Roxy Shahidi Explained

Roxy Shahidi
Birth Date:1983 3, df=y
Birth Place:Nottingham, England
Occupation:Actress
Television:Emmerdale
Dancing on Ice
Years Active:2005–present
Children:1

Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi (fa| رخسانه قوام شهيدي; born 14 March 1983) is an English actress. She is known for portraying from 2011 to 2025 the role of Leyla Harding in ITV soap Emmerdale. In 2024, she was a contestant on the sixteenth series of Dancing on Ice.

Early life

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

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

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

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006EmmerdaleLila Wray1 episodeGuest role
2006SinchronicityIvory1 episode[17]
2008–2011, 2013–2025EmmerdaleLeyla HardingRegular role[18]
2013National Theatre Live

Othello

BiancaLive theatre[19]
2020Naimh Armstrong: On A Different PlanetMiss HussainShort film[20]
2024Dancing on IceHerselfContestant; series 16[21]
2024Drama QueensHerself[22]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryResult
2019TV Choice AwardsBest Soap Actress[23]
2019Inside Soap AwardsBest Actress[24]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Birthday gifts galore !!! Thanks Sammy Winward xxxxpic.twitter.com/sZmr5SzjyR. Shahidi. Roxy. 2014-03-12. @roxyshahidi. en. 8 February 2019.
  2. News: Rokhsaneh clears up age 'fact'. 30 Oct 2009. Metro. 30 June 2014.
  3. Web site: Celebrity Health - Roxy Shahidi . Your Healthy Living . 22 December 2023.
  4. Web site: Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi's real life from playing Leyla to famous husband . . August 2021 . 23 December 2023.
  5. Web site: Roxy Shahidi . Inter Talent Group . 23 December 2023.
  6. Web site: Rokhsaneh talks Arabian Nights . Home Manchester . 22 December 2023 . 21 November 2023.
  7. Web site: Emmerdale soap debut for actress. Ryan. Kathryn. 17 July 2008. Prestwich Advertiser. 11 June 2011.
  8. Web site: 'Emmerdale' Leyla: 'Leaving show was tough decision' . . 22 December 2023 . 1 August 2011.
  9. Web site: First look at Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi during Dancing on Ice training . . 19 October 2023 . 22 December 2023.
  10. Web site: Roxy Shahidi to step away from Emmerdale for Dancing on Ice . . 18 December 2023 . 23 December 2023.
  11. Web site: Two icons eliminated from Dancing On Ice in double devastation. metro.co.uk. 11 February 2024 . 11 February 2024.
  12. Web site: Kayleigh Dray . Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi: 'My husband proposed before we'd even kissed' . gb . Closeronline.co.uk . 2014-10-23 . 2017-03-29.
  13. Web site: Atkinson . Tom . Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi on her healthy new lifestyle . Daily Star . 2015-08-16 . 2017-03-29.
  14. Web site: Showbiz, entertainment and media news - Digital Spy . Bestdaily.co.uk . 2017-02-03 . 2017-03-29.
  15. Web site: GemmaToulson . Emmerdale actress Roxy Shahidi launches yoga lunch club in Nottingham . Nottingham Post . 2015-03-29 . 2017-03-29.
  16. Web site: YogaRox . YouTube . 2016-01-09 . 2017-03-29.
  17. Web site: Emmerdale Star Roxy Shahidi is the twelfth celebrity confirmed to be taking part in the new series of Dancing on Ice . . 23 December 2023.
  18. Web site: Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi explains Leyla's role in Christmas proposal story . . 22 December 2023 . 18 December 2023.
  19. Web site: Roxy Shahidi – Plex . plex.tv . 22 December 2023.
  20. Web site: Roxy Shahidi . Ad Voice . 22 December 2023.
  21. Web site: Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi reveals how Dancing on Ice will affect Leyla role . . 22 December 2023 . 17 December 2023.
  22. Web site: 2024-01-10 . ITV confirms new spinoff series with stars of Coronation Street and Emmerdale . 2024-03-28 . The Northern Echo . en.
  23. Web site: TVCA Long List 2019. TV Choice. 31 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190530235302/https://display.engagesciences.com/display/container/dc/6ae984d9-721c-4609-9bd7-eae43a8ef937. 30 May 2019. dead.
  24. Web site: Inside Soap Awards 2019 longlist has been revealed. Digital Spy. July 2019.

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