Rakie Ayola

Acting

Rakie Ayola

Born

1968-05-11 (58)

Place of birth

Cardiff, Wales, UK

Known for

Acting

Credits

50 titles

Rakie Olufunmilayo Ayola is a Welsh actress. She was born in Cardiff in May 1968, to a Sierra Leonean mother and a Nigerian father, and was raised by her mother's cousin and his wife in the Ely district of the city. She studied at Glan Ely High School, and was a member of the Orbit Youth Theatre, South Glamorgan Youth Theatre, South Glamorgan Youth Choir and the National Youth Theatre of Wales. She went on to attend the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, studying for a three-year acting diploma. In 2023 Rakie Ayola was the 18th recipient of the prestigious BAFTA Cymru Siân Phillips Award. At the same ceremony she also won the Bafta Cymru Best Actress Award for her performance in BB…

Known for

Film credits

2020s · 9 titles

Bad Apples poster
7.1

A struggling primary school teacher is forced to take drastic action because of a foul-mouthed, violent student, and uncovers how her community will turn a blind eye to the most outrageous events to preserve harmony and their sense of safety.

Bad Apples

2026

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale poster
NR

It’s five years since Nessa declared her love for Smithy – and a lot has happened since. Journey to Barry and Billericay to catch up with the gang for the very last time.

Gavin & Stacey: The Finale

2024

National Theatre Live: The Authenticator poster
NR

Soon after inheriting her family's stately home, eccentric artist Fenella Harford discovers a stash of hidden diaries and enlists a young academic, Marva, to confirm their authenticity. Joined by Marva’s brilliant but overlooked mentor, Abi, the three women come together to seek the truth, soon realising that secrets at the heart of Harford Hall were darker than they could have imagined. A gripping gothic psychological thriller, The Authenticator reunites writer Winsome Pinnock with director Miranda Cromwell, following their acclaimed production, "Rockets and Blue Lights". Stage play performed at the Dorfman Theatre, National Theatre, in London, UK.

National Theatre Live: The Authenticator

2026

Diamond Sky poster
NR

In this gripping romantic thriller, a desperate young couple, suffocated by their rigid lives, risk everything on a daring diamond heist that promises freedom and a fresh start. But as their plan spins out of control and trust between them erodes, they're forced to confront a harsh reality: can love endure betrayal, violence, and fear, or was their dream of escape doomed from the very beginning? When the stakes are life and death, the line between passion and destruction blurs beyond recognition.

Diamond Sky

2025

Anthony poster
6.0

In July 2005, black teenager Anthony Walker was murdered by two white men in an unprovoked racist attack in a Liverpool park. He was just 18 years old. This film tells the story of how this talented young man's life might have turned out.

Anthony

2020

Hope Is Lost poster
5.0

Ten days before the millennium, Hope, a single mother, arrives in London with her two infants, clutching only the clothes on their backs. Escaping a haunted past, she seeks refuge in a city gripped by Y2K paranoia. A charismatic stranger offers sanctuary, but as Hope navigates an uncertain future in unfamiliar streets, she uncovers his chilling motives. The threat to her family dwarfs the feared technological collapse. In a pulse-pounding race against time, Hope must protect her children at any cost, no matter the personal sacrifice.

Hope Is Lost

2025

Black Church Bay poster
NR

In a sleepy Welsh fishing village, Barry’s life starts to unravel after an intimate encounter with a younger man.

Black Church Bay

2026

Hedgehog poster
NR

Poised between adolescence and young adulthood and living with the challenges of NF1, Josie's only connection with the world is a love of Shakespeare. When new girl Ash shows up at drama class Josie seizes the chance to change her story.

Hedgehog

2024

Mothers, Missiles and the American President poster
NR

The story of the housewives from the Welsh valleys who became front page news, faced prison and even took on Ronald Reagan, all in a fight to stop nuclear bombs coming to the UK.

Mothers, Missiles and the American President

2021

2010s · 6 titles

Dredd poster
6.9

In the future, America is a dystopian wasteland. The latest scourge is Ma-Ma, a prostitute-turned-drug pusher with a dangerous new drug and aims to take over the city. The only possibility of stopping her is an elite group of urban police called Judges, who combine the duties of judge, jury and executioner to deliver a brutal brand of swift justice. But even the top-ranking Judge, Dredd, discovers that taking down Ma-Ma isn’t as easy as it seems in this explosive adaptation of the hugely popular comic series.

Dredd

2012

Brexit: The Uncivil War poster
6.6

Political strategist Dominic Cummings leads a popular but controversial campaign to convince British voters to leave the European Union from 2015 up until the present day.

Brexit: The Uncivil War

2019

Now Is Good poster
7.3

A girl dying of leukemia compiles a list of things she'd like to do before passing away. Topping the list is her desire to lose her virginity.

Now Is Good

2012

Under Milk Wood poster
6.2

An all star cast unite to perform a distinctive BBC Wales Television adaptation of Dylan Thomas's radio play, presented in collaboration with National Theatre Wales, to mark the centenary of Dylan Thomas' birth. The plot reveals the innermost thoughts of the residents of the small, Welsh fishing village Llareggub as it delves into the dreams of various townspeople including blind sailor Captain Cat, who is haunted by visions of drowned shipmates, Mog Edwards and Myfanwy Price, who dream of each other, and Mrs. Ogmore Pritchard, who dreams of her former husbands.

Under Milk Wood

2014

Been So Long poster
5.5

A single mother in London's Camden Town hears music when she meets a handsome stranger with a past. But she's not sure she's ready to open her heart.

Been So Long

2018

King Lear poster
8.0

Don Warrington stars as the tragic monarch in this acclaimed version of the Shakespeare play recorded at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.

King Lear

2016

2000s · 2 titles

1990s · 2 titles

Series credits

Doctor Who poster
7.6

The Doctor is a Time Lord: a 900 year old alien with 2 hearts, part of a gifted civilization who mastered time travel. The Doctor saves planets for a living—more of a hobby actually, and the Doctor's very, very good at it.

Doctor Who

2005

Midsomer Murders poster
7.5

The peacefulness of the Midsomer community is shattered by violent crimes, suspects are placed under suspicion, and it is up to a veteran DCI and his young sergeant to calmly and diligently eliminate the innocent and ruthlessly pursue the guilty.

Midsomer Murders

1997

Black Mirror poster
8.3

Twisted tales run wild in this mind-bending anthology series that reveals humanity's worst traits, greatest innovations and more.

Black Mirror

2011

Ready, Steady, Cook poster
8.0

Talented chefs battle it out against the clock, creating delicious dishes in 20 minutes

Ready, Steady, Cook

1994

Holby City poster
5.8

Drama series about life on the wards of Holby City Hospital, following the highs and lows of the staff and patients.

Holby City

1999

Vera poster
7.4

A sharp detective with a messy life, DCI Vera Stanhope patrols her “patch” of northeast England, pursuing the truth in cases of murder, kidnapping, and blackmail. Vera is obsessive about her work and faces the world with caustic wit, guile and courage.

Vera

2011

Shetland poster
7.5

Created from the novels by award winning crime writer Ann Cleeves, Shetland follows DI Jimmy Perez and his team as they investigate crime within the close knit island community. In this isolated and sometimes inhospitable environment, the team have to rely on a uniquely resourceful style of policing.

Shetland

2013

Question Time poster
5.9

This topical debate series based on Any Questions? typically features politicians from at least the three major political parties as well as other public figures who answer pre-selected questions put to them by a carefully selected audience.

Question Time

1979

Waking the Dead poster
7.2

A detective team apply new techniques to old crimes as they solve cold cases.

Waking the Dead

2001

Screen Two poster
7.1

Series of single made-for-television dramas.

Screen Two

1985

Grace poster
6.8

Brighton based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is a hard-working police officer who has given his life to the job, but his career is currently at rock bottom. He’s fixated by the disappearance of his beloved wife, Sandy, and running enquiries into long forgotten cold cases with little prospect of success. Following another reprimand for his unorthodox police methods, Grace is walking a career tightrope and risks being moved from the job he loves most.

Grace

2021

KAOS poster
7.3

As discord reigns on Mount Olympus and almighty Zeus spirals into paranoia, three mortals are destined to reshape the future of humankind.

KAOS

2024

Alex Rider poster
7.8

Alex Rider is an ordinary teenager enlisted to work on behalf of MI6, where he uses skills he didn't know he had to become an extraordinary spy.

Alex Rider

2020

Soldier Soldier poster
6.9

The daily lives of a group of soldiers in 'B' Company, 1st Battalion The King's Fusiliers.

Soldier Soldier

1991

No Offence poster
7.5

Keeping these streets clean is a Herculean task, enough to demoralize even the keenest rookie – but there’s a reason why this hotchpotch of committed cops are on this force, on this side of town. Drug labs, arsonists, neo-Nazis and notorious murderers are all in a day’s work for this close-knit team, led by the dizzyingly capable but unquestionably unhinged DI Vivienne Deering. But when a particularly twisted serial killer emerges it leaves even the most hardened of these seasoned coppers reeling.

No Offence

2015

Murder in Mind poster
8.3

A series of self-contained stories, each recounting a murder scene as seen from the chilling viewpoint of the killer. Explore the inner workings of a criminal's brain, revealing humanity at its darkest.

Murder in Mind

2001

Scarlett poster
6.6

Scarlett is a 1994 American television miniseries loosely based on Alexandra Ripley's eponymous 1991 book of the same name, a sequel to Margaret Mitchell's 'Gone with the Wind' (1936). Filmed across the United States and abroad, the series stars Joanne Whalley and Timothy Dalton. The miniseries was broadcast in four parts on CBS from November 13-17, 1994. Following the death of her sister-in-law Melanie Wilkes, Scarlett O'Hara sets out to reclaim her doomed romance with Rhett Butler, as it takes her home to Tara to Charleston to Savannah to Ireland, where she learns of her family's roots.

Scarlett

1994

Falling poster
2.2

A nun and priest, each dedicated to their religious calling, unexpectedly fall in love and must confront what this means for their vows and faith.

Falling

2026

Coming Up poster
5.7

Coming Up is a British Channel 4 television series of films made for television by new directors and writers. The first series was in 2006, and each year's series comprises seven or eight films. Series 6 was shown from July to September 2011. A reviewer in The Independent wrote: "Thank goodness for Coming Up ... it's a genuinely interesting display of possibilities".

Coming Up

2003

Canterbury Tales poster
6.4

Six single dramas adapted from six of Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th century Canterbury Tales, transferred to a modern, 21st century setting, but still set along the traditional Pilgrims' route to Canterbury.

Canterbury Tales

2003

The Pact poster
7.0

How far would you go to protect those you love? Divided loyalties test the ties of family and friends—because secrets always have consequences.

The Pact

2021

The Pact poster
7.0

How far would you go to protect those you love? Divided loyalties test the ties of family and friends—because secrets always have consequences.

The Pact

2021

Sea of Souls poster
8.0

Sea of Souls follows para-psychologist Monaghan and his two sidekicks from a fictitious Scottish University that investigates paranormal activity.

Sea of Souls

2004

Code of a Killer poster
7.2

Based on the extraordinary true story of Alec Jeffreys' discovery of DNA fingerprinting and its first use by Detective Chief Superintendent David Baker in catching a double murderer.

Code of a Killer

2015

Maisie Raine poster
NR

Maisie Raine was a drama series originally broadcast on BBC1 for 2 series from 28 July 1998 – 9 July 1999. Pauline Quirke took the lead role as DI Maisie Raine, an unorthodox detective whose hands on and down to earth approach was not always appreciated by her superiors. When she took on a case, she did it her way, regardless of whose toes she stepped on and who she offended. Each episode would see the team investigating a crime and often uncovering more about the perpetrators and the victims histories with DI Raine often becoming personally involved or bending the rules to get the results she wanted. Also starring alongside Quirke were Ian McElhinney, Steve John Shepherd, Rakie Ayola and Richard Graham.

Maisie Raine

1998

Flowers poster
7.4

Dark comedy about the eccentric members of the Flowers family. Maurice and Deborah are barely together but yet to divorce. They live with Maurice's batty mother and their maladjusted twin children.

Flowers

2016

Being April poster
6.0

Three kids. Three dads. One mum. April is a 39-year-old single mother living in Leicester, who has had three children by three different fathers. Richard, her husband since she was 18, is a plumber who still adores her. They separated years ago but never got round to a divorce. Eddie is a barman, with whom she had a fling nine years ago until, a week after moving in with him, she discovered they were both looking for Mr Right. Sunil followed, sexy, young and rich.

Being April

2002

No artwork available
NR

Two teams of celebrities search for antique bargains and put them up for auction, with the help of two antiques experts.

Bargain Hunt Famous Finds

2008

No artwork available
NR

My Almost Famous Family is a British children's television series produced by the BBC and originally aired between 12 September and 21 November 2009 on CBBC on BBC Two. The 11-part series was about a group of siblings and their parents who performed together as the house band of a fictional chat show. It was written by a team of writers that included Gail Renard and Emma Reeves. Composer and performer Richie Webb, whose credits include the BBC Radio 4 series 15 Minute Musical, was the show’s musical director. The shows theme tune 'Almost Famous' was written by Richard Webb, Steve Young and Tom Nichols. Incidental music was written and recorded by Tim Baxter. On 17 April 2010, the BBC launched the My Almost Famous Family interactive website on the CBBC website, which consisted of 16 interactive games, music videos, and songs from the show. The show has not yet been recommissioned for a second series.

My Almost Famous Family

2009

Saving Lives in Cardiff poster
NR

Life-saving operations, difficult dilemmas. Lifting the lid on the heart-rending, hard-headed decisions surgeons must make before tackling the day job of changing people’s lives.

Saving Lives in Cardiff

2024

No artwork available
10.0

Follows the day to day troubles of the Heddlu Territorial Police Force in South Wales.

Nightshift

1993