Aruhan Galieva (born August 1991) is a British-Kazakh actress, musician, comedian, and environmentalist.
Early life Galieva was born in Leeds, Yorkshire to Kazakh violinist Marat Bisengaliev and British flutist Stina Wilson. She began singing as a child and worked with Karl Jenkins, performing from the age of 11. She attended the King's School, Canterbury from 2005 to 2010. She was a music scholar and chorister at school. Galieva joined the National Youth Theatre's REP Company.
Career Music She performed her singing debut aged 11 at the Abai Opera Theatre in Almaty, Kazakhstan. This was followed by her British debut at the Royal Albert Hall, London when she was 13. Galieva gained prominence through her work as a solo soprano on Karl Jenkins' Tlep under Sony BMG and her work on the follow-up album Shakarim which was premiered at the Royal Festival Hall.
Acting and comedy In 2012, Galieva appeared in Joe Wright's film adaptation of Anna Karenina. In 2014, she was one of the leads in the BBC Three film Glasgow Girls, a true story about the titular activists. In 2015, she made her professional theatre debut at Shakespeare's Globe as Blanche of Castile in James Dacre's production of King John.
In 2016, Galieva appeared in "Men Against Fire", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror. From 2017 to 2018, she played Besa Kotti in the BBC medical soap opera Doctors. In 2020, she appeared in "Can You Hear Me", the seventh episode for the twelfth series of Doctor Who.
Galieva brought her first solo comedy show Eco Maniac to the 2022 Brighton Fringe Festival, for which she was awarded a Luke Rollason bursary. She was nominated for the Offie for her supporting performance as Lauren in Kinky Boots at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. She has writing credits on the web series Nasty Neighbours and The B@it, as well as the SeanceCast.
In July 2025, Galieva appeared in BBC Radio 4 comedy series Time of the Week as part of an ensemble cast of character comedians.
Politics and advocacy In the 2022 local elections, Galieva unsuccessfully stood to represent Abbey Wood for the Green Party on Greenwich Council. At the 2024 General Election, Galieva was the Green Party candidate for South Derbyshire. She became an ambassador for the Bat Conservation Trust.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes 2011 Whitechapel Ana 1 episode 2012 Anna Karenina Aruhan 2014 Coalition Fangirls Jenny Short film 2014 Glasgow Girls Roza Salih Television film 2016 Black Mirror Village Mother Episode: "Men Against Fire" 2018 Doctors Besa Kotti 9 episodes 2019 We Have Always Lived in the Castle Merricat Short film 2020 Doctor Who Tahira Episode: "Can You Hear Me?" 2022 The Emily Atack Show 4 episodes 2026 Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators Bea Gardiner
Stage Year Title Role Notes 2015 King John Blanche of Castile Globe Theatre, London / Royal & Derngate, Northampton Bakkhai Bakkhai Almeida Theatre, London 2016 The Two Gentlemen of Verona Silvia Globe Theatre, London / Everyman Theatre, Liverpool / Europe tour 2017 Twelfth Night Olivia Watermill Theatre, Bagnor Romeo and Juliet Juliet Watermill Theatre, Bagnor 2018 Much Ado About Nothing Hero Globe Theatre, London The Comedy of Errors Luciana Royal Shakespeare Company (First Encounters Tour) 2019 Twelfth Night Feste Southwark Playhouse, London 2020 My Cousin Rachel Louise Theatre Royal, Bath / UK tour 2021 Gin Craze! Mary Royal & Derngate, Northampton 2022 Kinky Boots Lauren New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich / Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch 2023 The Fair Maid of the West Roughman Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
References
External links