Rachel Shenton

Rachel Shenton
Born Rachel Joy Shenton
(1987-12-21) 21 December 1987
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Occupation Actress
Years active 2004–present

Rachel Joy Shenton is an English actress who has appeared in a number of British television series and films. Shenton made her American TV debut on ABC Family drama Switched at Birth in Season 3 as Lily Summers and is still currently filming season 5.

Career

Shenton was born in Stoke-on-Trent and has lived in the suburb of Caverswall. She attended two high schools, one in Cheadle. In between acting roles she volunteered at her local charity Deaflinks.[1] Shenton's acting career began with small recurring parts in various television series such as Holby City and Waterloo Road.[2] She also filmed various television commercials for the Ministry of Defence, DFS and Sega Superstars Tennis and appeared in two British films.[3] She continued recurring appearances in 2008 appearing in Nickelodeon's series Genie in the House and Five's Sophia's Diary, playing Sofia's wayward sister 'Trisha'.[3]

In April 2010 it was announced that Shenton had been cast in Hollyoaks as Mitzeee Minniver, a wannabe glamour model.[4] Shenton described her character as being the complete opposite of her.[5] Her casting came as part of new producer Paul Marquess' major revamp of the serial. Before her character had appeared on-screen Shenton received media attention for her image, with tabloids reporting on her likeness to Cheryl Cole.[6][7] Shenton described the attention and comparisons as "very flattering".[8] On 20 December 2012, Shenton announced her decision to leave Hollyoaks. She has described the experience as an "amazing two years" of her life.[9] Shenton`s final scenes as Mitzeee aired on 15 February 2013, when the character moved to America.

On 28 April 2014 it was announced that Shenton would make her American TV debut in season 3 of the ABC Family drama Switched at Birth playing young student teacher, Lilly Summers.

Personal life

When Shenton was twelve, her father became deaf after undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Following the death of her father, Shenton learned sign language and qualified as an interpreter. In 2011 Shenton was made ambassador for the National deaf children society and she continues to raise awareness of deafness in the UK.[10][11] In March 2011, Shenton completed a skydive in aid of National Deaf Children's Society.[12] In February 2012, Shenton announced that she was due to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of the charity.[10] In May 2011, Shenton helped to launch a social networking website for deaf people named "Viewtalk".[13] In October 2012, she climbed the BT Tower in aid of Action on Hearing Loss.[14]

Filmography

Acting

Year Film Role Notes
2004 Kiss & Tell Claire Short film[15]
2005 Holby City Katrina Hobsbawn 1 episode: "Doing the Right Thing" (7.52)[16]
Agnosia Tania Short Film[15]
Xlitherman Shade Girl Feature Film[15]
2006 Doctors Sadie Slade 1 episode: "Positively Blooming" (7.115)[16]
2007 Waterloo Road Courtney 3 episodes[16]
Doctors Jade Hearn/Robertson 1 episode: "Careers Day" (9.111)[16]
2008 Storyville English storyteller Ident[15]
Sophia's Dairy Tricia 1 episode[15]
Genie in the House Amy 1 episode: "Curse of the Genie Ring" (3.09)[16]
2009 Money Kills Anya Feature film[15]
2010–13 Hollyoaks Mitzeee Minniver Regular cast member (234 episodes)[2]
23 July 2010 - 15 February 2013
2011 Blood and Bone China Anna Fitzgerald 10 episodes
2013 Black Mirror Sandra
2014 Switched at Birth Lily Summers

Voice over

Year Film Role Notes
2005 NSPCC Eye Opener Abused teenager Voice over[3]
2006 Bulldog Broadband Presenter Voice over[3]
2009 Selston Cosmetic Clinic Presenter Voice over[3]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2011 British Soap Awards Sexiest Female[17] Hollyoaks Nominated
All About Soap Bubble Awards Best Newcomer[18] Hollyoaks Nominated
TV Choice Awards Best Soap Newcomer[19] Hollyoaks Nominated
Inside Soap Awards Best Newcomer[20] Hollyoaks Nominated
2012 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female[21] Hollyoaks Nominated
National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance[22] Hollyoaks Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Harp, Hayley (16 April 2010). "Rachel joins Hollyoaks as girl looking for fame". The Sentinel. (Northcliffe Media). Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Mitzeee (played by Rachel Shenton)". E4. (Channel 4 Television Corporation). July 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rachel Shenton - Reasume". RachelShenton.com. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  4. ↑ Green, Kris (12 April 2010). "'Hollyoaks' announces raft of new castings". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  5. ↑ Missim, Mayer (22 June 2010). "Shenton: "Mitzeee's the opposite of me"". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  6. ↑ "Cheryl Cole lookalike Rachel Shenton to join Hollyoaks as wannabe WAG". Metro. (Associated Newspapers Ltd). 22 June 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  7. ↑ McDonnel, John (23 June 2010). "Cheryl Cole ringer joins Hollyoaks". The Sun. (News International). Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  8. ↑ Green, Kris (16 July 2010). "Rachel Shenton (Mitzeee, 'Hollyoaks')". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  9. ↑ "Cheryl Cole lookalike Rachel Shenton quits Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks". The Sun. (News International). 20 December 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  10. 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel (9 February 2012). "'Hollyoaks' Rachel Shenton plans Kilimanjaro charity climb". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  11. ↑ Lagnado, Alice (19 December 2011). "Rachel Shenton, who played Mitzeee in the television series Hollyoaks, said she adored playing a character so different from her". Action on Hearing Loss. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  12. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (28 March 2011). "'Hollyoaks' stars complete charity skydive". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  13. ↑ "Hollyoaks star launches 'deaf Facebook'". Liverpool Echo. (Trinity Mirror). 5 May 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  14. ↑ "Oaks' Shenton reaches new heights". MSN. (Microsoft). 27 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Spotlight: Rachel Shenton". The Spotlight. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rachel Shenton". Internet Movie Database. (Amazon.com). Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  17. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (7 March 2011). "British Soap Awards 2011 voting opens". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  18. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (27 March 2011). "In Full: All About Soap Bubble winners". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  19. ↑ Wrightman, Catriona (18 May 2011). "In Full: TV Choice Awards 2011 - Nominees". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  20. ↑ Love, Ryan (11 July 2011). "In Full: Inside Soap Awards 2011 Nominees". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  21. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (17 September 2012). "'Coronation Street' leads Inside Soap Awards 2012 shortlist". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  22. ↑ Wrightman, Catriona (27 September 2011). "National Television Awards 2012: The nominees". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 9 February 2012.

External links

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