Daisha Anderson

Daisha Anderson
Holby City character
Rebecca Grant as Daisha Anderson
First appearance	"Twelve Hour Nightmare" 18 March 2008
Last appearance	"Tipping Point" 23 March 2010
Portrayed by	Rebecca Grant
Information
Occupation	Ward sister Staff nurse Charity ambassador
Relatives	Joe Anderson (son)

Daisha Anderson is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actress Rebecca Grant. She first appeared in the series ten episode "Twelve Hour Nightmare", broadcast on 18 March 2008. Grant received the role after the show's producer watched her in a professional play and was impressed by her performance. The character is originally from The Philippines and has strong Filipino values. She is characterised as having a strong moral code and maintaining a forthright, assertive and straight-talking attitude. Daisha progresses from her role as staff nurse to ward sister and also becomes an ambassador for The Byrne Foundation. One of the characters first stories saw her dealing with an unwanted pregnancy. Having no home or money, Daisha feels unable to support a child. She tries to abort the baby with painkillers but is unsuccessful, gives birth in a lift and later gives up her child.

Most of Daisha's screen-time was shared alongside her close friend Mark Williams (Robert Powell). He would often organise her life and spend too much time worrying about her. Mark later develops feelings for Daisha, and due to their age difference other characters, especially Mark's daughter Chrissie Williams (Tina Hobley), voice their disapproval of their friendship. In 2010, Grant decided to leave the show to pursue other projects. Producers decided not to kill the character off but created a dramatic exit storyline. Daisha was held hostage, shot and her colleagues were forced to save her life. After she recovers Daisha decides to return to The Philippines and look after her son.

Grant was starring in two professional plays and had always wanted to do television work. They received good reviews at a time Grant had done an audition for Holby City. A producer from the show went to watch the actress performing in her play "The Glass Cage". Impressed with Grant's performance they contacted her agent offering her the role of Daisha.

Daisha has issues when it comes to punctuality. She has a love of karaoke singing and nail varnish. But the character is played as a straightforward professional who tells the truth despite lacking tactfulness. She also has good moral code of right and wrong. She is an assertive person who quickly rises through the ranks of Keller ward. Asked about Daisha's personality, Grant told Nicke Ames of Your Sandwich that "I'm half similar to Daisha as my mum is a Filipina, I adore tropical food, fruit and weather - and karaoke is, of course, a must.” Daisha herself is originally from The Philippines. One of Daisha's main reasons for working in the United Kingdom is to generate money and send it back home to her family. Grant's mother is Filipino and like Daisha left the country in her early twenties. But despite being brought up with British culture she learned a lot about "Filipino values". Grant said that she used these values to help her portrayal of Daisha.