{{short description|British actress}} {{Use British English|date=May 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Eva Fontaine | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1974}} | birth_place = [[London]], England | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1991–present | alma_mater = [[Royal Holloway, University of London|Royal Holloway]] <small>([[BA Hons]])</small> | education = {{Hlist|[[Anna Scher Theatre School]]|[[Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art]]}} | television = ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' }}
'''Eva Fontaine''' (born 1974) is a British actress, known for her role as [[Faith Walker]] in the [[BBC One|BBC]] soap opera ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' between 2001 and 2006. The role gave her nominations for the [[British Soap Award for Best Actress]]. As well as also having recurring roles in soap operas ''[[EastEnders]]'' and ''[[Emmerdale]]'', Fontaine has an extensive stage career.
==Life and career== Fontaine received her training as an actress at the [[Anna Scher Theatre School]].<ref name="CET2">{{cite news|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-108558999|title=ME AND MY HEALTH: Eva Fontaine|date=6 October 2003|accessdate=5 August 2009|publisher=[[Coventry Evening Telegraph]]|archive-date=11 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711151244/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-108558999/health-beauty-me-and-my-health-eva-fontaine|url-status=live}}</ref> She attained a [[BA Hons]] at the [[Royal Holloway, University of London|Royal Holloway]], as well as completing additional training at [[Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art]], [[Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts]] and the Actors Centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eva Fontaine |url=https://app.spotlight.com/7619-7862-2012 |publisher=[[Spotlight (company)|Spotlight]] |access-date=24 February 2025}}</ref> Fontaine was a member of the [[British Shakespeare Company]], playing Juliet in their touring production of ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]''. She later played the leading character of Fran in the 2001 British horror film ''Dead Creatures''. From 2001 to 2006, Fontaine portrayed the role of [[Faith Walker]] in the [[BBC One|BBC]] soap opera ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]''.<ref name="Faith">{{cite web |title=Faith Walker |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/doctors/past_characters/faith_walker_person_page.shtml#:~:text=Faith%20was%20a%20talented%20and,fireman%2C%20and%20they%20got%20married. |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=25 July 2022 |archive-date=15 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815223354/http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/doctors/past_characters/faith_walker_person_page.shtml#:~:text=Faith%20was%20a%20talented%20and,fireman%2C%20and%20they%20got%20married. |url-status=live }}</ref> Her portrayal of the role resulted in numerous nominations for the [[British Soap Award for Best Actress]].<ref name="2006 BSAs">{{cite news|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8bd815ec|title=The British Soap Awards 2006 (2006)|work=[[British Film Institute]]|access-date=25 July 2022|archive-date=26 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126102134/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8bd815ec|url-status=dead}}</ref>
From 2018 to 2019, Fontaine appeared in the [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] soap opera ''[[Emmerdale]]'', as Dr Hamley. Later in 2019, she appeared in the BBC soap opera ''[[EastEnders]]'' as [[List of EastEnders characters (2019)#Claire Amartey|Claire Amartey]], a case worker for [[Ruby Allen]] ([[Louisa Lytton]]). She appeared in five episodes. She returned in 2024, this time as detective sergeant who arrests [[Gideon Clayton]] (Howard Saddler).<ref>{{cite news |title=EastEnders spoilers as Yolande Trueman to face new twist in fight against evil Pastor Clayton |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-spoilers-yolande-conflicted-pastor-clayton-assault-newsupdate/ |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=[[Radio Times]]}}</ref> In 2021, she returned to ''Emmerdale'', this time as [[List of Emmerdale characters (2021)#Esme|Esme]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Who is Esme in Emmerdale and where have you seen actress Eva Fontaine before? |url=https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/who-is-esme-in-emmerdale-and-where-have-you-seen-actress-eva-fontaine-before/ |access-date=11 November 2021 |work=Entertainment Daily |date=7 October 2021 |archive-date=11 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111194555/https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/who-is-esme-in-emmerdale-and-where-have-you-seen-actress-eva-fontaine-before/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2001 | ''Dead Creatures'' | Fran | Film |- | 2001–2006 | ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' | [[Faith Walker]] | Regular role |- | 2011 | ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'' | DS Bain | Recurring role |- | 2018 | ''Eddie Elise'' | Probation Officer | Short film |- | 2018 | ''[[Two for Joy]]'' | Social Worker | Film |- | 2018–2019 | ''[[Emmerdale]]'' | Consultant | Recurring role |- | 2019 | ''[[Holby City]]'' | Simone Milton | Episode: "Remember, Remember" |- | 2019, 2024 | ''[[EastEnders]]'' | [[List of EastEnders characters introduced in 2019#Claire Amartey|Claire Amartey]] | Recurring role |- | 2020 | ''[[Miracle Workers (2019 TV series)|Miracle Workers]]'' | Gladys | Recurring role |- | 2020 | ''[[There She Goes (TV series)|There She Goes]]'' | Dr. Saggat | Episode: "Speech and Language" |- | 2021 | ''Control'' | India Collins | Short film |- | 2021–2022 | ''Emmerdale'' | [[List of Emmerdale characters (2021)#Esme|Esme]] | Recurring role |- | 2022 | ''[[Not Going Out]]'' | Jane | Episode: "Text" |- | 2023 | ''My Jerome'' | Dorothy | Short film |- | 2025 | ''[[Amandaland]]'' | Mrs. Leary | Episode: "New Job" |- | 2025 | ''Football Fantastics'' | Fern | Recurring role |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Ceremony ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2005 | rowspan="2" | [[British Soap Awards]] | [[British Soap Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] | rowspan="2" | ''Doctors'' | {{nom}} | align="center" | <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a21077/british-soap-awards-2005-the-winners/|title=British Soap Awards 2005 - The winners|work=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=25 January 2020|archive-date=25 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125211302/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a21077/british-soap-awards-2005-the-winners/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 2006 | Best Actress | {{nom}} | align="center" | <ref name="2006 BSAs" /> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|1054175}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fontaine, Eva}} [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Actresses from London]] [[Category:Alumni of Royal Holloway, University of London]] [[Category:Alumni of the Anna Scher Theatre School]] [[Category:Alumni of the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts]] [[Category:Alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art]] [[Category:Black British actresses]] [[Category:British child actresses]] [[Category:British Shakespearean actresses]] [[Category:British soap opera actresses]] [[Category:British stage actresses]] [[Category:British television actresses]]