Laila Zaidi (born October 1993) is a British actress. On television, she is known for her roles in the tenth series of Benidorm (2018) on ITV, the fifth series of the Channel 4 comedy-drama Ackley Bridge (2022) and for her role as Maria Jaziri on the BBC soap opera Doctors (2024).
Early life Zaidi was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk to a Pakistani father from Karachi and an English-Welsh mother, and grew up in Washington, Tyne and Wear. She has an older brother and a younger sister. Zaidi attended Newcastle High School for Girls. She went on to graduate in 2016 from the Arts Educational School (ArtsEd) in West London with a Bachelor of Arts (BA).
Career Upon graduating from ArtsEd in 2016, Zaidi made her professional stage debut starring as Maria in the Kilworth House production of West Side Story. She also appeared in The Season Ticket at the Northern Stage. In 2017, she workshopped Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express at The Other Palace in London and made her television debut with a guest appearance in an episode of the BBC medical soap Doctors.
In 2018, Zaidi joined the cast of the long-running ITV sitcom Benidorm for its tenth series as Cyd. She took part in the original cast of the folk opera The Selfish Giant, which premiered at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton and then had a run at London's Vaudeville Theatre for the venue's Oscar Wilde season, marking Zaidi's West End debut. In 2019, she starred as Jess Bhamra in the Canadian production and North American premiere of Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in Toronto.
Zaidi joined the main cast of the Channel 4 school-set comedy drama Ackley Bridge for its fifth and final series as the teacher Asma Farooqi, which aired in 2022. In 2023, she appeared in the Live Theatre production of Three Acts of Love in Newcastle. She then went on the Rifco tour of Frankie Goes to Bollywood as the titular character. In 2024, she appeared in the BBC soap opera Doctors as Maria Jaziri.
Personal life In 2023, Zaidi became engaged to fellow Benidorm star Adam Gillen; their relationship had been initially reported on in 2018. The couple married at Hackney Town Hall in February 2026 and then had a second celebration in Seville in April.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2017 Doctors Samika Ramaswamy 1 episode 2018 Benidorm Cyd Main role 2018 Amigo de Aluguel Hannah 1 episode 2020 Hayley Alien Artist Short film 2020 Holby City Christie O'Connor 1 episode 2021 The Everlasting Club Short film 2022 Mood Zara 1 episode 2022 Ackley Bridge Asma Farooqi Main role 2024 Doctors Maria Jaziri Recurring role TBA Dog Days Hope
Stage Year Title Role Notes 2016 West Side Story Maria Kilworth House, Leicestershire 2016 The Season Ticket Clare / Gemma Northern Stage, Newcastle 2017 Starlight Express Tassita The Other Palace, London 2018 The Selfish Giant Charlie / Hail Royal & Derngate, Northampton / Vaudeville Theatre, London 2019 The Boy Friend Polly Browne Menier Chocolate Factory, London / Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto 2019 Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical Jasminder "Jess" Bhamra St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Toronto 2023 Three Acts of Love Clara Live Theatre, Newcastle 2024 Frankie Goes to Bollywood Frankie UK tour
References
External links
Laila Zaidi at Spotlight