[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. [9] Ayola's first job was selling jeans on Bessemer Road Market in Cardiff. [38] In 2001, Ayola founded a production company and directed a short film entitled Persephone's Playground. Kyla Tyson is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Rakie Ayola. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. She is set to portray DS Holland, who is in charge of the investigation. ", "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? Ayola credits her chemistry with co-star Akim Mogaji, who played her on-screen husband Luke Roberts, for winning her her audition. 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. She has three grown-up children: Will (Lloyd Everitt); Jamie (Aaron Anthony); Megan (Mali Ann Rees). Describing her motivation, she states: I am not an overtly political person. What actor wouldnt want to do this? Some people will feel for Christine, some people will loathe her.. 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. Ayola's first major television role was in the ITV drama Soldier Soldier, in which she starred throughout its third series in 1993 as soldier's wife Bernie Roberts. That introduced me to the very vibrant amateur scene in Cardiff; I auditioned for anything I was eligible for.. "[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". The Bafta-winning actor is returning to The Pact as a different character. [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. Rakie Olufunmilayo AyolaListen is a Welsh actress known for her work in theatre and television. It was at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama that Ayola would find what she calls her dramatic bone. Ayola placed 17th in the awards in 2009. 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. "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? [23] In 2009, Ayola starred in the CBBC musical comedy My Almost Famous Family. 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. This is a list of characters from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, ordered by the year in which they made their final appearance. Ayola describes herself as "optimistic, cynical, lazy, naive [and] honest". She could potentially return to the seaside town, so its not clear yet if Rakie Ayola will appear in the next series of Grace. 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). Rakie Ayola also starred in one of 2020s most heart-rending TV shows. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 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. [33] She was made a Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2003. . She was made a Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2003. Ayola was born in Cardiff in May 1968 to a Sierra Leonean mother and a Nigerian father. Ayolas first job was selling jeans on Bessemer Road Market in Cardiff. 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. Ayola's heritage means she is Yoruba by descent, although she does not speak the language. "[14] Ayola recalls having been daunted at the prospect of working alongside so many established names, but has said it was a "wonderful experience". Rakie has had roles in Shetland, Silent Witness, Midsomer Murders and No Offence, as well as Hollywood films The i Inside and Sahara. She began her professional career in classical theater, but by the early 1990s was . The Bafta-winning actor is returning to The Pact as a different character. 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. 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. In 2021, she won a BAFTA for her role in the BBC One drama Anthony.[2]. We have estimated Rakie Ayolas net worth, money, salary, income, and assets. #Rakie #Ayola #Wiki Biography #Age #Height #Husband #Net #Worth #Family, 20162022 Characters Wiki Copyright all rights reserved, Brid Brennan Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, Family, Sarah-Jane Dias Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, Family, Stella Morandy Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, Family, Minnie Pearl Wiki Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth, Family, Rakie Ayola Height, Weight & Measurements. For a full list of present characters, see list of characters from EastEnders . It felt wrong to try to play that well when the woman who lived it was in the room.. She has since concluded that the kind of audience they would like to bring in with shows like Double Yellow arent really into watching TV, but at the time was outspoken against the shows cancellation, stating: Ayola has undertaken the following roles from her screen and televisual debut in 1993, to the present day. [17] She has spoken critically of the way the BBC treated the soap, moving it around the schedules and declining to commission a second series. 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. 22 May 2021. All those professionals whose work has just been thrown out - I hate that. 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.. 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. At the age of 13, she set up a theatre company, the Talent Amateur Dramatic Society, with a few friends. Rakie Ayolas income source is mostly from being a successful Actress. 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. The mum-of-two went on to appear in episodes of Black Mirror, Stella and Silent Witness. Louie. Ayola has performed in Twelfth Night in the lead roles of both Olivia and Viola. She told the FT that her drama teacher and head of studies at college encouraged her passion for drama and love of Shakespeare. If Im going to be a working mum Id rather just be one rather than be one intermittently. [47] Ayola has an interest in travel, and has visited Peru and Kenya among other destinations. Jack played Eddie Booth in popular 70s sitcom Love Thy Neighbour. "Rakie Ayola's response to the 'some . While her character is good at her job, shes not the stereotypical police officer. 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. I really got on with the writer of The Pact, Pete McTighe: wed been doing video calls, talking about working together. This March, ITV is giving us another crime drama to get our teeth into. But who is Rakie and who did she play in Holby City? She spends her free time watching television, the theatre, cinema, concerts, indoor wall climbing [and] keeping fit [with] yoga [and] aerobics. Add a photo or add a quote . See also Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs Rakie Ayola was born on 11 May 1968 in Cardiff, Wales, UK. She remembers Harvey Weinstein staring at her on set, though not lasciviously. The little girl in me went: Youve actually been dreaming about this for ever.. TV lovers will recognise Rakie for her role in BBC medical drama Holby City as nurse Kyla Tyson. 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. "[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". This industry has never been easy for Ayola; her transition from Cardiff to London had in some ways mired her career. Having formed a support group of Black female actors over the years, she now feels able to imagine more. 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. [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. Ayola plays the character, DS Holland, and is appearing in a total of six episodes. [] 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 quit Holby when she was pregnant with her second daughter. 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. Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions. She is married to fellow actor Adam Smethurst, with whom she has two daughters. We're not going to tiptoe around Martha's disability or anything.' But it was 2021 which really propelled Rakie to fame. In October 2008, Rakie announced that she would be leaving Holby City to have her second child. Are you watching The Pact series 2? [46] Was 2021 which really propelled Rakie to fame cynical, lazy, naive [ ]. Drama teacher and head of studies at College encouraged her passion for drama and love of Shakespeare starred... 'S disability or anything. on set, though not lasciviously for winning her her...., but by the early 1990s was, see list of present characters, see list of present characters see... Eastenders, ordered by the early 1990s was drama to get our teeth into ( Everitt! 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