Ayesha Antoine

Ayesha Antoine is an English actress. She is known for portraying Rachel Baptiste in Holby City, and Poppy Silver in Grange Hill.

Ayesha Antoine
Born
Essex, England
OccupationActress
Years active1995–present

Background

Antoine was born in Essex, England. She is of British, Dominican, and Welsh descent.[1] In 1998 Antoine studied Psychology and English at the University of Manchester.[2] After graduating, she returned to London to restart her career.

She said:

"It’s good to have another trick up your sleeve. I have always been interested in psychology, and I’d love to be able to do something with child psychology. Maybe do both acting and psychology, who knows?"[2]

A hyperactive child (learning the violin and piano as well as attending acting and dance classes), at the age of eight she entered a National Talent Contest which was televised on the Saturday morning BBC children's show, Going Live!. Dancing, singing and rapping to Salt'n'Pepa's 'Express Yourself' was Antoine's first television appearance.

Career

Television

Antoine began her television career in the 1990s playing Poppy Silver in Grange Hill. At this time she also made her first appearance in Holby City. Other television credits include the role of Kelly Grogan in sitcom pilot Placebo and a husband-beating shoplifter in The Bill.

In 2007, Antoine guest starred as Dee Dee Blasco in the Doctor Who episode "Midnight", an experience she described as: "so much fun…it’s a brilliant show and I loved every minute."[3] She joined the regular cast of Holby City in 2008, playing Staff Nurse Rachel Baptiste.[3]

In 2009, Antoine appeared in BAFTA winner Paul Whitehouse's new series Down The Line.

Radio

In 2005, Antoine won the Norman Beaton Fellowship.[4] She was a member of the BBC Radio Drama Company for six months and lent her voice to over twenty five radio dramas including The Lysistrata Project, Hold My Breath, Westway, No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, The Fountain Overflows and Father & Son.

Other

In 2011, she joined the cast of Big Finish Productions' Bernice Summerfield audio plays as Ruth.[5]

In 2013, she was the featured presenter for Dr. Forever!, a five-part documentary series featured in the Classic Doctor Who DVD range.[6]

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1995Grange HillPoppy Silver (1995–1998)33 episodes
1996GadgetmanFrankie ScoulerTV film
1996/2005The BillTrixie Burroughs/Jasmine Bedford2 episodes
2004/2008–2009Holby CityMel Allen/Rachel Babtiste22 episodes
2008PlaceboNurse Kelly Grogan[7]Pilot
2008Doctor WhoDee Dee Blasco1 episode
2008Parents of the BandCamilla2 episodes
2009Mouth to MouthDevine Bello6 episodes
2010SkinsPolice Officer1 episode
2011MongrelsCo-worker1 episode
2015PompidouNurse1 episode
2015/2020DoctorsKayley Rose/Janet Poulson2 episodes
2017Chewing GumJudith1 episode

Theatre

References
  1. 5 minutes with… Ayesha Antoine Archived 6 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine Tiscali.co.uk.
  2. Barr, Gordon (21 January 2005). "Grange Hill actress graduates to magical family theatre". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  3. "Ayesha on Holby City role". Metro. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  4. BBC – SoundStart – Norman Beaton Fellowship Winners 2005
  5. "01. Epoch - Bernice Summerfield Box Sets - Big Finish". Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  6. "Classic Doctor Who: The Aztecs / Special Edition DVD Review". Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  7. Placebo – Production Details & Cast and Crew – British Comedy Guide
  8. Ayesha Antoine | London Theatre Database Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  9. | Kiln Theater Archived 12 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine
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