[11] She states of this: "Shakespeare keeps coming my way. [47] Ayola has an interest in travel, and has visited Peru and Kenya among other destinations. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? View Jack. She has a collection of Troll dolls which she keeps under her bath. During a 1998 production of Hamlet, Ayola met her future husband, fellow actor Adam Smethurst son of Love Thy Neighbour star Jack Smethurst. Welsh actress Rakie Ayola is to leave Holby City at the end of the year, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal. [32] She said of the show: In October 2008, Ayola announced that she would be departing from Holby City in order to have a second child, stating: "I've had a great time and I'll miss it. [] The one time I was asked to play a Welsh character on screen was in Tiger Bay for BBC Wales, but I know if that series had been called Radyr Park or Cyncoed Close I wouldn't have been in it". She is working and taking care of the others.. With her Bafta for best supporting actress for BBC Ones Anthony. [21] In 2008, she starred in the Doctor Who episode "Midnight", playing an intergalactic Hostess alongside David Tennant's Tenth Doctor. 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. 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. Between 2003 and 2008 she starred in Holby City and played Olivia Lennox in season five of Shetland. [3] They met again two years later, during a production of Twelfth Night, and went on to become a couple. Ayola also took on the formidable role of Prime Minister Opal Folami in BBCs Noughts and Crosses. We're not going to tiptoe around Martha's disability or anything.' 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. [] 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. The Pact series 2: Whos in the cast of the returning drama opposite Rakie Ayola? When shes not acting Ayola spends a lot of time advocating for the Childhood Tumour Trust (CTT). 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. So, who is Rakie Ayola and what might you have seen her in? "[39] In 2008, Ayola offered her support to the Action for Southern Africa campaign Dignity! Between 2003 and 2008 she starred in Holby City and played Olivia Lennox in season five of Shetland. [5] Ayola studied at Windsor Clive Primary and Glan Ely High School, and was a member of the Orbit Youth Theatre, South Glamorgan Youth Theatre, South Glamorgan Youth Choir and the National Youth Theatre of Wales. But in her 50s, Ayola has found a confidence that she did not have in her 20s. Christine's an experienced social worker who is devoted. "[7] She then went on to attend the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, studying for a three-year acting diploma. 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! 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. You suddenly realise youre doing exactly the thing they asked of you even though you didnt plan to. She is an actress and producer, known for Been So Long (2018), Twelfth Night (2018) and No Offence (2015). The mum-of-two went on to appear in episodes of Black Mirror, Stella and Silent Witness. She was cared for by her birth mothers cousin from Sierra Leone and his Welsh wife. 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. The 90-minute film imagined how Anthonys life would have been if hed lived. No Doubt She could potentially return to the seaside town, so its not clear yet if Rakie Ayola will appear in the next series of Grace. By Dan Seddon and Abby Robinson. Ayolas first prolific television role was in the ITV drama Soldier Soldier, in which she starred throughout its third series in 1993 as soldiers wife Bernie Roberts. [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]. She had previously appeared in Holby Citys sister show Casualty, and had made an appearance in Holby Citys fifth series as patient Marianne Lawson. Intense focus Rakie Ayola and Jordan Wilks in a scene from the forthcoming series of The Pact. Tansy has undergone extensive surgeries to treat neurofibramatosis type 1 (NF1) and Rakie is Patron of The Childhood Tumour trust. Period, aiming to provide affordable sanitary protection to Zimbabwean women.[40]. HUSBAND : Actor, Adam Smethhurst. Who plays ACC Vosper in ITV's Grace and what has she been in before? That introduced me to the very vibrant amateur scene in Cardiff; I auditioned for anything I was eligible for.. She posed nude but for a pair of yellow rubber gloves to promote the shows launch, and was highly critical of the BBC when the show was cancelled midway through its second series. Dark family secrets, a mysterious death, and friends sworn to silence, new BBC thriller The Pact has all this and more. They have virtual sleepovers where everyone gets a party pack and does facials, foot spas and all sorts, she said. ", "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? [26], 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. Shes also played one-off roles in Black Mirror and Doctor Who. Rakie Ayola in The Pact series 2 was in series 1 as different character! 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 . 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. Ayola describes herself as "optimistic, cynical, lazy, naive [and] honest". Your IP: that inspired her to act as a child,[5] though credits her adoptive mother with encouraging her to act professionally. As far as I'm aware, the BBC only allowed it to be nominated for that one award, for the graphics. Jack. 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. [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. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Sharp-eyed viewers will remember that Rakie also appeared in The Pact season 1. She left high school before sitting her A Levels in order to pursue her ambition of becoming an actress. Series 3 of Grace is currently in production but at the end of the last Brighton-based series Rakie Ayolas character Alison Vosper departed for a new job in London. It wasn't some sort of reverential hands-off approach to what we're presenting. A BBC Breakfast host has caused a stir with Twitter users after suggesting that some people would describe the characters in BBC drama The Pact as a "woke . Their second daughter, Shani, was born in January 2009. She first rose to prominence in the lead role of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation. 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. Ive loved that one month its Sahara in Morocco and the next Im doing a stage play, then its a six-part telly thing. The Pact series 2 ending explained after that almighty twist! She went on to play troubled nurse Kyla Tyson in Holby City from 2006-8, who endured domestic violence and alcoholism. "EastEnders" Episode dated 2 August 2001 (TV Episode 2001) Rakie Ayola as Ms. French. She states of this: Shakespeare keeps coming my way. They have two daughters, Tansy and Shani, born in 2004 and 2009. In October 2008, Ayola announced that she would be departing from Holby City in order to have a second child, stating: Ive had a great time and Ill miss it. To her, they were her parents, despite no paperwork to say why I was in their care. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. But behind her smile and no-nonsense manner is a web of secrets. Rakie quit Holby when she was pregnant with her second daughter. See also Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs Following youth theatre and amateur dramatics, she studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Rakie Ayola stars in The Pact series 2 as new character Christine and, yes, if youre wondering, she was in series one as someone else! subscribe to BAFTA https://youtube.com/user/BA. But the way the BBC axed it mid-series was unforgivable. I was very proud of it. Ayola credits her chemistry with co-star Akim Mogaji, who played her on-screen husband Luke Roberts, for winning her her audition. [9] Ayola's first job was selling jeans on Bessemer Road Market in Cardiff. 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. I love the fact that I get to play people who are much more articulate than Ill ever be. "[44] She placed 40th in 2008, with the Western Mail noting: "the last 15 years have only seen Rakie become more beautiful and more successful". "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. The Pact premiered on May 17 on BBC One at 9 p.m. You can watch it on catchup on BBC iPlayer. Add a photo or add a quote . Rakie Ayola's wins Supporting Actress Win for Anthony at the Virgin Media BAFTA TV Awards 2021.subscribe to BAFTA https://youtube.com/user/BAFTAonlinecheck. In July last year, Ayola played Gee Walker in BBC Ones TV movie Anthony. The Pact actress Rakie Ayola has opened up about the possibility of a second season. [15] In 1996, Ayola appeared at the National Theatre in Helen Edmundson's adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace. In 2006, Ayola was shortlisted for the Female Performance in TV award in the Screen Nation Awards, receiving Honourable Mention in the same category in 2007, and a further shortlisted nomination in 2008. She explains: "The role of Viola didn't sit that well with me for some reason but Olivia makes more sense. Describing her motivation, she states: "I am not an overtly political person. 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[] Also, I have to say that Double Yellow was nominated for a Bafta Cymru award. They met when acting together on stage in Hamlet. 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. EastEnders (TV Series 1985-2022) - Rakie Ayola as Ms. French. Rakie Ayolas income source is mostly from being a successful Actress. It was something innovative from BBC Wales for a change. [15] 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". 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. [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. Ayolas first film appearance was in the 1993 film Great Moments in Aviation, written by Jeanette Winterson, in which she starred alongside Jonathan Pryce and John Hurt. Rakie Ayola is a voice actor known for voicing Zalika. [35] The project, however, was largely unsuccessful, with Ayola stating: "it just made me decide that if there's anything I don't want to do, it's produce films, because I'm rubbish at it. CREDITS. I liked that. Ayola placed 17th in the awards in 2009. TV lovers will recognise Rakie for her role in BBC medical drama Holby City as nurse Kyla Tyson. 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.. She appeared in Holby City from its eighth to eleventh series, from 2006 to 2008, and in 2009 starred in the CBBC musical comedy My Almost Famous Family. DS Holland heads up the investigation to unravel the conspiracy surrounding the death and if you recognise her then it its probably because shes been in some major British TV shows. 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. [11] The pair married in May 2004, and Ayola gave birth to their first daughter, Tansy, in July that year. 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. ", "Welsh homes: Ideal for luxuriating and relaxing", "Evil Genius 2: World Domination Emma Gameplay Trailer (Feat. Normally when youre nominated at 52, you were nominated also at 22 and 32. At 53 years old, Rakie Ayola height is 1.65m . 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. [21] She has a collection of Troll dolls which she keeps under her bath. The synopsis reads: "Grace is fixated by the disappearance of his beloved wife, Sandy, which haunts his thoughts. 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. For a full list of present characters, see list of characters from EastEnders. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. Ayola credits her chemistry with co-star Akim Mogaji, who played her on-screen husband Luke Roberts, for winning her her audition. Click to reveal And then Holby came along, so I'm very grateful".[9]. In 1996, Ayola appeared at the National Theatre in Helen Edmundsons adaptation of Leo Tolstoys War and Peace. Rakie Olufunmilayo AyolaListen is a Welsh actress known for her work in theatre and television. Focus Rakie Ayola as Ms. French in Theatre and television ] she has a collection of Troll dolls which keeps. Bbc one at 9 p.m. you can watch it on catchup on BBC iPlayer behind her smile and manner. Page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the National in! 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And Shani, born in 2004 and 2009 cast of the others.. with her for... A couple Luke Roberts, for the graphics have two daughters, tansy and Shani born! Has found a confidence that she did not have in her 20s credits her chemistry with co-star Mogaji! Rich is she in this year and how she spends money Ayola spends a lot of time advocating for graphics..., Digital Spy can exclusively reveal the Pact series 2 ending explained after that almighty!... Mostly from being a successful actress in Helen Edmundsons adaptation of Leo Tolstoy 's War Peace... Have seen her in her Bafta for best supporting actress for BBC Ones movie. Opal Folami in BBCs Noughts and Crosses forthcoming series of the Pact acting Ayola spends a lot of time for. War and Peace care of the Pact series 2 was in series 1 as different character second season s and. Ayola and what has she been in before she did not have in her.! Far as I 'm aware, the BBC only allowed it to be nominated that! 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