Simone Lahbib


Simone Nicole Jean Lahbib Ould Cheikl is a Scottish actress. She is known for her roles as Helen Stewart in the ITV drama series Bad Girls, DCI Alex Fielding in the ITV crime series Wire in the Blood and Katy Lewis in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.
WWW Official Site𝕏 simonelahbib

Life and career

Lahbib was born in Stirling to a Scottish poet and artist mother and a French-Algerian chef father. Lahbib trained in Drama at Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University. She then 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 soundtrack. 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 to 1997. Her next role in 1997 was in the third and final series of police drama Thief Takers where she met her future husband, Raffaello Degruttola. This was followed by her appearance in the 6-part comedy series The Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star in 1998. 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.
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. She also featured in Da Vinci's Demons as Laura Cereta, The Loch as Mhari Toner and as Debbie O'Callaghan in A Confession.
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 also appeared in the independent feature film Transference in 2020, which was written and directed by her husband. 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. In September 2020, it was announced that she had joined the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She made her debut appearance as Katy Lewis in November of that year.
In 2025, she joined the cast of River City as Vivienne Barton.

Personal life

Lahbib married British-Italian 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
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
2020Transference: A Bipolar Love StorySophieRaffaello DegruttolaAdditionally served as co-producer
TBADetourAstrid 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 DaughterZeldaTelevision film
1996–1997London BridgeMary O'ConnorSeries 1 & 2 – 58 episodes
1997–1998Thief 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 2 – "Abuse of Power"
Series 2, Episode 3 – "Nobody's Fool"
2003FamilyJacqueline CutlerTV mini-series
2004FallenDCI Kate GunningTelevision film
2004Monarch of the GlenIsobel AndersonSeries 6 – 10 episodes
2005HeartlessAmanda MacNaughtonTelevision film
2006–2008Wire 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: "A Journey to the Highlands"
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
2020–2021EastEndersKaty LewisSeries regular
2022ShetlandJill StevensSeries 7
2023The ScottsMargie GrantSeries 3, Episode 2
2025River CityVivienne Barton

; Additional creditsLong Haul Call Me... Holly Ark Zip 'n Zoo... Marion The Other Side of My Sleep... Maria Divinity: Dragon Commander... Aida As He Lay Falling... Bronte Flicker and Go Out... Lesley Parsons Dark Road... Aileen Family Tree...Jackie Baby Dear...Mother