In her 30-year career, Rakie Ayola has built up an impressive body of work on stage and screen, winning both a Black British Theatre Award and a BAFTA, the latter for feature-length drama Anthony (2020).

Ayola caught the acting bug early while growing up in Ely, Cardiff and began seeking out any opportunity to express her talent for performance at various youth theatres. She eventually attended the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, of which she was made an Honorary Fellow in 2003.

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A black woman with braids in a high bun collects an award on stage. She is holding some white paper and pointing at the crowd. She is wearing a gold and black striped dress.
Rakie Ayola accepts the Sian Phillips Award for significant contributions to film and television onstage during the BAFTA Cymru Awards 2023 held at the International Convention Centre Wales on October 15, 2023 in Newport, Wales
Credit: Jeff Spicer/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
A black woman with braids in a high bun leans over holding an award while laughing. She is wearing a gold and black striped dress.
Rakie Ayola laughing and celebrating her award backstage
Credit: Kate Green/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
A black woman with braids in a high bun poses with a BAFTA award. She is wearing a gold and black striped dress.
Rakie Ayola poses with her award on the red carpet
Credit: Hoda Davaine/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
A black woman with braids in a high bun dancing on the red carpet. She wears a gold and black striped dress.
Rakie Ayola having a dance on the red carpet
Credit: Kate Green/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA

Among her many screen credits are No Offence (2017), Been So Long (2018), Shetland (2019), Grace (2021-2022) and The Pact (2021-2022). In 2017, she set up Shanty Productions with husband Adam Smethurst, which has several exciting projects at various stages of production.

Ayola’s a keen and courageous advocate for the need for fair representation, accessibility and treatment at all industry levels and among all crafts. And, as a mother of two, she’s also a committed trustee of The Actor’s Children’s Trust, ambassador for Parents & Carers in Performing Arts and a Childhood Tumour Trust patron.

Proud of her heritage and in particular Ely’s place in her heart, Ayola says she’s delighted to receive the Siân Phillips Award, which recognises a Welsh individual whose made a significant contribution to film and/or television.

Ayola says:

“Legacy is vitally important to me, so I’m hugely honoured to join the list of those
who’ve been recognised in the past. I hope I can use this incredible platform to work with more of them
and to encourage, inspire and work with those whose names may be added in the future.”

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