1. Overview
Laura Holly Aikman (born 24 December 1985) is an English actress. She is widely recognized for her diverse roles across various television series, including The Mysti Show (2004-2005), Casualty (2009-2010), Lemon La Vida Loca (2012-2013), 4 O'Clock Club (2012-2014), The Job Lot (2014-2015), Waterloo Road (2015), and Gavin & Stacey (2019 & 2024).
2. Early Life
Laura Aikman's early life was rooted in London, where she was born into a family deeply involved in the entertainment industry.
2.1. Background and Education
Aikman was born on 24 December 1985 in the London Borough of Brent, England. Her parents are actor and writer Stuart Aikman, who is also known as Stuart St. Paul, and actress Jean Heard. She received her education at Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls, located in Elstree, Hertfordshire.
3. Career
Laura Aikman's acting career spans a variety of roles in both television and film, marked by several significant milestones.
In 2009, Aikman appeared in the BBC Three series Personal Affairs, portraying the character Lucy. On 8 August 2009, it was announced that she would be joining the cast of Casualty as May Phelps, with her role commencing on 12 September 2009. She featured in 35 episodes of the series, concluding her appearance on 8 May 2010. Additionally, Aikman was part of the original pilot episode for The Inbetweeners.
In 2012, Aikman starred alongside Leigh Francis's alter ego Keith Lemon in the first series of his television show Lemon La Vida Loca, where she played Rosie, Lemon's Yorkshire girlfriend. Although she initially announced her departure from the show for its second series, she made a guest appearance in its first episode. In July 2014, it was confirmed that Aikman would join the cast of Waterloo Road for its tenth and final series, taking on the role of deputy headteacher Lorna Hutchinson. From 2014 to 2015, Aikman held a leading role in the second and third series of The Job Lot.
In 2018, Aikman collaborated with 26 other celebrities at Metropolis Studios to record an original Christmas song titled "Rock With Rudolph". The song, written and produced by Grahame and Jack Corbyn, was released digitally on 30 November 2018 under the artist name The Celebs by independent record label Saga Entertainment, with proceeds benefiting Great Ormond Street Hospital. The music video premiered exclusively with The Sun on 29 November 2018 and had its first television broadcast on Good Morning Britain on 30 November 2018. The song achieved commercial success, peaking at number two on the iTunes pop chart.
4. Personal Life
Laura Aikman's personal life includes her marriage and involvement in charitable activities.
Aikman has been married to actor Matt Kennard since 2019. The couple first met in 2015 when Aikman joined the cast for the final season of the television series Bluestone 42. In 2022, Aikman volunteered with Shout 85258, an organization dedicated to providing mental health support.
5. Filmography
Laura Aikman has an extensive filmography across film, television, theatre, audio, and video games.
5.1. Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Surviving Picasso | Maya Widmaier-Picasso | |
| 1997 | The Usual Children | Hela | |
| 1998 | The Scarlet Tunic | Dotty Marlowe | |
| 1999 | Great Expectations | Young Biddy | |
| 1999 | Virtual Sexuality | Lucy Parker | |
| 2005 | Rude Awakenings | Ally | Short film |
| 2007 | Popcorn | Jeannie | |
| 2007 | Blood Monkey | Sydney Maas | Direct-to-video |
| 2008 | The Trevor Ending Story | Sally | Short film |
| 2010 | Freight | Julie Taylor | |
| 2011 | Six Degrees | Student Girl | Short film |
| 2012 | Keith Lemon: The Film | Rosie | |
| 2013 | Bula Quo! | Caroline | - Guitars, Guns and Paradise! |
| 2014 | Cancer Hair | Claire | Short film |
| 2015 | Amar Akbar & Tony | Samantha | |
| 2016 | The Hatching | Lucy | |
| 2017 | Lady M | Chloe | Short film |
| 2020 | Settlers | Sam | Short film |
| 2021 | Milk | Lydia | Short film |
| 2021 | @ | Natalie | Short film |
| 2022 | This is Christmas | Polly | |
| 2023 | Scrapper | Kaye | |
| 2024 | Time Travel Is Dangerous | Young Valerie |
5.2. Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Casualty | Rebecca Bright | Episode: "Choked:Part One" |
| 2004 | Doctors | Katy Harding | Episode: "Inner Circles" |
| 2004 | Tracy Beaker Parties with Pudsey | Mysti | TV movie, guest role - part 4 only |
| 2004-2005 | The Mysti Show | Mysti | Title character |
| 2006 | The Best Man | Alison Poley | TV movie |
| 2007 | Trial & Retribution | Kelly Hobson | Episode: "Closure" |
| 2007 | The Bill | Tanya Murphy | Episode: "Copy Cat Killer" |
| 2008 | Teenage Kicks | Milly Heath | Main cast |
| 2008 | Dis/Connected | Paula | TV movie |
| 2008, 2009 | That Mitchell and Webb Look | Various roles | 4 episodes |
| 2009 | Demons | Alice | Episode: "Smitten" |
| 2009 | FM | Sky | Episode: "Blinded by the Light" |
| 2009 | Personal Affairs | Lucy Baxter | Miniseries, main cast |
| 2009-2010 | Casualty | May Phelps | Main cast (series 24) |
| 2010 | The Adventures of Daniel | Suzie | TV movie |
| 2010 | Rules of Love | Receptionist | TV movie |
| 2010 | Identity | Olivia Knighton | Episode: "Chelsea Girl" |
| 2010 | Jack Taylor | Kelly | Episode: "Purgatory" |
| 2011 | Not Going Out | Debbie | Episode: "Debbie" |
| 2012-2013 | Lemon La Vida Loca | Rosie Parker | Main cast (series 1), guest (1 episode series 2) |
| 2012-2014 | 4 O'Clock Club | Mrs Melanie Poppy | Main cast (series 1-2), guest (2 episodes series 3) |
| 2013 | Pramface | Jenny | Episode: "Stay at Home Losers" |
| 2013 | Way to Go | Julia | Main cast |
| 2013 | My Town | ||
| 2013-2016 | Citizen Khan | Debbie | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Siblings | Amanda | Episode: "Burrito Neighbours" |
| 2014-2015 | The Job Lot | Natalie Mason | Main cast (series 2-3) |
| 2015 | Waterloo Road | Lorna Hutchinson | Recurring role (series 10) |
| 2015 | Bluestone 42 | Ellen | Main cast (series 3) |
| 2016 | Comedy Playhouse | Georgy | Episode: "Stop/Start" |
| 2016 | Josh | Amy | Episode: "Sex & Politics" |
| 2016 | Lovesick | Jo | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Liar | D.I. Charlotte Sullivan | Episode: "The Marshes" |
| 2017 | So Awkward | Ms Vicky Parfitt | Main cast (series 3) |
| 2018 | Shane the Chef | Penny | Recurring voice role, 4 episodes |
| 2018 | Space Chickens in Space | Starley | Main cast, voice role |
| 2019 | Sadie Sparks | Val Garcia | Recurring voice role |
| 2019 | London Kills | Leanne Ponting | 2 episodes |
| 2019, 2024 | Gavin & Stacey | Sonia | 2 episodes: "A Special Christmas" and "Finale" |
| 2020 | Incredible Ant | Bibi | Main cast |
| 2020 | The Split | Tabby | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Death in Paradise | Cherry Jackson | Episode: "Lucky in Love" |
| 2021 | The One | Lucy Bell | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas | Ella | Television special |
| 2022 | The Rising | Victoria Sands | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Archie | Dyan Cannon | Main cast |
| 2024 | Joan | Val | 5 episodes |
| TBA | Rhona Who Lives by the River | Rhona #1/Rhona #2 | Main cast, voice role |
| TBC | This City is Ours | Rachel Duffy | Filming |
5.3. Theatre
- Princess Catherine in Henry V.
- Rebecca Foley in Pravda.
- Connie Batsford in Bus.
- Blousie Brown in Bugsy Malone (musical).
5.4. Audio
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Doctor Who: The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield Volume 05: Buried Memories | Young Anita | Doctor Who |
| 2020 | Susan's War 1 | Lootsa | |
| 2020 | Doctor Who: Time Apart | Mary Wade | |
| 2020 | Torchwood: Ex Machina | Abigail Forehill | Torchwood |
| 2021 | The Diary of River Song Series 08 | Linos / Shuttle AI | Doctor Who |
| 2021 | Master! | Lila Kreeg | |
| 2021 | Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Chronicles Volume 02 | Sarah Ellison | |
| 2022 | Heroes and Villains | Mutoid / Pesh | The Worlds of Blake's 7 |
| 2023 | The Chimes | Lillian | The Chimes |
| 2025 | Rise of the Eukaryans | Narrator | Doctor Who |
5.5. Video Games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | The Secret World | Various | Voice only |
| 2013 | Divinity: Dragon Commander | Scarlett | Voice only |
| 2014 | Grid Autosport | Voice only | |
| Dreamfall Chapters | Sister Sahya/Marcurian Rebel | Voice only | |
| Dragon Age: Inquisition | Various | Voice only | |
| 2015 | Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below | Various | English version, voice only |
| Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward | Yda | Voice only | |
| Guitar Hero Live | Voice only | ||
| Assassin's Creed Syndicate | London Civilian | Voice only | |
| Assassin's Creed Syndicate: Jack the Ripper | London Civilian | Voice only | |
| 2017 | Mass Effect: Andromeda | Various | Voice only |
| Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood | Lyse | English version, voice only | |
| Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age | Jade | English version, voice only | |
| 2019 | Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space | Voice only | |
| Anthem | Various | Voice only | |
| Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers | Lyse | English version, voice only | |
| 2021 | Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker | Lyse | English version, voice only |
| 2023 | Final Fantasy XVI | Eloise | Voice only |
| 2024 | Dragon's Dogma 2 | Doireann | Voice only |