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Simone Lahbib

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Simone Lahbib
Born
Simone Nicole Jean Lahbib Ould Cheikl

(1965-02-06) 6 February 1965 (age 59)
Stirling, Scotland
EducationQueen Margaret University
OccupationActress
Years active1985–present
Notable work
Spouse
Raffaello Degruttola
(m. 2003)
ChildrenSkye Degruttola

Simone Nicole Jean Lahbib Ould Cheikl (/ləˈbb/; born 6 February 1965)[1] is a Scottish actress. She is known for her roles as Helen Stewart in the ITV drama series Bad Girls, DCI Alex Fielding in the ITV crime series Wire in the Blood and Katy Lewis in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.

Life and career

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Lahbib was born in Stirling to a Scottish poet and artist mother and a French-Algerian chef father.[2] Lahbib trained in Drama at Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University.[3] She then commenced her on-screen career in 1985 when she was cast in The Girl in the Picture, a film set in Glasgow directed by Cary Parker. She also sang on the soundtrack.[4] Lahbib has worked extensively in television and film, after starting her career predominantly in theatre. Following guest appearances on well-known television dramas such as Taggart and Dangerfield, she received her first leading role when she was cast in the ITV daytime drama London Bridge as Mary O'Connor, from 1996 to 1997.[5] Her next role in 1997 was in the third and final series of police drama Thief Takers where she met her future husband, Raffaello Degruttola.[6] This was followed by her appearance in the 6-part comedy series The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star in 1998. In 1999, Lahbib became widely recognised for her leading role in the cult British prison drama series Bad Girls, in which she played Helen Stewart.[7]

Following her departure from Bad Girls, Lahbib has had leading roles in several TV drama series including Family as Jacqueline Cutler, Fallen as DCI Kate Gunning, Single-Handed as Gemma Burge, Monarch of the Glen as Isobel Anderson and crime drama series Wire in the Blood as DCI Alex Fielding. She appeared in this last role from series four to series six.[8] She also featured in Da Vinci's Demons as Laura Cereta, The Loch as Mhari Toner and as Debbie O'Callaghan in A Confession.[9]

In 2005, Lahbib appeared in Red Mercury, a feature film with Stockard Channing, and has frequently appeared in films since, such as the award-winning Philomena, with Judi Dench, Wayland's Song, Film: The Movie (which she co-produced), and Burning Men, on which she was also co-casting director.[9] She also appeared in the independent feature film Transference in 2020, which was written and directed by her husband.[10] In 2017, Lahbib opened her second part-time performing arts school, London Arts Academy in North London. The school teaches singing, dancing and acting to children ages 5–18 years.[11] In September 2020, it was announced that she had joined the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders.[12] She made her debut appearance as Katy Lewis in November of that year.[13]

Personal life

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Lahbib married British-Italian actor Raffaello Degruttola on 10 May 2003 in her hometown of Stirling, Scotland. In October 2005, she gave birth to their daughter, Skye Lucia Degruttola, who also became an actress.[1] In 2010 Lahbib established the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund in honour of her niece who died of cancer on 25 March 2010, nine days before her 16th birthday. The charity fund will benefit children with cancer and their families.[14]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Directed by Notes
1985 The Girl in the Picture The Girl Cary Parker
1996 The Witches Daughter Zelda Alan Macmillan
2005 Red Mercury Janet Roy Battersby
2013 Philomena Kate Sixsmith Stephen Frears
2013 Wayland's Song June Richard Jobson
2014 Flim: The Movie Alex Kingston Raffaello Degruttola Additionally served as co-producer and producer in "making of"
2019 Burning Men Eduarda Jeremy Wooding
2020 Transference: A Bipolar Love Story Sophie Raffaello Degruttola Additionally served as co-producer
TBA Detour Astrid Petruce David Goodall
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1992 Taggart Caroline Peterson Series 7, Episode 1 – "Nest of Vipers"
1994 Crime Story Monika Stedul Series 2, Episode 5 – "Stedul: The Yugoslav Hitman"
1995 Taggart Sarah Stevenson Series 11, Episode 1 – "Prayer for the Dead"
1996 Dangerfield Joanne Elland Series 3, Episode 10 – "Inside Out"
1996 The Witch's Daughter Zelda Television film
1996–1997 London Bridge Mary O'Connor Series 1 & 2 – 58 episodes
1997–1998 Thief Takers DC Lucy McCarthy Series 3 – 8 episodes
1998 The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star Fiona Johnstone 6 episodes
1999–2001 Bad Girls Helen Stewart Leading role
Series 1–3 – 31 episodes
2002 Judge John Deed Carol Hayman Series 2, Episode 2 – "Abuse of Power"
Series 2, Episode 3 – "Nobody's Fool"
2003 Family Jacqueline Cutler TV mini-series
2004 Fallen DCI Kate Gunning Television film
2004 Monarch of the Glen Isobel Anderson Series 6 – 10 episodes
2005 Heartless Amanda MacNaughton Television film
2006–2008 Wire in the Blood DI Alex Fielding Series 4–6 – 17 episodes
2010 Single-Handed Gemma Burge Series 4 – 6 episodes
2012 New Tricks Sarah Powell Series 9, Episode 7 "Dead Poets"
2012 Downton Abbey Wilkins Christmas Special: "A Journey to the Highlands"
2015 Crossing Lines Emma Pacetti Series – 1 Episode
2015 Da Vinci's Demons Laura Cereta Series – 8 Episodes
2017 The Loch Mhari Toner Series – 5 of 6 Episodes
2019 A Confession Debbie O'Callaghan Series – 5 of 6 Episodes
2020–2021 EastEnders Katy Lewis Series regular
2022 Shetland Jill Stevens Series 7
2023 The Scotts Margie Grant Series 3, Episode 2
Additional credits
  • Long Haul (2000 short film)
  • Call Me ... Holly (2004 short film)
  • Ark (2008 short film)
  • Zip 'n Zoo ... Marion (2008 short film)
  • The Other Side of My Sleep ... Maria (2010 short film)
  • Divinity: Dragon Commander ... Aida (2013 video game)
  • As He Lay Falling ... Bronte (2014 short film)
  • Flicker and Go Out ... Lesley Parsons (2019 short film)
  • Dark Road ... Aileen (2019 short film)
  • Family Tree ...Jackie (2019 short film)
  • Baby Dear ...Mother (2019 short film)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Simone Lahbib Net – Online since 2001, Official site for Simone Lahbib, Scottish Actress". Simonelahbib.net. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  2. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: TV STAR'S JOY AT BEING A MUM AT 41". Daily Mirror. 8 October 2006. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  3. ^ "University drama turns into a crisis". The Scotsman. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Actress Simone Lahbib and 1980s scenesters relive wild youth in Innes Reekie photo book". The Herald. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  5. ^ "London Bridge TV soap released on DVD". London SE1. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Live Chat: Simone Lahbib". BBC. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  7. ^ "EastEnders features "Bad Girls reunion" as Simone Lahbib joins the cast". Radio Times. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Wire in the Blood star Simone Lahbib on her biggest fan". Daily Record. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Simone Lahbib". TV Guide. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Transference: A Bipolar Love Story". British Council Film. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Meet The Team". London Arts Academy. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  12. ^ "EastEnders casts Bad Girls star for new Carters storyline". Digital Spy. 23 September 2020.
  13. ^ "EastEnders star Simone Lahbib reveals challenges of playing evil Katy Lewis". Digital Spy. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Back brave Eilidh's lasting legacy". Stirling Observer. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
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