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{{short description|English actress (born 1971)}}
{{short description|English actress (born 1971)}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Laila Rouass
| name = Laila Rouass
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| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name = Laila Abdesselam
| birth_name = Laila Abdesselam
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|43|2016|9|28}}<ref name=":0"/>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1971|6|22}}
| birth_place = [[Stepney]], London, England
| birth_place = [[Stepney]], London, England
| death_date =
| death_date =
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| education =
| education =
| alma mater =
| alma mater =
| television = ''[[Family Affairs]]''<br/>''[[Footballers' Wives]]''<br />''[[Primeval (TV series)|Primeval]]''<br />''[[Strictly Come Dancing (series 7)|Strictly Come Dancing]]''<br />''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]''<br />''[[Holby City]]''<br />''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''<br />''[[Loose Women]]''
| television = ''[[Family Affairs]]''<br/>''[[Footballers' Wives]]''<br />''[[Primeval (TV series)|Primeval]]''<br />''[[Strictly Come Dancing (series 7)|Strictly Come Dancing]]''<br />''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]''<br />''[[Holby City]]''<br />''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''<br />''[[Loose Women]]''<br />''[[EastEnders]]''
| spouse = Abselam Rouass (1990–2003)
| spouse = {{marriage|Abselam Rouass|1990|2003|reason=divorced}}
| domesticpartner = Nasir Khan (2005–2008)<br />[[James Petrie (chef)|James Petrie]] (2010–2011)<br />[[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] (2012–present)
| domesticpartner = Nasir Khan (2005–2008)<br />[[James Petrie (chef)|James Petrie]] (2010–2011)<br />[[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] (2012–present)
| children = 1
| children = 1
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}}
}}


'''Laila Rouass''' (née '''Abdesselam''') is a British actress. She is best known for her portrayals of [[Amber Gates]] in ''[[Footballers' Wives]]'' (2004–2006) and [[Sahira Shah]] in ''[[Holby City]]'' (2011–2012, 2021). She has also starred in ''[[Primeval (TV series)|Primeval]]'' and ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]'' and been a contestant on ''[[Strictly Come Dancing (series 7)|Strictly Come Dancing]]'', in which she finished fourth.
'''Laila Rouass''' ({{née}} '''Abdesselam'''; born 22 June 1971) is a British actress. She is best known for her portrayals of [[Amber Gates]] in ''[[Footballers' Wives]]'' (2004–2006) and [[Sahira Shah]] in ''[[Holby City]]'' (2011–2012, 2021). She has also starred in ''[[Primeval (TV series)|Primeval]]'' and ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]'' and been a contestant on ''[[Strictly Come Dancing (series 7)|Strictly Come Dancing]]'', in which she finished fourth.

==Early life==
Laila Abdesselam was born on 22 June 1971 to an Indian mother and a Moroccan father, she grew up with six siblings in [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]] in the [[East End of London]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |date=1 October 2009 |title=Rouass hits back at fake marriage claim |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2009/1001/419175-strictlycomedancing/ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing, Series 7, Laila Rouass - launch interview |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004l0l0 |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=28 July 2024 |date=29 September 2009}}</ref> She was raised [[Muslims|Muslim]] but is now non-practising, although she calls the Islamic faith an important part of her identity.<ref name=":0" />


==Career==
==Career==
Rouass worked as a [[VJ (media personality)|VJ]] on [[Channel V]] in India in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/glitterati.aspx?36 |title=The Language of Fashion |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |publisher=The Outlook Group |location=India |date=19 June 1996 |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> While on Channel V, she appeared in a music video for the band Colour Blind, directed by the then creative head of the channel, Shamin Desai.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?209281 |title=Givin' It A Good Shot |first=Namrata |last=Joshi |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |publisher=The Outlook Group |location=India |date=24 April 2000 |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref>
Rouass worked as a [[VJ (media personality)|VJ]] on [[Channel V]] in India in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/glitterati.aspx?36 |title=The Language of Fashion |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |publisher=The Outlook Group |location=India |date=19 June 1996 |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> While on Channel V, she appeared in a music video for the band Colour Blind, directed by the then creative head of the channel, Shamin Desai.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?209281 |title=Givin' It A Good Shot |first=Namrata |last=Joshi |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |publisher=The Outlook Group |location=India |date=24 April 2000 |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref>


After moving back to the UK, Rouass became famous for playing the role of [[Bollywood]] actress Amber Gates in the cult [[ITV1]] series ''[[Footballers' Wives]]'' between 2004 and 2006 and, albeit briefly, on the [[ITV2]] spin-off series ''[[Footballers' Wives: Extra Time]]''. She also played recurring roles on the British soaps ''[[Family Affairs]]'' and ''[[Hollyoaks]]'',<ref name="Hollyoaks" /> as well as appearing in episodes of ''[[I Dream]]'', ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'' and ''[[Meet the Magoons]]''. She starred alongside [[Meera Syal]] in the television adaptation of Syal's novel, ''[[Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee]].''
After moving back to the UK, Rouass became famous for playing the role of [[Bollywood]] actress Amber Gates in the cult [[ITV1]] series ''[[Footballers' Wives]]'' between 2004 and 2006 and, albeit briefly, in the [[ITV2]] spin-off series ''[[Footballers' Wives: Extra Time]]''. She also played recurring roles in the British soaps ''[[Family Affairs]]'' and ''[[Hollyoaks]]'',<ref name="Hollyoaks" /> as well as appearing in episodes of ''[[I Dream]]'', ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'' and ''[[Meet the Magoons]]''. She starred alongside [[Meera Syal]] in the television adaptation of Syal's novel ''[[Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee]]''.


Rouass was ranked No.87 and No.69 on [[FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2004]] and [[FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005]] respectively.
Rouass was ranked No.87 and No.69 on [[FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2004]] and [[FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005]] respectively.


In 2009 she appeared as [[Egyptologist]] [[List of Primeval characters#P|Sarah Page]] in the third series of the ITV science-fiction series ''[[Primeval (TV series)|Primeval]]''. She left the show when location of filming was changed to [[Dublin]], for series four and five, saying it would be hard to continue participating as she was a single parent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s48/primeval/news/a219453/laila-rouass-explains-primeval-exit.html |title=Laila Rouass explains 'Primeval' exit |first=Daniel |last=Kilkelly |date=12 May 2010 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref>
In 2009 she appeared as [[Egyptologist]] [[List of Primeval characters#P|Sarah Page]] in the third series of the ITV science-fiction series ''[[Primeval (TV series)|Primeval]]''. She left the show when the location of filming was changed to [[Dublin]] for series four and five, saying it would be hard to continue participating, for she was a single parent;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s48/primeval/news/a219453/laila-rouass-explains-primeval-exit.html |title=Laila Rouass explains 'Primeval' exit |first=Daniel |last=Kilkelly |date=12 May 2010 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> and her character was subsequently killed off-screen between the third and fourth series.


In spring of 2010, Rouass announced that she will be making a film about [[Leila Khaled]], who led the hijacking of a flight from Rome to [[Athens]] in 1969. Rouass stated she had funding for the film.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/7415234/Footballers-Wives-star-Laila-Rouass-films-life-of-terrorist-Leila-Khaled.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313185036/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/7415234/Footballers-Wives-star-Laila-Rouass-films-life-of-terrorist-Leila-Khaled.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 March 2010 |title=Footballers' Wives star Laila Rouass films life of terrorist Leila Khaled |first=Tim |last=Walker |date=10 March 2010 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref>
In spring of 2010, Rouass announced that she would be making a film about [[Leila Khaled]], who led the hijacking of a flight from Rome to [[Athens]] in 1969. Rouass stated she had funding for the film.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/7415234/Footballers-Wives-star-Laila-Rouass-films-life-of-terrorist-Leila-Khaled.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313185036/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/7415234/Footballers-Wives-star-Laila-Rouass-films-life-of-terrorist-Leila-Khaled.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 March 2010 |title=Footballers' Wives star Laila Rouass films life of terrorist Leila Khaled |first=Tim |last=Walker |date=10 March 2010 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref>


She played [[Maya Lahan]], a regular character introduced in the ninth series of BBC One drama ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]'' which broadcast from September 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s120/spooks/tubetalk/a276653/spooks-meet-the-newbies-laila-rouass.html |title='Spooks' – Meet The Newbies: Laila Rouass |first=Catriona |last=Wightman |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=16 September 2010 |access-date=7 March 2010}}</ref> She guest starred as the evil Colonel Karim in ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' in October 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2010/wk43/mon.shtml#mon_sarah |title=The Sarah Jane Adventures – Death of the Doctor |publisher=BBC |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> Rouass then joined the cast of the BBC medical drama ''[[Holby City]]'', appearing from February 2011 as registrar [[Sahira Shah]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Kilkelly |first=Daniel |title=Laila Rouass joins 'Holby City' |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=7 November 2010 |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s19/holby-city/news/a286458/laila-rouass-joins-holby-city.html |access-date=20 January 2011}}</ref> She left ''Holby City'' on 17 April 2012, after just 14 months on the show, to take a break to spend time with her family. She returned to the role of Sahira Shah on 9 February 2021.
She played [[Maya Lahan]], a regular character introduced in the ninth series of BBC One drama ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]'' which broadcast from September 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s120/spooks/tubetalk/a276653/spooks-meet-the-newbies-laila-rouass.html |title='Spooks' – Meet The Newbies: Laila Rouass |first=Catriona |last=Wightman |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=16 September 2010 |access-date=7 March 2010}}</ref> She guest starred as the evil Colonel Karim in ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' in October 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2010/wk43/mon.shtml#mon_sarah |title=The Sarah Jane Adventures – Death of the Doctor |publisher=BBC |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> Rouass then joined the cast of the BBC medical drama ''[[Holby City]]'', appearing from February 2011 as registrar [[Sahira Shah]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Kilkelly |first=Daniel |title=Laila Rouass joins 'Holby City' |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=7 November 2010 |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s19/holby-city/news/a286458/laila-rouass-joins-holby-city.html |access-date=20 January 2011}}</ref> She left ''Holby City'' on 17 April 2012, after just 14 months on the show, to take a break to spend time with her family. She returned to the role of Sahira Shah on 9 February 2021.

In 2014 She Appeared In ''[[Midsomer Murders]]'' as Stephanie King in The Flying Club & then return again as Vanessa Debouverie in 2022 episode A Grain of Truth


She is also currently one of the presenters of "The Channel 4 TV Book Club".
She is also currently one of the presenters of "The Channel 4 TV Book Club".
<ref>[http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-tv-book-club/articles/laila-rouass The TV Book Club – Presenters – Laila Rouass – Channel 4<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-tv-book-club/articles/laila-rouass The TV Book Club – Presenters – Laila Rouass – Channel 4<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In July 2024, it was announced that Rouass would be joining the [[BBC One|BBC]] soap opera ''[[EastEnders]]'' as [[List of EastEnders characters (2024)#Ayesha Siddhu|Ayesha Siddhu]], a woman from [[Suki Panesar]]'s past.<ref>{{cite web |title=Laila Rouass makes EastEnders guest appearance |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/eastenders-laila-rouass |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=28 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>


===''Strictly Come Dancing''===
===''Strictly Come Dancing''===
She participated in the [[Strictly Come Dancing (series 7)|seventh series]] of ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'', a BBC One reality show, paired with professional dancer [[Anton Du Beke]], and alongside ''Footballers' Wives'' co-star [[Zöe Lucker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/oct/05/strictly-anton-paki-complaints |title=Strictly Come Dancing: BBC receives scores of complaints over racist remark |work=[[The Guardian]] |first=Tara |last=Conlan |date=5 October 2009 |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref>
She participated in the [[Strictly Come Dancing (series 7)|seventh series]] of ''[[Strictly Come Dancing]]'', a BBC One reality show, paired with professional dancer [[Anton Du Beke]], and alongside ''Footballers' Wives'' co-star [[Zöe Lucker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/oct/05/strictly-anton-paki-complaints |title=Strictly Come Dancing: BBC receives scores of complaints over racist remark |work=[[The Guardian]] |first=Tara |last=Conlan |date=5 October 2009 |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref>


The pair made it to the last four before being voted off the show on 6 December 2009. She did not attend the final on 19 December 2009 to reprise her partnership with Anton Du Beke.{{citation needed|date=January 2011}}
The pair made it to the last four before being voted off the show on 6 December 2009. She was unable to participate in the final on 19 December 2009 to reprise her partnership with Anton Du Beke due to a last-minute personal emergency.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/laila-rouass-griff-rhys-jones-rafe-spall-josie-silver/id1547229368?i=1000550993441 |title=Laila Rouass on the Graham Norton Radio Show |work=[[The Graham Norton Radio Show]] |first=Tara |last=Conlan |date=13 February 2022 |access-date=14 May 2024}}</ref>


===Film career===
===Film career===
Rouass' first film was ''City of Dreams'' produced by Feroze Nadiawala, in which she starred opposite [[Lisa Ray]] and [[Saeed Jaffery]].<ref name="Hollyoaks">{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/community/showcards/H/Hollyoaks_-_Dale_Jackson.html |title=Hollyoaks – Laila Rouass |date=7 March 2003 |access-date=7 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714053322/http://www.channel4.com/community/showcards/H/Hollyoaks_-_Dale_Jackson.html |archive-date=14 July 2007 |publisher=[[Channel 4]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010823/main8.htm#1 |title=Wisecracking their way to Bollywood |date=23 August 2001 |first=Nutan |last=Sehgal |location=Chandigarh, India |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |publisher=The Tribune Trust |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> During the years that she was based in India, early in her career, she acted in some Indian films, Aditya Bhattacharya's [[India|Indo]]-Italian ''Senso unico'' (1999) and Dev Benegal's ''[[Split Wide Open]]'' (1999).
Rouass' first film was ''City of Dreams'' produced by Feroze Nadiawala, in which she starred opposite [[Lisa Ray]] and [[Saeed Jaffrey]].<ref name="Hollyoaks">{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/community/showcards/H/Hollyoaks_-_Dale_Jackson.html |title=Hollyoaks – Laila Rouass |date=7 March 2003 |access-date=7 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714053322/http://www.channel4.com/community/showcards/H/Hollyoaks_-_Dale_Jackson.html |archive-date=14 July 2007 |publisher=[[Channel 4]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010823/main8.htm#1 |title=Wisecracking their way to Bollywood |date=23 August 2001 |first=Nutan |last=Sehgal |location=Chandigarh, India |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |publisher=The Tribune Trust |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> During the years that she was based in India, early in her career, she acted in some Indian films, Aditya Bhattacharya's [[India|Indo]]-Italian ''Senso unico'' (1999) and Dev Benegal's ''[[Split Wide Open]]'' (1999).


In 2000, Rouass starred in Jag Mhundra's controversial film, ''[[Bawandar]]'' (English title; ''The Sand Storm''),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.film.com/movies/sandstorm/14704096 |title=Sandstorm |publisher=[[Film.com]] |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> about revenge rapes in [[Rajasthan]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openmagazine.co.uk/big-screen/article/laila-rouass/ |title=Laila Rouass |first=Loma-Ann |last=Marks |work=Open |publisher=Open Magazine Ltd |date=16 July 2008 |access-date=7 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107071423/http://www.openmagazine.co.uk/big-screen/article/laila-rouass/ |archive-date=7 November 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and she made her English-language film debut in 2002 with a small role in ''[[The Four Feathers (2002 film)|The Four Feathers]]'' opposite [[Heath Ledger]].<ref name="Hollyoaks" />
In 2000, Rouass starred in Jag Mhundra's controversial film, ''[[Bawandar]]'' (English title; ''The Sand Storm''),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.film.com/movies/sandstorm/14704096 |title=Sandstorm |publisher=[[Film.com]] |access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> about revenge rapes in [[Rajasthan]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openmagazine.co.uk/big-screen/article/laila-rouass/ |title=Laila Rouass |first=Loma-Ann |last=Marks |work=Open |publisher=Open Magazine Ltd |date=16 July 2008 |access-date=7 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107071423/http://www.openmagazine.co.uk/big-screen/article/laila-rouass/ |archive-date=7 November 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and she made her English-language film debut in 2002 with a small role in ''[[The Four Feathers (2002 film)|The Four Feathers]]'' opposite [[Heath Ledger]].<ref name="Hollyoaks" />
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== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
In 1990, she married family friend Abdeslam Rouass, but the couple divorced in 2003 without having consummated their marriage.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Andy |date=6 February 2021 |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan wife: Is the snooker star married to actress Laila Rouass? |url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/1373371/ronnie-o-sullivan-wife-married-laila-rouass-osullivan-snooker-world-grand-prix-evg |access-date=23 October 2021 |website=Daily Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=People |date=6 September 2008 |title=TV Laila boots out cheating hubby |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/tv-laila-boots-out-cheating-1657295 |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref> Rouass then lived with London businessman Nasir Khan, with whom she held a commitment ceremony in 2005 before family and friends. She later faced criticism for referring to herself and Khan as a married couple, even though the ceremony had no legal standing.<ref name=":1" /> She gave birth to their daughter Inez in February 2007, but ended her relationship with Khan shortly afterwards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buxton |first=Olivia |date=24 March 2012 |title=I had to quit Holby, I was missing my daughter grow up: Laila Rouass says you can't have it all |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/laila-rouass-on-leaving-holby-city-770422 |access-date=17 December 2021 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref> In 2011, Khan was sentenced to nine years in prison for his money-laundering role in a £250 million VAT fraud conspiracy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 December 2011 |title=Gang of 15 jailed for £250m VAT fraud |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-16262390 |access-date=12 September 2021}}</ref>


Born Laila Abdesselam to an Indian mother and a Moroccan father, she grew up with six siblings in [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]] in the [[East End of London]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |date=1 October 2009 |title=Rouass hits back at fake marriage claim |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2009/1001/419175-strictlycomedancing/ |language=en}}</ref> Raised [[Muslims|Muslim]], she is now non-practising, although she calls the Islamic faith an important part of her identity.<ref name=":0" /> In 1990, she married family friend Abdeslam Rouass, but they divorced in 2003 without having consummated their marriage,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Andy |date=6 February 2021 |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan wife: Is the snooker star married to actress Laila Rouass? |url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/1373371/ronnie-o-sullivan-wife-married-laila-rouass-osullivan-snooker-world-grand-prix-evg |access-date=23 October 2021 |website=Daily Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=People |first=Sunday |date=2008-09-06 |title=TV Laila boots out cheating hubby |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/tv-laila-boots-out-cheating-1657295 |access-date=2022-09-07 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref> after which Rouass lived with London businessman Nasir Khan. Khan and Rouass held a ceremony in 2005 before family and friends, pledging to spend their lives together; Rouass later faced criticism for referring to herself and Khan as having married each other, even though the ceremony had no legal standing.<ref name=":1" /> She became pregnant in 2006, but ended her relationship with Khan shortly after their daughter Inez was born in February 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buxton |first=Olivia |date=24 March 2012 |title=I had to quit Holby, I was missing my daughter grow up: Laila Rouass says you can't have it all |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/laila-rouass-on-leaving-holby-city-770422 |access-date=17 December 2021 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref> In 2011, Khan was sentenced to nine years in prison for his money-laundering role in a £250 million VAT fraud conspiracy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 December 2011 |title=Gang of 15 jailed for £250m VAT fraud |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-16262390 |access-date=12 September 2021}}</ref>
From 2010 to 2011, Rouass dated celebrity chef [[Jocky Petrie (chef)|James Petrie]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lubin |first=Rhian |date=28 September 2016 |title=Laila Roauss opens up on life with Ronnie O'Sullivan |url=http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/laila-rouass-life-ronnie-osullivan-8935728 |access-date=13 September 2021 |website=Irish Mirror |language=en}}</ref> In 2012, she began dating professional snooker player [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]], to whom she became engaged in February 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2013020411017/ronnie-osullivan-laila-rouass-engaged/ |title=Snooker star Ronnie rockets to happiness after proposing to Laila Rouass |work=Hello |access-date=22 August 2013 |date=4 February 2013}}</ref> Rouass and O'Sullivan appeared together as guests on BBC's ''[[Saturday Kitchen]]'' in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Programmes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/programmes/m000s4zk |access-date=13 September 2021 |website=BBC Food |language=en}}</ref> In February 2022, Rouass announced on social media that the couple had ended their relationship,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kent |first=Sara-Aisha |last2=Knox |first2=Susan |date=16 February 2022 |title=Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass split after 10 years together |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-footballers-wives-laila-rouass-26245149 |access-date=16 February 2022 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref> but they subsequently reconciled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scheer |first=Victoria |date=13 May 2022 |title=Laila Rouass shares how she got back together with Ronnie O'Sullivan |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/laila-rouass-shares-how-back-26958208 |access-date=5 September 2022 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref> She features in the 2023 documentary about his playing career, ''[[Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Edge of Everything]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Munro |first=Lucretia |date=21 November 2023 |title=Actress Laila Rouass shares 'soul destroying' times with Ronnie O'Sullivan |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/ronnie-osullivans-girlfriend-laila-rouass-31491429 |access-date=20 May 2024 |website=The Mirror |language=en}}</ref>

From 2010 to 2011, Rouass dated celebrity chef [[Jocky Petrie (chef)|James Petrie]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lubin |first=Rhian |date=28 September 2016 |title=Laila Roauss opens up on life with Ronnie O'Sullivan |url=http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/laila-rouass-life-ronnie-osullivan-8935728 |access-date=13 September 2021 |website=Irish Mirror |language=en}}</ref> In 2012, she began dating professional snooker player [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]], to whom she became engaged in February 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2013020411017/ronnie-osullivan-laila-rouass-engaged/ |title=Snooker star Ronnie rockets to happiness after proposing to Laila Rouass |work=Hello |access-date=22 August 2013 |date=4 February 2013}}</ref> Rouass and O'Sullivan appeared together as guests on BBC's ''[[Saturday Kitchen]]'' in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Programmes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/programmes/m000s4zk |access-date=13 September 2021 |website=BBC Food |language=en}}</ref> In February 2022, Rouass announced on social media that the couple had ended their relationship,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kent |first=Sara-Aisha |last2=Knox |first2=Susan |date=16 February 2022 |title=Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass split after 10 years together |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-footballers-wives-laila-rouass-26245149 |access-date=16 February 2022 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref> but they subsequently reconciled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scheer |first=Victoria |date=2022-05-13 |title=Laila Rouass shares how she got back together with Ronnie O'Sullivan |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/laila-rouass-shares-how-back-26958208 |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=mirror |language=en}}</ref>


In August 2017, Rouass was caught up in the [[2017 Barcelona attacks|Barcelona terrorist attack]], writing on Twitter during the incident that she was hiding in a restaurant freezer.<ref name="BBC_Aug2017">{{cite web |title=Strictly Come Dancing and Holby City's Laila Rouass caught up in Barcelona attack – BBC Newsbeat |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/40973362/strictly-come-dancing-and-holby-citys-laila-rouass-caught-up-in-barcelona-attack |work=BBC Newsbeat |access-date=18 August 2017 |date=18 August 2017}}</ref>
In August 2017, Rouass was caught up in the [[2017 Barcelona attacks|Barcelona terrorist attack]], writing on Twitter during the incident that she was hiding in a restaurant freezer.<ref name="BBC_Aug2017">{{cite web |title=Strictly Come Dancing and Holby City's Laila Rouass caught up in Barcelona attack – BBC Newsbeat |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/40973362/strictly-come-dancing-and-holby-citys-laila-rouass-caught-up-in-barcelona-attack |work=BBC Newsbeat |access-date=18 August 2017 |date=18 August 2017}}</ref>
Line 75: Line 81:
! class="unsortable" | Notes
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|-
| 1999
| rowspan="2" | 1999
| ''Senso unico''
| ''Senso unico''
| Yasmine
| Yasmine
|
|
|-
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Split Wide Open]]''
| ''[[Split Wide Open]]''
| Nandita
| Nandita
Line 98: Line 103:
| ''Two Minutes''
| ''Two Minutes''
| Sonita
| Sonita
| Short
| Short film
|-
|-
| 2007
| rowspan="2" | 2007
| ''[[Shoot on Sight]]''
| ''[[Shoot on Sight]]''
| Ruby Kaur
| Ruby Kaur
|
|
|-
|-
|''A Cheat in the Park''
| 2008
| Laila
| Short film
⚫
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| ''Apron Strings''
| ''Apron Strings''
| Anita
| Anita
|
|
|-
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Freebird (2008 film)|Freebird]]''
| ''[[Freebird (2008 film)|Freebird]]''
| Lucinda
| Lucinda
Line 132: Line 140:
| ''[[Family Affairs]]''
| ''[[Family Affairs]]''
| Tanya Ayuba
| Tanya Ayuba
| 2 episodes
⚫
|
|-
|-
| 2002
| rowspan="2" | 2002
| ''The Comedy Lab''
| ''[[Comedy Lab]]''
| The Unbelievably Beautiful Woman
⚫
|
| 1 episode: "Meet the Mangoons"
| Episode: "Meet the Magoons"
|-
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''
| ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''
| Mandy Kellaway
| Mandy Kellaway
| 1 episode: "You're Going Home in the Back of an Ambulance"
| Episode: "You're Going Home in the Back of an Ambulance"
|-
|-
| 2003
| 2003
| ''[[Hollyoaks]]''
| ''[[Hollyoaks]]''
| [[Dale Jackson (Hollyoaks)|Dale Jackson]]
| [[Dale Jackson (Hollyoaks)|Dale Jackson]]
| 35 episodes
⚫
|
|-
|-
| 2004
| 2004
| ''[[I Dream]]''
| ''[[I Dream]]''
| Lollie Das
| Lollie Das
| 1 episode: "Toon in Love"
| Episode: "Toone in Love"
|-
|-
| 2004–2006
| 2004–2006
| ''[[Footballers' Wives]]''
| ''[[Footballers' Wives]]''
| [[Amber Gates]]
| [[Amber Gates]]
| 22 episodes
⚫
|
|-
|-
| 2005
| rowspan="3" | 2005
| ''[[Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee]]''
| ''[[Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee]]''
| Tania
| Tania
| Mini-series, 3 episodes
⚫
|
|-
|-
⚫
| ''[[Footballers' Wives: Extra Time]]''
| 2005
⚫
| ''Footballers' Wive$: Extra Time''
| Amber Gates
| Amber Gates
| 3 episodes
⚫
|
|-
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Meet the Magoons]]''
| ''[[Meet the Magoons]]''
| Anita
| Anita
| 1 episode: "Stairway to Havan"
| Episode: "Stairway to Havan"
|-
|-
| 2006
| 2006
| ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''
| ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''
| Gina Marshall
| Gina Marshall
| 1 episode: "All Through the Night"
| Episode: "All Through the Night"
|-
|-
| 2009
| 2009
| ''[[Primeval (TV series)|Primeval]]''
| ''[[Primeval (TV series)|Primeval]]''
| [[List of Primeval characters#Sarah Page|Sarah Page]]
| [[List of Primeval characters#Sarah Page|Sarah Page]]
| Main cast, season 3
| Main cast. Series 3, 10 episodes
|-
|-
| 2010
| rowspan="2" | 2010
| ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''
| ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]''
| Colonel Tia Karim
| Colonel Tia Karim
| 2 episodes: "[[Death of the Doctor]]" (Part 1 and 2)
| 2 episodes: "[[Death of the Doctor]]: Parts One & Two"
|-
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]''
| ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]''
| Maya Lahan
| [[Maya Lahan]]
| 7 episodes
⚫
|
|-
|-
| 2011–2012, 2021
| 2011–2012, 2021
| ''[[Holby City]]''
| ''[[Holby City]]''
| [[Sahira Shah]]
| [[Sahira Shah]]
| Main cast
| Main cast, 60 episodes
|-
|-
| 2011
| 2011
| ''[[Sadie J]]''
| ''[[Sadie J]]''
| Maddy
| Maddy
| 1 episode: "Robobootylicious"
| Episode: "Robobootylicious"
|-
|-
| 2014
| 2014
| ''[[Midsomer Murders]]''
| ''[[Midsomer Murders]]''
| Stephanie King
| Stephanie King
| 1 episode - "The Flying Club"
| Episode: "The Flying Club"
|-
|-
| 2015–2016
| 2015
| ''[[The Royals (TV series)|The Royals]]''
| ''[[The Royals (TV series)|The Royals]]''
| Deputy Prime Minister Rani
| Rani, Deputy Prime Minister
| 5 episodes
⚫
|
|-
|-
| 2016
| rowspan="2" | 2016
| ''[[Stella (UK TV series)|Stella]]''
| ''[[Stella (UK TV series)|Stella]]''
| Maria
| Maria
| 8 episodes
|
|-
|-
| 2016
| ''[[The Lodge (TV series)|The Lodge]]''
| ''[[The Lodge (TV series)|The Lodge]]''
| Olivia
| Olivia
| 4 Episodes
| 4 episodes
|-
|-
| 2018
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| ''[[Safe (TV series)|Safe]]''
| ''[[Safe (TV series)|Safe]]''
| Lauren
| Lauren Marshall
| Mini-series, 5 episodes
|
⚫
|-
| ''[[Age Before Beauty]]''
| Shameem Shah
| 3 episodes
⚫
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2022
| ''[[Traces (TV series)|Traces]]''
| Azra McKinven
| 6 episodes
⚫
|-
| ''[[Midsomer Murders]]''
| Vanessa Debouverie
| Episode: "A Grain of Truth"
⚫
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2023
| ''The Effects of Lying''
| Sangeeta
| Television film
⚫
|-
| ''[[London Kills]]''
| DI Yasmin Rafiq
| 2 episodes: "Wake-up Call" and "Vandetta"
⚫
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2024
| ''[[Tell Me Everything (TV series)|Tell Me Everything]]''
| Samira
| Series 2, Episode 2
⚫
|-
|''[[EastEnders]]''
|[[List of EastEnders characters (2024)#Ayesha Siddhu|Ayesha Siddhu]]
|Guest appearance<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laila Rouass makes EastEnders guest appearance |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/eastenders-laila-rouass/ |access-date=26 July 2024 |publisher=BBC |language=en}}</ref>
|}
|}


Line 245: Line 279:
| ''[[Hollyoaks]]''
| ''[[Hollyoaks]]''
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celebritiesworldwide.com/Ones2watch.php?ContentID=128 |title=The British Soap Awards 2003 |date=10 May 2003 |publisher=Celebrities Worldwide |accessdate=2 September 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222452/http://www.celebritiesworldwide.com/Ones2watch.php?ContentID=128 |archivedate=12 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.celebritiesworldwide.com/Ones2watch.php?ContentID=128 |title=The British Soap Awards 2003 |date=10 May 2003 |publisher=Celebrities Worldwide |access-date=2 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222452/http://www.celebritiesworldwide.com/Ones2watch.php?ContentID=128 |archive-date=12 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 2012
| 2012
Line 252: Line 286:
| ''[[Holby City]]''
| ''[[Holby City]]''
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|last=Wrightman|first=Catriona|title=National Television Awards 2012: The nominees|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a342357/national-television-awards-2012-the-nominees.html|work=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=9 February 2012|date=27 September 2011|archive-date=30 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130173234/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a342357/national-television-awards-2012-the-nominees.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |last=Wrightman |first=Catriona |title=National Television Awards 2012: The nominees |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a342357/national-television-awards-2012-the-nominees.html |work=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=9 February 2012 |date=27 September 2011 |archive-date=30 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130173234/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a342357/national-television-awards-2012-the-nominees.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}
|}


Line 273: Line 307:
[[Category:English expatriates in India]]
[[Category:English expatriates in India]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:British actresses of Asian descent]]
[[Category:British expatriate actresses in India]]
[[Category:British expatriate actresses in India]]
[[Category:European actresses in India]]
[[Category:European actresses in India]]
[[Category:English soap opera actresses]]
[[Category:English soap opera actresses]]
[[Category:British Muslims]]
[[Category:English Muslims]]
[[Category:21st-century British actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century English actresses]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]

Latest revision as of 07:45, 30 November 2024

Laila Rouass
Born
Laila Abdesselam

(1971-06-22) 22 June 1971 (age 53)
Stepney, London, England
Years active1999–present
TelevisionFamily Affairs
Footballers' Wives
Primeval
Strictly Come Dancing
Spooks
Holby City
The Sarah Jane Adventures
Loose Women
EastEnders
Spouse
Abselam Rouass
​
​
(m. 1990; div. 2003)​
Partner(s)Nasir Khan (2005–2008)
James Petrie (2010–2011)
Ronnie O'Sullivan (2012–present)
Children1

Laila Rouass (née Abdesselam; born 22 June 1971) is a British actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Amber Gates in Footballers' Wives (2004–2006) and Sahira Shah in Holby City (2011–2012, 2021). She has also starred in Primeval and Spooks and been a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, in which she finished fourth.

Early life

[edit]

Laila Abdesselam was born on 22 June 1971 to an Indian mother and a Moroccan father, she grew up with six siblings in Tower Hamlets in the East End of London.[1][2][3] She was raised Muslim but is now non-practising, although she calls the Islamic faith an important part of her identity.[1]

Career

[edit]

Rouass worked as a VJ on Channel V in India in the 1990s.[4] While on Channel V, she appeared in a music video for the band Colour Blind, directed by the then creative head of the channel, Shamin Desai.[5]

After moving back to the UK, Rouass became famous for playing the role of Bollywood actress Amber Gates in the cult ITV1 series Footballers' Wives between 2004 and 2006 and, albeit briefly, in the ITV2 spin-off series Footballers' Wives: Extra Time. She also played recurring roles in the British soaps Family Affairs and Hollyoaks,[6] as well as appearing in episodes of I Dream, Casualty and Meet the Magoons. She starred alongside Meera Syal in the television adaptation of Syal's novel Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee.

Rouass was ranked No.87 and No.69 on FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2004 and FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005 respectively.

In 2009 she appeared as Egyptologist Sarah Page in the third series of the ITV science-fiction series Primeval. She left the show when the location of filming was changed to Dublin for series four and five, saying it would be hard to continue participating, for she was a single parent;[7] and her character was subsequently killed off-screen between the third and fourth series.

In spring of 2010, Rouass announced that she would be making a film about Leila Khaled, who led the hijacking of a flight from Rome to Athens in 1969. Rouass stated she had funding for the film.[8]

She played Maya Lahan, a regular character introduced in the ninth series of BBC One drama Spooks which broadcast from September 2010.[9] She guest starred as the evil Colonel Karim in The Sarah Jane Adventures in October 2010.[10] Rouass then joined the cast of the BBC medical drama Holby City, appearing from February 2011 as registrar Sahira Shah.[11] She left Holby City on 17 April 2012, after just 14 months on the show, to take a break to spend time with her family. She returned to the role of Sahira Shah on 9 February 2021.

In 2014 She Appeared In Midsomer Murders as Stephanie King in The Flying Club & then return again as Vanessa Debouverie in 2022 episode A Grain of Truth

She is also currently one of the presenters of "The Channel 4 TV Book Club". [12]

In July 2024, it was announced that Rouass would be joining the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Ayesha Siddhu, a woman from Suki Panesar's past.[13]

Strictly Come Dancing

[edit]

She participated in the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing, a BBC One reality show, paired with professional dancer Anton Du Beke, and alongside Footballers' Wives co-star Zöe Lucker.[14]

The pair made it to the last four before being voted off the show on 6 December 2009. She was unable to participate in the final on 19 December 2009 to reprise her partnership with Anton Du Beke due to a last-minute personal emergency.[15]

Film career

[edit]

Rouass' first film was City of Dreams produced by Feroze Nadiawala, in which she starred opposite Lisa Ray and Saeed Jaffrey.[6][16] During the years that she was based in India, early in her career, she acted in some Indian films, Aditya Bhattacharya's Indo-Italian Senso unico (1999) and Dev Benegal's Split Wide Open (1999).

In 2000, Rouass starred in Jag Mhundra's controversial film, Bawandar (English title; The Sand Storm),[17] about revenge rapes in Rajasthan,[18] and she made her English-language film debut in 2002 with a small role in The Four Feathers opposite Heath Ledger.[6]

She starred in The Hunt Feast (2004),[19] and in 2006 she was cast in Aditya Raj Kapoor's film Don't Stop Dreaming.[20]

Rouass also appeared in the independent British film Shoot on Sight (2007) opposite Brian Cox, Om Puri and Sadie Frost. In 2008, she appeared in two films, Freebird and the New Zealand funded Apron Strings.[21]

Rouass appeared in the Harlan Coben Netflix original 8 part mini-series Safe where she played Lauren Marshall.[22]

Personal life

[edit]

In 1990, she married family friend Abdeslam Rouass, but the couple divorced in 2003 without having consummated their marriage.[23][24] Rouass then lived with London businessman Nasir Khan, with whom she held a commitment ceremony in 2005 before family and friends. She later faced criticism for referring to herself and Khan as a married couple, even though the ceremony had no legal standing.[2] She gave birth to their daughter Inez in February 2007, but ended her relationship with Khan shortly afterwards.[25] In 2011, Khan was sentenced to nine years in prison for his money-laundering role in a £250 million VAT fraud conspiracy.[26]

From 2010 to 2011, Rouass dated celebrity chef James Petrie.[1] In 2012, she began dating professional snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan, to whom she became engaged in February 2013.[27] Rouass and O'Sullivan appeared together as guests on BBC's Saturday Kitchen in February 2021.[28] In February 2022, Rouass announced on social media that the couple had ended their relationship,[29] but they subsequently reconciled.[30] She features in the 2023 documentary about his playing career, Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Edge of Everything.[31]

In August 2017, Rouass was caught up in the Barcelona terrorist attack, writing on Twitter during the incident that she was hiding in a restaurant freezer.[32]

Filmography

[edit]
Film performances
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Senso unico Yasmine
Split Wide Open Nandita
2000 Bawandar Amy
2002 The Four Feathers Maya
2003 Two Minutes Sonita Short film
2007 Shoot on Sight Ruby Kaur
A Cheat in the Park Laila Short film
2008 Apron Strings Anita
Freebird Lucinda
2011 Conan the Barbarian Fialla, Conan's Mother
Television performances
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Family Affairs Tanya Ayuba 2 episodes
2002 Comedy Lab The Unbelievably Beautiful Woman Episode: "Meet the Magoons"
Casualty Mandy Kellaway Episode: "You're Going Home in the Back of an Ambulance"
2003 Hollyoaks Dale Jackson 35 episodes
2004 I Dream Lollie Das Episode: "Toone in Love"
2004–2006 Footballers' Wives Amber Gates 22 episodes
2005 Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee Tania Mini-series, 3 episodes
Footballers' Wives: Extra Time Amber Gates 3 episodes
Meet the Magoons Anita Episode: "Stairway to Havan"
2006 Casualty Gina Marshall Episode: "All Through the Night"
2009 Primeval Sarah Page Main cast. Series 3, 10 episodes
2010 The Sarah Jane Adventures Colonel Tia Karim 2 episodes: "Death of the Doctor: Parts One & Two"
Spooks Maya Lahan 7 episodes
2011–2012, 2021 Holby City Sahira Shah Main cast, 60 episodes
2011 Sadie J Maddy Episode: "Robobootylicious"
2014 Midsomer Murders Stephanie King Episode: "The Flying Club"
2015–2016 The Royals Rani, Deputy Prime Minister 5 episodes
2016 Stella Maria 8 episodes
The Lodge Olivia 4 episodes
2018 Safe Lauren Marshall Mini-series, 5 episodes
Age Before Beauty Shameem Shah 3 episodes
2022 Traces Azra McKinven 6 episodes
Midsomer Murders Vanessa Debouverie Episode: "A Grain of Truth"
2023 The Effects of Lying Sangeeta Television film
London Kills DI Yasmin Rafiq 2 episodes: "Wake-up Call" and "Vandetta"
2024 Tell Me Everything Samira Series 2, Episode 2
EastEnders Ayesha Siddhu Guest appearance[33]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2003 The British Soap Awards Sexiest Female Hollyoaks Nominated [34]
2012 17th National Television Awards Drama Performance: Female Holby City Nominated [35]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Lubin, Rhian (28 September 2016). "Laila Roauss opens up on life with Ronnie O'Sullivan". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Rouass hits back at fake marriage claim". 1 October 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing, Series 7, Laila Rouass - launch interview". BBC. 29 September 2009. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  4. ^ "The Language of Fashion". Outlook. India: The Outlook Group. 19 June 1996. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  5. ^ Joshi, Namrata (24 April 2000). "Givin' It A Good Shot". Outlook. India: The Outlook Group. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b c "Hollyoaks – Laila Rouass". Channel 4. 7 March 2003. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  7. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (12 May 2010). "Laila Rouass explains 'Primeval' exit". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  8. ^ Walker, Tim (10 March 2010). "Footballers' Wives star Laila Rouass films life of terrorist Leila Khaled". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 March 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  9. ^ Wightman, Catriona (16 September 2010). "'Spooks' – Meet The Newbies: Laila Rouass". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  10. ^ "The Sarah Jane Adventures – Death of the Doctor". BBC. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  11. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (7 November 2010). "Laila Rouass joins 'Holby City'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  12. ^ The TV Book Club – Presenters – Laila Rouass – Channel 4
  13. ^ "Laila Rouass makes EastEnders guest appearance". BBC. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  14. ^ Conlan, Tara (5 October 2009). "Strictly Come Dancing: BBC receives scores of complaints over racist remark". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  15. ^ Conlan, Tara (13 February 2022). "Laila Rouass on the Graham Norton Radio Show". The Graham Norton Radio Show. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  16. ^ Sehgal, Nutan (23 August 2001). "Wisecracking their way to Bollywood". The Tribune. Chandigarh, India: The Tribune Trust. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  17. ^ "Sandstorm". Film.com. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  18. ^ Marks, Loma-Ann (16 July 2008). "Laila Rouass". Open. Open Magazine Ltd. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  19. ^ "Hunt Feast shooting in Syria with Iraq theme". FilmFestivals.com. 2004. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  20. ^ "Suniel Shetty's films incl. new projects – in chronological order". kabir-bedi.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
  21. ^ "Laila Rouass". Channel 4. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  22. ^ Knight, Lewis (6 June 2018). "Cast of Netflix's Safe: Your guide to the mystery drama starring Michael C. Hall". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  23. ^ Wilson, Andy (6 February 2021). "Ronnie O'Sullivan wife: Is the snooker star married to actress Laila Rouass?". Daily Express. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  24. ^ People (6 September 2008). "TV Laila boots out cheating hubby". mirror. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  25. ^ Buxton, Olivia (24 March 2012). "I had to quit Holby, I was missing my daughter grow up: Laila Rouass says you can't have it all". mirror. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  26. ^ "Gang of 15 jailed for £250m VAT fraud". BBC News. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Snooker star Ronnie rockets to happiness after proposing to Laila Rouass". Hello. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  28. ^ "Programmes". BBC Food. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  29. ^ Kent, Sara-Aisha; Knox, Susan (16 February 2022). "Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass split after 10 years together". mirror. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  30. ^ Scheer, Victoria (13 May 2022). "Laila Rouass shares how she got back together with Ronnie O'Sullivan". mirror. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  31. ^ Munro, Lucretia (21 November 2023). "Actress Laila Rouass shares 'soul destroying' times with Ronnie O'Sullivan". The Mirror. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing and Holby City's Laila Rouass caught up in Barcelona attack – BBC Newsbeat". BBC Newsbeat. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  33. ^ "Laila Rouass makes EastEnders guest appearance". BBC. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  34. ^ "The British Soap Awards 2003". Celebrities Worldwide. 10 May 2003. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  35. ^ Wrightman, Catriona (27 September 2011). "National Television Awards 2012: The nominees". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
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