{{Short description|English actress (born 1983)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Roxy Shahidi | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1983|03|14}} | birth_place = [[Manchester]], England | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = Rokhsaneh Ali<ref name="United" /> | occupation = {{Hlist|Actress|screenwriter}} | television = ''[[Emmerdale]]''<br>''[[Dancing on Ice]]'' | years_active = 2005–present | spouse = {{marriage|[[Arsher Ali]]|2010}} | children = 1 | website = }}
'''Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi''' ({{langx|fa| رخسانه قوام شهيدي}}; born 14 March 1983) is an English actress and screenwriter. She is known for portraying from 2008 to 2011 and from 2013 to 2025 the role of [[Leyla Harding]] in [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] soap ''[[Emmerdale]]''. In 2024, she was a contestant on the [[Dancing on Ice (series 16)|sixteenth series]] of ''[[Dancing on Ice]]''.
==Early life== Shahidi was born Rokhsaneh Gwaham-Shahidi on 14 March 1983 to an Iranian father and an English mother, and grew up in [[Whalley Range, Manchester|Whalley Range]] in [[Manchester]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/roxyshahidi/status/443831601731239936|title=Birthday gifts galore !!! Thanks Sammy Winward xxxxpic.twitter.com/sZmr5SzjyR|last=Shahidi|first=Roxy|date=12 March 2014|website=@roxyshahidi|language=en|access-date=8 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2009/10/30/rokhsaneh-clears-up-age-fact-526365/|title=Rokhsaneh clears up age 'fact'|date=30 October 2009|work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|access-date=30 June 2014}}</ref> She became a vegetarian at the age of 8, and has been a vegan since the age of 21.<ref>{{cite web |title=Celebrity Health - Roxy Shahidi |url=https://www.yourhealthyliving.co.uk/roxy-shahidi |website=Your Healthy Living |access-date=22 December 2023}}</ref>
==Career== Shahidi began her career as part of Contact Young Actors Company in 2004 and went on to work for Peskar Productions as a drama workshop leader in [[Oldham]] and [[Bolton]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi's real life from playing Leyla to famous husband |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/emmerdale-star-roxy-shahidis-famous-21200167 |website=[[Leeds Live]] |date=August 2021 |access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref> Her theatre credits include ''[[East is East (play)|East is East]]'', ''Janus'' (for [[West Yorkshire Playhouse]]), ''[[Christie Malry's Own Double Entry]]'' at the [[Palace Theatre, Manchester]], ''Freshly Scratched'' (for the [[Battersea Arts Centre]]) and ''[[Rafta, Rafta...]]'' at the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Roxy Shahidi |url=https://www.intertalentgroup.com/client/roxy-shahidi/#:~:text=Theatre%20credits%20include%20Othello%20(National,West%20Yorkshire%20Playhouse)%3B%20Freshly |website=Inter Talent Group |access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref> Shahidi made her on-screen debut in the [[BBC Three]] comedy-drama series ''[[Sinchronicity]]'' in 2006. She has also acted in [[radio plays]], e.g. Nadeem Aslam's ''[[Maps for Lost Lovers]]''. From November 2012 through to January 2013 she played the role of Shahrazad in the Manchester Library Theatre Company performances of [[Arabian Nights]] at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, near Manchester.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rokhsaneh talks Arabian Nights |url=https://homemcr.org/article/rokhsaneh-ghawam-shahidi-talks-arabian-nights/ |website=Home Manchester |access-date=22 December 2023 |date=21 November 2023}}</ref>
In August 2008, Shahidi joined the cast of the [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]] soap opera ''[[Emmerdale]]'' as [[Leyla Harding]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/prestwichadvertiser/news/s/1058678_emmerdale_soap_debut_for_actress|title=Emmerdale soap debut for actress|last=Ryan|first=Kathryn|date=17 July 2008|website=Prestwich Advertiser|access-date=11 June 2011}}</ref> After departing the role in August 2011, Shahidi returned to ''Emmerdale'' for two episodes in December 2013, before reprising the role on a permanent basis from January 2014. Her character was killed off in a limousine crash in February 2025, with Shahidi making her final appearance in a flashback the following month.<ref>{{cite web |title='Emmerdale' Leyla: 'Leaving show was tough decision' |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a332740/emmerdale-leyla-leaving-show-was-tough-decision/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=22 December 2023 |date=1 August 2011}}</ref> In 2022, Shahidi and ''Emmerdale'' co-star [[Matthew Wolfenden]] were co-signed to United Agents as screenwriters. They collaborated on an episode of the [[BBC]] medical drama ''[[Holby City]]'' and three episodes of the BBC soap opera ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]''.<ref name="United">{{cite web |title=Rokhsaneh Ali & Matthew Wolfenden |url=https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/rokhsaneh-ali-matthew-wolfenden#:~:text=Matthew%20is%20a%20Northern%20Actor,team%2C%20and%20developing%20original%20ideas. |publisher=United Agents |access-date=15 January 2025}}</ref> In 2024, Shahidi appeared as a contestant on the [[Dancing on Ice (series 16)|sixteenth series]] of ''[[Dancing on Ice]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=First look at Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi during Dancing on Ice training |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a45581620/dancing-on-ice-roxy-shahidi-training/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |date=19 October 2023 |access-date=22 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Roxy Shahidi to step away from Emmerdale for Dancing on Ice |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/12/18/roxy-shahidi-step-away-emmerdale-dancing-ice-19990482/ |website=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=18 December 2023 |access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref> She was paired with [[Sylvain Longchambon]] and was fourth to be eliminated.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/02/11/soap-icon-becomes-fourth-star-eliminated-dancing-ice-20261012/|title=Two icons eliminated from Dancing On Ice in double devastation|website=metro.co.uk|date=11 February 2024 |access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref>
==Personal life== Shahidi married actor [[Arsher Ali]] in 2010. They have a daughter together born in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kayleigh Dray |url=http://www.closeronline.co.uk/2014/10/emmerdale-s-roxy-shahidi-my-husband-proposed-before-we-d-even-kissed#.VNfZbvmsWH4 |title=Emmerdale's Roxy Shahidi: 'My husband proposed before we'd even kissed' |location=gb |publisher=Closeronline.co.uk |date=23 October 2014 |access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bestdaily.co.uk/television/news/a605350/emmerdale-actress-roxy-shahidi-reveals-her-marriage-isnt-legal-yet.html |title=Showbiz, entertainment and media news - Digital Spy |publisher=Bestdaily.co.uk |date=3 February 2017 |access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref>
Shahidi has set up a Yoga Lunch Club in the Creative Quarter in [[Hockley, Nottingham|Hockley]], [[Greater Nottingham]] where she also is based.<ref>{{cite web|author=GemmaToulson |url=http://www.nottinghampost.com/Emmerdale-actress-Roxy-Shahidi-launches-Midlands/story-26249835-detail/story.html |title=Emmerdale actress Roxy Shahidi launches yoga lunch club in Nottingham |publisher=Nottingham Post |date=29 March 2015 |access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref> She also has a YouTube channel on which she regularly shares yoga videos.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_U1IbCTUqsW36CFMxUcrsA/about |title=YogaRox |publisher=YouTube |date=9 January 2016 |access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes ! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- | 2006 | ''[[Emmerdale]]'' | Lila Wray | 1 episode | Guest role |- | 2006 | ''[[Sinchronicity]]'' | Ivory | 1 episode | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |title=Emmerdale Star Roxy Shahidi is the twelfth celebrity confirmed to be taking part in the new series of Dancing on Ice |url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/emmerdale-star-roxy-shahidi-twelfth-celebrity-confirmed-be-taking-part-new-series |website=[[ITV Press Centre]] |access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref> |- | 2008–2011, 2013–2025 | ''[[Emmerdale]]'' | [[Leyla Harding]] | Regular role | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |title=Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi explains Leyla's role in Christmas proposal story |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a46162166/emmerdale-spoilers-roxy-shahidi-leyla-christmas-story/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=22 December 2023 |date=18 December 2023}}</ref> |- | 2013 | ''[[National Theatre Live]]: [[Othello]]'' | Bianca | Live theatre | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |title=Roxy Shahidi – Plex |url=https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/roxy-shahidi |website=plex.tv |access-date=22 December 2023}}</ref> |- | 2020 | ''Naimh Armstrong: On A Different Planet'' | Miss Hussain | Short film | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |title=Roxy Shahidi |url=https://www.advoice.co.uk/clients/roxy-shahidi/ |website=Ad Voice |access-date=22 December 2023}}</ref> |- | 2024 | ''[[Dancing on Ice]]'' | Herself | Contestant; [[Dancing on Ice (series 16)|series 16]] | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web |title=Emmerdale star Roxy Shahidi reveals how Dancing on Ice will affect Leyla role |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a46155105/emmerdale-star-roxy-shahidi-dancing-on-ice-leyla/ |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=22 December 2023 |date=17 December 2023}}</ref> |- | 2024 | [[Drama Queens (TV series)|''Drama Queens'']] | Herself | Main cast | align="center" | <ref>{{Cite web |date=10 January 2024 |title=ITV confirms new spinoff series with stars of Coronation Street and Emmerdale |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/24038988.itv-new-show-follows-stars-coronation-street-emmerdale/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Northern Echo |language=en}}</ref> |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- | 2019 | [[TV Choice Awards|''TV Choice'' Awards]] | Best Soap Actress | {{nom}} | align="center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://xd.wayin.com/display/container/dc/6ae984d9-721c-4609-9bd7-eae43a8ef937|title=TVCA Long List 2019|work=[[TV Choice]]|access-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530235302/https://display.engagesciences.com/display/container/dc/6ae984d9-721c-4609-9bd7-eae43a8ef937|archive-date=30 May 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 2019 | [[Inside Soap Awards|''Inside Soap'' Awards]] | Best Actress | {{longlisted}} | align="center" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a28250686/inside-soap-awards-2019-longlist-coronation-street-eastenders-emmerdale-hollyoaks/|title = ''Inside Soap'' Awards 2019 longlist has been revealed|website = [[Digital Spy]]|date = July 2019}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|2966523}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shahidi, Roxy}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1983 births]] [[Category:21st-century English actresses]] [[Category:English television actresses]] [[Category:English stage actresses]] [[Category:English radio actresses]] [[Category:Actresses from Manchester]] [[Category:English people of Iranian descent]] [[Category:English soap opera actresses]] [[Category:British yoga teachers]] [[Category:English soap opera writers]] [[Category:English women television writers]]