Rolan Alfonso Bell (born 17 October 1983) is a Laurence Olivier Award nominated British actor who was born in West London,[1] of Jamaican origin. He became known for appearing in the BBC One television soap opera EastEnders as Theo Kelly in 2009, and the role of Sgt King (Kingy) in the BBC drama Our Girl.[2]
Rolan Bell | |
|---|---|
 Headshot | |
| Born | Rolan Bell 17 October 1983 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Spouse | Sophia Bell |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Best Villain - UK pantomime association - 2022 Laurence Olivier Award Nominee- Best Actor in supporting role - 2015 |
He is currently playing the part of Ike Turner in Tina (musical) at the Aldwych Theatre in the West End. Prior to this he played the part of Robert in The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre.[3]
Background and career
editBell was born in London, England, to Jamaican parents[2] (the second oldest of their seven children). He began his training as an actor in 2000 at Hammersmith and West London College on a two-year performing arts course, before going on to the Drama Centre London.[1][4] Bell was first seen professionally in Doctors in 2006 and also appeared in a number of theatre productions, including a stage adaptation of The Harder They Come in which he played the lead role, Jimmy Cliff.[5][6] He has played the role of Scar in The Lion Kingand the lead Fela Kuti in the Broadway show Fela! in December 2010.[7]
Bell has also appeared as Coalhouse Walker Jr in Ragtime, the Musical.[8] He also had the role of Britney in the We Will Rock You world arena tour 2013.[4] For his performance in the West End production of Memphis The Musical,[9] he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2015.[10]
Bell took a break from the West End to appear in BBC's Our Girl alongside Michelle Keegan as “Kingy”.
In 2022 Bell played the role of Robert in the West Ends The Play That Goes Wrong.
Currently he is playing Ike Turner in the west Ends Aldwych Theatre in Tina The Tina Turner Musical.
Panto
editHe played Silly Billy in the pantomime Jack and The Beanstalk at the Cambridge Arts Theatre[11] (Hugh Homan commented in The Stage: "Rolan Bell as Silly Billy is superb at involving the audience").[12] More recently Bell played “Abananzar” in Aladdin where he was awarded “Best Villain” at The UK Pantomime Awards in 2022.
Voice Over Artist
editBell has featured on many successful advertising campaigns as a Voice Over Artist. These include Pepsi, Pringles and
References
edit- ^ a b Gillian Fisher, "Rolan Bell, Ragtime the Musical", Afridiziak Theatre News, 20 May 2012.
- ^ a b Rolan Bell at IMDb.
- ^ https://www.mischiefcomedy.com/theplaythatgoeswrong-london/london/cast-creatives. [bare URL]
- ^ a b "We Will Rock You UK Tour - Principals - Rolan Bell". Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ^ "Rolan Bell On ... His Reggae Education", What's On Stage, 7 July 2008.
- ^ "The Harder They Come", Playhouse Theatre.
- ^ Neil Spencer, "Fela Kuti remembered: 'He was a tornado of a man, but he loved humanity'", The Observer, 31 October 2010.
- ^ "Rolan Bell is in Ragtime the Musical at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre from 18 May to 8 September 2012". Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ Matthew Amer, "Memphis The Musical", Official London Theatre, 24 October 2014.
- ^ "Interview: FRolan Bell", Olivier Awards, 2015.
- ^ Arts Theatre - Jack and the Beanstalk|access-date=December 10, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421064245/https://cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk/public/show.asp?shcode=10339%7Carchivedate=April 21, 2013}}
- ^ Hugh Homan, "Jack and the Beanstalk", The Stage, 17 December 2012.
External links
edit- Rolan Bell at IMDb