Rachel Joy Shenton is a British theater, film and television actress, screenwriter. Winner of the London Independent Film Festival and the Overcome Film Festival for her role in Silent Child. In 2017, the film won an Oscar in the Best Short Film category.
In the creative biography of the actress, there are more than 20 roles in television and film projects, including participation in entertainment shows and programs, in the Oscar ceremony.
In 2017, a short film directed by Chris Overton "Silent Child" was released, the script for which was written by Shenton. She also played one of the main roles in the film. This work earned Rachel several prestigious film awards, including an Academy Award.
Biography facts
The future artist was born in the winter of 1987 in the small village of Coverswall, located in the suburb of St-on-Trent, Staffordshire. From childhood, the girl was interested in art and really wanted to perform on stage. Parents, noticing her abilities and desire, sent their daughter to the Amanda Andrews Acting Drama School, where she studied literature, acting, music and choreography.
When the girl was still a teenager, her father was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent long-term treatment, after one of the chemotherapy courses he completely lost his hearing.
The disease could not be cured, the man died. At that time, Rachel was 12 years old. After her father's death, she mastered British and American Sign Language and joined a charity dedicated to helping deaf children.
Later Shenton became the official ambassador of The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS). The actress continues to work actively in the organization at the present time. To draw attention to the organization and collect donations, Shenton ventured into a parachute jump in 2011, then climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. She also helped create a social network on the Internet for people with hearing loss, called Viewtalk.
During her school years, the girl took part in many theatrical performances and her desire to become an actress only increased each time. In high school, she no longer doubted that she would connect her future life with creativity.
After completing her primary education, Rachel went to college and then to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) to earn a national diploma in the performing arts. The girl also took acting lessons at the famous David Johnson Drama School in Manchester.
During her student years, Shenton performed with a youth troupe and toured the country with her, showing performances at various venues.
In those years, Rachel wrote a play that was staged on the stage of the theater. With this production, she took part in the famous summer Edinburgh fringe festival, held annually in Edinburgh and gathering a huge number of performers and guests. The play aroused great interest among spectators and theater critics, who gave high marks to both the play itself and the actors involved in it.
Film career
The actress made her film debut in 2004. She played the role of Claire in the short film "Kiss & Tell".
A year later, Rachel joined the cast of the British television series "Holby City" in one of the seasons, which had been released since 1999. The film tells about the work of doctors in the cardiology department of Holby City Hospital and their relationship with the clinic's management.
The actress played a small role of Sadie Slate in another series dedicated to the work of doctors - "Doctors". The main characters of the film are the specialists of the Mill Health Center and Campus Surgery clinic, who every day have to save the lives of patients, and in their free time deal with their problems and relationships.
In the project "Streets of Waterloo" Rachel played the role of Courtney and appeared on the screen in 3 episodes. The film tells about the work of school teachers and relationships within the school collective, the problems that students and teachers themselves face.
In 2008, Shenton appeared on the screen as Amy in the fantastic comedy project The Genie in the House. The family, consisting of a father and 2 daughters, moves to an old house, where an old dust lamp is found in the attic. And then fabulous events take place and a genie appears, ready to fulfill wishes. True, the genie turns out to be very young and inexperienced, so he constantly makes mistakes.
In 2008, the actress landed a recurring role as Anne "Mitze" Minniver in the British melodrama series "Hollyox". Shenton starred in the project through 2013 and appeared on screen in 234 episodes. For her work in this film, the actress was nominated for awards: British Soap Awards, TV Choice Awards, Inside Soap Awards and National Television Awards.
In her later career, Shenton had roles in the films: "They were confused in the hospital", "Blood and Chinese Service", "Deadly Money", "Hand of the Creator", "White Gold".
In 2017, a short drama film "Silent Child" was released. The film tells the story of a little four-year-old girl named Libby, who is deaf from birth. She lives in her own world, full of silence. But one day a woman appears in her life - a social worker who is ready to help Libby and teach her to communicate with people.
The film was directed by Chris Overton and scripted by Rachel. She also played one of the central roles in the film. In 2018, the film won an Oscar in the Best Short Fiction Film category.
In 2019, Shenton starred in the English miniseries Confessions about the investigation into the murder of a young girl by detective Steve Fulcher. The main role in the project was played by the famous actor Martin Freeman.
Personal life
Not much is known about Rachel's personal life. The actress continues to work constantly on new projects, and in her free time is engaged in charity work and helping the National Society of the Deaf.
She got married in October 2018. Her husband was the actor and director with whom Rachel worked on the film "Silent Child" - Chris Overton.
