Rose Ayling-Ellis Tears Down Walls and Dominates 2025 with ‘Code of Silence,’ ‘Doctor Who’ and More

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30-year-old British actress Rose Ayling-Ellis has made history by shattering obstacles and setting fresh precedents in her path.

2021 marked the occasion when she became the inaugural deaf competitor on BBC’s popular dance show, “Strictly Come Dancing”, and emerged victorious. In 2022, Ayling-Ellis made history by being the first celebrity to narrate a bedtime story on the BBC kids channel CBeebies in sign language, specifically, Raymond Antrobus’ book “Can Bears Ski?“. That same year, she also delivered the Alternative MacTaggart Lecture at the Edinburgh Television Festival, expressing her feelings by saying “I am disabled because I live and work in a world that disables me,” and further emphasizing, “I am tired of being the only deaf character represented.

2023 marked my exhilarating stage introduction as Celia in Josie Rourke’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It.” This debut was honored with the Stage Debut Award for Best West End Debut and even garnered an Olivier Award nomination for best actress in a supporting role. The following year, I had the privilege to serve as a presenter for Channel 4’s coverage of the Summer Paralympics held in Paris, making me the pioneering deaf individual to host live sports coverage on British television.

Previously from “EastEnders”, she appeared in an episode of the popular BBC series “Ludwig” last year. This show is the U.K.’s largest scripted production in recent years and will stream on BritBox in the U.S. starting March. Moreover, in December, she was honored with an MBE by King Charles III, which is a royal recognition given for her dedicated volunteer work within the deaf community, presented to her by Princess Anne.

As I’ve been grindin’ non-stop, hopping from one project to another until the festive season hit, every second of it has been an absolute blast, I tell THR during our little natter in London, flashing a wide grin. With 2024 being a whirlwind and even more excitement brewing for 2025, I managed to squeeze this chat into my schedule before jetting off on my first vacation in quite some time.

2025 promises to be an even more significant year for Ayling-Ellis, with numerous projects in the pipeline. This year, she’s set to release her second documentary series with Rogan Pictures and BBC, titled “Signs for Living“, following the success of 2023’s “Signs for Change“. Additionally, she will star in a crime drama named “Code of Silence” for ITV and BritBox. Her book, “Marvelous Messages: The Amazing Story of Communication“, published by DK (a division of Penguin Random House), is set to hit U.S. shelves on April 15. Furthermore, she’s involved in the BBC revenge thriller series “Reunion“, which takes place within the deaf community, and lastly, she has a highly anticipated guest appearance lined up for the popular BBC sci-fi series “Doctor Who“.

2024 wasn’t just a breeze, and Ayling-Ellis admits she appreciates the challenges. “The Paralympics were by far the most difficult for me since they involved live television,” she admits. “I must confess that I don’t know much about sports, but that’s why I was chosen because they wanted me to ask questions that many people might be thinking.” This approach generated positive feedback from viewers and praise from lead presenter Clare Balding. “She has a remarkable understanding of sports,” reminisces the young talent. “So I kept firing questions at her. And Clare sometimes responded by saying, ‘The question you asked me, I never really thought about it before. You’re really making me think.’

2021 concluded on a triumphant note for Ayling-Ellis, as she was bestowed with a royal honor in December, an achievement that hasn’t fully registered yet. “It feels surreal because it doesn’t feel real yet,” she shares with THR. “I recall the letter announcing I’d received an MBE… Then, I got another letter from Queen Camilla, expressing her pleasure at my recognition. Subsequently, I visited Windsor Castle, bringing along my family – my mom, dad, and brother. It was a wonderful experience.

At the close of the year, there was a sensational disclosure regarding Doctor Who, as its showrunner Russell T. Davies shared that Sara Ahmed (Ayling-Ellis) would feature in an upcoming episode for this season. He expressed, “She’s our main character in one episode, and it’s truly breathtaking.” He further added, “It seems to be our scariest episode ever, incredibly terrifying, and she delivers a remarkable performance.

Across the Whoniverse, the news echoed, sparking instant excitement among her circle of friends. “Everyone was chatting about it,” she reminisces, likening the part to a delightful surprise. “I’ve always been an admirer of Doctor Who, watching it as a child with my mum and brother on TV every Saturday,” she shared, adding that her fondness for the show had lasted for years. “So, when they offered me this role, I was thrilled beyond belief. I accepted it without hesitation.

She indeed needed to draw upon her extensive knowledge of “Doctor Who” to enlighten a friend. As Ayling-Ellis puts it, “During a train ride to Wales [where the series is filmed], I had my interpreter with me, but she wasn’t familiar with ‘Doctor Who.’ So, I took the time to fill her in on all the details, such as the Doctor’s ability to regenerate. Truthfully, I am a devoted fan of ‘Doctor Who,’ and that journey was an exceptional experience for me. I had to maintain secrecy about it for quite some time because we shot it in February the previous year.

The creative team is being secretive about the details of her role, only revealing a picture of her in costume so far.

As a gamer, I’m also excited about the upcoming release of “Reunion” this year, a gripping crime thriller that takes place within the deaf community in Sheffield. This series features the talented actress, Ayling-Ellis. What truly stood out to me about “Reunion” was that it was my first job where I wasn’t the lone deaf individual. As she shared with THR, “It was a refreshing change because for the first time, I wasn’t the only one educating people about being deaf.” With so many deaf cast members on set, it felt nice to step onto the stage without having to explain everything. Instead, I could simply show up and focus on my role.

In most film productions, crews rarely interact with those who are deaf. As she points out, “Many times, this is a new experience for them. Consequently, it’s become second nature for me to instruct and educate people about deaf culture. At times, I’m not even aware of the additional work involved. However, last year felt like a significant breakthrough when we started incorporating more deaf crew members into our team. It was fascinating to observe how they collaborated with hearing individuals. While we’ve seen an increase in deaf actors, having a deaf crew feels like it only began last year.

2024 seemed to be a groundbreaking year in the entertainment industry’s history for the deaf community, according to Ayling-Ellis. She notes that there were numerous deaf projects last year, and many productions featured deaf individuals. To her surprise, if she wanted to hire deaf crew members, most were already booked for other jobs. When asked if she considers herself a pioneer who helped pave the way for more deaf people in the industry, especially considering her prominent speech at the Edinburgh TV festival, Ayling-Ellis hesitates. She speculates that perhaps her involvement initiated conversations and expanded people’s perspectives. However, she points out that overall, fewer productions are being commissioned these days due to financial constraints in the TV industry. Despite this, she notes that it was an exceptional year for deaf individuals and groups, and she eagerly awaits public reactions to these projects.

In the realm of acting, the young British performer showcases a unique skill set, encompassing both speech and sign language. As Ayling-Ellis elucidates, “I’m bilingual, which means I speak and sign.” In the series Reunion, she portrays a character who communicates through both speech and sign, whereas in Code of Silence, her role calls for speaking at times and signing at others. Just as actors are known for their accents, Ayling-Ellis notes that her sign language becomes an identifying characteristic, as everyone signs in a slightly distinct manner. She skillfully adapts her sign language to create distinctive characters. When she plays roles where she only communicates through sign language, it offers a sense of liberation, allowing her to concentrate solely on her emotional expression. However, speaking and signing, which she has been doing since childhood, comes naturally to her.

To clarify the process of expressing emotions through sign language, Ayling-Ellis explains, “When you speak, you use different tones in your voice that reflect your emotion. But with sign language, when we’re upset, it can be expressed through larger or smaller signs, or varying speeds. Sometimes, when I’m emotional, I may not be able to speak, so I rely on my sign language. However, if I’m very angry, my signing might become less, and I may need to use my voice more.

When collaborating with deaf actors on set, it’s essential for hearing individuals to be mindful of specific details that may not be immediately apparent. For instance, Ayling-Ellis explains, “During filming and multiple takes, you need to pay attention to certain aspects. When you place an object like a cup, ensure it is put down in the same spot for consistency across all shots.” She further adds, “With speech, the tone doesn’t matter, but with sign language, it does because it involves movement. So, if your hand is placed on someone’s shoulder in one shot, you need to keep it there for subsequent shots since that hand position will be needed again in the next scene.” Lastly, Ayling-Ellis notes, “Many hearing people don’t consider where the start or end of a sign language gesture occurs when editing, which is something they should be aware of.

Ayling-Ellis has a strong passion for increasing understanding of deaf culture and sign language, which is why her upcoming second documentary, titled “Signs for Living“, will be airing on British TV. As she explains, this documentary focuses on teaching sign language to senior citizens in a retirement community. In an exciting turn of events, she even taught a 95-year-old man how to sign for the first time in his life, and she found it remarkable how well he picked up the new skill.

She continued working on the project with the same Rogan production team that she previously worked with on her initial BBC documentary, “Signs for Change,” which centered around the deaf community. They expressed interest in producing more documentaries on similar themes, and there were numerous topics to explore. After a meeting, they decided to concentrate on the challenges faced by deaf individuals during their senior years. A significant issue is that when these individuals require retirement or care homes, there are very few options for the deaf community. In fact, only two care homes in the U.K. cater specifically to the deaf population. Loneliness is a significant problem for older deaf people as well.

Meanwhile, Ayling-Ellis will be keeping busy in 2025 with her role as the lead in “Code of Silence,” set to air on ITV in the U.K., and later on BritBox in the U.S. This drama series finds her portraying a deaf woman who works at a local bar and a police station canteen, and is unexpectedly called upon as an emergency lip reader for a major investigation.

Approximately two years ago, a production company named Mammoth Screen approached her with a potential role based on an intriguing concept. According to her account, the pitch went something like, “We have a writer named Catherine [Moulton]. She has this idea about losing her hearing and learning lip reading, but she discovered that lip reading isn’t as straightforward as she thought, which sparked her to write this story.

For Ayling-Ellis’ character Alison, the challenges don’t stop here. She’s determined to demonstrate that people are underestimating her abilities and what she can accomplish. Crucially, the show doesn’t make lip reading appear simpler than it actually is. Instead, it’s about figuring it out, guessing, and trying to decipher it, asserts the star. In “Code of Silence“, viewers join Alison on this challenging journey. So, when Alison struggles to understand something someone says, we’ll all be struggling right alongside her, making it frustrating at times.

This year, Rose Ayling-Ellis will have an opportunity to gain more supporters in the U.S., as she plans to bring her book titled “Marvelous Messages” to American shores. The plot synopsis from its UK release goes like this: “Embark on a thrilling journey with Rose Ayling-Ellis, her charming feline companion Halo, and their guide, Perky the Pigeon, as they take a time-traveling, globe-trotting adventure to unravel the story of communication in an unprecedented way. In this book designed for children aged 7-9, you’ll explore old languages, solve hidden codes, and travel through time!

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve dreamt of crafting a unique book like this. You know, something I could call my own mission. And now, here I am, ready to bring it to life! This book isn’t just any ordinary story; it’s a tale I wished I had as a child. It was this longing that sparked the idea.

I wanted to create a book that would fill a gap, something that was missing in my childhood reading experience. As I grew up, I was often told, ‘If you were deaf a century ago, you’d have been confined to a mental health institution.’ But I didn’t stop there. I delved deeper into the history and discovered the truth – there are countless fascinating figures in deaf history!

This book is my way of sharing these stories and challenging that outdated belief.

For Ayling-Ellis, striking a balance between education and avoidance of didacticism was crucial. As she puts it, “I’ve found that this approach is most effective for teaching, as simply lecturing can lead to boredom.

She clarifies that since the U.S. and U.K. have distinct languages and sign languages, several adjustments will need to be made in the book, including alterations to the hand gestures used, among other modifications.

Is it significant for Ayling-Ellis to consistently portray powerful and identifiable deaf female characters on screen, as she strives to do so? This is a question that often crosses my mind. Her approach can be summed up as aiming to shatter the barriers between us and the screen by tackling not just the usual three dimensions of acting, but also reaching out to the audience beyond the confines of the screen itself. It’s about making a connection by presenting something universal that everyone has encountered at some point in their lives.

Referring to the “Code of Silence,” the actress expresses, “We’ve all encountered situations where others make assumptions about us and become upset as a result. This is something everyone deals with, and it helps break down barriers.

Is Ayling-Ellis open to any specific projects she’d like to undertake in the future? She mentions her interest in film, particularly historical pieces that explore what it was like to be deaf during different periods or dramas where she could portray a character with an unexpected trait, such as being a murderer on screen. Since people might not expect a young deaf girl to play such roles, there would be opportunities to delve into the character’s vulnerabilities.

She’s keen on delving into humor as well: “Comedy is what I’d love to get into. I believe there’s a lot of untapped potential for funny deaf narratives.

Besides her burgeoning career in Britain, this up-and-coming talent harbors another ambition – meeting a renowned music icon. Interestingly, while she’s smitten with contemporary artist Cleo Sol, her musical preferences extend to the classics such as Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Dusty Springfield, and Dolly Parton, whom she admires deeply.

She clarifies that when she talks about her deep affection for music, it’s because her hearing aid is Bluetooth compatible, allowing her to connect effortlessly, and in her opinion, it surpasses traditional headphones for listening. To further validate her passion, she shares that she’s among the top 0.01% of Dolly Parton fans, a fact she proudly showcases through her Spotify account. Her ultimate ambition? A meeting with Dolly Parton, which tops her bucket list.

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2025-02-03 20:30