Ali Bastian
Encyclopedia
Alexandra Louise "Ali" Bastian (born 27 February 1982) is an English television actress, best known for playing Becca Dean
in the Channel 4
soap opera Hollyoaks
from 2001 to 2007, and PC Sally Armstrong in long-running ITV
drama series The Bill
from 2007 to 2009.
, Berkshire
, to Paula C. Marriott and Nicholas P. Bastian. Bastian has one younger brother, Nicholas Ruel Bastian (born 13 March 1986). Bastian was raised in Cookham
and Maidenhead
in Berkshire, and Marlow
in Buckinghamshire
.
at Maidenhead from the ages of 10 to 13, and started professional acting with a role in Jane Eyre
aged 10. She then attended Claires Court school, the College, Maidenhead.
played by Chris Fountain
. In December 2005, alongside her Hollyoaks
cast mates Jodi Albert
and Sarah Jayne Dunn
, Bastian appeared in an exercise video called Hollyoaks Get Fit. At the 2006 British Soap Awards
Bastian and Chris Fountain
won the award for best storyline. She departed the show in 2007.
, Cavegirl
, A Touch of Frost
, Twenty Four 7, and Here After.
Bastian joined ITV1
police drama The Bill
as PC Sally Armstrong in summer 2007. and departed in late 2009,
2009, where she was partnered with Brian Fortuna
. In week 11 Bastian severely bruised the bones of her foot while training. Doctors later gave her the all clear to go ahead and perform. There was doubt about her fitness to perform in the shows semi final. After successfully performing, Ali and Brian were eliminated, finishing in third place out of sixteen couples. Bastian currently holds the celebrity record for the American Smooth and the Viennese Waltz
, receiving a perfect score for both of these dances. The pair danced again in the Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Christmas Special, and won having again scored 40/40 for their Viennese Waltz.
Bastian then joined Fortuna in the hit West End dance show, Burn The Floor, which opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre
on July 21, 2010, and ran until September 4, 2010.
, Once Upon A Time
and Paddington Bear
.
Bastion is currently starring alongside Dawn Steele
and Matthew Lewis in the UK touring version of Bill Kenwright
's production of Verdict
by Agatha Christie
, playing alter-ego Helen Rollander.
, and has worked for Littlewoods
within a new range called Drama Queens
. During their two year relationship, the couple appeared in a celebrity couples edition of the quiz show The Weakest Link
. The couple broke up in early 2006. She then dated long term friend and rugby union
player Nick Kennedy
, who plays for London Irish
. She then dated her professional dance partner, Brian Fortuna from Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. Shortly after Burn The Floor closed in September 2010, the couple split-up in October 2010 after a year of dating.
Becca Dean
Rebecca "Becca" Dean is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Ali Bastian. She debuted on-screen during episodes airing in 2001 and departed on 14 February 2007.-Storylines:...
in the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
soap opera Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
from 2001 to 2007, and PC Sally Armstrong in long-running ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
drama series The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
from 2007 to 2009.
Biography
Born in WindsorWindsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, to Paula C. Marriott and Nicholas P. Bastian. Bastian has one younger brother, Nicholas Ruel Bastian (born 13 March 1986). Bastian was raised in Cookham
Cookham
Cookham is a village and civil parish in the north-easternmost corner of Berkshire in England, on the River Thames, notable as the home of the artist Stanley Spencer. It lies north of Maidenhead close to the border with Buckinghamshire...
and Maidenhead
Maidenhead
Maidenhead is a town and unparished area within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in Berkshire, England. It lies on the River Thames and is situated west of Charing Cross in London.-History:...
in Berkshire, and Marlow
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Marlow is a town and civil parish within Wycombe district in south Buckinghamshire, England...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
.
Career
Bastion attended the Redroofs Theatre SchoolRedroofs Theatre School
Redroofs Theatre School is an independent theatre training school in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.The school was established in 1947 in London and moved to Littlewick Green in 1964 into a house that was once the home of Ivor Novello. The school currently has two bases in Maidenhead, and two...
at Maidenhead from the ages of 10 to 13, and started professional acting with a role in Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre (disambiguation)
Jane Eyre commonly refers to:*Jane Eyre, the novel by Charlotte BrontëJane Eyre may also refer to:-Film and television:* Jane Eyre , starring Virginia Bruce* Jane Eyre , starring Joan Fontaine...
aged 10. She then attended Claires Court school, the College, Maidenhead.
Hollyoaks
Bastian joined the Channel4 soap in 2001. She was involved in a controversial storyline in Hollyoaks where her character was fired from her teaching job and sent to prison after having an affair with one of her students – Justin BurtonJustin Burton
Justin Burton is a fictional character from the long-running Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Chris Fountain. The character arrived in 2003 and departed on 3 June 2009. Justin arrived in a family of six, however by September 2006, his entire family had left the show...
played by Chris Fountain
Chris Fountain
Christopher Ryan Fountain is an English actor best known for his role as Justin Burton on the Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks, a role he played from 2003 until his departure in June 2009. He is also now known for playing Tommy Duckworth in Coronation Street. He played the role of PC Paul Tait in...
. In December 2005, alongside her Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
cast mates Jodi Albert
Jodi Albert
Jodi Mary Albert is an English actress and singer, best known for playing Debbie Dean in the British soap opera Hollyoaks on Channel 4 from 2002 to 2004, returning for guest appearances in 2005 & 2006, and her inclusion as one fifth of Irish girl group Wonderland.-Biography:Albert attended the...
and Sarah Jayne Dunn
Sarah Jayne Dunn
Sarah Jayne Dunn is an English actress best known for playing Mandy Richardson in Hollyoaks.-Biography:Dunn was born in Leigh, Lancashire and educated at Lowton High School, excelling in drama and performing arts, and a part time career as a model...
, Bastian appeared in an exercise video called Hollyoaks Get Fit. At the 2006 British Soap Awards
British Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
Bastian and Chris Fountain
Chris Fountain
Christopher Ryan Fountain is an English actor best known for his role as Justin Burton on the Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks, a role he played from 2003 until his departure in June 2009. He is also now known for playing Tommy Duckworth in Coronation Street. He played the role of PC Paul Tait in...
won the award for best storyline. She departed the show in 2007.
Other television Work
Bastian has also appeared on television in Jane EyreJane Eyre (disambiguation)
Jane Eyre commonly refers to:*Jane Eyre, the novel by Charlotte BrontëJane Eyre may also refer to:-Film and television:* Jane Eyre , starring Virginia Bruce* Jane Eyre , starring Joan Fontaine...
, Cavegirl
Cavegirl
Cavegirl is a British TV series directed by Daniel Peacock. It starred Stacey Cadman, Stephen Marcus, Jennifer Guy, Harry Capehorn and Lucinda Rhodes-Flaherty. It followed the adventures of a teenage cavegirl...
, A Touch of Frost
A Touch of Frost (TV series)
A Touch of Frost is a television detective series produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV from 1992 until 2010, initially based on the Frost novels by R. D. Wingfield....
, Twenty Four 7, and Here After.
Bastian joined ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
police drama The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
as PC Sally Armstrong in summer 2007. and departed in late 2009,
Strictly Come Dancing
She was a contestant, departing in the semi-final on Strictly Come DancingStrictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
2009, where she was partnered with Brian Fortuna
Brian Fortuna
Brian Fortuna is an American professional ballroom dancer, choreographer and instructor.-Biography:Brian Fortuna is a multi-talented performer who is currently starring in Theatre Production's Limited Over the Rainbow as Danny Cassidy...
. In week 11 Bastian severely bruised the bones of her foot while training. Doctors later gave her the all clear to go ahead and perform. There was doubt about her fitness to perform in the shows semi final. After successfully performing, Ali and Brian were eliminated, finishing in third place out of sixteen couples. Bastian currently holds the celebrity record for the American Smooth and the Viennese Waltz
Viennese Waltz
Viennese Waltz is the genre of a ballroom dance. At least three different meanings are recognized. In the historically first sense, the name may refer to several versions of the waltz, including the earliest waltzes done in ballroom dancing, danced to the music of Viennese Waltz.What is now called...
, receiving a perfect score for both of these dances. The pair danced again in the Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Christmas Special, and won having again scored 40/40 for their Viennese Waltz.
Bastian then joined Fortuna in the hit West End dance show, Burn The Floor, which opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Shaftesbury Theatre
The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End Theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden.-History:The theatre was designed for the brothers Walter and Frederick Melville by Bertie Crewe and opened on 26 December 1911 with a production of The Three Musketeers, as the New...
on July 21, 2010, and ran until September 4, 2010.
Stage work
As a child, Bastian was involved in the productions of The Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis. Published in 1950 and set circa 1940, it is the first-published book of The Chronicles of Narnia and is the best known book of the series. Although it was written and published first, it is second in the series'...
, Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time
"Once upon a time" is a stock phrase that has been used in some form since at least 1380 in storytelling in the English language, and seems to have become a widely accepted convention for opening oral narratives by around 1600. These stories often then end with ".....
and Paddington Bear
Paddington Bear
Paddington Bear is a fictional character in children's literature. He appeared on 13 October 1958 and was subsequently featured in several books, most recently in 2008, written by Michael Bond and first illustrated by Peggy Fortnum....
.
Bastion is currently starring alongside Dawn Steele
Dawn Steele
Dawn Anne Steele is a Scottish actress best known for her roles in the TV series Monarch of the Glen, Sea of Souls & Wild at Heart.-Career:...
and Matthew Lewis in the UK touring version of Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright CBE is a leading West End theatre producer and film producer.He is also the Chairman of Everton Football Club, an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool....
's production of Verdict
Verdict (play)
Verdict is a 1958 play by British mystery writer Agatha Christie. It is unusual for Agatha Christie plays in more than one way: for example, it is an original play, not based on a story or novel; and though there is a murder in the story, it is a melodrama more than a typical 'whodunnit' mystery as...
by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
, playing alter-ego Helen Rollander.
Other Work
Bastion is signed to Storm ModelsStorm Models
Storm Model Management is one of the world's leading model agencies, based in Chelsea, London.-Background:The agency has four divisions; , , and which was launched in 2006. Storm was founded in 1987 by Sarah Doukas from her house in London, securing Richard Branson as her business partner.In...
, and has worked for Littlewoods
Littlewoods
Littlewoods is the name of a former retail and gambling company founded in Liverpool, Merseyside, England by John Moores in 1923.It started as a shopping catalogue company, processing orders by post in the early 1970s. In 1981, it expanded to a call centre, processing orders via telephone. At its...
within a new range called Drama Queens
Personal life
Bastian dated Hollyoaks co-star and on screen husband Kevin SacreKevin Sacre
Kevin Sacre is a British actor. He is most famous for his performance as Jake Dean in the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, a role he played from 2002 to 2010.-Early life:...
. During their two year relationship, the couple appeared in a celebrity couples edition of the quiz show The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...
. The couple broke up in early 2006. She then dated long term friend and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player Nick Kennedy
Nick Kennedy
Nick Kennedy is a rugby union footballer who plays Lock for London Irish and England.His uncle Duncan Kennedy is a BBC news correspondent.Kennedy represented England Saxons at the 2006 Churchill Cup and 2007 Churchill Cup....
, who plays for London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
. She then dated her professional dance partner, Brian Fortuna from Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. Shortly after Burn The Floor closed in September 2010, the couple split-up in October 2010 after a year of dating.
Filmography
- 1992:Jane Eyre(BBC)- Young JaneJane Eyre (character)Jane Eyre is the heroine of Charlotte Brontë's 1847 novel of the same name.-Appearance:Jane Eyre is described as plain, with an elfin look. She sees herself as "poor, obscure, plain and little". Mr. Rochester once compliments Jane's "hazel eyes and hazel hair", but she tells the reader about Mr...
- 1997: FairyTale: A True Story – Fairy
- 1998: Next Birthday - Monica
- 1999: A Touch of Frost – Lisa Harper
- 2001–2007: Hollyoaks – Becca DeanBecca DeanRebecca "Becca" Dean is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Ali Bastian. She debuted on-screen during episodes airing in 2001 and departed on 14 February 2007.-Storylines:...
- 2002: Come Together – Tara
- 2007–2009: The Bill – PC Sally Armstrong
Stage Work
- Paddington Bear- Novello Theatre
- The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe- Novello Theatre
- Once Upon A Time- Novello Theatre
- Burn The Floor- Shaftesbury Theatre