Velile Tshabalala is an English actress, known for portraying Kareesha Lopez[broken anchor] in Kerching! and Rosita in the 2008 Doctor Who special "The Next Doctor".
Velile Tshabalala | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Velile Tshabalala at the Doctor Who 50th anniversary celebration on 22 November 2013 | |
| Born | Whitechapel, London, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2003–present |
Background
editBorn in Whitechapel, London, Tshabalala was raised in Ilford.[1] She is of Zimbabwean descent.[2] Her father is a mechanical engineer and her mother is a health visitor.[2] She has one sister and two brothers.[3] She trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School,[1] where she attended weekend classes from the age of 14.[2] For higher education, she attended sixth form and completed her A-levels.
Career
editTshabalala made her professional debut at the age of 18, in the CBBC sitcom Kerching!.[4] She played waitress Kareesha Lopez, who did very little work and was a stereotypical teenage girl. She played several roles in all three series of the BBC Three sketch comedy Tittybangbang. She appeared as a prostitute in the 2004 short film Streets. In January 2008, she played a librarian in the ChuckleVision episode "Jumping Jackpot". She played Rosita in that year's Doctor Who Christmas special "The Next Doctor".[5] She made her pantomime debut in the 2008 production of Dick Whittington's Cat at the Compass Theatre in Ickenham.[6] In 2011, Tshabalala very briefly appeared in the penultimate episode of series three of the E4 series Misfits as the gangs' newest probation worker, Laura. However, she only lasted for a matter of seconds after arriving at the community centre, ultimately being killed after being bitten by a zombie. In July 2014, she completed filming on the feature film The Journey.[7] In November 2021, it was announced that Tshabalala had been cast in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Viv, the mother of established character DeMarcus Westwood (Tomi Ade).[8] In February 2022, she starred as Gloria in Running with Lions at the Lyric Theatre, London.[9] In 2024, Tshabalala began appearing as recurring character Stella Clayton in Eastenders.[10]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–2006 | Kerching! | Kareesha Lopez[broken anchor] | |
| 2004 | Streets | Prostitute | Film |
| 2006 | Tittybangbang | Various characters | |
| 2008 | ChuckleVision | Librarian | Episode: "Jumping Jackpot" |
| 2008 | Katy Brand's Big Ass Show | Various characters | |
| 2008 | Doctor Who | Rosita | Episode: "The Next Doctor" |
| 2009 | The Legend of Dick and Dom | Cheryl | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Misfits | Laura | 1 episode |
| 2012 | The Secret of Crickley Hall | Teacher | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Call the Midwife | Monique Hyde | 1 episode |
| 2016–2017 | Class Dismissed | Various | 12 episodes |
| 2021 | Hollyoaks | Viv | 3 episodes |
| 2023 | Death in Paradise | Barbara Carter | Episode: "An Unpleasant Homecoming" |
| 2023 | Casualty | Caroline Pickard | Episode: "The Straw" |
| 2024 | EastEnders | Stella Clayton | 8 episodes |
References
edit- ^ a b "Former toilet cleaner Velile Tshabalala on landing starring role in this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special". Daily Mirror. 23 December 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
- ^ a b c Collins, Robert (16 December 2008). "Doctor Who: Velile Tshabalala". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
- ^ Martin, Will (26 November 2008). "Velile Tshabalala (Doctor Who) Interview". LastBroadcast.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
- ^ Hewitt, Phil (24 September 2008). "Who's that girl? New assistant for the Doctor lands in West Sussex". West Sussex Gazette. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
- ^ Wilkes, Neil (17 December 2008). "Velile Tshabalala ('Doctor Who')". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
- ^ Coombs, Dan (16 December 2008). "Who's that girl?". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
- ^ thejourneythemovie.com
- ^ Anderton, Joe (2 November 2021). "Hollyoaks to bring in DeMarcus Westwood's mother as his future comes under threat". Digital Spy. (Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ "Running With Lions". Lyric Hammersmith. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ Wheeler, Olivia (4 April 2024). "EastEnders Stella star's career from Death In Paradise to Doctors". The Mirror. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
