Laila Rouass is a British actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Amber Gates in Footballers’ Wives and Sahira Shah in Holby City. She has also starred in Primeval and Spooks and been a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, in which she finished fourth.
Early Life & Family Background
Laila Abdesselam Rouass was born on June 22, 1971, in Tower Hamlets, East London. Her mother is Indian, and her father is Moroccan. She grew up in a big family with six siblings. Though she was raised as a Muslim, she no longer actively practices the religion, but still sees it as a meaningful part of her identity.
In the 1990s, Laila worked as a video jockey (VJ) on Channel V in India. During her time there, she appeared in a music video for the band Colour Blind, which was directed by Shamin Desai, who was the channel’s creative head at the time.
Back in the UK, she took on recurring roles in popular British soap operas like Family Affairs and Hollyoaks. She also had appearances in shows such as I Dream, Casualty, and Meet the Magoons. One of her notable performances was in the TV version of Life Isn’t All Ha Ha Hee Hee, where she starred alongside Meera Syal.
| Full Name | Laila Rouass |
| Nickname | Laila |
| Date of Birth | 22 June 1971 |
| Place of Birth | Stepney, London, England, UK |
| Nationality | British |
| Husband | Abdeslam Rouass |
| Children | Inez Khan |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Social Media | Instagram – Facebook |
Net Worth, Religion & Ethnicity
As of 2025, Laila Rouass is a successful British actress with an estimated net worth of around $2 million, primarily earned through her extensive work in television, film, and her stint as a VJ
She is British by nationality and comes from a mixed ethnic background, with an Indian mother and Moroccan father, growing up alongside six siblings in London
Raised in the Muslim faith, Laila no longer practices religiously, but she continues to identify Islamic traditions as an important part of her cultural identity.
Personal life, Husband & Relationship
Laila Rouass married family friend Abdeslam Rouass in 1990, but they divorced in 2003 without ever consummating the marriage.
She later had a relationship with London businessman Nasir Khan, and though they weren’t legally married, they held a commitment ceremony in 2005. The couple had a daughter, Inez, in 2007 but soon separated.
Rouass dated chef James Petrie from 2010 to 2011. In 2012, she began a relationship with snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan. They got engaged in 2013 and had an on-and-off relationship, breaking up in 2022, reconciling, and separating again in 2024.
Height, Weight & Physical Appearance
He is 5 feet 5 inches tall (about 1.66 m) and weighs around 123 pounds (or 54 kilograms). He has Dark brown hair and his eyes are also Dark brown.
| Height | 5 Feet 5 inches (1.66 m) |
| Weight | 123 lb (54 kg) |
| Hair & Eyes | Dark brown |
Career and Achievements Details
Laila Rouass began her career as a VJ on Channel V in India during the 1990s, where she also appeared in a music video for the band Colour Blind, directed by Shamin Desai. She gained early recognition for her looks, being listed in FHM’s 100 Se***st Women in the World in both 2004 and 2005.
In 2009, she played Egyptologist Sarah Page in the third season of the sci-fi series Primeval, but left when filming moved to Dublin, as it became difficult for her as a single parent. Her character was later written out off-screen. In 2010, she announced plans to make a film based on Leila Khaled, a woman known for hijacking a flight in 1969.
That same year, Laila took on various TV roles, including Maya Lahan in Spooks, a guest appearance in The Sarah Jane Adventures, and a lead role as Sahira Shah in the medical drama Holby City, which she left in 2012 to spend more time with her family but returned to in 2021.
She also appeared in Midsomer Mu***rs twice, playing different characters in 2014 and 2022. In addition to acting, she became one of the presenters of The Channel 4 TV Book Club.
Her film debut was City of Dreams, alongside Lisa Ray and Saeed Jaffrey. During her time in India, she acted in several Indian films, including Senso Unico and Split Wide Open (1999). In 2000, she starred in the controversial film Bawandar, based on real-life events in Rajasthan. She later appeared in the Hollywood film The Four Feathers (2002) with Heath Ledger, followed by The Hunt Feast (2004) and Don’t Stop Dreaming (2006).
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