Ayola told Radio Times: She probably wasnt a brilliant bobby on the beat; she would have done what she needed to do, but thats not where her strengths are, she said on the Radio Times, Her strengths are in detecting understanding the kind of person that would commit a crime and why they would do it, then looking into that.. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The actress first rose to fame when she bagged the lead of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation. She is getting on with life the way people do. But last summer I started thinking it would be really nice not to have to look for a job every couple of weeks. 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. In 2008, Ayola offered her support to the Action for Southern Africa campaign Dignity! Click to reveal See also Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs [] I also like the fact that there were a lot of politically-correct boxes being ticked, but the writers and producer haven't been restrained by that. At the age of 13, she set up a theatre company, the Talent Amateur Dramatic Society, with a few friends. She went on to play troubled nurse Kyla Tyson in Holby City from 2006-8, who endured domestic violence and alcoholism. It was something innovative from BBC Wales for a change. Rakie Ayola in The Pact series 2 was in series 1 as different character! Describing her motivation, she states: I am not an overtly political person. Shawn Fonteno Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family, David Brisbin Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family, Del Armstrong Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family, Anel Lopez Gorham Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, Family. "So, instead of bowing to this altar, they've said, 'Okay, we have this family that's half-black, half-white, half-American, half-British. [27], From 7 February 2006 to 9 December 2008, Ayola starred in BBC medical drama Holby City as nurse Kyla Tyson. [8] She went on to appear in Gone With the Wind sequel Scarlett,[7] and star in Welsh soap opera Tiger Bay. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. I made the decision purely because I was pregnant, but I wasnt really ready to put down the character of Kyla. His daughter, Eluned Morgan, now Baroness Ely, the Welsh health minister, reminded me when we met recently that I was never out of that church. She arrived thinking she was on the path for musicals but found that, although she could sing well, she did not have the voice of her idol, Streisand. [33] She was made a Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2003. Period, aiming to provide affordable sanitary protection to Zimbabwean women. [18] She has since concluded that "the kind of audience they would like to bring in with shows like Double Yellow aren't really into watching TV",[12] but at the time was outspoken against the show's cancellation, stating: I'm still really angry about Double Yellow, about how the whole thing was handled. The star played Kyla from February 2006 to December 2008 and has also starred in sister show Casualty. She went on to appear in Gone With the Wind sequel Scarlett, and star in Welsh soap opera Tiger Bay. Adam Smethurst, with whom she has two daughters. 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 theyre never Welsh. Ayola was born in London but raised by her mothers cousin in Wales. [21] In 2008, she starred in the Doctor Who episode "Midnight", playing an intergalactic Hostess alongside David Tennant's Tenth Doctor. Shooting took place in the area between Cardiff and Port Talbot (Youre going west along beautiful coastline that rarely gets filmed. She was raised by her mother's cousin and his wife in Ely, Cardiff. In an interview with the publication she said, My drama teacher took me to youth theatre. But who is Rakie and who did she play in Holby City? 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. She was the lead copper investigating his death. Add a photo or add a quote . She previously explained: I made the decision purely because I was pregnant, but I wasnt really ready to put down the character of Kyla. She is an actress and producer, known for, Zombie Army 4: Dead War: Return to Hell and Free Left 4 Dead Character Pack, Zombie Army 4: Dead War: Terminal Error Trailer, Zombie Army 4: Dead War: Free New Gen Upgrade, Zombie Army 4: Dead War: Dead Zeppelin Trailer, Zombie Army 4: Dead War: Alpine Blitz Trailer. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. The series begins after four employees decide to play a prank on their controlling boss. [10] She worked as a chambermaid whilst attending drama school, and, six weeks prior to graduation, was offered a job with the 'Made in Wales' theatre company which enabled her to obtain her union card. But last summer I started thinking it would be really nice not to have to look for a job every couple of weeks. 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. 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. It felt wrong to try to play that well when the woman who lived it was in the room.. In July last year, Ayola played Gee Walker in BBC Ones TV movie Anthony. It would be nice just to stay put for a while. Rakie is a Trustee of ACT, the Actors Childrens Trust, and an Ambassador of PIPA, Parents in Performing Arts. [11] She states of this: "Shakespeare keeps coming my way. . 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. ", "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. "[34], Throughout her career, Ayola has been outspoken on the subject of racial discrimination in the entertainment industry. During a 1998 production of Hamlet, Ayola met her future husband, fellow actor Adam Smethurst son of Love Thy Neighbour star Jack Smethurst. Played by Aneurin Barnard. HUSBAND : Actor, Adam Smethhurst. But because youre the dark-skinned woman, theres no actual picture of you. Intense focus Rakie Ayola and Jordan Wilks in a scene from the forthcoming series of The Pact. "With so much at stake, his colleague Detective Sergeant Glenn Branson knows he has more to give and asks him for help with a case., Alongside John Simm, Rakie Ayola is starring as ACC Vosper. That was when, as confirmed by the BBC listings. She has three grown-up children: Will (Lloyd Everitt); Jamie (Aaron Anthony); Megan (Mali Ann Rees). This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The Pact series 2: Start date, whos in it and how many episodes are there? Rakie Ayola (Rakie Olufunmilayo Ayoola) was born on 1968-05- in Cardiff, is an Actress. 173.236.136.90 [41] She received Honourable Mention for the same role the following year,[42] and was shortlisted again in 2008. In 2001, she became a presenter of the BBC Wales arts programme Double Yellow, alongside poet Owen Sheers and performance artist Mark Rees. With her Bafta for best supporting actress for BBC Ones Anthony. For a full list of present characters, see list of characters from EastEnders . He didnt write this boss lady Theres a quietness to her control and I found that compelling. T 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. This is a list of characters from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, ordered by the year in which they made their final appearance. She appeared as Kyla Tyson in the BBC medical drama Holby City from its eighth to eleventh series. In 2017, Ayola took over the role of Hermione Granger in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. She received Honourable Mention for the same role the following year, and was shortlisted again in 2008. Your IP: Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? They have two children. They have two daughters, Tansy and Shani, born in 2004 and 2009. Ayola placed 17th in the awards in 2009. The synopsis reads: "Grace is fixated by the disappearance of his beloved wife, Sandy, which haunts his thoughts. ", "Black Wales; After Halle Berry and Denzil Washington's Oscar success, we find out what it means to be black and Welsh today", "Are we less racist than the rest of Britain? She is married to Adam Smethurst. [] They are not being sold as a reason to watch. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. In the first series, which saw a group of women dump their evil bosss body in the woods, Rakie played DS Holland. Rakie Olufunmilayo Ayola (born May 1968) is a Welsh actress, best known for her role as Kyla Tyson in the BBC medical drama Holby City. Watching Barbra Streisand in Hello, Dolly on TV as a child made Rakie want to take up acting. 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. Rakie is a Trustee of ACT, the Actors' Children's Trust, and an Ambassador of PIPA, Parents in Performing Arts. In the summer of 1992, having moved to Elephant and Castle, she remembers auditioning for Beeban Kidrons drama Great Moments in Aviation, which she starred in alongside John Hurt, Jonathan Pryce and Vanessa Redgrave. In 2017, Rakie took over the role of Hermione Granger in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Will, Jamie and Megan dont understand why their mum never talks about her past. In her latest role, Ayola plays DS Holland, the senior detective investigating the death of Jack Holland. I learned later that he really didnt want me to get the job. She is an actress and producer, known for Been So Long (2018), Twelfth Night (2018) and No Offence (2015). She had previously appeared in Holby Citys sister show Casualty, and had made an appearance in Holby Citys fifth series as patient Marianne Lawson. That was when, as confirmed by the BBC listings archive, Hello Dolly!, starring Barbra Streisand, was first broadcast in the UK, watched by a viewing audience that included an eight-year-old Ayola. Home . [4] Ayola's heritage means she is Yoruba by descent, although she does not speak the language. The Pact airs later this month on BBC One. "EastEnders" Episode dated 2 August 2001 (TV Episode 2001) Rakie Ayola as Ms. French. 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. Were not going to tiptoe around Marthas disability or anything. I liked that. She explains: The role of Viola didnt sit that well with me for some reason but Olivia makes more sense. She has also appeared in modern performances, assuming the title role of Dido, Queen of Carthage at the Globe Theatre in London in 2003, which she described as a dream of a part. Rakie Ayola. She stated: "The script made me laugh out loud when I read it. Read on to find out why and to learn about her two characters past and present in The Pact. So, how much is Rakie Ayola worth at the age of 53 years old? Yes, eagle-eyed viewers, Rakie Ayola was also in The Pact series 1 playing a different character! 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. [6] She left high school before sitting her A Levels in order to pursue her ambition of becoming an actress. The actor Sharon Duncan-Brewster had brought together Ayola, Noma Dumezweni, Michelle Greenidge, Michele Austin and Martina Laird, among other Black female actors and told them: This business is about to decide it doesnt need us any more. that inspired her to act as a child,[5] though credits her adoptive mother with encouraging her to act professionally. Rakie Ayola: 'I seem to be able to breathe life into all this grief and loss' The Bafta-winning actor is returning to The Pact as a different character. Having formed a support group of Black female actors over the years, she now feels able to imagine more. Rakie Ayolas income source is mostly from being a successful Actress. She stated: The script made me laugh out loud when I read it. Rakie Ayola, a Welsh actress best known for her roles in Grace, Black Mirror, Noughts + Crosses and Doctor Who. In 2021, she won a BAFTA for her role in the BBC One drama Anthony.[2]. She won a BAFTA for her performance as bereaved mum Gee Walker in BBC1s drama Anthony. Rakie Ayola also starred in one of 2020s most heart-rending TV shows. When he ends up dead they all have serious questions to answer. But in her 50s, Ayola has found a confidence that she did not have in her 20s. Normally when youre nominated at 52, you were nominated also at 22 and 32. "[11] She has also appeared in modern performances, assuming the title role of Dido, Queen of Carthage at the Globe Theatre in London in 2003, which she described as "a dream of a part". The 39-year-old, who has played the role of Kyla Tyson since February 2006, is to be. I just want fairness". Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. 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. 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. Rakie Ayola is a voice actor known for voicing Zalika. Louie. So why is she back in the new role? She acted alongside Pauline Quirke in both Maisie Raine and Being April, deeming Quirke to be a fantastic actress, and one she would work alongside again like a shot. Ayola has performed in Twelfth Night in the lead roles of both Olivia and Viola. Download 'Don't Speak' on iTunes. [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. Played by Rakie Ayola. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. [12] She has identified her dream role to be that of Isabella in Measure for Measure,[13] as she once lost out on the part and would like to prove herself capable of playing it. Rakie Ayola talks about attending her first BAFTA Awards and what it was like playing Gee Walker in Anthony. She first rose to prominence in the lead role of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation. She explains: "The role of Viola didn't sit that well with me for some reason but Olivia makes more sense. "Noma Dumezweni on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child's next steps", "Bafta Television Awards 2021: The main nominations", "I thought I was diabetic - but I was pregnant", "BBC - Press Office - Sea of Souls Rakie Ayola", "Education: Actress honoured with fellowship", "BBC Online - Just the Job - Take it from me", "Interview: Rakie's lesson one: Fake blood just sticks to the cotton wool", "He m@il She m@il; Rakie Ayola answers your questions", "To be but not to be - the 'perfect' Hamlet pairing", "My Axed Show Anger - Star Rakie blasts Beeb", "Sexy brief's soap role fits like a glove", "I was just a baby but mum left me behind; TV sitcom star Rakie Ayola on her traumatic childhood", "CBBC's new musical comedy My Almost Famous Family: Rakie Ayola is mum and diva Shalondra", "Motherhood leaves Rakie with nothing to Dredd from acting", "Who are the new Harry Potter and the Cursed Child cast? Dark family secrets, a mysterious death, and friends sworn to silence, new BBC thriller The Pact has all this and more. And fans of ITV1s Grace series, which began in 2021 and stars John Simm as DS Roy Grace, will recognise her as no-nonsense copper ACC Alison Vosper. She is from . 22 May 2021. In 2008, she starred in the Doctor Who episode Midnight, playing an intergalactic Hostess alongside David Tennants Tenth Doctor. 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. Who plays ACC Vosper in ITV's Grace and what has she been in before? This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. She appeared as Kyla Tyson in the BBC medical . It told the true story of 18-year-old Anthony Walker, who was murdered by two white men in an unprovoked racist attack in 2005. Rakie Ayola's character Christine lives in a house at Llantwit Major on the Bristol Channel coast.. 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 . Then The Pact was recommissioned (for another series) so I thought I wouldnt hear from him for a year! All those professionals whose work has just been thrown out - I hate that. Ayolas other notable television appearances include the BBC psychological thriller Green-Eyed Monster (2001), soap opera EastEnders (2001), Waking the Dead (2001), Londons Burning (2001), Offenders (2002), Murder in Mind (2003), The Canterbury Tales (2003) and Sea of Souls (2004). This brand new story makes way for new characters with the cast, including Cardiff-born, Bafta-winning actress Rakie Ayola (Anthony), who takes centre stage alongside serving as executive producer. 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