Freema Agyeman is a British actress of Ghanaian and Iranian descent who is best known for playing Martha Jones, former companion of the Tenth Doctor in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, and its spin-off series Torchwood. She currently holds a lead regular role as court prosecutor Alesha Phillips in ITV’s Law & Order: UK.
Freema Agyeman grew up on the Woodberry Down council estate in the London Borough of Hackney. Her mother, Azar, is Iranian and her father, Osei, is Ghanaian. She attended Our Lady’s Convent, a Catholic school in Stamford Hill and the Anna Scher Theatre School in Islington. She studied performing arts and drama at Middlesex University, graduating in 2000. She has martial arts skills which prompted speculation that she would bring a more physical approach to the role of the Doctor’s companion. The tattoo she has on her upper forearm is symbolic of her ancestry, containing an Iranian word ‘baha’, meaning ‘free’, under an image of a butterfly. She endorses Divine Chocolate, an ethical corporation that helps Ghanaian farmers make a fair living.
Credits:
TV
ActingCrossroads (2003, TV series) as Lola Wise
Aisha The American (2004), as Shaheen
Casualty@HolbyCity (one episode, 2004) as Kate Hindley
The Bill (one episode, 2004) as Jenna Carter
Mile High (2005, TV series)
Silent Witness (one episode, 2005) as Mary Ogden
The Bill (two episodes, 2006) as Shakira Washington
Doctor Who (2006, episode “Army of Ghosts”) as Adeola Oshodi
Doctor Who (2007-2008, TV series) as Martha Jones
Doctor Who animated special The Infinite Quest (2007, TV serial) as Martha Jones (voice)
Torchwood (2008, TV series) as Martha Jones
Little Dorrit (2008, TV serial) as Tattycoram
Survivors (TV remake) (2008, TV series) as Jenny Collins
Law & Order: UK (ITV series, 2009) as Alesha PhillipsAs herself
The One Show (2006)
Doctor Who Confidential (2007-2008, “making of” series)
Totally Doctor Who (2007, children’s magazine show)
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (25 May 2007)
Richard and Judy (26 June 2007)
The Omid Djalili Show (2007)
Torchwood Declassified (2008, “making of” series)
Bizarre ER (2008-2009, TV series) as narrator
The Friday Night Project (2008)
The Paul O’Grady Show (2008) and (2009)
Blue Peter (24 June 2008)
Film
Rulers and Dealers (independent film, 2005) as NanaAudio/radio
The Last Dodo (abridged Doctor Who audiobook) (2007) as narrator
Wetworld (abridged Doctor Who audiobook) (2008) as narrator
The Pirate Loop (abridged Doctor Who audiobook (2008) as narrator
Torchwood: Lost Souls (Radio 4 Afternoon Play) (2008) as Martha Jones
Martha in the Mirror (abridged Doctor Who audiobook) (2008) as narrator
The Story of Martha (abridged Doctor Who audiobook) (2009) as narratorTheatre/stage
Twisted Roots by Emily Nightingale (2001) as Anya Starr
When Snow Falls by Chris Elwell (2001-2002) as “T”
Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett (2002) as various
Doctor Who Prom, Live (27 July 2008) as host.
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