Rachel Adedeji

Rachel Adedeji (born 22 August 1991) is an English singer and actress. She finished in ninth place on sixth series of The X Factor in 2009, having previously appeared on the fifth series. From 2016 to 2020, she appeared in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Lisa Loveday.

Rachel Adedeji
Born (1991-08-22) 22 August 1991
England
Occupation
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active2008–2009, 2016–present
Label(s)
RAM Records
TelevisionThe X Factor
Hollyoaks
Spouse(s)
Jason Finegan
​
(m. 2015)​
Children1

Career

Adedeji began her career as a singer, beginning singing at the age of eight, later studying musical theater in college. She performed in many musical productions and had a role in the musical Mamma Mia!.[1] In 2008, Adedeji entered the fifth series of The X Factor, where she made it to bootcamp. Adedeji later returned to the programme for the sixth series, where she finished in ninth place.[2]

On 21 March 2016, it was announced that Adedeji had joined the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Lisa Loveday, the long-lost daughter of Simone Loveday (Jacqueline Boatswain) and Louis Loveday (Karl Collins).[3] She made her on-screen debut in April 2016.[4][5] For her performance as Lisa, she was longlisted for Best Actress at The British Soap Awards in 2017.[6] On 30 August 2017, it was announced that Adedeji was expecting her first child and would take maternity leave.[7] Her return to the programme aired on 13 November 2018.[8] In June 2020, it was announced that Adedeji had quit the programme, with her final scenes set to air later in the year.[9]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2008 The X Factor Herself Fifth series; eliminated at bootcamp
2009 The X Factor Herself Sixth series; 9th place
2009 The Xtra Factor Herself 11 episodes
2009 Ant & Dec's Christmas Show Herself 1 episode
2016 Lorraine Herself 1 episode
2016–2020 Hollyoaks Lisa Loveday Series regular
2020 Hollyoaks Later Lisa Loveday 2020 special

Personal life

In 2015, Adedeji married Jason Finnegan; she announced she was pregnant with the pair's first child in 2017, taking maternity leave from Hollyoaks.[10] In 2020, Adedeji took to social media to open up about racism she has encountered while working on the programme. She stated she was told "You're all the same" by a make-up artist, and said that black actresses on Hollyoaks were "forced to drastically change their hair" after being told viewers wouldn't be able to tell them apart, and that in her four years on the soap, she had only worked with one black director. She added: "Working at Hollyoaks is mostly positive, but the experiences I have encountered are a constant reminder of how difficult it is being a black woman in the industry. I am no longer standing for it."[11]

Awards and nominations
Year Organisation Award Work Result Ref.
2017 The British Soap Awards Best Actress Hollyoaks Longlisted [6]
2017 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female Hollyoaks Longlisted [12]

References
  1. Stewart, Mike (7 October 2009). "Rachel Adedeji – X Factor 2009". Telly Zone. Archived from the original on 12 October 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  2. "Hollyoaks launches investigation after Rachel Adedeji racism claims". BBC News. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  3. Walker, Danny (21 March 2016). "Former X Factor star Rachel Adedeji joins Hollyoaks". mirror.
  4. Kilkelly, Daniel (21 March 2016). "Hollyoaks casts X Factor star Rachel Adedeji as the REAL Lisa Loveday... and you can expect fireworks". Digital Spy.
  5. Kilkelly, Daniel (17 April 2016). "Soap spoilers: Coronation Street death, EastEnders kiss, Emmerdale romance, Hollyoaks Lisa". Digital Spy.
  6. Dainty, Sophie (18 April 2017). "British Soap Awards 2017: the longlist is revealed". Digital Spy.
  7. McCoid, Sophie; SAUNDERS, EMMELINE (30 August 2017). "Hollyoaks star Rachel Adedeji announces pregnancy weeks after co-stars give birth". liverpoolecho.
  8. "In and out". Inside Soap (44): 92. 3–9 November 2018.
  9. "Rachel Adedeji quits Hollyoaks after 4 years amid Black Lives Matter anger". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  10. "Hollyoaks' Rachel Adedeji announces she's pregnant... 'I feel ready'". her. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  11. "Hollyoaks are investigating after Rachel Adedeji's allegations following response to Black Lives Matter". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  12. Kilkelly, Daniel (31 October 2017). "Inside Soap Awards 2017 shortlist revealed – which Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars are up for prizes?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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