Laya Lewis

Laya Aiesha Lewis (born 14 May 1992) is an English actress, best known for her role as Liv Malone in the fifth and sixth series of the E4 drama Skins (2011–2012).[1]

Laya Lewis
Born
Laya Aiesha Lewis

(1992-05-14) 14 May 1992
London, England
OccupationActress
Years active2011–present
Known forSkins

Early life

Laya Lewis was born in South London, St George's Hospital but grew up in Bristol. Her mother was born in Britain to Jamaican parents who moved to England in the 60's as part of the Windrush generation. She studied at Fairfield Secondary School and then 6th Form at Cotham School.[2]

Career

While in sixth form Lewis made her television debut in the fifth series of E4's teen drama Skins, which started on 27 January 2011. She gained the role of Liv Malone through open auditions in Bristol. Members of the show's production team visited some of the local schools and she was asked to attend an audition.[3] At the age of 16 she auditioned for the second generation of Skins, however when she arrived she decided not to participate.[4]

In April 2012, Lewis starred in Emeli Sandé's music video "My Kind of Love", directed by Dawn Shadforth. It recounts the story of the ambiguous relationship of two female characters, and how the younger girl, played by Lewis, lives with cancer.[5] In 2013 she filmed The Line, a short movie written and directed by BAFTA nominated Faye Gilbert about a teenage girl and young boy running for their lives in a futuristic world.[6] Next Lewis will play the lead role of Beverly in Beverley, a short film produced by Cass Pennant telling the true story of a mixed-race girl growing up in the city of Leicester in the 1980s.[7]

Laya once provided the idents for BBC Radio 1 Breakfast show with Nick Grimshaw. She has since continued to do VO work.

She won the BBC award for up and coming artist at the British Urban Film Festival.

Filmography
Film and Television
Year Title Role Notes
2011–2012SkinsLiv MaloneE4 TV series (18 episodes)
2013The LineShort film
2014BeverleyBeverlyShort film alongside Vicky McClure
CuckooPotato GirlBBC Three TV series (1 episode No.2.2 Potato Party)
2015Jekyll and HydeCaraITV TV series (2 episodes)
2016WitlessClaudiaBBC Three TV series (1 episode No.1.1)
CoyotesAmberShort film
2019BoredNaomiTelevision film
2021TempleHairstylistSeason 2, Episode 1
2023Queen CleopatraEirasTelevision miniseries
Music Videos
Year Song Artist Director
2012 My Kind of Love Emeli Sandé Dawn Shadforth

References
  1. Channel 4: Laya Lewis plays Liv
  2. Swift, Aimee (22 January 2012). "Interview: Laya Lewis". The National Student. Liverpool. Archived from the original on 28 February 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  3. Screenterrier: Skins Season 5 - Meet Laya Lewis
  4. "Skins cast interview". pyromag. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  5. "Emeli Sandé New Video". Entertainment Wise. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  6. "BFI shorts". Lighthouse. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  7. "Vicky McClure and Laya Lewis to star in 1980s film set in Leicester". Leicester Mercury. 12 March 2014. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.


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