"[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". She is getting on with life the way people do. 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. If you havent been nominated for a Bafta before 52 youre not meant to be nominated and take the Bafta home. [8] Ayola has stated that it was Barbra Streisand's performance in Hello, Dolly! 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. "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. In 2009, Ayola starred in the CBBC musical comedy My Almost Famous Family. The Pact series 2: Whos in the cast of the returning drama opposite Rakie Ayola? [12] Ayola often speaks of her pride in her Welsh upbringing,[49] describing herself as "an Ely girl through and through". Then The Pact was recommissioned (for another series) so I thought I wouldnt hear from him for a year! Sharp-eyed viewers will remember that Rakie also appeared in The Pact season 1. Ayola credits her chemistry with co-star Akim Mogaji, who played her on-screen husband Luke Roberts, for winning her her audition. This time she is taking the lead role of Christine, a social worker who has recently lost a child. She first rose to prominence in the lead role of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation. 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) 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. The Bafta-winning actor is returning to The Pact as a different character. "[7] She then went on to attend the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, studying for a three-year acting diploma. She pre-empts the confusion some might feel with her stepping into a different role within the same series, but explains how it happened. Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? Bill Alexander was director. In her latest role, Ayola plays DS Holland, the senior detective investigating the death of Jack Holland. Rakie has had roles in Shetland, Silent Witness, Midsomer Murders and No Offence, as well as Hollywood films The i Inside and Sahara. She is an actress and producer, known for Been So Long (2018), Twelfth Night (2018) and No Offence (2015). She said at the time: "I've had a great time and I'll miss it. But because youre the dark-skinned woman, theres no actual picture of you. It wasn't some sort of reverential hands-off approach to what we're presenting. But I had this dramatic vein, so leaned into that.. 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. She appeared as Kyla Tyson in the BBC medical drama Holby City from its eighth to eleventh series. Rakie Ayola was born on 11 May 1968 in Cardiff, Wales, UK. "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. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Your IP: She explains: Ive always wanted to act. The Pact premiered on May 17 on BBC One at 9 p.m. You can watch it on catchup on BBC iPlayer. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1897d5e9d97ba1 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. Rakie Ayola (Rakie Olufunmilayo Ayoola) was born on 1968-05- in Cardiff, is an Actress. They have two daughters, Tansy and Shani, born in 2004 and 2009. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a1897491aba2042 Click to reveal This is a list of characters from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, ordered by the year in which they made their final appearance. 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). She has expressed a desire to visit Brazil and Argentina, and has a romantic notion of travelling around Europe in a camper van. In the first series, which saw a group of women dump their evil bosss body in the woods, Rakie played DS Holland. 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. 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. Will, Jamie and Megan dont understand why their mum never talks about her past. EastEnders (TV Series 1985-2022) - Rakie Ayola as Ms. French. 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. They have virtual sleepovers where everyone gets a party pack and does facials, foot spas and all sorts, she said. She previously explained: I made the decision purely because I was pregnant, but I wasnt really ready to put down the character of Kyla. 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. 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. 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. "Rakie Ayola's response to the 'some . Period, aiming to provide affordable sanitary protection to Zimbabwean women. It was something innovative from BBC Wales for a change. Summarize this article for a 10 years old. I decided at 16 I wanted to make my living acting, but even if I couldnt, Id be in an amateur theatre company. She then went on to attend the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, studying for a three-year acting diploma. 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. To her, they were her parents, despite no paperwork to say why I was in their care. Can you list the top facts and stats about Rakie Ayola? Holby star Rakie Ayola. that inspired her to act as a child,[5] though credits her adoptive mother with encouraging her to act professionally. [8] She went on to appear in Gone With the Wind sequel Scarlett,[7] and star in Welsh soap opera Tiger Bay. 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. I liked that. After graduating, Ayola starred in Soldier, Soldier, Maisie Raine, and Eastenders. The actress stars in The Pact series 2 as the matriarch of the Rees family. 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. 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. I learned later that he really didnt want me to get the job. It felt wrong to try to play that well when the woman who lived it was in the room.. The only way to get a look behind the scenes of our brand new magazine, Saturday. 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! [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. [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. The Pact series 2 ending explained after that almighty twist! By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. That was when, as confirmed by the BBC listings. Season 1 aired in 2020 and was met with rave reviews. By Dan Seddon and Abby Robinson. Rakie Olufunmilayo AyolaListen (born May 1968) is a Welsh actress known for her work in theatre and 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. In 2008, Ayola offered her support to the Action for Southern Africa campaign Dignity! She first rose to prominence in the lead role of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation. She appeared as Kyla Tyson in the BBC medical . It was at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama that Ayola would find what she calls her dramatic bone. On a trip to New York, she found the DVD in a shop. How old is Rakie Ayola? In 2001, she became a presenter of the BBC Wales arts programme Double Yellow, alongside poet Owen Sheers and performance artist Mark Rees. [11] She states of this: "Shakespeare keeps coming my way. 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. For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for List of former EastEnders characters. The pair married in May 2004, and Ayola gave birth to their first daughter, Tansy, in July that year. Tansy has undergone extensive surgeries to treat neurofibramatosis type 1 (NF1) and Rakie is Patron of The Childhood Tumour trust. Jack played Eddie Booth in popular 70s sitcom Love Thy Neighbour. Their second daughter, Shani, was born in January 2009. I've loved that one month it's Sahara in Morocco and the next I'm doing a stage play, then it's a six-part telly thing. [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". In 2017, Ayola took over the role of Hermione Granger in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. 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. [11] The pair married in May 2004, and Ayola gave birth to their first daughter, Tansy, in July that year. Louie. The BBC drama sees Ayola, who has lived in London since the 1990s, return to Wales, where she was brought up on a council estate in Cardiff by her Sierra Leonean birth mothers cousin and his Welsh wife. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. This March, ITV is giving us another crime drama to get our teeth into. 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. DATE OF BIRTH : 1968. 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. Welsh actress Rakie Ayola is to leave Holby City at the end of the year, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal. The star played Kyla from February 2006 to December 2008 and has also starred in sister show Casualty. So, instead of bowing to this altar, theyve said, Okay, we have this family thats half-black, half-white, half-American, half-British. 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. Read on to find out why and to learn about her two characters past and present in The Pact. 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. Rakie, who is 54, grew up on a council estate in Cardiff. So, who is Rakie Ayola and what might you have seen her in? "[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". Describing her motivation, she states: "I am not an overtly political person. The story picks up 18 months after the death of her fourth child, Liam. She could potentially return to the seaside town, so its not clear yet if Rakie Ayola will appear in the next series of Grace. Add a photo or add a quote . She first rose to prominence in the lead role of the 1993 Jeanette Winterson screenplay Great Moments in Aviation. What actor wouldnt want to do this? Some people will feel for Christine, some people will loathe her.. That was when, as confirmed by the. [25] In 2016 she played Amber Haleford in "Tuesday's Child", S6:E2 of Vera. Just three weeks after giving birth to Rakie she left her in the care of her cousin in Cardiff and his wife. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. [48] She has expressed a desire to visit Brazil and Argentina, and has "a romantic notion of travelling around Europe in a camper van". She has a collection of Troll dolls which she keeps under her bath. But behind her smile and no-nonsense manner is a web of secrets. Period, aiming to provide affordable sanitary protection to Zimbabwean women.[40]. Ayola has stated that it was Barbra Streisands performance in Hello, Dolly! Its an unusual move, but, she says, having connected with a group of performers of colour who have her back, shes learned to dream bigger. I'm very sorry to have to let her go.". It would be nice just to stay put for a while. [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. 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. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. [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. The charity works to connect children and families living with neurofibromatosis type one. Ayola was born in Cardiff, Wales in May 1968, to a Sierra Leonean mother and a Nigerian father. She was raised by her mothers cousin and his wife in Ely, Cardiff. Yes, eagle-eyed viewers, Rakie Ayola was also in The Pact series 1 playing a different character! [41] She received Honourable Mention for the same role the following year,[42] and was shortlisted again in 2008. She acted in William Shakespeare's play, "The Tempest," at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in Birmingham, England with Jeffery Kissoon, Richard McCabe, Ginny Holder, Daniel Isaacs, Tony Armatrading, and Geoffrey Freshwater in the cast. Variety magazines David Rooney said of her performance: In the films most naturalistic turn, Ayola is a constant pleasure to watch. I got no response, which is probably a good thing., After her secondary school drama teacher told Ayolas adoptive mother one hour a week of drama is not enough for this child, mother and daughter would drive to Orbit youth theatre in Cardiff every Saturday. In 2017, Rakie took over the role of Hermione Granger in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. 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. She stated: "The script made me laugh out loud when I read it. 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. Having formed a support group of Black female actors over the years, she now feels able to imagine more. Im very sorry to have to let her go.. Rakie Ayola is an actress appearing in the BCC's TV Program, The Pact. Why I was in the care of her performance: in the West End production Harry... Have rakie ayola eastenders character sleepovers where everyone gets a party pack and does facials, foot spas and all sorts, found... Christine, a SQL command or malformed data new magazine, Saturday her work in theatre and.... Series ) so I thought I wouldnt hear from him for a year the End of the Rees.. 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