Rachel Shenton
English actress (born 1987) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rachel Joy Shenton (born 21 December 1987[1]) is an English actress and writer. She gained prominence through her role as Mitzeee Minniver in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks (2010–2013). She is also known for her role as Courtney in Waterloo Road and has starred in the ABC Family drama Switched at Birth (2014–2017), the BBC2 sitcom White Gold (2019), and the Channel 5 series All Creatures Great and Small (2020–).
Rachel Shenton | |
|---|---|
Shenton in 2009 | |
| Born | Rachel Joy Shenton 21 December 1987 Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Known for | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards for The Silent Child |
In 2018, Shenton won an Academy Award for her short film The Silent Child, which she wrote, produced and starred in. She is fluent in British Sign Language and American Sign Language.
Early life
Shenton attended two secondary schools, one in Cheadle. Shenton went on to study performing arts at Stoke-on-Trent College (Burslem Campus). In between studying and acting roles, she volunteered at her local charity, Deaflinks.[2]
Career
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Early career
Shenton started her career at Edinburgh fringe festival, where her play received critical acclaim.[3] Shenton's acting career began with small recurring parts in various television series such as Holby City and Waterloo Road.[4] She also filmed various television commercials for the Ministry of Defence, DFS and Sega Superstars Tennis and appeared in two British films.[5] She continued recurring appearances in 2008 appearing in Nickelodeon's series Genie in the House and Five's Sophia's Diary, playing Sofia's wayward sister 'Trisha'.[5]
Hollyoaks
In April 2010, it was announced that Shenton had been cast in Hollyoaks as Mitzeee Minniver, an aspiring glamour model.[6] Shenton described her character as being the complete opposite of her.[7] Her casting came as part of new producer Paul Marquess' major revamp of the serial. Before her character had appeared on-screen Shenton received media attention for her image, with tabloids reporting on her likeness to Cheryl Cole.[8] Shenton described the attention and comparisons as "very flattering".[9] On 20 December 2012, Shenton announced her decision to leave Hollyoaks. Shenton's final scenes as Mitzeee aired on 15 February 2013, when the character moved to the United States.
Further roles and The Silent Child
On 28 April 2014, it was announced that Shenton would make her US television debut in season 3 of the ABC Family drama Switched at Birth playing young student teacher Lilly Summers. Shenton went on to shoot season 4 and 5 which was when the show ended. The final season aired in February 2017.
In August 2017, Shenton appeared in The Silent Child, a film which she created and co-produced with her husband Chris Overton. The film was based on Shenton's own experiences as the child of a parent who became deaf. The film features profoundly deaf six-year-old first-time actor Maisie Sly as the titular child.[10][11] British Sign Language (BSL) is used in the film.
The film won best short film at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in August 2017. That made it eligible for the Oscars. In December 2017, the film was selected as one of the final ten films in the Live Action Short Film category for the 90th Academy Awards. On 23 January 2018, it was announced that The Silent Child had been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for the 90th Academy Awards, which it won. Shenton kept a promise she had made to the young lead actress and signed her acceptance speech.[12]
In March 2019, Shenton joined the cast of the BBC2 comedy series White Gold, playing Jo Scott, a motivational speaker turned window saleswoman, alongside James Buckley and Joe Thomas.
In September 2020, she began appearing as Helen Alderson in the Channel 5 and PBS adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small. Significant changes were made from the source material (both the previous television series and the memoir), allowing the role of Helen to be greatly expanded.[13] The programme was renewed for a second series, which aired in September 2021, with a third series broadcast in 2022.
In June 2023, she played Emily in For Her Sins, a TV drama broadcast on Channel 5.[14] Also in 2023, she starred in the short film In Too Deep, directed by her husband Chris Overton.[15]
Shenton is due to star in the upcoming six-part scripted podcast series that she has written called 'Gladstone Girls.' The series tells the story of a group of female workers in the Stoke-On-Trent potteries. They fight to keep their factory traditions alive after a new boss comes along and tries to change things.[16]
Midlands Screen Acting School
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 Official logo for The Midlands Screen Acting School since 2022 | |
| Formerly | Acting Mechanics |
|---|---|
| Industry | Acting, Film and Entertainment |
| Founded |
|
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | The Catalyst Building, Staffordshire University |
| Services | Education and training in acting for screen |
| Website | https://midlandsscreenactingschool.com/ |
In 2013, Shenton founded the Midlands Screen Acting School (abbreviated to MSAS and initially named Acting Mechanics) alongside her first acting teacher and agent Amanda Andrews.[17][18] The school specialises in delivering lessons focused on technique for screen acting, as Shenton had always thought accessible education in this field has always been lacking when compared to its stage-based counterpart. Acting Mechanics was rebranded to The Midlands Screen Acting School in 2022.[19]
Shenton wanted to create opportunities for actors entering the industry in her home town of Stoke-on-Trent.[20][21][22]
Classes are designed for up-and-coming actors who are looking to take the next step in their career, however, they do cater to a range of abilities.[23]
The school holds classes once a month at The Catalyst Building within Staffordshire University. There is also an online offering available.[24][25]
The monthly classes come in a variety of different forms including a six-month long course for juniors and adults, a 12-month long course for juniors and adults as well as drop-in sessions. Online "career surgery" sessions are also offered to give people a chance to focus more on career development and achieving their own goals rather than the technique of acting as is taught in the other classes.[26]
On top of these regular offerings, a selection of one off classes and one-day courses are offered allowing for a deeper dive into specific techniques. These are often led by external industry professionals.
Industry links
MSAS are a Spotlight accredited school which means, upon completion of two six-month courses or the twelve-month course, students aged eighteen and over are eligible for a full membership with Spotlight, the most-used professional casting database in the UK acting industry.[27]
The schools sister company, MSAS Management, offers full agency representation to all students who have not secured this independently. This allows them to secure auditions for major projects.
Notable former industry guests have included BAFTA-Winning director of The BBC's Ralph and Katie Jordan Hogg, All Creatures Great and Small star Nicholas Ralph, and Adrian Rawlins, known for his portrayal of James Potter in the Harry Potter films.[28][29][30]
Personal life
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When Shenton was 12, her father became deaf after undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Following the death of her father, Shenton learned British Sign Language. In 2011, Shenton was made ambassador for the National Deaf Children's Society and she continues to raise awareness of deafness in the UK.[31][32]
In March 2011, Shenton completed a skydive in aid of National Deaf Children's Society.[33] In February 2012, Shenton announced that she was due to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of the charity.[31] In May 2011, Shenton helped to launch a social networking website for deaf people named "Viewtalk".[34] In October 2012, she climbed the BT Tower in aid of Action on Hearing Loss.[35]
Shenton married British actor and filmmaker Chris Overton in summer 2018.[36] The couple were engaged in March 2018 when she and Overton accepted the Oscar for best short film, live action.[37] She gave birth to their first child, a boy, in April 2025.[38]
In July 2019, Shenton was commended with an honorary degree from Keele University for her "outstanding contribution in raising awareness for educational support for disabilities in children, as an inspirational role model for young people, and for her commitment to equality and diversity".[39]
In November 2023, Shenton was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts at Staffordshire University for her work as an actress as well as helping aspiring actors through The Midlands Screen Acting School and her work campaigning for the deaf community.[22][40]
Filmography
Acting
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Kiss & Tell | Claire | Short film[41] |
| 2005 | Holby City | Katrina Hobsbawn | 1 episode: "Doing the Right Thing" (7.52)[42] |
| Agnosia | Tania | Short Film[41] | |
| Xlitherman | Shade Girl | Feature Film[41] | |
| 2006 | Doctors | Sadie Slade | 1 episode: "Positively Blooming" (7.115)[42] |
| 2007 | Waterloo Road | Courtney | 3 episodes[42] |
| Doctors | Jade Hearn/Robertson | 1 episode: "Careers Day" (9.111)[42] | |
| 2008 | Storyville | English storyteller | Ident[41] |
| Sophia's Dairy | Tricia | 1 episode[41] | |
| Genie in the House | Amy | 1 episode: "Curse of the Genie Ring" (3.09)[42] | |
| 2009 | Money Kills | Anya | Feature film[41] |
| 2010–2013 | Hollyoaks | Mitzeee Minniver | Regular cast member (234 episodes)[4] 23 July 2010 – 15 February 2013 |
| 2011 | Blood and Bone China | Anna Fitzgerald | 10 episodes |
| 2014–2017 | Switched at Birth | Lily Summers | 19 episodes |
| 2017 | The Silent Child | Joanne | Short film; also writer |
| 2019 | White Gold | Joanne Scott | |
| 2019 | A Very British Christmas | Jessica Bailey | Hallmark style |
| 2019 | A Glimpse | Jess | Short film |
| 2020–present | All Creatures Great and Small | Helen Alderson | TV series |
| 2023 | For Her Sins | Emily | TV series |
| 2023 | In Too Deep | Carol | Short film |
| 2024 | The Strangers: Chapter 1 | Debbie Lucas | Feature Film |
| TBA | The Rumour | Filming[43] |
Voice over
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | NSPCC Eye Opener | Abused teenager | Voice over[5] |
| 2006 | Bulldog Broadband | Presenter | |
| 2009 | Selston Cosmetic Clinic | Presenter |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | British Soap Awards | Sexiest Female[44] | Hollyoaks | Nominated |
| All About Soap Bubble Awards | Best Newcomer[45] | Nominated | ||
| TV Choice Awards | Best Soap Newcomer[46] | Nominated | ||
| Inside Soap Awards | Best Newcomer[47] | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Inside Soap Awards | Sexiest Female[48] | Nominated | |
| National Television Awards | Serial Drama Performance[49] | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | London Independent Film Festival | Best Actress | The Silent Child | Won |
| Overcome Film Festival | Won | |||
| Academy Awards | Best Live Action Short Film[50] | Won | ||
| 2019 | New Renaissance Film Festival | Best Actress | A Glimpse | Won |
| 2020 | Bristol Independent Film Festival | Best Actress | Won | |
References
External links
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