Yasmine Akram
| Yasmine Akram | |
|---|---|
| Born |
11 March 1982 [1] Sharjah, United Arab Emirates[1] |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actress, comedian, writer |
Yasmine Akram (born 11 March 1982) is an Irish actress, writer and comedian, best known for playing Janine Hawkins in the third series of Sherlock.[2][3][4]
Early life and education
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 mother Mona is from Drogheda and still lives in the town. She has a sister named Masooma.[1][5]
From the age of 14, she has collaborated with the Calipo Theatre and the Picture Company.[3] Akram graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where she studied acting.[6][7]
Career
After graduating from drama school, Akram started writing comedy sketches for the BBC and Channel 4 and hosted shows for BBC Radio.[8]
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 later adapted into the feature film A Date for Mad Mary in 2016.[9]
She writes and performs as half of London-based comedy duo Ford and Akram with English comedian Louise Ford.[10] The duo's live show in 2011 was directed by Alistair McGowan for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[7][11]
In 2013 she co-wrote and co-presented BBC Radio 4's Irish Micks and Legends with Aisling Bea, with whom she had previously worked on the Channel 4 sketch comedy LOL.[12][13]
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"; however her name in this was Janine Donlevy.
In December 2014 Akram appeared as a panellist in Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
In October 2015 she appeared as a panellist in BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz.
Personal life
As of January 2016 Yasmine resides in London.[8][14]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Love is the Drug | Aisling | TV series |
| 2010 | Peep Show | Yana | TV series (1 episode: "St. Hospitals") |
| 2010 | LOL | Various roles | TV series Also writer |
| 2013 | Common Ground | Restaurant Manager | TV series (1 episode: "William & Sinclair") |
| 2013 | London Irish | Check-in Girl | TV series |
| 2013 | Irish Micks and Legends | Yazz (Narrator)/Various roles | Radio series co-writer |
| 2014–present | Sherlock[15] | Janine Hawkins | TV series (3 episodes) |
| 2014 | The Midnight Beast[16] | Jess | TV series |
| 2014 | The Centre[14] | Amanda Menton | TV series |
| 2014-2015 | Stella[17] | Parvadi | TV series |
| 2014 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks | panellist | series 28, episode 11 |
| 2015 | Count Arthur Strong | Gemma | TV series |
| 2015 | Asylum | Rosa | TV series |
| 2015 | Undercover | Lara Sarkissian | TV series |
| 2015 | Unforgotten | Kelly | TV series |
| 2016 | Lovesick | Jonesy | TV series |
References
- 1 2 3 Watters, Ian (24 January 2014). "It's an elementary role!". The Drogheda Leader. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014.
- ↑ Hennessy, David (7 January 2014). "Sherlock's Yasmine happy to be bridesmaid". The Irish World. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- 1 2 "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.
- 1 2 "LOL". BBC One. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- 1 2 "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.
- 1 2 "Jennifer's got her new comedy role all covered". Evening Herald. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ↑ Dibdin, Emma (5 January 2014). "Sherlock series 3: 'The Sign of Three' recap – The end of an era?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
- ↑ "Dawn Sedgwick Mgt on Twitter". Twitter.
- ↑ Doran, Sarah. "7 things you didn't know about Sherlock's Irish woman". The Daily Edge.
