Aruhan Galieva (born August 1991) is a British-Kazakh actress, musician, comedian, and environmentalist.

Aruhan Galieva
Birth nameAruhan Maratovna Bisengalieva
BornAugust 1991 (age 32)
Leeds, England
GenresClassical
Instrument(s)
  • vocals
  • piano
  • double bass
Years active2003–present
LabelsSony BMG
Websitewww.aruhan.co.uk

Early life edit

Galieva was born in Leeds, Yorkshire to Kazakh violinist Marat Bisengaliev and British flutist Stina Wilson. She began singing as a child and worked with Karl Jenkins, performing from the age of 11.[1] She attended the King's School, Canterbury from 2005 to 2010.[1] She was a music scholar and chorister at school.[2] Galieva joined the National Youth Theatre's REP Company.[3]

Career edit

She performed her singing debut aged 11 at the Abai Opera Theatre in Almaty, Kazakhstan.[1] This was followed by her British debut at the Royal Albert Hall, London when she was 13.[1] Galieva gained prominence through her work as a solo soprano on Karl Jenkins' Tlep under Sony BMG and her work on the follow-up album Shakarim which was premiered at the Royal Festival Hall.[4]

In 2012, Galieva appeared in Joe Wright's film adaptation of Anna Karenina.[5] In 2014, she was one of the leads in the BBC Three film Glasgow Girls,[1] a true story about the titular activists.[1] In 2015, she made her professional theatre debut at Shakespeare's Globe as Blanche of Castile in James Dacre's production of King John.[5]

In 2016, Galieva appeared in "Men Against Fire", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.[5] From 2017 to 2018, she played Besa Kotti in the BBC medical soap opera Doctors.[5] In 2020, she appeared in "Can You Hear Me", the seventh episode for the twelfth series of Doctor Who.[1][5]

Galieva brought her first solo comedy show Eco Maniac to the 2022 Brighton Fringe Festival,[6] for which she was awarded a Luke Rollason bursary. She was nominated for an Off West End Award for her supporting performance as Lauren in Kinky Boots at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch.[7] She has writing credits on the web series Nasty Neighbours and The B@it, as well as the SeanceCast.[5]

In the 2022 local elections, Galieva unsuccessfully stood to represent Abbey Wood for the Green Party on Greenwich Council.[8] She became an ambassador for the Bat Conservation Trust.[9]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Whitechapel Ana 1 episode
2012 Anna Karenina Aruhan
2014 Coalition Fangirls Jenny Short film
2014 Glasgow Girls Roza Salih Television film
2016 Black Mirror Village Mother Episode: "Men Against Fire"
2018 Doctors Besa Kotti 9 episodes
2019 We Have Always Lived in the Castle Merricat Short film
2020 Doctor Who Tahira Episode: "Can You Hear Me?"
2022 The Emily Atack Show 4 episodes

Stage edit

Year Title Role Notes
2015 King John Blanche of Castile Globe Theatre, London / Royal & Derngate, Northampton
Bakkhai Bakkhai Almeida Theatre, London
2016 The Two Gentlemen of Verona Silvia Globe Theatre, London / Everyman Theatre, Liverpool / Europe tour
2017 Twelfth Night Olivia Watermill Theatre, Bagnor
Romeo and Juliet Juliet Watermill Theatre, Bagnor
2018 Much Ado About Nothing Hero Globe Theatre, London
The Comedy of Errors Luciana Royal Shakespeare Company (First Encounters Tour)
2019 Twelfth Night Feste Southwark Playhouse, London
2020 My Cousin Rachel Louise Theatre Royal, Bath / UK tour
2021 Gin Craze! Mary Royal & Derngate, Northampton
2022 Kinky Boots Lauren New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich / Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch
2023 The Fair Maid of the West Roughman Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Aruhan Galieva; British singer & actress says she's proud of her Kazakh heritage". islamabadtelegraph.com. 30 June 2020. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020.
  2. ^ "King John at the Globe". Offcuts (43). 30 March 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Aruhan Galieva - Much Ado About Nothing". Playing Shakespeare. 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  4. ^ "The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace". whatsonstage. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Aruhan Galieva". independenttalent.com. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ^ Hawkins, Si (24 May 2022). "Aruhan Galieva - Random 8". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Aruhan Galieva – Kinky Boots – Queen's Theatre Hornchurch #Offies 2022 #NewNoms: Supporting Perf in a Musical". Offies. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Local elections 2022". Greenwich and Bexley Green Party. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Aruhan Galieva". Bat Conservation Trust. Retrieved 8 April 2023.

External links edit