Eva Fontaine

{{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 (BA Hons)

| education = {{Hlist|Anna Scher Theatre School|Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art}}

| television = Doctors

}}

Eva Fontaine (born 1974) is an English actress, known for her role as Faith Walker in the BBC soap opera 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.{{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}} She attained a BA Hons at the Royal Holloway, as well as completing additional training at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and the Actors Centre.{{cite web |title=Eva Fontaine |url=https://app.spotlight.com/7619-7862-2012 |publisher=Spotlight |access-date=24 February 2025}} 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 soap opera Doctors.{{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 }} Her portrayal of the role resulted in numerous nominations for the British Soap Award for Best Actress.{{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}}

From 2018 to 2019, Fontaine appeared in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, as Dr Hamley. Later in 2019, she appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as 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).{{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}} In 2021, she returned to Emmerdale, this time as Esme.{{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 }}

Filmography

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

2001

| Dead Creatures

| Fran

| Film

2001–2006

| Doctors

| Faith Walker

| Regular role

2011

| 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

| Claire Amartey

| Recurring role

2020

| Miracle Workers

| Gladys

| Recurring role

2020

| There She Goes

| Dr. Saggat

| Episode: "Speech and Language"

2021

| Control

| India Collins

| Short film

2021–2022

| Emmerdale

| Esme

| Recurring role

2022

| Not Going Out

| Jane

| Episode: "Text"

2023

| My Jerome

| Dorothy

| Short film

2025

| Amandaland

| Mrs. Leary

| Episode: "New Job"

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Ceremony

! Category

! Nominated work

! Result

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

2005

| rowspan="2" | British Soap Awards

| Best Actress

| rowspan="2" | Doctors

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{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}}

2006

| Best Actress

| {{nom}}

| align="center" |