Zaraah Abrahams

Last updated

Zaraah Abrahams
Born
Zaraah Clover Abrahams

(1987-01-07) 7 January 1987 (age 37)
Lambeth, London, England
Alma mater Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Occupations
  • Actress
  • voiceover artist
Years active2002–present
Television Girls in Love (2003–2005)
Coronation Street (2005–2007)
Waterloo Road (2008–2010)
Dancing on Ice (2008, 2014)
EastEnders (2020–present)

Zaraah Clover Abrahams (born 7 January 1987) is an English actress and voiceover artist. She is known for her roles as Magda in Girls in Love from 2003 to 2005, Michaela White in the BBC school-based drama series Waterloo Road from 2008 to 2010, Joanne Jackson in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2005 to 2007 and Chelsea Fox in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2020 onwards. She then competed in the third series of the ITV talent show Dancing on Ice , and later returned as a contestant for the All Star series in 2014.

Contents

Early life

Abrahams was born in a hospital in Lambeth, London of Iraqi and Barbadian descent on her mother's side and of Jamaican descent on her father's side. She grew up in Brixton, South London and is the eldest of 3 siblings. [1] She attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts for her secondary education, landing the role of Magda in the TV Adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's Girls in Love while still a pupil there. [1] At the age of 17, she left London to pursue a career in acting in Manchester after landing the role of Joanne Jackson in Coronation Street . [1]

Career

Abrahams previously starred as Magda in the CITV show Girls in Love and as Joanne Jackson in the ITV soap Coronation Street . [2] In 2008, she joined the cast of Waterloo Road in a recurring role as student Michaela White. [3] The character became part of the core cast for the fourth series in 2009 and remained with the show until her exit at the end of the fifth series in 2010. [1] She starred in the 2013 short film Black Girl in Paris on HBO which was nominated for short film of the year, and where she was seen by Spike Lee. [1] In 2014, Lee cast her as the female lead, Ganja Hightower in the Ganja & Hess homage Da Sweet Blood of Jesus , her first Hollywood film. [4] [1] In 2015 Abrams moved to New York City to film American television drama The Knick . [1]

In 2008, Abrahams participated in ITV's celebrity skating series Dancing on Ice , as a replacement for the injured Michael Underwood. Her partner was skater Fred Palascak. The pair finished in third place. [5] In 2015, she joined the cast of the Cinemax series The Knick , a medical drama directed by Steven Soderbergh, set around a New York hospital in the early 20th century. She portrayed the role of Opal. [6] In October 2020, it was announced that Abrahams would be taking over the role of Chelsea Fox in the BBC soap EastEnders . Her first episode as Chelsea was broadcast on 25 December 2020. [7]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003–2005 Girls in Love MagdaMain cast
2005–2007 Coronation Street Joanne Jackson Regular role; 214 episodes
2008–2010 Waterloo Road Michaela White Recurring (Series 3), Main cast (Series 4–5)
2008, 2014 Dancing on Ice HerselfContestant; 3rd place
2009 Hole in the Wall HerselfContestant
2011 Waterloo Road Reunited Michaela WhiteMain cast (web series)
2012 Payback Season ClarissaFilm
2012 Scott & Bailey Daysha Kaye1 episode
2012 Bedlam LauraEpisode: "The Long Drop"
2013 Black Girl in Paris LuceShort film
2013–2015 Secret Dealers NarratorGame show (Series 4–5)
2014 Da Sweet Blood of Jesus Ganja HightowerFilm
2014 Holby City Alisa ColeEpisode: "Captive"
2015 The Knick Opal EdwardsMain cast (Season 2)
2020–present EastEnders Chelsea Fox Regular role
2021 The Bay DS Emma Ryan2 episodes

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2021 Inside Soap Awards Best NewcomerNominated [8]
2022 2022 British Soap Awards Best Leading Performer Nominated [9]
2022 27th National Television Awards Serial Drama PerformanceNominated [10]
2022Inside Soap AwardsBest ActressNominated [11]
2022 Digital Spy Reader Awards Best Soap Actor (Female)Second [12]

Related Research Articles

Jane Danson is an English actress. She is known for her portrayal of Leanne Battersby in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, between 1997 and 2000, and from 2004 onwards. Her other television credits include Children's Ward (1995–1997), The Grand (1997) and The Bill (2002–2003). For her role on Coronation Street, Danson won the 2011 British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Barlow</span> Fictional character from Coronation Street

Adam Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by actor Sam Robertson. He made his first appearance on-screen on 14 January 2001. Adam was played by Iain De Caestecker from the character's first appearance in 2001 until 21 July 2003 with Robertson taking over the role from 31 December 2004 until 20 April 2007. Robertson reprised the role in 2016 and made his return on screen on 16 November 2016. Adam is the son of Mike Baldwin and Susan Barlow, and the grandson of Ken Barlow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diane Parish</span> English actress (born 1969)

Diane Parish is an English actress, who has been portraying the character Denise Fox on the BBC One soap opera EastEnders since 2006.

Natalie Joy Robb is a Scottish actress and singer. She played the roles of Gemma Clewes in EastEnders Trish McDonald in the Scottish Television soap opera Take the High Road (1990–1999) and Jude Carlyle in the BBC soap opera Doctors (2001–2004). Since 2009, she has portrayed the role of Moira Barton in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Her other television roles include Dream Team (2000–2001) and The Bill (2004–2005).

Dominic Adam Brunt is an English actor, director and producer, best known for portraying the role of Paddy Kirk in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. For his role as Paddy, Brunt has been nominated in various categories at the British Soap Awards, Inside Soap Awards and the National Television Awards. As well as acting, Brunt also produces and directs horror films alongside Joanne Mitchell; he also co-hosts an annual zombie film festival with Emmerdale co-star Mark Charnock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natalie Anderson</span> English actress (b. 1981)

Natalie Jane Anderson is an English actress, singer and television presenter. She is known for her roles as Stella Davenport in the medical drama The Royal from 2005 to 2008 and Alicia Metcalfe in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale from 2010 to 2015. She also played the role of Nessarose in the London production Wicked from May 2009 to March 2010. In 2015, she began appearing on the ITV talk shows This Morning and Loose Women on a recurring basis; Anderson also portrayed the role of Lexi Calder in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2021 to 2022. In 2021 she played the role of Maryanne Borden in Liam Neeson action thriller “Memory”. In 2023 Anderson took guest roles in “Happy Valley” and “Boiling Point” and appeared on stage at Hull Truck Theatre as Kayla in Anna Jordan’s two hander play “Pop Music.” In 2024 Anderson will play Claire Walker in the Netflix adaptation of Harlan Coben’s thriller “Fool Me Once”.

Sally Julia Dexter is an English actress of stage and screen. She won the 1987 Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Dalliance. Her other West End stage credits include the musicals Oliver! (1994), Sister Act (2010) and Billy Elliot the Musical (2013). Her television credits include the ITV soap operas Night and Day (2001–2003) and Emmerdale.

<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.

Georgia Taylor is an English actress. Her TV roles include Toyah Battersby in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, Ruth Winters in the BBC One medical drama series Casualty (2007–2011), and Kate Barker in the ITV crime series Law & Order: UK (2013–2014).

Zoë Henry is a British actress, known for her roles in four soap operas on British television; Emmerdale, Doctors, Coronation Street, and EastEnders. She has also made appearances in various other television series including Grafters and Conviction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine Tyldesley</span> English actress

Catherine Mary Ann Tyldesley is an English actress, known for her roles as Iris Moss in the BBC drama Lilies (2007), Eva Price on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from (2011–2018) and Karen Norris in the BBC sitcom Scarborough (2019). She also appeared as a contestant on the seventeenth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2019.

Sally Carman-Duttine is an English actress. She is known for portraying the roles of Kelly Maguire in the Channel 4 comedy-drama series Shameless (2005–2013), and Abi Franklin in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2017–present).

Ellie Louise Leach is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Faye Windass on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street between 2011 and 2023. Following her exit from the soap, she won the twenty-first series of the BBC contest Strictly Come Dancing.

Paula Lane is an English actress. She is best known for portraying the roles of Kylie Platt in ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2010–2016), and Ella Forster in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale (2024–present).

Lorna Laidlaw is an English actress. She has appeared on television as Mrs Tembe in the BBC medical soap opera Doctors and as Aggie Bailey in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street since 2019. Laidlaw won the Royal Television Society award for Best Actress and Best Daytime Star at the Inside Soap Awards for her role in Doctors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faye Brookes</span> English actress (born 1987)

Faye Alicia Brookes is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Kate Connor on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. In 2021, she competed in the thirteenth series of Dancing on Ice, where she finished in second place.

Katie Louise McGlynn is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Jodie "Scout" Allen in Waterloo Road (2011–2013), Sinead Tinker in Coronation Street (2013–2020), and Becky Quentin in Hollyoaks (2021–2022). In 2021, she was a contestant on the nineteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Alexandra Mardell is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Emma Brooker in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. In 2019, for her portrayal of the role, she won the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer, and was nominated for Newcomer at the National Television Awards.

Rebecca Sarker is an English actress. After portraying the role of Nita Desai in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 1999 to 2000, she made various appearances in television series including Rosemary and Thyme, Doctors, Holby City, The Golden Hour and EastEnders. In 2018, she began appearing in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale as Manpreet Sharma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mollie Gallagher</span> English actress

Mollie Elizabeth Gallagher is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Nina Lucas in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. For her portrayal of Nina, Gallagher has won several awards including "Best Newcomer" at the Inside Soap Awards and "Serial Drama Performance" at the National Television Awards. In 2023, she competed in the fifteenth series of Dancing on Ice.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hudson, Rykesha (16 May 2015). "Zaraah Abrahams: Spike Lee said I could be next Halle Berry". The Voice . Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  2. ↑ "EastEnders casts former Coronation Street star Zaraah Abrahams as Chelsea Fox". Radio Times . Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "EastEnders announces Chelsea Fox recast – Who is Zaraah Abrahams?". Entertainment Daily. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  4. ↑ "Zaraah Abrahams Talks Da Sweet Blood of Jesus – Dread Central". dreadcentral.com. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "EastEnders – Who are Lucas Johnson and Chelsea Fox and why are they back?". Digital Spy . Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "'Coronation Street' Star Zaraah Abrahams Becomes The Latest Soap Star To Land A Hollywood Role". HuffPost . Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "EastEnders viewers enraged as Chelsea betrays Denise by reuniting with Lucas". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  8. ↑ Alexander, Susannah (28 September 2021). "Inside Soap Awards announces 2021 longlist as voting opens – here's who's up for prizes". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  9. ↑ Houghton, Rianne (21 April 2022). "British Soap Awards 2022 reveals longlist for viewer categories". Digital Spy . Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  10. ↑ Morris, Lauren (24 May 2022). "NTA 2022 longlist revealed as David Tennant and Sex Education nominated". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  11. ↑ Harp, Justin (18 July 2022). "Inside Soap Awards announces nominations and new category for 2022 event". Digital Spy . Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  12. ↑ Rowan, Iona (27 December 2022). "EastEnders wins big at the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2022". Digital Spy.
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.