Leyla Harding is a fictional character from the British ITV soap
opera, Emmerdale, played by Roxy Shahidi. She made her first on-screen
appearance on 11 August 2008 and was introduced by series producer,
Anita Turner. The character departed on 5 August 2011. Shahidi
returned to Emmerdale for two episodes on 25 December 2013. She
returned full-time in January 2014. On 5 January 2018, Shahadi took
maternity leave from the show whilst pregnant with her first child.
She returned on 3 October 2018.In July 2008, the Prestwich Advertiser
reported that actress Roxy Shahidi had joined the cast of Emmerdale as
Leyla Harding. Shahidi signed an initial six-month contract. She said
of her casting: "I’ve been filming for two weeks now and it’s
great. [...] I’ve done a lot of theatre but not much TV work up to
now so it’s great for me to work on such a popular and well
established show. It’s a dream come true in fact." Shahidi later
said that she was "so excited", commenting: "This is a brilliant
opportunity for me as I've done lots of theatre but not much TV.
Everyone at Emmerdale has been so warm and welcoming. It's such a
well-established show and I can't wait to see what Leyla gets up to."
Emmerdale series producer Anita Turner added, "Rokhsaneh is a terrific
actress and an exciting new addition to the cast. Leyla's going to
have some fun stirring up the factory."Leyla is described as
"streetwise" and "savvy". Shahidi described her as "very down to
earth", "very lovable" and "really ballsy". Leyla was initially a new
worker at Eric Pollard's (Chris Chittell) factory and it was said that
she would immediately get on the right side of him. Leyla is reluctant
to talk about her past, which sparks speculation about why she has
moved to the village. Channel Five's soap opera reporting website Holy
Soap describe Leyla as a "naive, honest, hard worker who can sometimes
be a bit too trusting of people". What's on TV deemed her an
"attractive woman". Shahidi told the Daily Mirror that she and Leyla
are "quite similar in some ways" saying "We're both pretty ditsy and
we have the same sense of fun. Leyla says things without thinking, and
I can do that too." She added that their lives and relationships are
very different because she and Leyla are "worlds apart".
opera, Emmerdale, played by Roxy Shahidi. She made her first on-screen
appearance on 11 August 2008 and was introduced by series producer,
Anita Turner. The character departed on 5 August 2011. Shahidi
returned to Emmerdale for two episodes on 25 December 2013. She
returned full-time in January 2014. On 5 January 2018, Shahadi took
maternity leave from the show whilst pregnant with her first child.
She returned on 3 October 2018.In July 2008, the Prestwich Advertiser
reported that actress Roxy Shahidi had joined the cast of Emmerdale as
Leyla Harding. Shahidi signed an initial six-month contract. She said
of her casting: "I’ve been filming for two weeks now and it’s
great. [...] I’ve done a lot of theatre but not much TV work up to
now so it’s great for me to work on such a popular and well
established show. It’s a dream come true in fact." Shahidi later
said that she was "so excited", commenting: "This is a brilliant
opportunity for me as I've done lots of theatre but not much TV.
Everyone at Emmerdale has been so warm and welcoming. It's such a
well-established show and I can't wait to see what Leyla gets up to."
Emmerdale series producer Anita Turner added, "Rokhsaneh is a terrific
actress and an exciting new addition to the cast. Leyla's going to
have some fun stirring up the factory."Leyla is described as
"streetwise" and "savvy". Shahidi described her as "very down to
earth", "very lovable" and "really ballsy". Leyla was initially a new
worker at Eric Pollard's (Chris Chittell) factory and it was said that
she would immediately get on the right side of him. Leyla is reluctant
to talk about her past, which sparks speculation about why she has
moved to the village. Channel Five's soap opera reporting website Holy
Soap describe Leyla as a "naive, honest, hard worker who can sometimes
be a bit too trusting of people". What's on TV deemed her an
"attractive woman". Shahidi told the Daily Mirror that she and Leyla
are "quite similar in some ways" saying "We're both pretty ditsy and
we have the same sense of fun. Leyla says things without thinking, and
I can do that too." She added that their lives and relationships are
very different because she and Leyla are "worlds apart".
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