There aren’t many actors whose first major television role came with a built-in cultural milestone, but Rose Ayling-Ellis has never been one to follow a conventional script. As the first deaf contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, she captured the nation’s attention — and the trophy — in 2021, using that platform to shift the conversation around Deaf representation.
Born: 17 November 1994 ·
Birthplace: Shepway, Kent, England ·
Profession: Actress, television presenter, children’s book author ·
Deaf since: Birth ·
Notable role: Frankie Lewis in EastEnders ·
Strictly Come Dancing: Winner in 2021 (with Giovanni Pernice)
Quick snapshot
- Born 17 November 1994 in Shepway, Kent (IMDb (film database))
- Deaf since birth; uses British Sign Language (BBC (public service broadcaster))
- Won Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 (Wikipedia (encyclopaedia))
- Exact details of her relationship timeline with Samuel Arnold are not fully public
- Whether she has any other medical conditions beyond deafness is not documented
- Net worth figures remain unconfirmed
- 1994: Born in Shepway, Kent (The Independent (UK newspaper))
- 2020: Cast as Frankie Lewis on EastEnders (The Independent (UK newspaper))
- 2021: Won Strictly Come Dancing (Wikipedia)
- 2025: Appears in Code of Silence and Reunion (The Independent (UK newspaper))
- Film releases: Code of Silence (2025)
- Film releases: Reunion (2025)
- Continuing television presenting work
The pattern is unmistakable: every major step in her career has doubled as a barrier-breaking moment for Deaf representation.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rose Lucinda Ayling-Ellis |
| Date of Birth | 17 November 1994 |
| Place of Birth | Shepway, Kent, England |
| Profession | Actress, television presenter, author |
| Deaf Since | Birth |
| Famous For | EastEnders, Strictly Come Dancing |
| Awards | Strictly Come Dancing trophy (2021) |
Is Rose Ayling-Ellis deaf in real life?
What is Rose Ayling-Ellis’s hearing status?
- Rose Ayling-Ellis has been deaf since birth, a condition that has shaped both her personal identity and her professional path (BBC (public service broadcaster)).
- She uses British Sign Language as her primary means of communication.
- She wears a hearing aid and can hear some music, though not exact words (The Independent (UK newspaper)).
How does being deaf affect her career?
- Her mother encouraged her to learn British Sign Language when she was young, a skill that later became central to her acting work (Disability Power 100 (disability advocacy list)).
- She discovered acting through a National Deaf Children’s Society weekend course (The Guardian (UK newspaper)).
- She told The Guardian in 2021: “Being deaf helped my career: it distinguished me” (The Guardian).
Ayling-Ellis’s deafness isn’t a hurdle she overcomes — it’s the very thing that made her casting in EastEnders historic and her Strictly victory resonant. The BBC described her as the soap’s first deaf actress to play a deaf character using British Sign Language. That’s not a footnote; it’s the headline.
The implication: her deafness is not a limitation she works around — it’s the lens through which she redefines what a leading actress looks like on British television.
What is Rose Ayling-Ellis doing now?
Current acting projects
- She stars in the upcoming film Code of Silence, set for release in 2025.
- She also appears in Reunion, another 2025 film project.
- In 2023, she appeared in The Guardian article reflecting on her career post-Strictly.
Writing and presenting work
- She published a children’s book titled The Butterfly in 2023.
- In May 2022, she became the first celebrity reader to perform a CBeebies bedtime story in sign language (The Independent).
- She has appeared as a presenter on various television programmes, continuing her media presence.
The pattern: every project she takes on, whether a film or a children’s book, reinforces her role as a standard-bearer for Deaf visibility in British entertainment.
What is Rose Ayling-Ellis’s diagnosis?
Is there a specific medical condition?
- She was born deaf; no other diagnosis is publicly documented.
- She has not disclosed any additional medical diagnosis.
Does she have any other health issues?
- There are no verified reports of any other health issues beyond her deafness.
The catch: the public record contains no information about a specific medical condition causing her deafness, and Ayling-Ellis herself has not elaborated beyond stating she was born deaf. Any claim of a named condition would be speculation.
Is Rose Ayling in a relationship?
Who is Rose Ayling-Ellis’s partner?
- Rose Ayling-Ellis is in a relationship with Samuel Arnold.
- They have been together since at least 2022.
- They are not married as of 2025.
Is she married or dating?
- She is in a committed relationship but not married.
- Exact details of how they met and their full relationship timeline remain private.
Ayling-Ellis keeps her personal life largely out of the spotlight. For a public figure whose every career move is scrutinised, that boundary is deliberate — and it means confirmed details beyond the basic relationship fact are scarce.
The implication: the limited public information about her relationship reflects a conscious choice to let her work, not her private life, define her public profile.
Timeline
- 1994: Rose Ayling-Ellis born on 17 November in Shepway, Kent.
- Early 2010s: Begins acting in stage productions and short films; discovers acting through a National Deaf Children’s Society course (The Guardian).
- 2018: Cast in Stephen Poliakoff’s Summer of Rockets for BBC Two — her first major television role (Disability Power 100).
- 2020: Joins EastEnders as Frankie Lewis in May.
- 2021: Wins Strictly Come Dancing with Giovanni Pernice; her silent performance earns a BAFTA (Wikipedia, The Guardian).
- 2022: First celebrity to read a CBeebies bedtime story in sign language.
- 2023: Publishes children’s book The Butterfly; delivers the Alternative MacTaggart lecture at Edinburgh TV Festival.
- 2025: Appears in films Code of Silence and Reunion.
Clarity section
Confirmed facts
- She is deaf from birth (BBC)
- She won Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 (Wikipedia)
- She played Frankie Lewis on EastEnders (BBC)
- She is in a relationship with Samuel Arnold
What’s unclear
- Exact details of her relationship timeline are not fully public
- Whether she has any other medical conditions beyond deafness
- Her net worth is not confirmed
- Specific details of her earnings or contracts
- Exact publication details and reception of her children’s book are not widely documented
Quotes
“I felt free to be me.”
— Rose Ayling-Ellis, The Guardian
“Being deaf helped my career: it distinguished me.”
— Rose Ayling-Ellis, The Guardian
Giovanni Pernice praised her as an extraordinary partner and dancer during their Strictly journey (Wikipedia).
— Giovanni Pernice, via interviews
National Deaf Children’s Society has publicly supported her advocacy work in raising awareness about Deaf representation (The Guardian).
— National Deaf Children’s Society
Rose Ayling-Ellis has taken a path that few before her have walked: from a deaf child in Kent who discovered acting through a charity weekend course, to a BAFTA-winning Strictly champion and published author who now commands the stage at the Edinburgh TV Festival. For every young deaf person in the UK watching, the barrier isn’t the deafness — it’s the absence of someone who shows it can be done, and Ayling-Ellis has become that someone.
imdb.com, strictlycomedancing.fandom.com, tv.apple.com, theguardian.com, theguardian.com
Frequently asked questions
How did Rose Ayling-Ellis become an actress?
She discovered acting through a National Deaf Children’s Society weekend course and later studied at the University for the Creative Arts. Her first major television role was in Stephen Poliakoff’s Summer of Rockets in 2018 (BBC).
What is Rose Ayling-Ellis’s net worth?
Her net worth has not been publicly confirmed by any reliable source. Numbers circulating online are unverified.
Does Rose Ayling-Ellis use a hearing aid?
Yes. The Independent reported that she wears a hearing aid and can hear some music, though not exact words (The Independent).
What is Rose Ayling-Ellis’s Instagram handle?
Her Instagram handle is @rose.a.e, where she shares career updates and advocacy content.
How did Rose Ayling-Ellis meet her partner?
The exact details of how she met Samuel Arnold have not been publicly disclosed by either party.
Does Rose Ayling-Ellis have any siblings?
This information is not publicly documented in available biographical sources.
What charities does Rose Ayling-Ellis support?
She volunteers with the National Deaf Children’s Society and advocates for Deaf representation in media (The Guardian).
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Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Wire Hub, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.