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Ayesha Antoine

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Ayesha Antoine
Born
OccupationActress
Years active1995–present

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

Background

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Antoine was born in Essex, England. She is of English, 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.[citation needed]

Career

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Television

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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 2008, 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

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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, The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, The Fountain Overflows and Father & Son.

Other

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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

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Year Title Role Notes
1995–1998 Grange Hill Poppy Silver 33 episodes
1996 Gadgetman Frankie Scouler TV film
1996, 2005 The Bill Trixie Burroughs/Jasmine Bedford 2 episodes
2004, 2008–2009 Holby City Mel Allen/Rachel Babtiste 22 episodes
2008 Placebo Nurse Kelly Grogan[7] Pilot
2008 Doctor Who Dee Dee Blasco 1 episode
2008 Parents of the Band Camilla 2 episodes
2009 Mouth to Mouth Devine Bello 6 episodes
2010 Skins Police Officer 1 episode
2011 Mongrels Co-worker 1 episode
2015 Pompidou Nurse 1 episode
2015, 2020 Doctors Kayley Rose/Janet Poulson 2 episodes
2017 Chewing Gum Judith 1 episode
2020 Cursed Polly the Healer 2 episodes
2021–present Fireman Sam Helen Flood, Mandy Flood, Jodie Phillips Series regular
2022 The House Police Officer #2
2024 Father Brown Rachel Waterson 1 episode

Theatre

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References

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  1. ^ 5 minutes with… Ayesha Antoine Archived 6 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine Tiscali.co.uk.
  2. ^ a b c Barr, Gordon (21 January 2005). "Grange Hill actress graduates to magical family theatre". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Ayesha on Holby City role". Metro. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  4. ^ "BBC - SoundStart - Norman Beaton Fellowship Winners 2005". www.bbc.co.uk.
  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". Archived from the original on 15 October 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  8. ^ a b Ayesha Antoine | London Theatre Database Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Meet the cast: White Teeth | Kiln Theatre". kilntheatre.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2019.
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