Laila Zaidi (born October 1993) is a British actress. On television, she is known for her roles in the tenth series of Benidorm (2018) on ITV and the fifth series of the Channel 4 comedy-drama Ackley Bridge (2022). She is of Pakistani descent.
Laila Zaidi | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 1993 |
| Alma mater | ArtsEd |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Spouse | Adam Gillen |
Early life
editZaidi was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk to Pakistani parents,[1] and grew up in Washington, Tyne and Wear.[2] She has an older brother and a younger sister. Zaidi attended Newcastle High School for Girls. She went on to graduate in 2016 from the Arts Educational School (ArtsEd) in West London with a Bachelor of Arts (BA).[3]
Career
editUpon graduating from ArtsEd in 2016, Zaidi made her professional stage debut starring as Maria in the Kilworth House production of West Side Story.[4] She also appeared in The Season Ticket at the Northern Stage. In 2017, she workshopped Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express at The Other Palace in London[5] and made her television debut with a guest appearance in an episode of the BBC medical soap Doctors.
In 2018, Zaidi joined the cast of the long-running ITV sitcom Benidorm for its tenth series as Cyd.[6] She took part in the original cast of the folk opera The Selfish Giant, which premiered at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton[7] and then had a run at London's Vaudeville Theatre for the venue's Oscar Wilde season, marking Zaidi's West End debut.[8] In 2019, she starred as Jess Bhamra in the Canadian production and North American premiere of Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto.[9]
Zaidi joined the main cast of the Channel 4 school-set comedy drama Ackley Bridge for its fifth and final series as the teacher Asma Farooqi, which aired in 2022.[10][11] In 2023, she appeared in the Live Theatre production of Three Acts of Love in Newcastle. She then went on the Rifco tour of Frankie Goes to Bollywood as the titular character.[12]
Personal life
editIn 2023, Zaidi became engaged to fellow Benidorm star Adam Gillen;[13] their relationship had been initially reported on in 2018.[14]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Doctors | Samika Ramaswamy | 1 episode |
| 2018 | Benidorm | Cyd | Main role, 5 episodes (series 10) |
| 2018 | Amigo de Aluguel | Hannah | 1 episode |
| 2020 | Hayley Alien | Artist | Short film |
| 2020 | Holby City | Christie O'Connor | 1 episode |
| 2021 | The Everlasting Club | Short film | |
| 2022 | Mood | Zara | 1 episode |
| 2022 | Ackley Bridge | Asma Farooqi | Main role, 10 episodes (series 5) |
| 2024 | Doctors | Maria Jaziri | 7 episodes |
| TBA | Dog Days | Hope |
Stage
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | West Side Story | Maria | Kilworth House, Leicestershire |
| 2016 | The Season Ticket | Clare / Gemma | Northern Stage, Newcastle |
| 2017 | Starlight Express | Tassita | The Other Palace, London |
| 2018 | The Selfish Giant | Charlie / Hail | Royal & Derngate, Northampton / Vaudeville Theatre, London |
| 2019 | The Boy Friend | Polly Browne | Menier Chocolate Factory, London / Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto |
| 2019 | Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical | Jasminder "Jess" Bhamra | St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Toronto |
| 2023 | Three Acts of Love | Clara | Live Theatre, Newcastle |
| 2024 | Frankie Goes to Bollywood | Frankie | UK tour |
References
edit- ^ Silvers, Isabella (25 July 2022). "Laila Zaidi: "This is who I am and I don't have to prove that to you"". Mixed Messages. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ Sagar, Sharuna (9 December 2023). "Live Theatre's Three Acts of Love brings talent home". BBC Look North. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Final curtain for A Level dance students at Newcastle High". Girls' Day School Trust. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Ashworth, Pat (6 June 2016). "West Side Story review, Kilworth House, Leicestershire, 2016". The Stage. Retrieved 3 January 2024.(subscription required)
- ^ "Rising Stars: Laila Zaidi". The Media Eye. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ^ "Laila Zaidi". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (6 March 2018). "Jeff Nicholson, Izuka Hoyle, Rose Shalloo and more cast in The Selfish Giant". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ^ "Opening night for Jeff Nicholson and Laila Zaidi in The Selfish Giant". Global Artists. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Train, Louis (19 December 2019). "Review: BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM at St Lawrence Centre". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Brown, Nancy (25 November 2021). "Benidorm star Laila Zaidi to appear in Ackley Bridge as new series confirmed by Channel 4". Entertainment Daily. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Interview with Laila Zaidi (who plays Asma Farooqi)". Channel 4 Press. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Nazir, Azjad (27 April 2024). "Laila Zaidi: Passion and powerful intention". Eastern Eye. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ Chase, Stephanie (29 September 2023). "Benidorm co-stars confirm they're engaged". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Deen, Sarah (15 March 2018). "Benidorm stars Adam Gillen and Laila Zaidi 'are secretly dating in real life'". Metro. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
External links
edit- Laila Zaidi at IMDb
- Laila Zaidi at Spotlight