Laila Rouass
Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:36:14 PM Wikipedia source
Laila Rouass (née Abdesselam; born 22 June 1971) is a British actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Amber Gates in Footballers' Wives (2004–2006) and Sahira Shah in Holby City (2011–2012, 2021). She has also starred in Primeval and Spooks and been a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, in which she finished fourth.
Infobox
Born
Laila Abdesselam (1971-06-22) 22 June 1971 (age 54)Stepney, London, England, UK
Years active
1994–present
Television
Family AffairsFootballers' WivesPrimevalStrictly Come DancingSpooksHolby CityThe Sarah Jane AdventuresLoose WomenEastEnders
Spouse(s)
mw- Abselam Rouass (m. 1990; div. 2003) Ronnie O'Sullivan (m. 2025)
Partner(s)
Nasir Khan (2005–2008)James Petrie (2010–2011)
Children
1
Tables
Film performances · Filmography
2003
Two Minutes
Role(s)
Sonita
Notes
Short film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Senso unico | Yasmine | |
| Split Wide Open | Nandita | ||
| 2000 | Bawandar | Amy | |
| 2002 | The Four Feathers | Maya | |
| 2003 | Two Minutes | Sonita | Short film |
| 2007 | Shoot on Sight | Ruby Kaur | |
| A Cheat in the Park | Laila | Short film | |
| 2008 | Apron Strings | Anita | |
| Freebird | Lucinda | ||
| 2011 | Conan the Barbarian | Fialla, Conan's Mother |
Television performances · Filmography
2002
2004
2004–2006
Role(s)
Footballers' Wives
Notes
Amber Gates
2005
2010
Role(s)
Colonel Tia Karim
Notes
2 episodes: "Death of the Doctor: Parts One & Two"
2011–2012, 2021
Role(s)
Holby City
Notes
Sahira Shah
2014
2015–2016
Role(s)
The Royals
Notes
Rani, Deputy Prime Minister
2018
2022
2023
The Effects of Lying
Role(s)
Sangeeta
Notes
Television film
2024
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2001 | Family Affairs | Tanya Ayuba | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Comedy Lab | The Unbelievably Beautiful Woman | Episode: "Meet the Magoons" |
| Casualty | Mandy Kellaway | Episode: "You're Going Home in the Back of an Ambulance" | |
| 2003 | Hollyoaks | Dale Jackson | 35 episodes |
| 2004 | I Dream | Lollie Das | Episode: "Toone in Love" |
| 2004–2006 | Footballers' Wives | Amber Gates | 22 episodes |
| 2005 | Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee | Tania | Mini-series, 3 episodes |
| Footballers' Wives: Extra Time | Amber Gates | 3 episodes | |
| Meet the Magoons | Anita | Episode: "Stairway to Havan" | |
| 2006 | Casualty | Gina Marshall | Episode: "All Through the Night" |
| 2009 | Primeval | Sarah Page | Main cast. Series 3, 10 episodes |
| 2010 | The Sarah Jane Adventures | Colonel Tia Karim | 2 episodes: "Death of the Doctor: Parts One & Two" |
| Spooks | Maya Lahan | 7 episodes | |
| 2011–2012, 2021 | Holby City | Sahira Shah | Main cast, 60 episodes |
| 2011 | Sadie J | Maddy | Episode: "Robobootylicious" |
| 2014 | Midsomer Murders | Stephanie King | Episode: "The Flying Club" |
| 2015–2016 | The Royals | Rani, Deputy Prime Minister | 5 episodes |
| 2016 | Stella | Maria | 8 episodes |
| The Lodge | Olivia | 4 episodes | |
| 2018 | Safe | Lauren Marshall | Mini-series, 5 episodes |
| Age Before Beauty | Shameem Shah | 3 episodes | |
| 2022 | Traces | Azra McKinven | 6 episodes |
| Midsomer Murders | Vanessa Debouverie | Episode: "A Grain of Truth" | |
| 2023 | The Effects of Lying | Sangeeta | Television film |
| London Kills | DI Yasmin Rafiq | 2 episodes: "Wake-up Call" and "Vandetta" | |
| 2024 | Tell Me Everything | Samira | Series 2, Episode 2 |
| EastEnders | Ayesha Siddhu | Guest appearance |
· Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
| 2003 | The British Soap Awards | Sexiest Female | Hollyoaks | Nominated | |
| 2012 | 17th National Television Awards | Drama Performance: Female | Holby City | Nominated |
References
- Irish Mirrorhttp://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/laila-rouass-life-ronnie-osullivan-8935728
- "Rouass hits back at fake marriage claim"https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2009/1001/419175-strictlycomedancing/
- "BBC One - Strictly Come Dancing, Series 7, Laila Rouass - launch interview"https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p004l0l0
- Outlookhttp://www.outlookindia.com/glitterati.aspx?36
- Outlookhttp://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?209281
- "Hollyoaks – Laila Rouass"https://web.archive.org/web/20070714053322/http://www.channel4.com/community/showcards/H/Hollyoaks_-_Dale_Jackson.html
- Digital Spyhttp://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s48/primeval/news/a219453/laila-rouass-explains-primeval-exit.html
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100313185036/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/7415234/Footballers-Wives-star-Laila-Rouass-films-life-of-terrorist-Leila-Khaled.html
- Digital Spyhttp://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s120/spooks/tubetalk/a276653/spooks-meet-the-newbies-laila-rouass.html
- "The Sarah Jane Adventures – Death of the Doctor"https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2010/wk43/mon.shtml#mon_sarah
- Digital Spyhttp://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s19/holby-city/news/a286458/laila-rouass-joins-holby-city.html
- The TV Book Club – Presenters – Laila Rouass – Channel 4http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-tv-book-club/articles/laila-rouass
- "Laila Rouass makes EastEnders guest appearance"https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2024/eastenders-laila-rouass
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/oct/05/strictly-anton-paki-complaints
- The Graham Norton Radio Showhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/laila-rouass-griff-rhys-jones-rafe-spall-josie-silver/id1547229368?i=1000550993441
- The Tribunehttp://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010823/main8.htm#1
- "Sandstorm"http://www.film.com/movies/sandstorm/14704096
- Openhttps://web.archive.org/web/20101107071423/http://www.openmagazine.co.uk/big-screen/article/laila-rouass/
- "Hunt Feast shooting in Syria with Iraq theme"https://web.archive.org/web/20120407002244/http://www.filmfestivals.com/cgi-bin/fest_content/festivals.pl?debug=&channelbar=&fest=cannes2004&page=daily&date=2004%2F5%2F12&partner=&year=2004&lang=en&text_id=26103
- "Suniel Shetty's films incl. new projects – in chronological order"https://archive.today/20120907211414/http://www.kabir-bedi.com/sunielshetty/ssalpha.asp
- "Laila Rouass"http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-tv-book-club/articles/laila-rouass
- Daily Mirrorhttps://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/cast-safe-your-guide-netflix-12576395
- Daily Expresshttps://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/1373371/ronnie-o-sullivan-wife-married-laila-rouass-osullivan-snooker-world-grand-prix-evg
- mirrorhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/tv-laila-boots-out-cheating-1657295
- mirrorhttps://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/laila-rouass-on-leaving-holby-city-770422
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-16262390
- Hellohttp://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2013020411017/ronnie-osullivan-laila-rouass-engaged/
- BBC Foodhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/food/programmes/m000s4zk
- mirrorhttps://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-footballers-wives-laila-rouass-26245149
- mirrorhttps://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/laila-rouass-shares-how-back-26958208
- GB Newshttps://www.gbnews.com/sport/snooker/ronnie-o-sullivan-laila-rouass-married
- The Mirrorhttps://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/ronnie-osullivans-girlfriend-laila-rouass-31491429
- BBC Newsbeathttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-40973362
- "Laila Rouass makes EastEnders guest appearance"https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/eastenders-laila-rouass
- "The British Soap Awards 2003"https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222452/http://www.celebritiesworldwide.com/Ones2watch.php?ContentID=128
- Digital Spyhttps://web.archive.org/web/20120130173234/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a342357/national-television-awards-2012-the-nominees.html