Genesis Lynea Edwards (born 20 October 1989) is a Bermudian actress, dancer and singer. She originated the role of Anna of Cleves in Six. On television, she is known for her roles as in the BBC medical drama Casualty (2019–2020) and the crime drama Silent Witness (2021).
Genesis Lynea | |
|---|---|
| Born | Genesis Lynea Edwards 20 October 1989 |
| Alma mater | ArtsEd (BA) |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (172 cm) |
Early life
Lynea was born in Bermuda to parents Lionel Edwards and Ginea "Adi" Wolf. Her father is a self-taught saxophonist and her mother is an actress and singer. Her credits include Tina as GG in the 2020 Hamburg production at Operettenhaus.
In summer 1997, Lynea's mother was accepted into the Performing Arts programme at Middlesex University and the two moved to London, followed soon after by her stepfather. The three lived in North London where Lynea attended Trent C of E Primary School and began secondary school at Ashmole Academy before the family moved back to Bermuda for three years. After starting her Geography degree at King's College London, Lynea decided she wanted to be a performer and transferred to Arts Educational School (ArtsEd) in Chiswick, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre in 2013.[1][2]
Career
Lynea's first performing experience was at the ENO as a part of the children's ensemble for The Magic Flute. Once the family moved back to London in 2006, Lynea went to LaSwap where she and some friends founded Britain's first Krump family, called Krumpire, which later developed into Wet Wipez. Soon after, she featured in Jessie J's debut music video "Do It Like A Dude". For the 2012 London Olympics, she was selected for Project 32 as an ambassador for Adidas.[3] Lynea's early stage work included roles in productions of The Bodyguard, Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical, the Olivier Award winning Jesus Christ Superstar, and In the Heights as well as the role of Pilar in a 2016 production of Legally Blonde at The Curve in Leicester.[4]
Lynea starred in the 2017 production of The Wild Party at The Other Palace.[5] She then landed roles in Ode to Leeds at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties.[6][7] She landed the starring role of Anna of Cleves in the original cast of Six at the Arts Theatre and recording on the 2018 SIX Studio album that has recently sold over 100,000 copies worldwide.[8] Lynea made her television debut in 2018 with the main role of Miss Maddie Harper in series 7 and 8 of CBBC series 4 O'Clock Club.[9] She secured her first theatrical lead at The Old Vic in Sylvia.[10][11]
Lynea has filmed a few short films including Love is a Hand Grenade which won 'Best LGBT' at the Bristol Independent Film Festival.[12] Cost of Living was selected for the Raindance Film Festival 2021 and BFI Flare London Film Festival. Her most recent short film, Finding Dad, made the official selection for the Berlin British Shorts Film Festival and Leeds Film Festival.
On 23 March 2019, she began appearing as Archie Hudson in the BBC medical drama Casualty. In 2021, she joined the cast for series 24 of the long-running BBC crime drama Silent Witness as pathologist Simone Tyler.[13] She also made a guest appearance as the inferni Natacha in the Netflix series Shadow and Bone. The following year, she had recurring roles as vampire Geraldine Newcopse in the third series of Sky's A Discovery of Witches and Sam in the horror comedy The Baby, also on Sky.
Personal life
Lynea identifies as queer,[14] and appeared in an issue of the Gay Times in 2019.[15]
Filmography
Television and film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–2019 | 4 O'Clock Club | Maddie Harper | Main role (series 7–8) |
| 2019 | Samsonite: Born to Go | Voiceover | Advertisement |
| How Can I Forget | Connie Mellon | Short film | |
| 2019–2020 | Casualty | Archie Hudson | Series regular |
| 2020 | Love is a Hand Grenade | Gabby | Short film |
| 2021 | The Cost of Living | Death | Short film |
| Finding Dad | Dionne | Short film | |
| Shadow and Bone | Natacha | Episode: "A Searing Burst of Light" | |
| Silent Witness | Simone Tyler | Series 24 regular | |
| 2022 | A Discovery of Witches | Geraldine Newcopse | 4 episodes |
| The Baby | Sam | 4 episodes | |
| 2023 | Champion | Tayo | Supporting role |
| 2023–2024 | Death in Paradise | Andrina Harper | Recurring role |
| 2024 | Doctor Who | Harriet Arbinger | 2 episodes: "The Legend of Ruby Sunday" and "Empire of Death" |
Music videos
| Song | Year | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Do It like a Dude" | 2010 | Jessie J | |
| "Sexual Fantasies" | 2018 | Mont Jake | Additional vocals |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2014 | The Bodyguard | Ensemble | Adelphi Theatre, London |
| 2015–2016 | Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical | Ensemble | Phoenix Theatre, London |
| 2016 | Legally Blonde | Pilar | The Curve, Leicester |
| Jesus Christ Superstar | Soul Girl | Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London | |
| In the Heights | Ensemble | King's Cross Theatre, London | |
| 2017 | The Wild Party | Oscar D'Armano | Directed
The Other Palace, London |
| Ode to Leeds | Queenie | Leeds Playhouse, Leeds | |
| Six | Anna of Cleves | Arts Theatre, London | |
| 2017–2018 | Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties | Betty 5 / Richard | Southwark Playhouse, London |
| 2018 | The Assassination of Katie Hopkins | Nina | Theatr Clwyd, Mold |
| Sylvia | Sylvia Pankhurst | The Old Vic, London | |
| 2019 | Club Mex | — | Choreographed Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester |
References
- ^ Connolly, William J (28 October 2019). "Genesis Lynea isn't here for your binary limitations". Gay Times. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
- ^ Healey-Lynam, Emily (30 November 2018). "Interview with Genesis Lynea". Bespoke Black Book. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ Radenege, Aidan (16 April 2012). "Cerebral palsy dancer selected as billboard idol". Metro. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ "Our People: Genesis Lynea". British Youth Music Theatre. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
- ^ Shenton, Mark (9 December 2016). "Casting Announced for The Wild Party at London's Other Palace". Playbill. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Freeman, Sarah (15 June 2017). "Review: Ode to Leeds, West Yorkshire Playhouse". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Gardner, Lyn (31 January 2018). "Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties review – wickedly funny". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Recording of Six". Official London Theatre.
- ^ Reilly, Elaine. "4 O'Clock Club: Cast & Crew". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Full Cast Announced For the World Premiere of The Assassination of Katie Hopkins". BroadwayWorld. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (24 May 2018). "Genesis Lynea and Beverley Knight to Star in World Premiere of New Musical Sylvia at London's Old Vic". Playbill. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Winners". Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Celebrating Silent Witness series 25". BBC. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ Rasmussen, Tom (29 January 2018). "The unashamedly queer, feminist, and intersectional play you need to see". Dazed. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Connolly, William J. (28 October 2019). "Genesis Lynea Isn't Here For Your Binary Limitations". Gay Times. Retrieved 26 May 2020.