Petra Letang
Encyclopedia
Petra Letang is a British
-Dominica
n actress, probably best known for her role as Naomi Julien
in the BBC
soap opera
EastEnders
.
Letang grew up in east London, and she attended the Anna Scher Theatre
school in Islington
, London. She has played Donna Lewis in the five soap Family Affairs
in 1999, and the character Pauline in the BBC2 drama Babyfather
in 2002. Other television credits have included Jonathan Creek
(2004); The Bill
(2005) and The Last Detective
(2005). She also appeared in the British film Wondrous Oblivion
in 2003.
In 2005 she was cast as Naomi Julien—the lesbian lover of Sonia Fowler
(Natalie Cassidy
)—in BBC's EastEnders. She left the role in 2007, reportedly because scriptwriters had "run out of ideas for her." Prior to this, Letang had gone public with her fears that her character would be axed following a "bad public reaction" to the lesbian storyline which saw Naomi break up the marriage of Sonia and Martin Fowler
(James Alexandrou
).
Letang went on to join the cast of Angie Le Mar
's successful play, Funny Black Women On the Edge. It played at the Hackney Empire
, East London in the Spring of 2007.
In March 2007, Letang was one of several television stars who took part in Searchlight magazine's
"Hope Not Hate bus" campaign with the Daily Mirror, which was aimed at spreading a message of goodwill in the build-up to the local elections in May 2007. Letang commented: "This campaign is very close to my heart. We have to make a difference for the young people coming up."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
n actress, probably best known for her role as Naomi Julien
Naomi Julien
Naomi Julien is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Petra Letang. She first appeared in the show in the episode broadcast on 15 August 2005. The character was axed in January 2007 and her final scenes were broadcast on 24 May 2007...
in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
.
Letang grew up in east London, and she attended the Anna Scher Theatre
Anna Scher Theatre
The Anna Scher Theatre is a community-based theatre school based in Islington, North London. The school turns out some of London's best child and adult actors.-Anna Scher:...
school in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, London. She has played Donna Lewis in the five soap Family Affairs
Family Affairs
Family Affairs was a British soap opera broadcast on Five, from 1997 to 2005. It was the second programme to be broadcast on the channel on 30 March 1997, the channel's launch night...
in 1999, and the character Pauline in the BBC2 drama Babyfather
Babyfather
Babyfather is a BBC Two television programme which aired in the UK in 2001 and 2002. The show has been described as a "black, male, UK version of Sex and the City". It ran for two series, and was based on a novel written by Patrick Augustus. The writers of the screenplay include Avril E...
in 2002. Other television credits have included Jonathan Creek
Jonathan Creek
Jonathan Creek is a British mystery series produced by the BBC and written by David Renwick. Primarily a crime drama, the show is also peppered with broadly comic touches...
(2004); The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
(2005) and The Last Detective
The Last Detective
The Last Detective is an ITV drama starring Peter Davison as Dangerous Davies. The first series aired in 2003 with three more seasons succeeding this...
(2005). She also appeared in the British film Wondrous Oblivion
Wondrous Oblivion
Wondrous Oblivion is a 2003 British film directed and written by Paul Morrison and produced by Jonny Persey.Set in suburban south London in 1960, several themes run through the film, though the main storyline concerns the friendship between a young boy, David Wiseman who is the son of European...
in 2003.
In 2005 she was cast as Naomi Julien—the lesbian lover of Sonia Fowler
Sonia Fowler
Sonia Ann Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Natalie Cassidy. Her first appearance was on 21 December 1993 and she made her final appearance on 2 February 2007...
(Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Ann Cassidy is a British actress, most commonly known for appearing in the television soap EastEnders where she played Sonia Jackson for many years. She has also appeared in the BBC Two sitcom Psychoville and was a contestant on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing.-Career:As a...
)—in BBC's EastEnders. She left the role in 2007, reportedly because scriptwriters had "run out of ideas for her." Prior to this, Letang had gone public with her fears that her character would be axed following a "bad public reaction" to the lesbian storyline which saw Naomi break up the marriage of Sonia and Martin Fowler
Martin Fowler (EastEnders)
Martin Albert Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by James Alexandrou from 1996 to 2007.The role was previously played by Jon Peyton Price from early life as a baby in 1985 to 1996, just before Martin's teenage years began.-Storylines:Martin is the younger son...
(James Alexandrou
James Alexandrou
James Alekos Alexandrou is an English actor of Greek Cypriot descent, best known for playing Martin Fowler in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders.-Early life:...
).
Letang went on to join the cast of Angie Le Mar
Angie Le Mar
Angie Le Mar is a British comedian, actor, writer, director, presenter and producer.Le Mar is married with three children. The eldest, Travis Jay, is a budding comedian and radio DJ.-Early life:...
's successful play, Funny Black Women On the Edge. It played at the Hackney Empire
Hackney Empire
The Hackney Empire is a theatre on Mare Street, in the London Borough of Hackney, built in 1901 as a music hall.-History:Hackney Empire is a grade II* listed building...
, East London in the Spring of 2007.
In March 2007, Letang was one of several television stars who took part in Searchlight magazine's
Searchlight (magazine)
Searchlight is a British anti-fascist magazine, founded in 1975 by Gerry Gable, which publishes exposés about racism, antisemitism, and fascism in the UK....
"Hope Not Hate bus" campaign with the Daily Mirror, which was aimed at spreading a message of goodwill in the build-up to the local elections in May 2007. Letang commented: "This campaign is very close to my heart. We have to make a difference for the young people coming up."
Filmography
- EastEndersEastEndersEastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
- Naomi Julien (2005–2007) - Wondrous OblivionWondrous OblivionWondrous Oblivion is a 2003 British film directed and written by Paul Morrison and produced by Jonny Persey.Set in suburban south London in 1960, several themes run through the film, though the main storyline concerns the friendship between a young boy, David Wiseman who is the son of European...
- Loretta (2003) - Family AffairsFamily AffairsFamily Affairs was a British soap opera broadcast on Five, from 1997 to 2005. It was the second programme to be broadcast on the channel on 30 March 1997, the channel's launch night...
- Donna Lewis (1999)