Zaraah Abrahams
Encyclopedia
Zaraah Abrahams is an actress who is most famous for starring in Waterloo Road
and competing in Dancing on Ice
.
and Barbadian
descent on her mother's side and of Jamaican descent on her father's side. She grew up in Brixton
, South London
and is the eldest of 3 siblings. She attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts for her secondary education, landing the role of Magda in the TV Adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson
's Girls In Love
while still a pupil there. At the age of 18 she left London to pursue a career in acting in Manchester after landing the role of Joanne Jackson in Coronation Street
.
show Girls in Love
and as Joanne Jackson
in the ITV
soap Coronation Street
. In 2008, she joined the cast of Waterloo Road
in a recurring role as student Michaela White. The character became part of the core cast for the fourth series in 2009 and remained with the show until her exit at the end of the fifth series in 2010. In 2011, Abraham reprised the role of in the online spin-off series Waterloo Road Reunited.
2008, as a replacement for the injured Michael Underwood
. Her partner was skater Fred Palascak, who was originally eliminated in week one of the competition with his partner Sarah Greene
. She was listed as a reserve before being announced as Underwood's replacement.
For the majority of her time in the competition she has ranked third or fourth on the scoreboard.
In her first week (week three) Abrahams scored 18.5, coming fourth on the leaderboard beating six original celebrities including Samantha Mumba
and Linda Lusardi
.
Then, in the following few weeks, she achieved some very respectable scores, except in Week 7. She survived three consecutive skate-offs against the Skate-off King, Steve Backley
, Linda Lusardi
, and Greg Rusedski
.
Zaraah reached the semi-final with Chris Fountain
, Suzanne Shaw
and Gareth Gates
. Despite being the favourite to be eliminated, Zaraah came third on the leaderboard, beating Gareth Gates
, scoring 27.0, her highest mark. She was in the skate-off with Gates, being saved by all the judges. Zaraah had earned her place in the Final with Chris Fountain
and Suzanne Shaw
.
Abrahams scored 26.0 in her flying and skating routine, being praised for her elegance. In the flying round she was second on the leaderboard, beating Chris Fountain. In the favourite routine round Zaraah scored 26.5, performing her Diamonds and Pearls routine from Week 5, which had scored 22.0. She came third in this round and with a joint score of 52.5, she came third on the leaderboard, behind Chris Fountain, who scored 54.5, and Suzanne Shaw
who scored a full score of 60.0, the first in a Dancing On Ice history. Phillip announced that Zaraah had come third, meaning she had lost out on Bolero. Zaraah thanked everyone and praised the show, saying it was the best thing she'd ever done.
Abrahams survived four skate-offs, breaking the record alongside Steve Backley
, whom she beat in her Week Six skate-off. Zaraah was known as the Skate-Off Queen.
Abrahams then travelled around the UK with Torvill and Dean
on the Dancing On Ice Live Tour, before finally competing in the Christmas Special with Team Torvill.
, in 29 November 2009. As she was in the Red team, with her captain Joe Swash
, she lost and had nothing to give to charity.
Waterloo Road (TV series)
Waterloo Road is an award-winning British television drama series, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 9 March 2006. Set in a troubled comprehensive school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the series focuses on the lives of the school's teacher and students, and confronts social...
and competing in Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice is a British television show co-hosted by Christine Bleakley and Philip Schofield, in which celebrities and their professional partners figure skate in front of a panel of judges. The format, devised by LWT and Granada Television, has been a prime-time hit in eight different...
.
Early life
She is of IraqiIraqi people
The Iraqi people or Mesopotamian people are natives or inhabitants of the country of Iraq, known since antiquity as Mesopotamia , with a large diaspora throughout the Arab World, Europe, the Americas, and...
and Barbadian
Barbadian people
Barbadians are people originating on the Caribbean island of Barbados whether they live there or in the Barbadian diaspora.Rihanna is by far the most popular Barbadian on the planet.-Diaspora:...
descent on her mother's side and of Jamaican descent on her father's side. She grew up in Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
and is the eldest of 3 siblings. She attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts for her secondary education, landing the role of Magda in the TV Adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson
Jacqueline Wilson
Dame Jacqueline Wilson, DBE, FRSL is an award-winning English author, known for her vast and diverse work in children's literature. Her novels have been adapted numerous times for television, and commonly deal with such challenging themes as adoption, divorce and mental illness...
's Girls In Love
Girls In Love
Girls in Love is a British children's drama series produced by Granada Television which aired on CITV. It is based on the book of the same title , both created by UK author Jacqueline Wilson that follows the romantic thrills and spills of three teenage girls - Ellie, Magda and Nadine...
while still a pupil there. At the age of 18 she left London to pursue a career in acting in Manchester after landing the role of Joanne Jackson in Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
.
Career
She previously starred as Magda in the CITVCITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
show Girls in Love
Girls In Love
Girls in Love is a British children's drama series produced by Granada Television which aired on CITV. It is based on the book of the same title , both created by UK author Jacqueline Wilson that follows the romantic thrills and spills of three teenage girls - Ellie, Magda and Nadine...
and as Joanne Jackson
Joanne Jackson (Coronation Street)
Joanne Jackson may refer to:*Joanne Jackson , British swimmer*Joanne Jackson , former character on Coronation Street...
in the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
. In 2008, she joined the cast of Waterloo Road
Waterloo Road (TV series)
Waterloo Road is an award-winning British television drama series, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 9 March 2006. Set in a troubled comprehensive school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the series focuses on the lives of the school's teacher and students, and confronts social...
in a recurring role as student Michaela White. The character became part of the core cast for the fourth series in 2009 and remained with the show until her exit at the end of the fifth series in 2010. In 2011, Abraham reprised the role of in the online spin-off series Waterloo Road Reunited.
Dancing on Ice
She took part in ITV1's Dancing on IceDancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice is a British television show co-hosted by Christine Bleakley and Philip Schofield, in which celebrities and their professional partners figure skate in front of a panel of judges. The format, devised by LWT and Granada Television, has been a prime-time hit in eight different...
2008, as a replacement for the injured Michael Underwood
Michael Underwood
Michael Paul Underwood is a British television presenter. He famously won a six week CBBC presenting contract on Gaby Roslin's BBC television show Whatever You Want.-Career:...
. Her partner was skater Fred Palascak, who was originally eliminated in week one of the competition with his partner Sarah Greene
Sarah Greene
Sarah Greene is a British television personality well known for presenting live TV: long-running series e.g. Blue Peter, from 19 May 1980 until 27 June 1983, Saturday Superstore, Going Live for 10 years and big event/awards shows.- Early life and career :Greene was born in London, England, the...
. She was listed as a reserve before being announced as Underwood's replacement.
For the majority of her time in the competition she has ranked third or fourth on the scoreboard.
In her first week (week three) Abrahams scored 18.5, coming fourth on the leaderboard beating six original celebrities including Samantha Mumba
Samantha Mumba
Samantha Tamania Anne Cecilia Mumba is an Irish singer and actress.Her first album was released in 2000. Her most notable role was Mara in the 2002 film The Time Machine. She has also appeared in a number of Irish independent films.-Early life, education and early career:Mumba was born in Dublin,...
and Linda Lusardi
Linda Lusardi
Linda Lusardi is an English actress, television presenter and former Page Three Girl. She is married to the actor Samuel Kane; they have two children, both born in Enfield, London: Lucy Anne and Jack Francis ....
.
Then, in the following few weeks, she achieved some very respectable scores, except in Week 7. She survived three consecutive skate-offs against the Skate-off King, Steve Backley
Steve Backley
Stephen James Backley OBE is a retired British athlete who was formerly the world record holder for javelin throwing...
, Linda Lusardi
Linda Lusardi
Linda Lusardi is an English actress, television presenter and former Page Three Girl. She is married to the actor Samuel Kane; they have two children, both born in Enfield, London: Lucy Anne and Jack Francis ....
, and Greg Rusedski
Greg Rusedski
Gregory "Greg" Rusedski is a British Canadian former tennis player who turned professional in 1991 and played until his retirement on 7 April 2007, at the age of 33...
.
Zaraah reached the semi-final with Chris Fountain
Chris Fountain
Christopher Ryan Fountain is an English actor best known for his role as Justin Burton on the Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks, a role he played from 2003 until his departure in June 2009. He is also now known for playing Tommy Duckworth in Coronation Street. He played the role of PC Paul Tait in...
, Suzanne Shaw
Suzanne Shaw
Suzanne Shaw is an English actress, singer and television personality...
and Gareth Gates
Gareth Gates
Gareth Paul Gates , is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly...
. Despite being the favourite to be eliminated, Zaraah came third on the leaderboard, beating Gareth Gates
Gareth Gates
Gareth Paul Gates , is an English singer-songwriter. He was the runner-up in the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol. Gates has sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone. He is also known for having a stutter, and has talked about his speech impediment publicly...
, scoring 27.0, her highest mark. She was in the skate-off with Gates, being saved by all the judges. Zaraah had earned her place in the Final with Chris Fountain
Chris Fountain
Christopher Ryan Fountain is an English actor best known for his role as Justin Burton on the Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks, a role he played from 2003 until his departure in June 2009. He is also now known for playing Tommy Duckworth in Coronation Street. He played the role of PC Paul Tait in...
and Suzanne Shaw
Suzanne Shaw
Suzanne Shaw is an English actress, singer and television personality...
.
Abrahams scored 26.0 in her flying and skating routine, being praised for her elegance. In the flying round she was second on the leaderboard, beating Chris Fountain. In the favourite routine round Zaraah scored 26.5, performing her Diamonds and Pearls routine from Week 5, which had scored 22.0. She came third in this round and with a joint score of 52.5, she came third on the leaderboard, behind Chris Fountain, who scored 54.5, and Suzanne Shaw
Suzanne Shaw
Suzanne Shaw is an English actress, singer and television personality...
who scored a full score of 60.0, the first in a Dancing On Ice history. Phillip announced that Zaraah had come third, meaning she had lost out on Bolero. Zaraah thanked everyone and praised the show, saying it was the best thing she'd ever done.
Abrahams survived four skate-offs, breaking the record alongside Steve Backley
Steve Backley
Stephen James Backley OBE is a retired British athlete who was formerly the world record holder for javelin throwing...
, whom she beat in her Week Six skate-off. Zaraah was known as the Skate-Off Queen.
Abrahams then travelled around the UK with Torvill and Dean
Torvill and Dean
Torvill and Dean are British ice dancers and former British-, European-, Olympic- and World champions...
on the Dancing On Ice Live Tour, before finally competing in the Christmas Special with Team Torvill.
Hole in the Wall
Zaarah appeared on Hole in the WallHole in the Wall (UK game show)
Hole in the Wall was a game show that airs on BBC One in the United Kingdom. This game is an adaptation of the Japanese game Brain Wall in which players must contort themselves to fit through cutout holes of varying shapes in a large polystyrene wall moving towards them as they stand in front of a...
, in 29 November 2009. As she was in the Red team, with her captain Joe Swash
Joe Swash
Joseph Adam Swash is an English actor and presenter. He once played Mickey Miller in the British television soap opera EastEnders. He is the older brother of Shana Swash, who played his on-screen younger sister Demi Miller until July 2006. He also won the TV reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me...
, she lost and had nothing to give to charity.
Filmography
| Television | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 2003 in television The year 2003 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2003.For the American TV schedule, see: 2003-04 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1940s:... |
Girls in Love Girls In Love Girls in Love is a British children's drama series produced by Granada Television which aired on CITV. It is based on the book of the same title , both created by UK author Jacqueline Wilson that follows the romantic thrills and spills of three teenage girls - Ellie, Magda and Nadine... |
Magda | 2003-2005 (27 episodes) |
| 2005 2005 in television The year 2005 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2005.For the American TV schedule, see: 2005–06 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:... |
Coronation Street Coronation Street Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960... |
Joanne Jackson | 2005-2007 (176 episodes) |
| 2007 2007 in television 2007 in television may refer to:*2007 in American television*2007 in Australian television*2007 in British television*2007 in Canadian television*2007 in Japanese television... |
Waterloo Road Waterloo Road (TV series) Waterloo Road is an award-winning British television drama series, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 9 March 2006. Set in a troubled comprehensive school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the series focuses on the lives of the school's teacher and students, and confronts social... |
Michaela White | 2007-2010 (56 episodes) |
| 2011 | Waterloo Road Reunited | Michaela White | 2011 (6 web episodes) |