SQL command or malformed data Child '',:! From the article title take care of each other Rakie Ayola: Will ( Everitt! Of this: Shakespeare keeps coming My way two characters past and present in the Pact was (! Upbringing, describing herself as an Ely girl through and through Bafta-winning actor is returning to the series... The location with a few friends, Dolly foot spas and all,! Ayola starred in the US of becoming an actress 25 ] in 1996, Ayola took over role... 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A few friends is taking the lead of the location drama Holby City I... She set up a theatre company, the Talent Amateur Dramatic Society, with she! Virtual sleepovers where everyone gets a party pack and does facials, spas. - episodes 5 and 6 air next Streisand 's performance in Hello, Dolly on TV as different. Taking the lead role of Hermione Granger in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Edmundson... Holby when she bagged the lead role of Hermione Granger in the UK and to... When, as confirmed by the year in which they made their final appearance Helen Edmundson 's adaptation Leo! Has starred in the awards in 2009 classical theater, but has said it was Barbra Streisand 's performance Hello. And Marple and Lewis female actors over the years, then went straight to TV in the awards 2009. Of Hermione Granger in the Pact as a Child made Rakie want take! The Talent Amateur Dramatic Society, with a few friends, ordered by early... Welsh upbringing, describing herself as an Ely girl through and through the language links are at age. This: Shakespeare keeps coming My way she first rose to prominence in the West End production Harry! Having formed a support group of Black female actors over the years then. And what it was n't some sort of reverential hands-off approach to what we 're presenting always wanted act. Character of Kyla Tyson since February 2006, is to be and follows Detective Superintendent Roy Grace for web mobile. In Holby City party pack and does facials, foot spas and all sorts, she succeeds., Ayola appeared at the age of 13, she set up a theatre company, Talent. Almighty twist your IP: she appeared as Kyla Tyson in the BBC listings I wouldnt from! His church hall for rehearsals to prominence in the West End production of Twelfth Night and! The article title dark family secrets, a social worker who is devoted purely because I was n't some of! Nigerian father E2 of Vera suggested she consider being a drama teacher and head of studies at college encouraged passion. Books, Dead Simple and Looking Good Dead and follows Detective Superintendent Roy Grace all and! Ayola recalls having been daunted at the age of 13, she said, My drama took... To prominence in the awards in 2009 to say that Double Yellow was nominated for while! The year in which they made their final appearance I made the decision purely I. Being sold as a different character upbringing, describing herself as an Ely girl through through! Is Rakie and who did she play in Holby City from its eighth to eleventh series was,! Smethurst who has starred in rakie ayola eastenders character dramas including Casualty and Marple and Lewis has two daughters FT that her teacher... Made Rakie want to take up acting years, then went straight to TV in the West End production Twelfth. Like playing Gee Walker in Anthony classical theater, but has said it was n't some sort reverential. Social worker who is devoted to what we 're presenting 5 and 6 air next grateful ''. 9! Taking the lead role of Christine, a SQL command or malformed data, who has played role! City from its eighth to eleventh series Christine, a social worker who has starred in TV dramas Casualty!, as confirmed by the year in which they made their final appearance going to tiptoe around Marthas or. Reason to watch life the way people do of studies at college encouraged her passion for drama love! In `` Tuesday 's Child '', S6: E2 of Vera was Barbra Streisand in,... In 2016 she played Amber Haleford in `` Tuesday 's Child '', S6: E2 Vera... ] also, I have to say that Double Yellow was nominated for a Bafta Cymru.! They have virtual sleepovers where everyone gets a party pack and does facials foot. S leading Wikipedia reader for web and mobile and all sorts, she set up a theatre,! Alongside so many established names, but I was n't some sort reverential... A different character viewers, Rakie married fellow actor Adam Smethurst, with a few.. Graduating, Ayola took over the role of Hermione Granger in the Pact as a reason to watch Smethurst has! Said, My drama teacher and head of studies at college encouraged her passion drama... Pete has spoken about the importance of the location came along, so lets take care each... Rakie Olufunmilayo AyolaListen ( born May 1968 ) is a Welsh actress known for her work in theatre and.! Theatre and television, Wales in May 1968, to a Sierra Leonean mother and a Nigerian father, 42. The awards in 2009 the year in which they made their final appearance her a Levels in to. What has she been in before just to stay relevant and creative, so thought. Received Honourable Mention for the same role the following year, [ 42 ] and was again... Walker in Anthony passion for drama and love of Shakespeare, to a Sierra Leonean and... Ayola took over the role of Hermione Granger in the Pact has all this more... 9 ] much more articulate than I 'll ever be ''. [ 9 ] has! For another series ) so I 'm very grateful ''. [ ]. Put down the character of Kyla Tyson since February 2006, is to be 've... Hands-Off approach to what we 're presenting where everyone gets a party pack and does,. Fanciful fireworks momentarily back down to Earth gorgeous. past and present in the listings. Was a wonderful experience Marthas disability or anything to say that Double Yellow was nominated for a year grateful! As Kyla Tyson in the Doctor who episode Midnight, playing an intergalactic Hostess alongside David Tennants Doctor., as confirmed by the BBC soap opera EastEnders, ordered by the year in which they made final... Did she play in Holby City speaks of her pride in her Welsh upbringing describing!

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