Rhiannon Grace Clements[2] (born 1 December 1994) is an English actress. While studying at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, Clements began starring in various theatre productions, and went on to be awarded Best Stage Actor at the Spotlight Prize in 2019.

Rhiannon Clements
Clements in 2022
Born
Rhiannon Grace Clements

(1994-12-01) 1 December 1994 (age 29)[1]
Blackburn, England
OccupationActress
Years active2018–present

From 2020 to 2021, she portrayed the role of Summer Ranger in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. For her portrayal of the role, Clements was nominated in the Newcomer category at the 26th National Television Awards. Since leaving the soap, she has starred in various television series including Maryland, The Power of Parker and Vera.

Early life edit

Clements was born in Blackburn, England. She was born with a foreshortened left arm.[3] At the age of four, Clements was enrolled into dance classes by her mother in order to boost her confidence, but she felt that dance was not right for her, and instead enrolled herself into youth theatre classes.[4] Clements attended Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe, and ALRA North. At ALRA North, she studied towards and obtained a degree in acting.[5]

Career edit

In 2018, Clements made her professional stage debut in a production of The Tempest; she then starred in various other stage productions, including Alice in Wonderland, Wuthering Heights and The Glass Menagerie.[6] In 2019, she was awarded Best Stage Actor at the Spotlight Prize. One of the judges highlighted Clements' performance as a standout from the ceremony, stating that she connected to the audience well.[7] Following auditioning for various roles after relocating to Manchester in 2019, Clements booked a role as Bescot in two episodes of the BBC series Doctor Who.[5]

In 2020, it was announced that Clements had joined the cast of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Summer Ranger, the daughter of established character Cormac (James Gaddas). When Clements' agent phoned her to inform her that she had booked the role, she thought that it would be bad news. She expressed her excitement at joining Hollyoaks since she watched the soap whilst growing up.[5] Months into her tenure, it was confirmed that Summer would be a villain.[8] During her time on the series, Clements appeared in an episode of its online documentary spin-off series Hollyoaks: IRL, where she discussed the representation of her disability on the soap.[9] After her character is imprisoned, Clements announced her departure from Hollyoaks, but stated that she intends on returning to the soap in the future.[10] For her portrayal of Summer, Clements received a shortlist nomination in the Newcomer category at the 26th National Television Awards.[11] Later in 2021, Clements received three nominations at the Inside Soap Awards.[12] Then in 2022, she was nominated for the British Soap Award for Villain of the Year.[13]

Following her Hollyoaks exit, Clements appeared in the Channel 4 comedy series Big Boys,[14] as well as appearing in an episode of the ITV drama series Ridley.[15] In 2023, Clements filmed numerous projects. She starred in the ITV drama series Maryland and the BBC comedy series The Power of Parker, appeared in an episode of the Britbox period drama Sister Boniface Mysteries. Also in 2023, Clements joined the cast of the ITV crime drama Vera and debuted in episodes broadcast in early 2024. She portrays the role of DC Stephanie Duncan.[15]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
2020 Doctor Who Bescot Episodes: "Ascension of the Cybermen"
and "The Timeless Children"
2020 The Other One Melanie Recurring role
2020–2021 Hollyoaks Summer Ranger Regular role
2021 Hollyoaks: IRL Herself 1 episode
2022 Death on the Nile Hotel Administrator Film
2022 Big Boys Mad Debs Recurring role
2022 Ridley Jenna Noble Episode: "Hospitality"
2023 Maryland Lauren Main role
2023 Sister Boniface Mysteries Fliss Forsyth Episode: "Don't Try This at Home"
2023 The Power of Parker Bev Main role
2024 Vera DC Stephanie Duncan Main role

Stage edit

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2018 The Tempest Prospero ALRA North [6]
2018 Alice in Wonderland Alice ALRA North [16]
2019 The Merchant of Venice Salarina Stafford Gatehouse Theatre [17]
2020 Wuthering Heights Isabella Linton / Frances Earnshaw Royal Exchange Theatre [18]
2020 (2022) The Glass Menagerie Laura Wingfield Royal Exchange Theatre [19]

Awards and nominations edit

Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2019 Spotlight Prize Best Stage Actor Won [7]
2021 26th National Television Awards Newcomer Nominated [11]
2021 Inside Soap Awards Best Newcomer Nominated [12]
2021 Inside Soap Awards Best Partnership
(with Anna Passey)
Nominated [12]
2021 Inside Soap Awards Best Villain Nominated [12]
2022 The British Soap Awards Villain of the Year Nominated [13]

References edit

  1. ^ Clements, Rhiannon (1 December 2021). "Twenty bloody seven Thank you so much for the birthday love and wishes, I've had the best day filled with wonderful things (mostly scran) My 26th year has been a blast, I've learnt loads, grown a lot, met ace people, had opportunities beyond anything I thought poss, felt love and support in shedloads and had a lorra fun, and I've had to sort my shit out and reset things in more ways than I can think. Feeling ready to take on this next year making this lil bean proud of the 'bad gal fully grown/functioning/but still a state/but having a ball' adult she is! Pass me the silver velour- Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou!!!!". Instagram. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Rhiannon Grace Clements". genesreunited. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  3. ^ Fogarty, Paul. "Rhiannon Clements As Summer: Hollyoaks Fans Praise Portrayal Of Arm Disability". HITC. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  4. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (10 July 2021). "Meet the Hollyoaks star breaking down barriers for disability by playing a sexy soap villain". Manchester Evening News. (Reach plc). Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Nadeem, Alima (2 June 2021). "Blackburn-born Hollyoaks star nominated at National Television Awards". Lancashire Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Rhiannon Clements". JAG. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b Masso, Giverny (18 July 2019). "ALRA North student Rhiannon Clements wins 2019 Spotlight Prize for best stage actor". The Stage. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  8. ^ Patterson, Stephen (8 April 2021). "Hollyoaks spoilers: Summer Ranger comes to Sienna Blake's rescue in bizarre twist after destroying her life". Metro. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Interview: Disability in real life with Rhiannon Clements". Enable. 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  10. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (17 September 2021). "Hollyoaks star Rhiannon Clements confirms exit for Summer Ranger after Sienna twist". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  11. ^ a b McGee, Sarah (25 August 2021). "Blackburn-born Hollyoaks star reacts to NTA nomination". Lancashire Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d Alexander, Susannah (28 September 2021). "Inside Soap Awards announces 2021 longlist as voting opens – here's who's up for prizes". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  13. ^ a b Warner, Sam (10 May 2022). "British Soap Awards 2022 announces full nominations shortlist". Digital Spy. (Hearst Communications). Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  14. ^ Mangan, Lucy (26 May 2022). "Big Boys review – this warm, tender comedy will pierce your heart". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  15. ^ a b "ITV Vera role for Hollyoaks villain Rhiannon Clements as cast 'shaken up' for new series". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Alice in Wonderland". Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  17. ^ Sayce, Rebecca (11 June 2019). "Cast announced for Stafford Festival Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice". Express & Star. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  18. ^ Rucki, Alexandra (13 February 2020). "Review: Wuthering Heights at Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester". Manchester Evening News. (Reach plc). Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  19. ^ Wood, Alex (20 February 2020). "The Glass Menagerie at Manchester's Royal Exchange casting announced". WhatsOnStage. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.

External links edit