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. So why is she back in the new role? It would be nice just to stay put for a while. Rakie Ayola. She explains: "The role of Viola didn't sit that well with me for some reason but Olivia makes more sense. "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. Rakie Ayolas income source is mostly from being a successful Actress. [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). Ayola credits her chemistry with co-star Akim Mogaji, who played her on-screen husband Luke Roberts, for winning her her audition. In 2001, Ayola founded a production company and directed a short film entitled Persephones Playground. After graduating, Ayola starred in Soldier, Soldier, Maisie Raine, and Eastenders. Click to reveal She began her professional career in classical theater, but by the early 1990s was . But behind her smile and no-nonsense manner is a web of secrets. Who plays Assistant Chief Constable Alison Vosper in ITV1s Grace? In 1996, Ayola appeared at the National Theatre in Helen Edmundsons adaptation of Leo Tolstoys War and Peace. "[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". 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. 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. Performance & security by Cloudflare. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. [] They are not being sold as a reason to watch. She believes that her career would have taken her in a different direction were she not of ethnic origin, stating: I could not have played any of the roles I have played on TV if I was white [] I am very aware of where the glass ceiling is and its still very low and expectations are still very low. "Rakie Ayola's response to the 'some . 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. Ayola was born in Cardiff in May 1968 to a Sierra Leonean mother and a Nigerian father. That was when, as confirmed by the BBC listings. They met again two years later, during a production of Twelfth Night, and went on to become a couple. [7] Variety's David Rooney said of her performance: "In the film's most naturalistic turn, Ayola is a constant pleasure to watch. Grace is based on Peter James first two books, Dead Simple and Looking Good Dead and follows Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. We have a mix of boys and girls, one character who's mixed-raced and deaf but we're not going to be restrained by any of that. [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. At the age of 13, she set up a theatre company, the Talent Amateur Dramatic Society, with a few friends. [51], Ayola has undertaken the following roles from her screen and televisual debut in 1993, to the present day.[52][53]. [] 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. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. But by this time, she had been involved in the South Glamorgan youth theatre and other local amateur dramatic companies, and while she wasnt blind to the fact she was the only young Black actor in these spaces, she didnt think that she should be limited in ambition due to skin colour. She appeared as Kyla Tyson in the BBC medical drama Holby City from its eighth to eleventh series. "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? But who is Rakie and who did she play in Holby City? She appeared as Kyla Tyson in the BBC medical . The Pact series 2 episode 5 review - five things we want to know [Spoilers] The Pact series 2 episode 4 review: five . 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. She is working and taking care of the others.. 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All rights reserved. She has also worked in theatre, film and television, appearing in a number of Shakespearean theatrical performances. 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. that inspired her to act as a child, though credits her adoptive mother with encouraging her to act professionally. Normally when youre nominated at 52, you were nominated also at 22 and 32. He didnt write this boss lady Theres a quietness to her control and I found that compelling. [48] She has expressed a desire to visit Brazil and Argentina, and has "a romantic notion of travelling around Europe in a camper van". The pair married in May 2004, and Ayola gave birth to their first daughter, Tansy, in July that year. I just burst into tears.. And then he came back with The Pact series two and said we want you to play the lead and have an exec producer role. If you havent been nominated for a Bafta before 52 youre not meant to be nominated and take the Bafta home. Rakie Ayola (Rakie Olufunmilayo Ayoola) was born on 1968-05- in Cardiff, is an Actress. 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. We had got on very well coming out of the first series. Ayola placed 17th in the awards in 2009. Pedro Pascals Cameo In Buffy The Vampire Slayer Is The Ultimate Throwback, Courteney Cox Reunited With Her 'Friends' Co-Stars For The Best Reason, The Real Reason Selena Gomez Hid Her Love Of Friends' For Years, Nicola Coughlan Just Leaked The Funniest BTS Snap From 'Bridgerton' S3. 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. Sign up for Bustle UK's twice-weekly newsletter, featuring the latest must-watch TV, moving personal stories, and expert advice on the hottest viral buys. In 2017, Rakie took over the role of Hermione Granger in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. [18] She posed nude but for a pair of yellow rubber gloves to promote the show's launch, and was highly critical of the BBC when the show was cancelled midway through its second series. They met when acting together on stage in Hamlet. No Doubt Rakie was born in May 1968, making her 52-years-old. The 39-year-old, who has played the role of Kyla Tyson since February 2006, is to be. She has expressed a desire to visit Brazil and Argentina, and has a romantic notion of travelling around Europe in a camper van. In 2021, she won a BAFTA for her role in the BBC One drama Anthony.[2]. 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! 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. Llantwit Major. 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. If I'm going to be a working mum I'd rather just be one rather than be one intermittently. 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. View DS Holland. She was made a Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2003. Just three weeks after giving birth to Rakie she left her in the care of her cousin in Cardiff and his wife. Ayola has performed in Twelfth Night in the lead roles of both Olivia and Viola. 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. In the same year, she also starred as Prime Minister Opal Folami in BBC drama Noughts and Crosses. 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. [47] Ayola has an interest in travel, and has visited Peru and Kenya among other destinations. Christine's an experienced social worker who is devoted. subscribe to BAFTA https://youtube.com/user/BA. 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. It's an unusual move, but, she says, having connected with a group of performers of colour who have her back, she's learned to dream bigger. Samantha Bond)", BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rakie_Ayola&oldid=1137572574, Alumni of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Best Supporting Actress BAFTA Award (television) winners, Articles with dead external links from February 2019, Articles with dead external links from April 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from July 2022, Articles with dead external links from October 2017, Articles with dead external links from October 2010, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episode "That Old Black Magic" parts 1 and 2, Episode 17.3 " The Ballad of Midsomer County", This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 09:59. Wikiwand is the world's leading Wikipedia reader for web and mobile. In an interview with the publication she explained the kinds of events the charity puts on for children. [6], During a 1998 production of Hamlet, Ayola met her future husband, fellow actor Adam Smethurst son of Love Thy Neighbour star Jack Smethurst. [10] She spends her free time "watching television, the theatre, cinema, concerts, indoor wall climbing [and] keeping fit [with] yoga [and] aerobics". Intense focus Rakie Ayola and Jordan Wilks in a scene from the forthcoming series of The Pact. We have estimated Rakie Ayolas net worth, money, salary, income, and assets. Add a photo or add a quote . "[36] She believes that her career would have taken her in a different direction were she not Black, stating: "I could not have played any of the roles I have played on TV if I was white [] I am very aware of where the glass ceiling is and it's still very low and expectations are still very low". Download 'Don't Speak' on iTunes. Rakie Ayola is an actress appearing in the BCC's TV Program, The Pact. Shooting took place in the area between Cardiff and Port Talbot (Youre going west along beautiful coastline that rarely gets filmed. Rakie Ayola held a dream of winning a Bafta for 43 years and won the 2021 best supporting actress prize for her role as Gee Walker in BBC's Anthony (Picture: Backgrid) Click to reveal Rakie Ayola talks about attending her first BAFTA Awards and what it was like playing Gee Walker in Anthony. In her latest role, Ayola plays DS Holland, the senior detective investigating the death of Jack Holland. Your IP: Movies. But the way the BBC axed it mid-series was unforgivable. 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 . The series begins after four employees decide to play a prank on their controlling boss. In 2016 she took on the role of matriarch Nora Attah, the head of a crime family, in series 2 of Channel 4s police comedy drama No Offence. Jack played Eddie Booth in popular 70s sitcom Love Thy Neighbour. Rakie Ayola, a Welsh actress best known for her roles in Grace, Black Mirror, Noughts + Crosses and Doctor Who. "[7] She then went on to attend the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, studying for a three-year acting diploma. Contents: 2020s: 2023 2022 2021 2020 2010s: 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 DATE OF BIRTH : 1968. Born in Wales of Nigerian descent, actress Rakie Ayola is a familiar presence on British television. 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. Watching Barbra Streisand in Hello, Dolly on TV as a child made Rakie want to take up acting. Ayola has stated that it was Barbra Streisands performance in Hello, Dolly! EastEnders (TV Series 1985-2022) - Rakie Ayola as Ms. French - IMDb EastEnders (1985-2022) Rakie Ayola: Ms. French It looks like we don't have any photos or quotes yet. [] Also, I have to say that Double Yellow was nominated for a Bafta Cymru award. Indeed she is! [25] In 2016 she played Amber Haleford in "Tuesday's Child", S6:E2 of Vera. Rakie is a Trustee of ACT, the Actors' Children's Trust, and an Ambassador of PIPA, Parents in Performing Arts. Kyla Tyson is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Rakie Ayola. Rakie Ayola stars as Christine in the cast of The Pact series 2. She joined the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre, London from 24 May 2017, playing the role of Hermione Granger. She could potentially return to the seaside town, so its not clear yet if Rakie Ayola will appear in the next series of Grace. Ayola credits her chemistry with co-star Akim Mogaji, who played her on-screen husband Luke Roberts, for winning her her audition. They have virtual sleepovers where everyone gets a party pack and does facials, foot spas and all sorts, she said. 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. So, how much is Rakie Ayola worth at the age of 53 years old? Sharp-eyed viewers will remember that Rakie also appeared in The Pact season 1. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Ayola signed a three-year contract to play Kyla,[30] and described herself as "very similar" to her character,[31] speaking positively about her working relationship with co-stars Jaye Jacobs and Sharon D. Clarke,[32] as well as the "dream" storylines her character was given. 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. But last summer I started thinking it would be really nice not to have to look for a job every couple of weeks. HEIGHT : 5ft 5. Tansy has undergone extensive surgeries to treat neurofibramatosis type 1 (NF1) and Rakie is Patron of The Childhood Tumour trust. But in her 50s, Ayola has found a confidence that she did not have in her 20s. 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. 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. "[24] She has also been cast in the film Dredd. To her, they were her parents, despite no paperwork to say why I was in their care. She has identified her dream role to be that of Isabella in Measure for Measure, as she once lost out on the part and would like to prove herself capable of playing it. For a full list of present characters, see list of characters from EastEnders . Rakie says of her character: When we meet her thats the weight shes carrying the weight of having lost a child. She was approached about returning to the show in a more permanent role by BBC casting director Julie Harkin. Ayola was born in London but raised by her mothers cousin in Wales. Rakie Ayola's character Christine lives in a house at Llantwit Major on the Bristol Channel coast.. Simon Beale By Dan Seddon and Abby Robinson. Ayola describes herself as "optimistic, cynical, lazy, naive [and] honest". She is a member of famous Actress with the age 53 years old group. Rakie, who is 54, grew up on a council estate in Cardiff. In 2016 she appeared in Vera in the episode Tuesdays Childshe played the role of Amber Haleford She will join the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre, London from 24 May 2017, playing the role of Hermione Granger. Adam Smethurst, with whom she has two daughters. . Ayola. ", "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. 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.. This is a list of characters from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, ordered by the year in which they made their final appearance. Whats happened to us all, professionally and creatively, since, is not at all what was meant to happen, she says. That was when, as confirmed by the. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. 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. 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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Are you watching The Pact series 2? [35] Ayola believes that black actors receive less recognition than their white counterparts, explaining; "If you get a show with six stars and one is black you are more likely to see interviews with the five white actors. The project, however, was largely unsuccessful, with Ayola stating: it just made me decide that if theres anything I dont want to do, its produce films, because Im rubbish at it. 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 . 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. Rakie Olufunmilayo AyolaListen is a Welsh actress known for her work in theatre and television. Thanks 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. Series 2: Meet the Characters View Series 2: Meet the Characters. Rakie has had roles in Shetland, Silent Witness, Midsomer Murders and No Offence, as well as Hollywood films The i Inside and Sahara. Ayola's heritage means she is Yoruba by descent, although she does not speak the language. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. She appeared as Kyla Tyson in the BBC medical drama Holby City from its eighth to eleventh series. So, instead of bowing to this altar, theyve said, Okay, we have this family thats half-black, half-white, half-American, half-British. [46] Describing her motivation, she states: "I am not an overtly political person. 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. And then Holby came along, so Im very grateful. 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. [] They are not being sold as a reason to watch. Having formed a support group of Black female actors over the years, she now feels able to imagine more. Rakie is a Trustee of ACT, the Actors Childrens Trust, and an Ambassador of PIPA, Parents in Performing Arts. Christine is the matriarch of the Rees family. When I saw this woman singing and dancing in a big hat, I thought: I want to do what she is doing sing and dance in the street and for it to be OK, Ayola says. I was very proud of it. [11] In 1991 she played Hazel in John Godber's Up 'n' Under at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff. [45] Ayola placed 17th in the awards in 2009. Also learn how She earned most of networth at the age of 52 years old? Shes one of those women. She first rose to prominence in the lead role of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation. 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. In an interview with the publication she said, My drama teacher took me to youth theatre. Between 2003 and 2008 she starred in Holby City and played Olivia Lennox in season five of Shetland. While her character is good at her job, shes not the stereotypical police officer. In 2001, Rakie appeared in EastEnders as teacher Miss French. Rakie Ayola was born on 11 May 1968 in Cardiff, Wales, UK. She pre-empts the confusion some might feel with her stepping into a different role within the same series, but explains how it happened. 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.