Rose Ayling-Ellis, a notable figure in the world of television drama, wishes to enlighten society about the intricate and multifaceted lives led by the deaf community. At age 30, she asserts her status as a woman, rejecting the infantilization that people often impose on those belonging to the deaf community. Rose has made a mark through her starring role in the TV crime drama ‘Code of Silence.’
Considered a formidable competitor in the realm of lip reading, Rose embraces this skill as a survival mechanism. ‘Interpreting the shape of a mouth alone doesn’t translate to understanding,’ she explains. The key lies in discerning the context, the disposition, and the atmosphere – everything but the words. The ability to lip read proves to be an invaluable asset in her life, rendered by years of having to navigate the world devoid of sound.
Ayling-Ellis communicates using both speech and British Sign Language. Given that she was born deaf, these forms of communication, complemented by an interpreter in professional settings, allow her to thrive. In her role in ‘Code of Silence,’ airing on Britbox from July 24th, she plays a deaf woman who aids the police in covert operations.
Rose’s character in the show, Alison, is endowed with keen observation skills. This ability becomes invaluable while inspecting CCTV recordings of suspected gang members, analyzing their facial expressions and posturing. With the instincts of a diligent investigator, Alison collects and stitches together fragments of information obtained from her surveillance and lip-reading skills.
The milestone for ‘Code of Silence’ arrived when its introductory episode attracted over six million viewers following its first broadcast on ITV in May. However, the British audience was not new to Ayling-Ellis, who had already gained fame from her victorious stint on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ 2021. Her exemplary performance to ‘Symphony’ by Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson, which incorporated silence to convey her experience as a deaf individual, brought her instant acclaim.
Despite her familiarity with the camera from her appearances as a host on various TV shows, including the 2024 Paralympic Games, Rose expressed a desire to return to acting. She also displayed her acting prowess in another mini-series titled ‘Reunion,’ in which she plays a deaf man released from prison seeking revenge. She also delivered a remarkable performance alongside Ncuti Gatwa in an episode of ‘Doctor Who,’ a popular science fiction series.
In her ongoing acting journey spanning 13 years, Ayling-Ellis takes the center stage for the first time in ‘Code of Silence.’ Her character, Alison, juggling between jobs at a police station cafeteria and a local pub, pays homage to the current economic struggles in the U.K., where carrying multiple jobs is a harsh reality for several.
The representation of the plight faced by the disabled community in Britain, exacerbated by current unfavorable conditions, is also markedly evident in the show. This narrative is particularly relevant in light of recent proposals by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to limit welfare benefits in a bid to control surging social security expenditure.
In addition to highlighting these struggles, Ayling-Ellis aspires to portray the rich and diverse lives led by individuals with disabilities. Rose underlines, ‘Our lives are nuanced. We have personalities, fallibilities, and romantic involvements.’ An example of this is evident in the plot of ‘Code of Silence’ when her character Alison embarks on an ill-advised romantic affair with a gang member under scrutiny.
Reflecting on her upbringing in Hythe, a coastal town situated approximately 60 miles southeast of London, Rose often sensed a pervasive feeling of isolation as a deaf individual. A career in fashion struck her as a feasible choice given the industry’s emphasis on visual creativity over auditory skills. However, looking back, she regrets limiting her aspirations due to societal expectations.
Despite a brief dalliance with the world of filmmaking during a workshop for deaf children, Ayling-Ellis was more entranced by the thrill of performing for the camera. She then joined Deafinitely Youth Theater, a company based in London which works for the deaf community. During her early struggling period, she found gigs through networking on Facebook.
After a breakout role in the BBC mini-series ‘Summer of Rockets,’ Rose garnered considerable attention and landed representation. This led to her involvement in the long-lived British television series called ‘Eastenders’, an experience she described as her unofficial film school.
Ever since her triumph on ‘Strictly Come Dancing,’ Rose sees it as her mission to change perceptions about deaf community. She acclaims, ‘My purpose is to educate, to alter how people perceive deaf individuals.’ With multiple documentaries about deafness to her credit and a children’s book titled ‘Marvellous Messages,’ she is constantly endeavoring to augment understanding about the ways communication is possible beyond speech and hearing.