Rose Ayling-Ellis

Ayling-Ellis was born on 17 November 1994,[1] in Hythe, Kent and grew up in Hythe.[2] She was born deaf.[3] As a child, she took part in a filming weekend run by the National Deaf Children's Society.[4] During the weekend, she met deaf film director Ted Evans, who later cast her in his award-winning short film The End.[5] She then applied to Deafinitely Youth Theatre.[6]

Ayling-Ellis's first role was in a short film called The End directed by deaf filmmaker Ted Evans. The 25-minute short is summarised as: "Starting in the 1980s, The End follows four deaf children over 60 years."[7]

She has taken part in a number of stage productions, including Mother Courage (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester);[8] Faith, Hope And Charity R&D (National Theatre, London) and Herons Workshop (Lyric Hammersmith, London). Her television credits include Summer of Rockets and Casualty.[9] She appeared in The Vamps music video for "Middle of the Night", and in the short film Almost with Vilma Jackson.[10] From 2020 to 2022, Ayling-Ellis portrayed Frankie Lewis in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Her character was originally written by deaf journalist and scriptwriter Charlie Swinbourne and she made her first appearance on 18 May 2020.[11] Her departure from the series was announced in August 2022, with her final scenes airing on 22 September 2022.[12]

In 2021, Ayling-Ellis became the first deaf contestant on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.[7] She participated in and won the show's nineteenth series, with professional Giovanni Pernice.[13][14][15] In an interview before the start of the series, she said:

I have a hearing aid, so I pick up some of the music and I can hear the beat. I can hear someone singing, but I can't identify exact words. I also feel the vibrations.[16]

Ayling-Ellis and Pernice scored 40 (full marks) for their tango in week six, which was the earliest "perfect score" in the show's history.[17] In week eight, their Couple's Choice dance featured a period of silence, included as a tribute to the deaf community. Described by judge Anton Du Beke as "the greatest thing I've ever seen on the show",[18][19] it earned them the 2021 Heat Unmissables Award for TV Moment of the Year.[20] It also won the British Academy Television Award for Virgin TV's Must-See Moment in 2022.[21]

In May 2022, Ayling-Ellis became the first celebrity to sign a bedtime story on CBeebies.[22] In August 2022, she unveiled the first deaf Barbie doll equipped with behind-the-ear hearing aids released as part of the Barbie Fashionistas line consisting a number of diverse dolls.[23][24][25] She worked with Mattel during the production of the doll, and featured in the promotional campaign "Rose, Barbie & Friends".[23][25]

In May 2023, Ayling-Ellis was announced be starring in the ITV drama Code of Silence.[26]

In an interview with the National Deaf Children's Society, Ayling-Ellis explained that she often has to perform using Sign-supported English (SSE) to reflect her own communication style and make it clear to audiences. Her deafness has not stopped her from enjoying music, and she told The Guardian that her favourite artists are Dolly Parton and Stevie Wonder, and that she is a big fan of soul music.[7] Ayling-Ellis was in a relationship with Samuel Arnold from 2014 until 2022.[27] [28]

• Rose Ayling-Ellis at IMDb 
• Rose Ayling-Ellis on Twitter