Ayesha Antoine

Ayesha Antoine
Born	Essex, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1995–present

Ayesha Antoine is an English actress. She is known for portraying Rachel Baptiste in Holby City, and Poppy Silver in Grange Hill.

Antoine was born in Essex, England. She is of British, Dominican, and Welsh descent. In 1998 Antoine studied Psychology and English at the University of Manchester. After graduating, she returned to London to restart her career.

She said:

A hyperactive child (learning the violin and piano as well as attending acting and dance classes), at the age of eight she entered a National Talent Contest which was televised on the Saturday morning BBC children's show, Going Live!. Dancing, singing and rapping to Salt'n'Pepa's 'Express Yourself' was Antoine's first television appearance.

Antoine began her television career in the 1990s playing Poppy Silver in Grange Hill. At this time she also made her first appearance in Holby City. Other television credits include the role of Kelly Grogan in sitcom pilot Placebo and a husband-beating shoplifter in The Bill.

In 2007 Antoine guest starred as Dee Dee Blasco in the Doctor Who episode "Midnight", an experience she described as: "so much fun…it’s a brilliant show and I loved every minute." She joined the regular cast of Holby City in 2008, playing Staff Nurse Rachel Baptiste.

In 2009 Antoine appeared in BAFTA winner Paul Whitehouse's new series Down The Line, and in the newly commissioned series of Mouth to Mouth, a multi-media comedy drama for BBC Three.

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