Yasmine Akram (born 11 March 1981) is an Irish-Pakistani[2] actress, writer and comedian. She has written comedy sketches for the BBC and Channel 4, and played Janine Hawkins in the third series of Sherlock.[3][4][5]
Yasmine Akram | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 March 1981[1] |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, comedian, writer |
Early life and education
editAkram was born in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Her family settled in Drogheda, Ireland when she was 18 months old. Her father is originally from Pakistan. Her Irish mother Mona is from Drogheda and still lives in the town. She has a sister called Masooma.[1][6]
From the age of 14, Akram collaborated with the Calipo Theatre and the Picture Company.[4] She graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where she studied acting.[7][8]
Career
editAfter graduating from drama school, Akram wrote comedy sketches for the BBC and Channel 4, and hosted for BBC Radio.[9] She wrote her first play, 10 Dates with Mad Mary, a monologue about a young woman's struggles after leaving prison, and performed the play at Project Arts Centre in Ireland in 2010. This was adapted into the feature film A Date for Mad Mary in 2016.[10]
She writes and performs as half of London-based comedy duo Ford and Akram with English comedian Louise Ford.[11] The duo's live show in 2011 was directed by Alistair McGowan for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[8][12] In 2013, she co-wrote and co-presented BBC Radio 4's Irish Micks and Legends with Aisling Bea, with whom she worked on the Channel 4 sketch comedy LOL.[13][14]
In 2014, she portrayed Janine Hawkins opposite Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock Holmes in two episodes of the third series of Sherlock. She reprised the role in the 2016 special, "The Abominable Bride", in which her character's name was Janine Donlevy.[citation needed]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | London Town | Nurse | |
| 2018 | Metal Heart | Anna |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | A Scare at Bedtime | Rita Quimbly | Episode: "Model Wife |
| 2004 | Love Is the Drug | Aisling | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Peep Show | Yana | Episode: "St Hospitals" |
| L.O.L | Various | 1 episode | |
| 2013 | Common Ground | Restaurant Manager | Episode: "William & Sinclair" |
| It's Kevin | Various | 2 episodes | |
| London Irish | Check-in Girl | 1 episode | |
| 2014 | The Midnight Beast | Jess | Episode: "Beast Holiday Ever" |
| The Centre | Amanda Menton | Series regular | |
| 2014–2015 | Stella | Parvadi | Recurring role |
| 2014–2016 | Sherlock | Janine Hawkins | Recurring role |
| 2015 | Count Arthur Strong | Gemma | Episode: "Still Life" |
| Asylum | Rosa | Miniseries | |
| Undercover | Lara | Series regular | |
| Unforgotten | Kelly | 2 episodes | |
| 2016 | Murder in Successville | Nigella Lawson | Episode: "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes" |
| Outsiders | Yasmine | Miniseries | |
| 2016–2018 | Lovesick | Maria "Jonesy" Jones | Recurring role |
| 2018 | Damned | Hazel | 1 episode |
| Action Team | Gemma Stone | Episode: "Push the Button" | |
| Humans | Audrey Ballard | 3 episodes | |
| Women on the Verge | Samara | 3 episodes | |
| 2018–2019 | The Reluctant Landlord | Julie | Series regular |
| 2018–2020 | There She Goes | Helen | Series regular |
| 2019 | Gold Digger | Elmear Day | Miniseries |
| 2020 | Avenue 5 | Hannah | Recurring role |
| Flack | Ashley Dillon | Episode: "Danny & Deepak" | |
| 2022 | Bad Sisters | Nora | Recurring role |
| 2023 | Beyond Paradise | Carol Meadows | 1 episode |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Love Is The Drug | Foxy | Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda | with "Calipo Theatre Company" |
| 1999 | Xaviers | Joanne | Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda | with "Calipo Theatre Company" |
| 2000 | Makin' Hits | Various roles | Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda | with "Calipo Theatre Company" |
| 2001 | Getting 2 Level 10 | Helen | Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda | with "Calipo Theatre Company" |
| 2009 | The Wicked Lady | Paulina | New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme | |
| 2010 | Ellamenope Jones | Project Arts Centre, Dublin | ||
| 2011 | The Big Fellah | Karelma | Lyric Theatre, London | with Out of Joint Theatre Company |
| 2017 | The Retreat | Tara | Park Theatre, London |
References
edit- ^ a b c Watters, Ian (24 January 2014). "It's an elementary role!". The Drogheda Leader. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014.
- ^ "Yasmine Akram - Actor and Writer". United Agents. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ Hennessy, David (7 January 2014). "Sherlock's Yasmine happy to be bridesmaid". The Irish World. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ a b "Interview with Yasmine Akram". Diatribes of a Dilettante. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ Lee, Veronica (14 August 2011). "Edinburgh Fringe: Glenn Wool/ Jerry Sadowitz/ Ford and Akram". The Arts Desk.
- ^ Fleckney, Paul (11 August 2011). "Edinburgh Festival review – Ford & Akram". London Is Funny. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
- ^ "Yasmine Akram". Playography Ireland.
- ^ a b "LOL". BBC One. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "10 Things You Need To Know About The Bridesmaid In Sherlock – Irish Actress Yasmine Akram". missredblog.com. 13 January 2014. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014.
- ^ White, John (30 January 2010). "Calipo Theatre Company's '10 Dates with Mad Mary' – review". Irish Theatre Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ Monahan, Mark (16 August 2012). "Edinburgh Festival 2012: Ford and Akram, Pleasance Attic, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ^ Merritt, Stephanie (11 August 2011). "Edinburgh comedy notebook: When it's better to be funny-looking". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ^ "Aisling Bea". Bulmers Galway Comedy Festival. 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014.
- ^ "Irish Micks and Legends". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 15 January 2014.