Louisa Lytton

Last updated

Louisa Lytton
Born
Louisa Claire Lytton

(1989-02-07) 7 February 1989 (age 35)
Camden, London, England
Years active1997–present
Spouse
Ben Bhanvra
​
(m. 2022)​
Children1

Louisa Claire Lytton (born 7 February 1989) is an English actress known for her roles as Ruby Allen in EastEnders and Beth Green in The Bill . Notably, she finished fourth in the fourth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 and represented the UK at the Eurovision Dance Contest 2008, finishing ninth. Her theatre credits include playing Betty Rizzo in the 2017 UK touring production of the musical Grease .

Contents

Early life

Born on 7 February 1989 in the London Borough of Camden, Lytton attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone, London. She is of Italian descent on her mother's side and her first cousin once removed is Lisa Maffia, a member of the So Solid Crew. [1]

Career

EastEnders

Lytton made her first appearance in EastEnders on 18 March 2005, playing Johnny Allen's daughter Ruby Allen. In July 2006, weeks after winning the "Sexiest Female" award at the British Soap Awards, it was announced that Lytton would be leaving EastEnders in November 2006. On the exit of her character, Lytton had commented: [2] "I've really enjoyed my time at EastEnders. It has been a great experience which I will never forget but I am now looking forward to trying new things and not getting typecast." Lytton's final scenes were broadcast in November 2006. On 1 December 2006, Lytton appeared on the ITV1 show Loose Women and confirmed that leaving EastEnders was not her decision. In August 2008 she stated she would like to return to EastEnders once she had left The Bill .

On 18 July 2018, Lytton was announced to be reprising her role as Ruby. [3] Lytton revealed that she was shocked to be asked back to EastEnders after such a long time, and told Metro UK , "In my head, obviously I'd always have loved to go back to the show because it was where I started out, but it had been so long that it was never an option in my head anymore [...] I genuinely never thought about it being an option, especially because my dad had died in the show." [4]

After a twelve-year hiatus, Ruby returned on 18 September 2018. Producers soon placed her at the centre of a sexual consent storyline, involving a special episode about the views surrounding consent. Lytton was nominated for two Digital Spy Reader Awards for the consent storyline, while Lytton and the storyline were praised by viewers and critics alike.

Lytton left the serial for the second time in late 2021, following the birth of her first child. [5] In March 2022, Lytton admitted she may never return to the soap. [6]

Strictly Come Dancing

In late 2006, Lytton took part in the fourth series of the popular BBC One reality television programme Strictly Come Dancing . Aged 17 at the time, she is the youngest ever contestant to have appeared on the show. Louisa's professional dance partner was Vincent Simone. After several impressive performances, she was eliminated in the quarter-finals, finishing in fourth place out of fourteen and losing out to Emma Bunton in the viewer vote for a place in the last three. Despite this, Lytton appeared in the Christmas Special on Christmas Day with fellow contestants Mark Ramprakash, Matt Dawson and Emma Bunton, along with 2005's finalists Zoë Ball and Colin Jackson. This show was won by Jackson. Below is a scoring recap from start to finish.

Week #Dance/SongJudges' scoreResult
HorwoodPhillipsGoodmanTonioliTotal
2 Quickstep / Don't Get Me Wrong 786728Safe
3 Jive / Smiley Faces 8991036Safe
4 Foxtrot / Piece of My Heart 756826Safe
5 Salsa / Bailamos 687829Safe
6 Samba / Rhythm of the Night 888832Safe
7 Tango / Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) 899935Safe
8 Paso Doble / Left Outside Alone 889934Safe
9 Viennese Waltz / That's Amore
Cha-Cha-Cha / Rescue Me 		8
9		8
9		8
9		9
9		33
36		Safe
10 American Smooth / Do Nothing Until You Hear From Me
Rumba / (Everything I Do) I Do It for You 		7
7		8
7		8
7		8
7		31
28		Eliminated

Lytton began touring with 'Strictly' on 18 January 2008 with ex-EastEnders co-stars, Letitia Dean and Matt Di Angelo, and ended the tour with 11 wins under her belt. Along with her EastEnders co-star Christopher Parker, Louisa was vocal in her criticism of the media treatment of John Sergeant, which led to him resigning from the 2008 series of 'Strictly Come Dancing'. She said she was surprised that Arlene Philips was removed as a judge from the next series of Strictly Come Dancing due to her age and she was replaced by former contestant and 2007 winner Alesha Dixon.

Strictly on Tour 2008

She was one of the former Strictly Come Dancing participants to be asked to return for Strictly on Tour which took place in early 2008 and toured the country. She was asked to return due to her personality and popularity with the audience on Strictly Come Dancing. "I absolutely loved taking part in Strictly Come Dancing and jumped at the chance to take part in the live show, and thanks to my bosses at The Bill I've got the chance to get back out there and this time, fingers crossed, win it for the girls!". She won numerous times. She appeared on BBC Breakfast for a second time in January 2008 and a third time in September 2008.

Children in Need: Strictly Special 2019

In October 2019, it was confirmed that Lytton would return to Strictly Come Dancing for a Children in Need special with EastEnders co-stars Maisie Smith, Rudolph Walker and Ricky Champ. It was announced that she would be partnered with Gorka Márquez. On an Instagram post, Lytton revealed that she had remembered nothing about dancing from when she took part in the show, 13 years previously.

Other work

Lytton was Emma Watson's double in the film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets . [7] [8]

Between leaving EastEnders and joining The Bill she made an appearance on the CBBC show Hider in the House as herself. She has appeared on The Paul O'Grady Show to promote her role in The Bill. She also appeared on Big Brother's Little Brother with Dermot O'Leary. On 26 June 2007, she made a second appearance on lunchtime show Loose Women , this time promoting her addition to the cast of The Bill. She also briefly appeared in Emma Bunton's video for her single "Downtown" for Children in Need. She has been on the TV show This Morning twice.

On 16 May 2007, Lytton first appeared in the ITV1 police drama The Bill as PC Beth Green. She had previously appeared as a different character in a 1997 episode, coincidentally starring alongside actor Billy Murray, who previously played her father in EastEnders. She left the show in March 2009. On 27 August 2007, Lytton appeared on BBC's Test The Nation and was the top "Celebrity" participant. She attended numerous charity events and movie premieres throughout the year such as "Children's Champions" in 2007 and 2009 and the "Legends Ball" in 2008. She was a member of the audience on Happy Birthday Brucie which celebrated TV presenter Bruce Forsyth's 80th birthday in 2008. Lytton was chosen as one half of the United Kingdom's entry for the Eurovision Dance Contest 2008, finishing 9th out of 14 countries.

Lytton appeared on GMTV for a third time in March 2009 as well as Loose Women for a third time. She played Imogen in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love . The seventh instalment from the franchise was released straight to DVD in December 2009. On 13 July 2009, Lytton went on GMTV to talk about her roles in the Shakespearean plays Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream . This interview was conducted with Lorraine Kelly on her segment of the show. She appeared in FHM December 2009 issue. She gave an interview along with provocative pictures of herself in her bra and panties and lingerie.

On 12 June 2010, Lytton was a guest star on Casualty on BBC1, on which she played goth girl Grace Fielding.

In 2012, she played Stephanie in the film The Knot. She also took part in Payback Season where she played Keisha. In February 2012, she attended the press night for magician Hans Klok's show The Houdini Experience at The Peacock Theatre in London.

In 2013, she was in Young High and Dead, in which she played a character called Jenny.

In 2014, she played Michelle in the ITV sitcom series Edge of Heaven .

In 2015, she appeared in a music video for ILL BLU – Give Me ft. Kahlia Bakosi. In the same year, Louisa played Ginny Beasley in an episode of Murdoch Mysteries called Barenaked Ladies.

In 2016, Lytton took part in the third series of The Jump . She was the first celebrity to be eliminated on 31 January. She also played the part of Alva in Fractured, an independent film released in 2016.

In 2023, Lytton co-founded a children's clothing company named Aura Soul after her daughter. [9]

Theatre

In 2001, Lytton was in a musical production of Les Misérables , and played the leading role in the musical, Annie .

In September 2012, Lytton was in the stage show A Broken Rose, playing the lead character Maria.

Lytton performed in the Peter Pan Pantomime at the Milton Keynes Theatre in 2008, and again at the Deco Theatre, Northampton in 2009. Also in 2009, she joined the British Shakespeare Company to tour the UK and Prague, playing Cobweb (a fairy) in A Midsummer Night's Dream , and Hero in Much Ado About Nothing . Her other theatre credits include playing Debs in the Boogie Nights UK tour (Jan – April 2013), Princess Aurora in the pantomime Sleeping Beauty at the Hazlitt Theatre (2017), and Betty Rizzo in a UK tour of the musical Grease (2017–2018).

In April 2022, Lytton returned to work following her maternity leave, by giving a theatrical performance at Theatre Royal, Windsor, where she was praised by many fans and critics alike. [10]

Personal life

When she was younger, Lytton dated singer Aston Merrygold. [11] In February 2011, she received a 14-month driving ban and fined £350 after being arrested for drink driving the previous month. [12]

In 2017, Lytton began a relationship with businessman Ben Bhanvra, after the pair met through a mutual friend. The pair got engaged on 7 February 2019, on Lytton's 30th birthday. [13] In March 2021, the couple announced that their first child is due later in the year. [14] Their daughter was born on 30 August 2021. [15] On 9 July 2022, Lytton married Bhanvra in a private ceremony in Italy, attended by ninety guests, including EastEnders co-stars James Bye, Lacey Turner, Mohammed George and Zaraah Abrahams. [16]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008DisappearedStacyShort film
2009 American Pie Presents: The Book of Love ImogenDirect-to-video
2012 Payback Season KeishaSupporting Role
The KnotStephanieSupporting Role
2013Young, High and DeadJennySupporting Role
2016FracturedAlvaSupporting Role

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1997 The Bill Natelie ShepherdEpisode: "Only the Lonely"
1999 Let Them Eat Cake Little GirlEpisode: "The Marriage of Convenience"
2005–2006, 2018–2021 EastEnders Ruby Allen Series regular (389 Episodes)
2006 Strictly Come Dancing Herself Series 4
2007–2009 The Bill PC Beth Green Series regular, (52 episodes)
2010 The Door HerselfTwo-part celebrity series
Identity Lucy FoxEpisode: "Tomorrow"
Casualty Grace FieldingEpisode: "Inconvenient Truths"
2014 Edge of Heaven Michelle6 episodes
2015 Murdoch Mysteries Ginny BeasleyEpisode: "Barenaked Ladies"
2016 The Jump Herself Series 3
2018On Order and AwayDizzyEpisode: "Salad Dressing"

Theatre Credits

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008-2009 Peter Pan Peter Milton Keynes Theatre
2009 A Midsummer Night's Dream Hermia British Shakespeare Company
2009 Much Ado about Nothing Beatrice British Shakespeare Company
2011-2012 Cinderella CinderellaCamberley Theatre
2012-2013 Boogie Nights DebsUk Tour
2016-2017 Sleeping Beauty Sleeping BeautyHazlitt Theatre
2017 Grease RizzoUK Tour
2022 The Vagina Monologues VariousUK Tour (Various Locations)
2023-2024 2:22 A Ghost Story JennyUK Tour

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2006 The British Soap Awards Sexiest FemaleWon [17]
2018 Digital Spy Reader Awards Best Soap Actor (Female)Fourth [18]
2019 2019 British Soap Awards Best Actress Nominated [19]
2019 Inside Soap Awards Best ActressNominated [20]
2019I Talk Telly AwardsBest Soap PerformanceNominated [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Bunton</span> English singer and media personality (born 1976)

Emma Lee Bunton is an English singer, songwriter, media personality, and actress. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the pop group the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Baby Spice, reflecting the fact that she was the youngest member. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the Spice Girls are the best-selling female group of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessie Wallace</span> English actress (born 1971)

Karen Jane Wallace, known professionally as Jessie Wallace, is an English actress. She made her acting debut in the television police series The Bill and rose to prominence for her role as Kat Slater on the BBC soap opera EastEnders. For her portrayal of Kat, she has won seventeen awards including Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards and the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer in 2001, Most Popular Actress at the National Television Awards in 2003 and the British Soap Award for Best Actress in 2011. She also portrayed the role of Pat Phoenix in the BBC Four television film The Road to Coronation Street, for which she was nominated for the 2011 BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patsy Palmer</span> English actress, DJ (b. 1972)

Julie Anne Merkell, known professionally as Patsy Palmer, is an English actress and DJ, known for her roles as Natasha in the children's drama series Grange Hill (1985–1987), and Bianca Jackson in the BBC soap opera EastEnders which earned her the British Soap Award for Best Actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Letitia Dean</span> English actress (b. 1967)

Letitia Jane Dean is an English actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Sharon Watts in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. An original cast member from 1985 to 1995, she reprised the role from 2001 to 2006, and again from 2012 onwards. For the role, she was awarded the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimberley Walsh</span> English singer, television personality and actress (born 1981)

Kimberley Jane Scott is an English singer, television personality and actress. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality series Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The series announced that Walsh had won a place as a member of the girl group Girls Aloud. The group achieved large success, having twenty consecutive top ten singles in the UK, six studio albums have all been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), two of which went to number one in the UK, and accumulating a total of five BRIT Award nominations. In 2009, Girls Aloud won "Best Single" with their song "The Promise".

Mario Angelo S Constantinou, professionally known as Matt Di Angelo, is a British actor and singer, best known for his role as Dean Wicks in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He also portrayed Sean Kennedy in the BBC drama series Hustle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tina O'Brien</span> British actress

Tina Michelle O'Brien is an English actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Sarah Platt in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She also appeared in the BBC One drama series Waterloo Road (2010–2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kym Marsh</span> English actress, singer-songwriter (born 1976)

Kimberley Gail Marsh is an English actress, television presenter and singer. In 2001, she won a place in the band Hear'Say as a result of appearing on the reality television series Popstars. Hear'Say enjoyed brief success, achieving two UK number one singles and a UK number one album, but Marsh left the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career. She released an album titled Standing Tall in 2003, which peaked at number nine in the UK and spawned two UK top ten singles.

Lisa Jane Riley is an English actress, comedian and television presenter. Riley is best known for portraying the role of Mandy Dingle in the long-running ITV soap opera Emmerdale between 1995 and 2001, and from 2019 onwards. She also replaced Jeremy Beadle as the presenter of You've Been Framed! between 1998 and 2002. She was also a contestant on the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, and a panellist on the ITV daytime series Loose Women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruby Allen</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Ruby Allen is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Louisa Lytton from 18 March 2005 to 23 November 2006, and then again from 18 September 2018 to 17 September 2021. The character and casting were announced in February 2005, and Ruby was introduced in March that year by producer Kathleen Hutchison. She was featured in storylines surrounding her gangland father Johnny Allen, with whom she shared a problematic relationship with due to his criminal lifestyle. Other storylines included a close friendship with Stacey Slater, and an engagement to Stacey's brother Sean - which affected their friendship. In July 2006, Lytton was axed from the show due to limited possibilities for the character following the death of her on-screen father, and Ruby departed on 23 November 2006. In July 2018, it was confirmed Lytton would return after a twelve-year absence. Ruby returned on 18 September 2018 and departed once again on 17 September 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Barton</span> English actress (b. 1977)

Emma Louise Barton is an English actress. She is perhaps best known for the role of Honey Mitchell in EastEnders which she has portrayed on and off since November 2005. Before her role in EastEnders, Barton appeared in Spooks and on stage in plays including Grease. In 2019, Barton competed in the seventeenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, paired with professional Anton du Beke, reaching the Grand Final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillian Taylforth</span> English actress (b. 1955)

Gillian Taylforth is an English actress. She is known for her role as Kathy Beale on the BBC soap opera EastEnders, as well as appearing as Jackie Pascoe on ITV's Footballers' Wives (2002–2006) and Sgt. Nikki Wright in ITV's The Bill (2006–2008). She has also appeared in film during her early career, has presented on ITV's Loose Women and appeared as a celebrity contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zöe Lucker</span> English actress (b. 1974)

Zöe Elizabeth Lucker is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Tanya Turner in the ITV drama series, Footballers' Wives; Vanessa Gold in the long-running BBC One soap opera, EastEnders; Carol Barry in the BBC One school-based drama series, Waterloo Road; and Reenie McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kara Tointon</span> English actress (b. 1983)

Kara Louise Tointon is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Dawn Swann in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. In 2010, she won the BBC competition series Strictly Come Dancing, and in 2015, she appeared as Maria in the ITV live production of The Sound of Music Live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemma Bissix</span> English actress (b. 1983)

Gemma Bissix is an English actress. She has been acting since the age of 9. Her most prominent roles have been in soap operas, as Clare Bates in EastEnders and Clare Devine in Hollyoaks ; she was awarded with two British Soap Awards for the latter role. Away from soap opera, Bissix has appeared in various television programmes and she competed in the 2009 series of Dancing on Ice. She has appeared in various pantomimes. Bissix returned to Hollyoaks in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kellie Bright</span> English actress (born 1976)

Kellie Denise Bright is an English actress. Her roles include Linda Carter in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, for which she won the 2015 British Soap Award for Best Actress and Best Dramatic Performance, Julie in Ali G Indahouse, Joanna Burrows in The Upper Hand (1990–1996), Cassie Tyler in Bad Girls (2002) and Joan Trotter in Rock & Chips (2010–2011). In 2015, she was the runner-up in the 13th series of the BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tameka Empson</span> English actress, comedian (b. 1977)

Tameka Lydia Empson is an English actress and comedian. She appeared as one of the three protagonists in the hidden-camera comedy sketch show 3 Non-Blondes. In 2009, she began portraying the role of Kim Fox in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.

Natalie Gumede is an English actress. She is known for playing Kirsty Soames in the ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, from 2011 to 2013. She previously played China in BBC Three comedy show Ideal. She has also appeared in The Persuasionists, Emmerdale and Doctor Who among other television shows. Gumede was also runner-up in the 2013 series of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One. From 2017 to 2019, Gumede began appearing in Netflix original Free Rein as Maggie Steel Phillips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Cassidy</span> English actress (1983– )

Natalie Ann Cassidy is an English actress. She has played Sonia Fowler in EastEnders since 1993, appeared in the BBC Two sitcom-horror Psychoville and was a contestant on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing and the ninth series of Celebrity Big Brother.

"Episode 5820" of the British television soap opera EastEnders was broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 29 November 2018. The episode was directed by Laura Way and written by Anya Reiss. The plot focuses on a debate about consent between several characters, after they read about a sexual assault in the local newspaper. They are unaware that the victim is their friend and neighbour Ruby Allen, who is forced to listen to their views and opinions, while the men she has accused are also present.

References

  1. ↑ "Louisa Lytton: Biography". Hello! . Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "EastEnders' Ruby leaving the show". CBBC Newsround. 8 July 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2006.
  3. ↑ BBC EastEnders on Twitter: "NEWS: #EastEnders will be welcoming back Louisa Lytton when she reprises her role as Ruby Allen later this year! Check out our Facebook page to get...
  4. ↑ Dodds, Emma (5 October 2018). "EastEnders' Louisa Lytton reveals why she was 'shocked' to be asked back". Heat World. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "EastEnders star Louisa Lytton welcomes first child with fiancé Ben Bhanvra". OK!. 5 September 2021.
  6. ↑ "BBC EastEnders' Louisa Lytton admits she may not return to soap". Birmingham Live . 25 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "Louisa Lytton—Filmography by type". Internet Movie Database.
  8. ↑ "Louisa Lytton". EastEnders cast profile. BBC.
  9. ↑ Spackman, Maisie (3 March 2023). "EastEnders star Louisa Lytton pays tribute to daughter with first ever tattoo". Metro. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "BBC EastEnders' Louisa Lytton returns to work after maternity leave with role away from Albert Square". MyLondon. 19 April 2022.
  11. ↑ Bletchly, Rachael (5 March 2014). "Louisa Lytton: Hollywood auditions are like speed-dating sessions but I'm so happy to be single". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "Louisa Lytton 'charged with drink driving'". Digital Spy . Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  13. ↑ "Inside EastEnders' Louisa Lytton and Ben Bhanvra's relationship after announcing they are expecting their first child". OK! . 14 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "EastEnders' Louisa Lytton announces she's pregnant in emotional Mother's Day post". Manchester Evening News . 14 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "EastEnders star Louisa Lytton welcomes first child with fiancé Ben Bhanvra". OK!. 5 September 2021.
  16. ↑ "Louisa Lytton's wedding album - every exclusive picture from Italian 'dream day'". OK!. 11 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "EastEnders beats Corrie at awards". BBC News. 21 May 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
  18. ↑ Robinson, Abby (28 December 2018). "Emmerdale wins big at the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2018". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK . Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  19. ↑ Dainty, Sophie. "British Soap Awards 2019 nominations revealed: Which Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Doctors stars are up?". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  20. ↑ "Inside Soap Awards 2019 longlist has been revealed". Digital Spy . July 2019.
  21. ↑ Gonzalez, Elliot (2 November 2019). "I TALK TELLY AWARDS 2019 Nominees". I Talk Telly.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.