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Yasmine Akram

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Yasmine Akram
Born (1981-03-11) 11 March 1981 (age 43)[1]
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates[1]
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation(s)Actress, comedian, writer

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]

Early life and education

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Akram 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

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After 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

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2016 London Town Nurse
2018 Metal Heart Anna

Television

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c Watters, Ian (24 January 2014). "It's an elementary role!". The Drogheda Leader. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014.
  2. ^ "Yasmine Akram - Actor and Writer". United Agents. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  3. ^ Hennessy, David (7 January 2014). "Sherlock's Yasmine happy to be bridesmaid". The Irish World. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Interview with Yasmine Akram". Diatribes of a Dilettante. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  5. ^ Lee, Veronica (14 August 2011). "Edinburgh Fringe: Glenn Wool/ Jerry Sadowitz/ Ford and Akram". The Arts Desk.
  6. ^ Fleckney, Paul (11 August 2011). "Edinburgh Festival review – Ford & Akram". London Is Funny. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Yasmine Akram". Playography Ireland.
  8. ^ a b "LOL". BBC One. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Monahan, Mark (16 August 2012). "Edinburgh Festival 2012: Ford and Akram, Pleasance Attic, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  12. ^ Merritt, Stephanie (11 August 2011). "Edinburgh comedy notebook: When it's better to be funny-looking". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Aisling Bea". Bulmers Galway Comedy Festival. 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Irish Micks and Legends". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
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