Biography
Date of Birth
7 December 1989, Camden, London, England, UK
Birth Name
Louisa Claire Lytton
Height
5' 0½" (1.54 m)
Mini Biography
Since a young age, Louisa has had a love of performing, having been a pupil at London's iconic Sylvia Young Theatre School. Here, she learnt from some of the best tutors, and was able to develop her skills as both an actress, and an all-round performer. It was this platform that led to Louisa securing her first professional role, as the innocent schoolgirl Ruby Allen in BBC1's BAFTA award winning EastEnders. Here, Louisa became an overnight sensation, racking up column inches and piles of critical acclaim as she tackled the many controversial storylines that the EastEnders writers through her way.
Since leaving EastEnders, Louisa's star continued to rise, as she joined another iconic British television show, The Bill. Here, she played the inexperienced and shy police officer Beth Green. Following this, Louisa has enjoyed a whole host of varied roles, from parts in the internationally successful American Pie franchise, to the British Shakespeare Company's productions of both A Midsummer Night's Dream and Much Ado About Nothing.
Away from acting, Louisa is also an accomplished dancer, having competed in the fourth series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she successfully reached the quarter-finals. Following on from this, Louisa toured the country as part of the sold-out Strictly Come Dancing arena tour, and represented the United Kingdom in the 2008 Eurovision Dance Contest.
Currently, Louisa is busy as a result of her role in the new ITV comedy drama The Edge of Heaven; an exciting new prime-time comedy based around the trials and tribulations of a family running a guest house in Margate. For this part, Louisa is working alongside a talented cast that includes Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners, Him and Her) and Camille Coduri (Doctor Who, Midsomer Murders), and her character's name is Michelle.
Trivia
She has been dancing since the age of 3 and her favorite style is street dancing.
Loves hip-hop music and her favorite artists are Usher and Destiny's Child.
She passed all her GCSEs with flying colors.
Is a close friend of EastEnders (1985) co-star Lacey Turner and singer Emma Bunton.
Won "Sexiest Female" award at The 2006 British Soap Awards.
Participated in the fourth series of Strictly Come Dancing (2004), with Vincent Simone as her dance partner, from October to December 2006. She finished up fourth, having made her way to the semi-finals.
Attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School.
Her parents are Alan (b. 1967) and Jane (née Nastri) Lytton (b. 1965).
Still keeps in touch with her former EastEnders (1985) co-star Kara Tointon.
Along with former EastEnders (1985) co-stars Letitia Dean and Matt Di Angelo she appeared on the "Strictly Come Dancing Tour", ending the show with 8 wins (January 2008).
Represented the UK at the Eurovision Dance Contest 2008 in Glasgow, finishing ninth out of fourteen countries.
Performed in the pantomime "Peter Pan" at the Milton Keynes Theatre (December 2008-January 2009).
Was in a relationship with singer Aston Merrygold (2005-2006).
Is good friends with Jo Woodcock.
Toured the UK and Prague with the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company, starring as Cobweb in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Hero in "Much Ado About Nothing" (June-August 2009).
Is one of 24 EastEnders (1985) actors to compete in Strictly Come Dancing (2004). The others, in chronological order, are Christopher Parker (Spencer Moon), Jill Halfpenny (Kate Mitchell), Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson), Letitia Dean (Sharon Rickman), Matt Di Angelo (Deano Wicks), Phil Daniels (Kevin Wicks), Gillian Taylforth (Kathy Mitchell), Jessie Wallace (Kat Moon), Zöe Lucker (Vanessa Gold), Ricky Groves (Garry Hobbs), Natalie Cassidy (Sonia Fowler), Jimi Mistry (Fred Fonseca), Scott Maslen (Jack Branning), Kara Tointon (Dawn Swann), Anita Dobson (Angie Watts), Sid Owen (Ricky Butcher), Jake Wood (Max Branning), Kellie Bright (Linda Carter), Tameka Empson (Kim Fox-Hubbard), Lee Ryan (Woody Woodward), Davood Ghadami (Davood Ghadami), Charles Venn (Ray Dixon), and Emma Barton (Honey Mitchell).
Ranked #76 in the 100 Greatest EastEnders (1985) Characters of All Time for her performance as Ruby Allen (2010).
Was fined £350 and banned from driving for 14 months by the Westminster City Court for driving under the influence. [February 2011]
Ranked #95 in The 100 Greatest EastEnders (1985) Characters of All Time for her performance as Ruby Allen (2015).
Became engaged to her boyfriend of 17 months, Benny Bhanvra, on May 6, 2019 after he proposed to her on holiday in the Maldives. They are planning a summer 2021 wedding in York.
Maternal granddaughter of Vittori (b. 1931) and Patricia (née Hall) Nastri (b. 1932).
