Wikipedia

Roxy Shahidi

Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi (Persian: رخسانه قوام شهيدي; born 14 March 1983) is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Leyla Harding in ITV soap Emmerdale. In 2024, she is set to appear as a contestant on the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice.

Roxy Shahidi
Born
Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi

(1983-03-14) 14 March 1983 (age 41)
Manchester, England
OccupationActress
Years active2005–present
TelevisionEmmerdale
Dancing on Ice
Spouse
​
(m. 2010)​
Children1

Early life edit

Shahidi was born Rokhsaneh Gwaham-Shahidi on 14 March 1983 to an Iranian father and an English mother, and grew up in Whalley Range in Manchester.[1][2] She became a vegetarian at the age of 8, and has been a vegan since the age of 21.[3]

Career edit

Shahidi began her career as part of Contact Young Actors Company in 2004 and went on to work for Peskar Productions as a drama workshop leader in Oldham and Bolton.[4] Her theatre credits include East is East, Janus (for West Yorkshire Playhouse), Christie Malry's Own Double Entry at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, Freshly Scratched (for the Battersea Arts Centre) and Rafta, Rafta... at the National Theatre.[5] Shahidi made her on-screen debut in the BBC Three comedy-drama series Sinchronicity in 2006. She has also acted in radio plays, e.g. Nadeem Aslam's Maps for Lost Lovers. From November 2012 through to January 2013 she played the role of Shahrazad in the Manchester Library Theatre Company performances of Arabian Nights at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, near Manchester.[6]

In August 2008, Shahidi joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Emmerdale as Leyla Harding.[7] After departing the role in August 2011, Shahidi returned to Emmerdale for two episodes in December 2013, before reprising the role on a permanent basis from January 2014.[8] In 2024, Shahidi appeared as a contestant on the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice.[9][10] She was paired with Sylvain Longchambon and was fourth to be eliminated.[11]

Personal life edit

Shahidi married actor Arsher Ali in 2010. They have a daughter together born in 2018.[12][13][14]

Shahidi has set up a Yoga Lunch Club in the Creative Quarter in Hockley, Greater Nottingham where she also is based.[15] She also has a YouTube channel on which she regularly shares yoga videos.[16]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
2006 Sinchronicity Ivory 1 episode [17]
2008–2011, 2013–present Emmerdale Leyla Harding Regular role [18]
2013 National Theatre Live: Othello Bianca Live theatre [19]
2020 Naimh Armstrong: On A Different Planet Miss Hussain Short film [20]
2024 Dancing on Ice Herself Contestant; series 16 [21]
2024 Drama Queens Herself Upcoming series [22]

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2019 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress Nominated [23]
2019 Inside Soap Awards Best Actress Longlisted [24]

References edit

  1. ^ Shahidi, Roxy (12 March 2014). "Birthday gifts galore !!! Thanks Sammy Winward xxxxpic.twitter.com/sZmr5SzjyR". @roxyshahidi. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Rokhsaneh clears up age 'fact'". Metro. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Celebrity Health - Roxy Shahidi". Your Healthy Living. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi's real life from playing Leyla to famous husband". Leeds Live. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Roxy Shahidi". Inter Talent Group. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Rokhsaneh talks Arabian Nights". Home Manchester. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  7. ^ Ryan, Kathryn (17 July 2008). "Emmerdale soap debut for actress". Prestwich Advertiser. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  8. ^ "'Emmerdale' Leyla: 'Leaving show was tough decision'". Digital Spy. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  9. ^ "First look at Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi during Dancing on Ice training". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Roxy Shahidi to step away from Emmerdale for Dancing on Ice". Metro. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Two icons eliminated from Dancing On Ice in double devastation". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  12. ^ Kayleigh Dray (23 October 2014). "Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi: 'My husband proposed before we'd even kissed'". gb: Closeronline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  13. ^ Atkinson, Tom (16 August 2015). "Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi on her healthy new lifestyle". Daily Star. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  14. ^ "Showbiz, entertainment and media news - Digital Spy". Bestdaily.co.uk. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  15. ^ GemmaToulson (29 March 2015). "Emmerdale actress Roxy Shahidi launches yoga lunch club in Nottingham". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  16. ^ "YogaRox". YouTube. 9 January 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  17. ^ "Emmerdale Star Roxy Shahidi is the twelfth celebrity confirmed to be taking part in the new series of Dancing on Ice". ITV Press Centre. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi explains Leyla's role in Christmas proposal story". Digital Spy. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Roxy Shahidi – Plex". plex.tv. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Roxy Shahidi". Ad Voice. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi reveals how Dancing on Ice will affect Leyla role". Digital Spy. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  22. ^ "ITV confirms new spinoff series with stars of Coronation Street and Emmerdale". The Northern Echo. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  23. ^ "TVCA Long List 2019". TV Choice. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  24. ^ "Inside Soap Awards 2019 longlist has been revealed". Digital Spy. July 2019.

External links edit

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roxy_Shahidi&oldid=1215966643"