Rose Ayling-Ellis
{{Short description|British actress (born 1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}
| image = Rose Ayling-Ellis 2022.jpg
| caption = Ayling-Ellis in 2022
| birth_name = Rose Lucinda Ayling-Ellis
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1994|11|17}}
| birth_place = Hythe, Kent, England
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|presenter|writer}}
| years_active = 2011–present
| alma_mater = University for the Creative Arts
}}
Rose Lucinda Ayling-Ellis {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 17 November 1994) is an English actress, television presenter and writer of children's books. Deaf since birth, she is a British Sign Language user. On television, she is best known for her role as Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2020–2022) and for winning the 19th series of Strictly Come Dancing with Giovanni Pernice in 2021; she was the programme's first deaf contestant. In 2025, she starred in the ITV drama Code of Silence.
Also known for her theatre work, she has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award and won The Stage Debut Award. She is the recipient of the Visionary Honours for Inspirational Person of the Year.
Early life
Rose Lucinda Ayling-Ellis was born on 17 November 1994, in Hythe, Kent, and grew up there.{{Cite magazine |last=George |first=Becky |date=29 August 2024 |title=Five things you didn't know about Rose Ayling-Ellis |url=https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tv-series/rose-ayling-ellis |access-date=16 January 2025 |magazine=Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine}}{{Cite web |url= https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/the-strictly-star-from-kent-tipped-to-win-the-glitterball-257690/ |first=Liane |last=Castle |title=EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis from Hythe tipped to win the Strictly Come Dancing glitterball |date=19 November 2021 |website=Kent Online |access-date=22 November 2021}} She has an older brother, Jacob.{{Cite web |last=McGrath |first=Nick |date=2025-03-27 |title=Rose Ayling-Ellis: ‘I was bullied but I couldn’t hear them’ |url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/celebrity/article/rose-ayling-ellis-interview-mother-relative-values-86qrlcfls |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}} She was born deaf.{{cite magazine|last=Wilkins|first=Bridie|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/20211106125690/rose-ayling-ellis-strictly-come-dancing-giovanni-pernice-change/|title=Strictly made a big change for Rose Ayling-Ellis that we never knew about|magazine=Hello!|date=6 November 2021|access-date=19 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127125156/https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/20211106125690/rose-ayling-ellis-strictly-come-dancing-giovanni-pernice-change/|archive-date=27 November 2021|url-status=live}} She attended the Christ Church, Church of England High School in Ashford, Kent. As a child, she took part in a filming weekend organised by the National Deaf Children's Society.{{cite web |title=Starring in EastEnders {{!}} My deafness didn't stop me |url=https://www.ndcs.org.uk/information-and-support/parenting-and-family-life/families-magazine/my-deafness-didnt-stop-me/my-deafness-didnt-stop-me-starring-in-eastenders/ |publisher=National Deaf Children's Society |access-date=16 January 2025}} During the weekend, she met deaf film director Ted Evans, who later cast her in his 2011 short film The End, which marked her acting debut.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whattowatch.com/features/rose-ayling-ellis-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-eastenders-actress|title=Rose Ayling-Ellis — things you didn't know about the 'EastEnders' actress|first=Lucy|last=Buglass|date=22 September 2021|website=Whattowatch.com|access-date=16 December 2021}} She then joined the Deafinitely Youth Theatre, and concurrently studied fashion design at the University for the Creative Arts graduating in 2016.{{cite news |title=Strictly exclusive! Winner Rose Ayling-Ellis on the glitterball, Giovanni and the joy of being deaf|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/dec/19/strictly-exclusive-winner-rose-ayling-ellis-on-the-glitter-ball-giovanni-and-the-joy-of-being-deaf |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Emine|last=Saner|date=19 December 2021|access-date=16 January 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uca.ac.uk/news/2022/uca-graduation-2022--looking-back-at-our-best-stories/|title=UCA Graduation 2022 – looking back at our best stories|publisher=University for the Creative Arts|date=11 July 2022|access-date=12 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913110357/https://www.uca.ac.uk/news/2022/uca-graduation-2022--looking-back-at-our-best-stories/|archive-date=13 September 2024|url-status=live}}
Career
=Acting=
Following her debut in The End, Ayling-Ellis appeared in a number of stage productions, including Lyric Hammersmith's Herons Workshop in 2016, Royal Exchange Theatre's Mother Courage in 2019, and London National Theatre's Faith, Hope and Charity in 2019.{{cite news |title=Mother Courage and Her Children review – canny power from Julie Hesmondhalgh |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/feb/17/mother-courage-royal-exchange-review-julie-hesmondhalgh-anna-jordan |newspaper=The Guardian|first=Clare |last=Brennan |date=17 February 2019 |access-date=16 January 2025}} Her early television credits include the medical drama Casualty (2017) and the period drama Summer of Rockets (2019).{{cite web |title=Meet: Rose Ayling-Ellis, star of BBC's Summer of Rockets |url=https://limpingchicken.com/2019/08/28/rose-ayling-ellis-star-of-bbcs-summer-of-rockets-life-as-a-professional-deaf-actress/ |website=The Limping Chicken |date=28 August 2019 |access-date=16 January 2025}} She also had a part in the 2017 music video for The Vamps' song "Middle of the Night".
From 2020 to 2022, Ayling-Ellis portrayed Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Her character was originally written by deaf journalist and scriptwriter Charlie Swinbourne{{Reasonator|Q110609836}}, and she made her first appearance on 18 May 2020.{{cite website |last1=Dainty |first1=Sophie |title=EastEnders – Who is Ben and Callum's new friend Frankie Lewis? |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a32596566/eastenders-frankie-lewis-ben-hearing-loss-story/ |website=Digital Spy |date=19 May 2020 |access-date=16 January 2025}} Her departure from the series was announced in August 2022, with her final scenes airing on 22 September 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62594061|title=Rose Ayling-Ellis: Strictly winner to leave EastEnders after two years|work=BBC News|date=18 August 2022|access-date=18 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818153552/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62594061|archive-date=18 August 2022|url-status=live}}
Ayling-Ellis was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2023 Laurence Olivier Awards and won The Stage Debut Award for Best West End Debut for her performance in As You Like It at @sohoplace. She starred as Miri in the BBC thriller series Reunion,{{cite web|url= https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/environment/doncaster-film-set-this-is-england-producer-starts-work-shooting-latest-film-locations-across-city-4629216|newspaper=Doncaster Free Press| first= David|last=Kessen|date=16 May 2024| title= Doncaster film set: This Is England producer starts work shooting his latest film in locations across city|access-date=16 May 2024}} and appeared in a guest role in "The Well", an episode of the fifteenth series of Doctor Who, both in 2025.{{cite magazine|last1=Mensah|first1=Katelyn|title=Doctor Who casts Rose Ayling-Ellis in scariest season 15 episode: 'It's absolutely terrifying' |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-casts-rose-ayling-ellis-season-15-newsupdate/|magazine=Radio Times|date=20 December 2024|access-date=16 January 2025}} Ayling-Ellis is also set to play the lead Alison Woods in the upcoming ITV drama series Code of Silence.{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/itv-commissions-six-part-thriller-code-silence-starring-rose-ayling-ellis-0|title=ITV commissions six part thriller Code of Silence starring Rose Ayling-Ellis|website=itv.com|date=17 May 2023|access-date=19 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819143343/https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/itv-commissions-six-part-thriller-code-silence-starring-rose-ayling-ellis-0|archive-date=19 August 2023|url-status=live}} She is developing a comedy drama about deaf women dating in London,{{cite web|last=Goldbart|first=Max|url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/strictly-come-dancing-rose-ayling-ellis-drama-edinburgh-tv-festival-1235100908/|title=‘Strictly Come Dancing' Winner Rose Ayling-Ellis Developing Comedy-Drama About Deaf Women Dating In London|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=26 August 2022|access-date=16 January 2025}} and is attached to executive produce and star as Tuva Moodyson in the crime thriller series Tuva, a television adaptation of Will Dean's novel Dark Pines.{{cite web|last=Goldbart|first=Max|url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/rose-ayling-ellis-will-dean-tuva-moodyson-adaptation-1235635643/|title=Rose Ayling-Ellis To Lead TV Adaptation Of Will Dean's Tuva Moodyson Novel About Deaf Journalist|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=23 November 2023|access-date=16 January 2025}}
=Other ventures=
In 2021, Ayling-Ellis became the first deaf contestant on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. She participated in and won the show's 19th series, with professional Giovanni Pernice.{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/rose-ayling-ellis-strictly-contestant-deaf-b1935770.html |title=Rose Ayling-Ellis on becoming Strictly Come Dancing's first deaf contestant |first=Roisin |last=O'Connor |date=10 October 2021 |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=23 November 2021}}{{Cite news|date=19 December 2021|title=Strictly Come Dancing 2021: Rose Ayling-Ellis becomes first deaf winner|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-59599740|access-date=19 December 2021|work=BBC News}} In an interview before the start of the series, she said: {{blockquote|I have a hearing aid, so I pick up some of the music and I can hear the beat. I can hear someone singing, but I can't identify exact words. I also feel the vibrations.{{cite news|last=McIntosh|first=Steven|title=Strictly Come Dancing: How Rose Ayling-Ellis will hear the music|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-57867412|access-date=19 December 2021|work=BBC News|date=15 September 2021}}}} Ayling-Ellis and Pernice scored 40 (full marks) for their tango in week six, which was the earliest "perfect score" in the show's history.{{cite web|last=Bagwell|first=Matt|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rose-ayling-ellis-giovanni-pernice-strictly-come-dancing-perfect-score-tango_uk_617e47e0e4b066de4f70de79|title=Strictly Come Dancing: Rose Ayling-Ellis And Giovanni Pernice Secure Earliest 40 In Show's History With 'Perfect' Tango|website=HuffPost UK|date=31 October 2021|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102000332/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rose-ayling-ellis-giovanni-pernice-strictly-come-dancing-perfect-score-tango_uk_617e47e0e4b066de4f70de79|archive-date=2 November 2021|url-status=live}} In week eight, their Couple's Choice contemporary dance featured a rumba with an added period of silence as a tribute to the deaf community. Described by judge Anton Du Beke as "the greatest thing I've ever seen on the show",{{Cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/strictly-rose-giovanni-anton-crying-22160682 |title=Strictly's Anton cracks with emotion giving verdict on Rose dance |first=Simon |last=Duke |date=13 November 2021 |newspaper=Chronicle Live |access-date=14 November 2021 }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/strictly-come-dancing-rose-ailing-ellis-couples-choice-performance-deaf-community_uk_61901c4ae4b0c621c5cdbfb6 |title=Rose Ayling-Ellis Moves Strictly Viewers To Tears With Emotional Performance Dedicated To The Deaf Community |date=14 November 2021 |newspaper=HuffPost UK|first=Ash |last=Percival |access-date=14 November 2021}} it earned them the 2021 Heat Unmissables Award for TV Moment of the Year.{{cite magazine|last=Hilton|first=Boyd|url=https://heatworld.com/entertainment/tv-movies/unmissables-awards-winners-2021/|title=heat Unmissables Awards 2021: see the full list of winners|magazine=Heat|date=7 December 2021|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208155915/https://heatworld.com/entertainment/tv-movies/unmissables-awards-winners-2021/|archive-date=8 December 2021}} It also won the British Academy Television Award for Virgin TV's Must-See Moment in 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-60925307|title=Bafta TV Awards 2022: The winners and nominees|work=BBC News|date=8 May 2022|access-date=18 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818135708/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60925307|archive-date=18 August 2022|url-status=live}}
In May 2022, Ayling-Ellis became the first celebrity to sign a bedtime story on CBeebies, telling the tale of Raymond Antrobus's 2020 children's picture book Can Bears Ski?.{{cite news|last=Johnson-Obeng|first=Bree|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-61338117|title=Rose Ayling-Ellis to sign CBeebies Bedtime Story|work=BBC News|date=6 May 2022|access-date=18 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818135957/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61338117|archive-date=18 August 2022|url-status=live}} In August 2022, she unveiled the first deaf Barbie doll equipped with behind-the-ear hearing aids released as part of the Barbie Fashionistas line consisting of a number of diverse dolls.{{cite news|last1=Cleverley|first1=Ellie|last2=Farooq|first2=Iqra|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-62577192|title='Inclusive Barbies are a major step in my life'|work=BBC News|date=18 August 2022|access-date=18 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818022535/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-62577192|archive-date=18 August 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/eastenders-actress-rose-ayling-ellis-unveils-first-barbie-with-hearing-aids-12674127|title=EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis unveils first Barbie with hearing aids|publisher=Sky News|date=16 August 2022|access-date=18 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818143826/https://news.sky.com/story/eastenders-actress-rose-ayling-ellis-unveils-first-barbie-with-hearing-aids-12674127|archive-date=18 August 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2022-08-16/strictly-star-rose-ayling-ellis-unveils-first-barbie-doll-with-hearing-aids|title=Strictly star Rose Ayling-Ellis unveils first Barbie doll with hearing aids|publisher=ITV News|date=16 August 2022|access-date=18 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818143950/https://www.itv.com/news/2022-08-16/strictly-star-rose-ayling-ellis-unveils-first-barbie-doll-with-hearing-aids|archive-date=18 August 2022|url-status=live}} She worked with Mattel during the production of the doll, and featured in the promotional campaign "Rose, Barbie & Friends".
Ayling-Ellis presented the BBC documentary Rose Ayling-Ellis: Signs for Change in 2023, and the two-part BBC documentary series Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks in 2025.{{cite news|last=Richardson|first=Hollie|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/26/tv-tonight-strictly-rose-ayling-ellis-teaches-sign-language-to-retirement-community|title=TV tonight: an incredibly moving story about teaching sign language|newspaper=The Guardian|date=26 March 2025|access-date=26 March 2025}} In August 2024, she was announced as a presenter for Channel 4's coverage of the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, France. As a result, she became the first deaf person to host live sport coverage on British television.{{Cite news |date=20 August 2024 |title=Paralympics 2024: Rose Ayling-Ellis becomes first deaf presenter of live sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crlr0jzekx0o|access-date=21 August 2024 |work=BBC News}}
As announced in June 2024, Ayling-Ellis signed a 10-book deal with DK Children's, including non-fiction, picture books and board books, starting with Rose Knows: The Amazing Story of Communication in 2025.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/dk-childrens-signs-10-book-deal-with-rose-ayling-ellis|title=DK Children's signs 10-book deal with Rose Ayling-Ellis|first=Heloise|last=Wood|magazine=The Bookseller|date=18 June 2024|access-date=16 January 2025}}
Personal life
In an interview with the National Deaf Children's Society, Ayling-Ellis explained that she often has to perform using Sign-supported English (SSE) to reflect her own communication style and make it clear to audiences. Her deafness has not stopped her from enjoying music, and she told The Guardian that her favourite artists are Dolly Parton and Stevie Wonder, and that she is a big fan of soul music. She was in a relationship with Samuel Arnold, who is also deaf, from 2014 until 2022.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/homes/20211222129546/rose-ayling-ellis-house-rules-before-living-with-boyfriend-sam/|title=Rose Ayling-Ellis reveals house rules before living with boyfriend Sam|date=22 December 2021|access-date=17 February 2022|last=Murphy|first=Nichola|magazine=Hello!}}{{cite news|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/bbc-strictly-come-dancings-rose-24925077|title=BBC Strictly Come Dancing's Rose Ayling-Ellis 'hit by curse as she splits from boyfriend'|date=3 September 2022|access-date=3 September 2022|last=Hallam|first=Katy|newspaper=Birmingham Live}}
Ayling-Ellis was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2024 Birthday Honours for voluntary services to the deaf community.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c511l0j4l2po |title=Bates knighted as Staunton and Emin made dames|date=14 June 2024|access-date=18 June 2024|work=BBC News}} She was the subject of a 2024 episode of the BBC genealogy programme Who Do You Think You Are? On the programme, she discovered that her fourth great-grandfather, Pasquel Lyons, was born in Italy and likely emigrated to England during the Napoleonic Wars.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2024/09/05/who-do-you-think-you-are-bbc-one-review-rose-ayling-ellis/?msockid=2c2f1e5d3d3868810c3d0aaf3cc869df|title=Who Do You Think You Are? review: Rose Ayling-Ellis's ancestors would love the Queen Vic|first=Anita|last=Singh|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 September 2024}}
Bibliography
- Rose Knows: The Amazing Story of Communication (2025)
- Rose Says Good Morning! (2025)
- Rose Says Good Night! (2025)
Filmography
Stage
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{Twitter}}
{{Strictly Come Dancing}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayling-Ellis, Rose}}
Category:21st-century English actresses
Category:Actors from Folkestone and Hythe District
Category:Alumni of the University for the Creative Arts
Category:BAFTA winners (people)
Category:British deaf actresses
Category:English actors with disabilities
Category:English people of Italian descent
Category:English soap opera actresses
Category:English stage actresses
Category:English television actresses
Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire
Category:People from Hythe, Kent