Simone Lahbib


Simone Lahbib is a Scottish actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Helen Stewart in the ITV1 drama Bad Girls and DCI Alex Fielding in TV crime series Wire in the Blood.

Early life

Born Simone Nicole Jean Lahbib Ould Cheikl on 6 February 1965 in Stirling, Scotland, to a Scottish mother and a French father. She received her acting training at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh after four years at The Manor School of Ballet in Edinburgh, studying under John Marshall. One of her first performances as an actress was in the role of Cathy in Wuthering Heights in repertory theatre at the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh.

Career

Lahbib commenced her on-screen career in 1985 when she was cast in The Girl in the Picture, a film set in Glasgow directed by Cary Parker. She also sang on the sound track. Lahbib has worked extensively in television and film, after starting her career predominantly in theatre. Following guest appearances on well-known television dramas such as Taggart and Dangerfield, she received her first leading role when she was cast in the ITV daytime drama London Bridge as Mary O'Connor, from 1996–97, in a notable and controversial storyline in which her character was raped by her stalker. Her next role in 1997 was in the third and final series of police drama Thief Takers where she met her husband, followed in 1998 by the 6 part comedy series The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star.
In 1999 Lahbib became widely recognised for her leading role in the cult British prison drama series Bad Girls, in which she played Helen Stewart, the new idealistic Wing Governor who tries to help the female prisoners and improve conditions on G-Wing. When she doesn't receive the support she hopes for from her fellow officers, she enlists the help of prisoner Nikki Wade and from there a personal relationship develops. Lahbib appeared in Bad Girls until the end of the third series when Helen and Nikki eventually get together following Nikki's release from prison. After this role, Lahbib established a very loyal fan base throughout the world, especially among the LGBT community.
Following her departure from Bad Girls, Lahbib has had leading roles in several TV drama series including Family as Jacqueline Cutler, Fallen as DCI Kate Gunning, Single-Handed as Gemma Burge, Monarch of the Glen as Isobel Anderson and crime drama series Wire in the Blood as DCI Alex Fielding. She appeared in this last role from series four to series six, when the programme was cancelled. She also featured in Da Vinci's Demons as Laura Cereta, The Loch as Mhari Toner and as Debbie O'Callaghan inA Confession. Lahbib's other television credits include guest appearances in Judge John Deed, New Tricks, Downton Abbey and Crossing Lines.
In 2005 Lahbib appeared in Red Mercury, a feature film with Stockard Channing, and has frequently appeared in films since, such as the award-winning Philomena, with Judi Dench, Wayland's Song, Film: The Movie, and Burning Men, on which she was also co-casting director. She will also appear in the upcoming feature film, Transference'', written and directed by her husband, Degruttola, which she also co-produced through their production company Contro Vento Films.
In 2017 Lahbib opened her second part-time performing arts school, London Arts Academy in North London. The school teaches singing, dancing and acting to children ages 5–18 years, and affiliated Children and Teen Agency, London Arts Management.

Personal life

Lahbib married British-Italy actor Raffaello Degruttola on 10 May 2003 in her hometown of Stirling, Scotland. In October 2005 she gave birth to their daughter, Skye Lucia Degruttola, who also became an actress. In 2010 Lahbib established the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund in honour of her niece who died of cancer on 25 March 2010, nine days before her 16th birthday. The charity fund will benefit children with cancer and their families.

Filmography

;Film
YearTitleRoleDirected byNotes
1985The Girl in the PictureThe GirlCary Parker
1996The Witches DaughterZeldaAlan Macmillan
2005HeartlessAmanda MacNaughtonNicholas Laughland
2005Red MercuryJanetRoy Battersby
2013PhilomenaKate SixsmithStephen Frears
2013Wayland's SongJuneRichard Jobson
2014Flim: The MovieAlex KingstonRaffaello DegruttolaAdditionally served as co-producer and producer in "making of"
2019Burning MenEduardaJeremy Wooding
2019Transference: A Bipolar Love StorySophieRaffaello degruttolaAdditionally served as co-producer
DetourAstrid PetruceDavid Goodall

;Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1992TaggartCaroline PetersonSeries 7, Episode 1 – "Nest of Vipers"
1994Crime StoryMonika StedulSeries 2, Episode 5 – "Stedul: The Yugoslav Hitman"
1995TaggartSarah StevensonSeries 11, Episode 1 – "Prayer for the Dead"
1996DangerfieldJoanne EllandSeries 3, Episode 10 – "Inside Out"
1996The Witch's DaughterZeldaTV movie
1996–97London BridgeMary O'ConnorSeries 1 & 2 – 58 episodes
1997–98Thief TakersDC Lucy McCarthySeries 3 – 8 episodes
1998The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock StarFiona Johnstone6 episodes
1999–2001Bad GirlsHelen StewartLeading role
Series 1-3 – 31 episodes
2002Judge John DeedCarol HaymanSeries 2, Episode 7 – "Abuse of Power"
Series 2, Episode 8 – "Nobody's Fool"
2003FamilyJacqueline CutlerTV mini-series
2004FallenDCI Kate GunningTV movie
2004Monarch of the GlenIsobel AndersonSeries 6 – 10 episodes
2005HeartlessAmanda MacNaughtonTV movie
2006–08Wire in the BloodDI Alex FieldingSeries 4-6 – 17 episodes
2010Single-HandedGemma BurgeSeries 4 – 6 episodes
2012New TricksSarah PowellSeries 9, Episode 7 "Dead Poets"
2012Downton AbbeyWilkinsChristmas Special: ""
2015Crossing LinesEmma PacettiSeries – 1 Episode
2015Da Vinci's DemonsLaura CeretaSeries – 8 Episodes
2017The LochMhari TonerSeries – 5 of 6 Episodes
2019A ConfessionDebbie O'CallaghanSeries – 5 of 6 Episodes

;Additional credits