Ayesha Antoine

Ayesha Antoine
Born 8 May 1981
Essex, England
Occupation Actress
Years active 1995–present

Ayesha Antoine (born 8 May 1981)[1] is an English actress. She is known for portraying Rachel Baptiste in Holby City, and Poppy Silver in Grange Hill.

Background

Antoine was born in Essex, England. She is of British, Dominican, and Welsh descent.[2] In 1998 Antoine studied Psychology and English at the University of Manchester.[3] 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?"[3]

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."[4] She joined the regular cast of Holby City in 2008, playing Staff Nurse Rachel Baptiste.[4]

In 2009 Antoine appeared in BAFTA winner Paul Whitehouse's new series Down The Line, and in the newly commissioned series of Mouth to Mouth, a multi-media comedy drama for BBC Three.

Radio

In 2005 Antoine won the Norman Beaton Fellowship.[5] 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.[6]

In 2013 she was the featured presenter for Dr. Forever!, a five-part documentary series featured in the Classic Doctor Who DVD range.[7]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Grange Hill Poppy Silver (1995–1998) TV series
1996 Gadgetman Frankie Scouler Television film
2004 Holby City Mel Allen
- One Is the Loneliest Number (2004)
Medical drama
2005 The Bill Trixie Burroughs
- Episode 340 (2005)
Police drama
2008 Placebo Nurse Kelly Grogan[8] Sitcom pilot
Doctor Who Dee Dee Blasco
- Midnight (2008)
TV series
Mouth to Mouth Devine Bello (2008–2009) TV series
Parents of the Band Camilla
- Episode 1.3 (2008)
- Episode 1.4 (2008)
TV series
Holby City Rachel Baptiste (2008–2009) Medical drama

Theatre

References

External links