Alisha Bailey
Encyclopedia
Alisha Bailey is a fictional character
from the British Channel 4
science fiction
comedy-drama
Misfits
, portrayed by Antonia Thomas
. Her storylines include gaining an ASBO for constant drink-driving which leads to her gaining the ability to make those who make bare contact with her skin go into a sexual frenzy
towards her. She has also been involved in a relationship with fellow youth offender Curtis Donovan
and later a masked figure who is revealed to be Simon Bellamy
.
. Thomas trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
and won the part the day after leaving. On receiving the part Thomas said she felt "lucky" that the casting directors "took a chance" on her. Thomas admitted finding it difficult comitting to series 3 saying "None of us have yet come to a decision. It’s quite difficult so early on to make a decision for next year and to know what you’re doing. It’s stressful but also a lovely position to be in." Fellow cast member Iwan Rheon revealed that Overman who created the character discussed how to write their parts with the cast and later began writing for them as actors.
describes her as being the "party girl Alisha". The cast said they felt their characters where metaphors for what teenagers went through with Thomas adding that when at school she felt "there was quite a lot of pressure early on and from quite a young age to use your sexuality and to be sexy - I think too young actually. I think girls feel like they need to be attractive to boys to be popular". The Metro described her as "foxy, image-crazed Alisha".
In the second episode of the second series, her power is reversed during a drug trip and when she touches Curtis, he becomes aggressive and displays feelings of hatred and repulsion towards her. She touches others in desperation to leave, having the same effect on them. It is revealed that Superhoodie is immune to her power and he appears to be slightly affectionate to her; giving way to a possible relationship as Curtis saw himself in the future in a serious relationship with another woman named Nikki.
Alisha subsequently becomes the only member of the group to know that 'Superhoodie' is a future version of Simon, who has come back in time to ensure that certain events work out as they should, although he asks her not to tell the others about his identity. The pair also begin a relationship but future Simon tells her not to engage with current Simon as he is not ready for a relationship, though he gives Alisha a key to his base. In the fourth episode of the second series future Simon is shot when he moves in front of a bullet to save Alisha. With future Simon dying in her arms, Alisha says that she loves him, and reluctantly follows his last wish to immolate his body to protect his identity. Alisha revealed Superhoodie's true identity to Simon after the Misfits went public, as well as her relationship with him, but she was captured by another person who got powers, bound and gagged with plastic clingfilm, and killed, but this timeline was erased by Curtis when everyone but him was murdered. After her community service was over, she took a job as a bartender. During the three months between the second series' finale and the Christmas special, Alisha and Simon became a couple. She sold her power to a 'power dealer' to get her life back, but is later subjected to its effects when she is attacked by Elliot, a priest who purchased her power and others from the dealer, although Elliot's subsequent death negates any possibility that she can get her old power back.
It is revealed that, at some point in the future, Simon and Alisha will go to Las Vegas
together, as she always wanted.
described Alisha as a "Slutty party girl ". Tim Dowling
of The Guardian
described her as the "slutty one" of the group of "foul-mouthed young criminals". Boxcutters
commented negatively on the characters of Misfits saying it was "filled with unattractive and very annoying characters" although they responded positively to the show asking "why do we find it so strangely compelling?" The Times
described her as a "cheeky young woman who has a voracious sexual appetite".
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the British Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
Misfits
Misfits (TV series)
Misfits is a British science fiction comedy-drama television series about a group of young offenders forced to work in a community service programme, where they obtain supernatural powers after a strange electrical storm. The first series started broadcasting on 12 November 2009 on E4, and was...
, portrayed by Antonia Thomas
Antonia Thomas
Antonia-Rose Laura Thomas is an English actress best known for her starring role in the E4 comedy-drama television series Misfits as Alisha Bailey. She studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where she studied for a BA in Acting, graduating in 2009.Antonia was a member of the National Youth...
. Her storylines include gaining an ASBO for constant drink-driving which leads to her gaining the ability to make those who make bare contact with her skin go into a sexual frenzy
Sexual arousal
Sexual arousal, or sexual excitement, is the arousal of sexual desire, during or in anticipation of sexual activity. Things that precipitate human sexual arousal are called erotic stimuli, or colloquially known as turn-ons. There are many potential stimuli, both physical or mental, which can cause...
towards her. She has also been involved in a relationship with fellow youth offender Curtis Donovan
Curtis Donovan
Curtis Donovan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 science fiction comedy-drama Misfits, portrayed by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. His storylines include being sentenced to community service after being caught in possession of cocaine which led to him gaining the power of time...
and later a masked figure who is revealed to be Simon Bellamy
Simon Bellamy
Simon Bellamy is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 science fiction comedy-drama Misfits, portrayed by Iwan Rheon. His storylines have included being sentenced to community service for attempted arson which leads to him gaining the power of invisibility, reflective of his personality...
.
Casting and character creation
Casting for the part was announced on 17 August 2009 by Digital SpyDigital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
. Thomas trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, opened by Laurence Olivier in 1946, is an affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, an organisation securing the highest standards of training in the performing arts, and is an associate school of the Faculty of Creative Arts of the University of the...
and won the part the day after leaving. On receiving the part Thomas said she felt "lucky" that the casting directors "took a chance" on her. Thomas admitted finding it difficult comitting to series 3 saying "None of us have yet come to a decision. It’s quite difficult so early on to make a decision for next year and to know what you’re doing. It’s stressful but also a lovely position to be in." Fellow cast member Iwan Rheon revealed that Overman who created the character discussed how to write their parts with the cast and later began writing for them as actors.
Characterisation
E4's official website describes Alisha if she is at "the centre of everyone’s world, then life is sweet. This party girl’s biggest concern is that she retains the title of Miss Shagable for another year running." and as being a "superficial and sassy stunner (and don't forget potty mouthed)" who "is now stuck with the worst come down of all: a day job that might as well be shovelling shit for all she cares. Not only is Alisha cut off from her mates, forced to associate with losers all day and has a curfew; she’s also got a power that could seriously damage her social life. Because when people touch Alisha’s skin, they’re going to be so filled with lust, they can’t think straight. Alisha soon discovers it’s much more of a curse than a blessing as she has to adapt to life with her new power, forcing her to reassess her relationships with the opposite sex" Thomas described the character as "one of those girls from the uber popular crowd at school. She's totally self obsessed and only cares about her image and using her sexuality to get what she wants. When she breaks the law she ends up doing community service with a bunch of others who are totally different to her and slowly she loses the front and we start to see her vulnerable side." The Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
describes her as being the "party girl Alisha". The cast said they felt their characters where metaphors for what teenagers went through with Thomas adding that when at school she felt "there was quite a lot of pressure early on and from quite a young age to use your sexuality and to be sexy - I think too young actually. I think girls feel like they need to be attractive to boys to be popular". The Metro described her as "foxy, image-crazed Alisha".
Storylines
She realises the nature of this after-effect when she first uses her power on Curtis. In the third episode of the first series she walks through a nightclub and touches everyone, having an effect on both sexes. She continues to abuse the capability until she confirms her feelings with Curtis in the same episode. The two then decide to try for a relationship, including "phone sex without the phone", that both acknowledge can never become physical, owing to her power.In the second episode of the second series, her power is reversed during a drug trip and when she touches Curtis, he becomes aggressive and displays feelings of hatred and repulsion towards her. She touches others in desperation to leave, having the same effect on them. It is revealed that Superhoodie is immune to her power and he appears to be slightly affectionate to her; giving way to a possible relationship as Curtis saw himself in the future in a serious relationship with another woman named Nikki.
Alisha subsequently becomes the only member of the group to know that 'Superhoodie' is a future version of Simon, who has come back in time to ensure that certain events work out as they should, although he asks her not to tell the others about his identity. The pair also begin a relationship but future Simon tells her not to engage with current Simon as he is not ready for a relationship, though he gives Alisha a key to his base. In the fourth episode of the second series future Simon is shot when he moves in front of a bullet to save Alisha. With future Simon dying in her arms, Alisha says that she loves him, and reluctantly follows his last wish to immolate his body to protect his identity. Alisha revealed Superhoodie's true identity to Simon after the Misfits went public, as well as her relationship with him, but she was captured by another person who got powers, bound and gagged with plastic clingfilm, and killed, but this timeline was erased by Curtis when everyone but him was murdered. After her community service was over, she took a job as a bartender. During the three months between the second series' finale and the Christmas special, Alisha and Simon became a couple. She sold her power to a 'power dealer' to get her life back, but is later subjected to its effects when she is attacked by Elliot, a priest who purchased her power and others from the dealer, although Elliot's subsequent death negates any possibility that she can get her old power back.
It is revealed that, at some point in the future, Simon and Alisha will go to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
together, as she always wanted.
Reception
Thomas was nominated for Outstanding Actress in the fiction category at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in 2011. The HeraldThe Herald (Glasgow)
The Herald is a broadsheet newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, and available throughout Scotland. As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 47,226, giving it a lead over Scotland's other 'quality' national daily, The Scotsman, published in Edinburgh.The 1889 to 1906 editions...
described Alisha as a "Slutty party girl ". Tim Dowling
Tim Dowling
Tim Dowling is a journalist and author. Dowling moved to the UK at the age of 27 and currently lives in London with his wife and three children....
of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
described her as the "slutty one" of the group of "foul-mouthed young criminals". Boxcutters
Boxcutters (podcast)
Boxcutters is an Australian podcast dedicated to the discussion of television. It is produced weekly, and usually uploaded on a Monday. Shows average around 70 minutes, although there is no set length, and it is recorded at the studios of 3RRR...
commented negatively on the characters of Misfits saying it was "filled with unattractive and very annoying characters" although they responded positively to the show asking "why do we find it so strangely compelling?" The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
described her as a "cheeky young woman who has a voracious sexual appetite".