Simone Nicole Jean Lahbib Ould Cheikl (born 6 February 1965 in Stirling, Scotland) is a Scottish actress, popular for her television roles. She was born to a Scottish mother and an Algerian father.
She is best known for her television roles playing Isobel Anderson in the TV series Monarch of the Glen, Wing Governor Helen Stewart in the highly acclaimed ITV drama Bad Girls, and most recently DI Fielding in Wire In The Blood.
She married Italian-British actor Raffaello Degruttola on 10 May 2003 and, in 2005, gave birth to a daughter, Skye.
Simone spent some time living in Edinburgh and earned her degree at Queen Margaret University.
She went to Drama school and Ballet School in Scotland. She trained at The Manor School of Ballet in Edinburgh up to advanced R.A.D and Advanced I.S.T.D. She also did judo and karate into her early 20’s.
After working in Scottish Theatre Simone relocated London to pursue a career in television. Her first television role was in the TV Series London Bridge.
Her previous work (before Bad Girls) includes a lot of theater work, TV and Film. But it is the role of Helen Stewart in the award winning drama Bad Girls that made people sit up and take notice. The issues raised in the show have gained her a huge fanbase in the lesbian and gay community. But Simone was working hard in TV, Film and Theater long before Bad Girls.
One of her first performances at drama school was playing the part of Cathy in Wuthering Heights, “That was just amazing to do,” Simone said in an interview for the Bad Girls book. Her most notable TV work before the success of Bad Girls was a role on Thief Takers and also Young Person’s Guide To Being A Rock Star. Simone’s theater work is also very impressive. Harold Pinters play The Homecoming gave Simone a chance to shine on stage again in 2002. She has also gone on to have a small role in the BBC drama, Judge John Deed. This was followed by a role in the ITV dramas Family - starring Martin Kemp, and Fallen - starring Jonathon Cake.
In 2004 she took a role in a short film, The Bird House, as well as a lead part in the BBC drama Monarch of the Glen. While contracted to Monarch of the Glen, Simone found out she was pregnant and decided not to begin series 7 filming.
More recently she has also filmed with Angus Deayton in a TV movie called Heartless and in Wire In The Blood with Robson Green.
Simone has choreographed 6 shows of which she has performed in 4.
She sang in a band ‘Svelte Seduction,’ who wrote and recorded their own material and did a few live gigs, and has also worked with song writers - Paul Haig, Bobby Hendri, Bobby Bluebell and David Scott.
Simone’s star sign is Aquarius, her rising sign is Leo.
She is ambidextrous, although she learned to write with her right hand, she eats with her knife in her left hand, fork in her right.
Simone is allergic to chocolate.
