Laila Rouass (born June 22, 1975) is an English actress of Indian and Moroccan decent. She is best known for her role as Amber Gates, on British drama, Footballers' Wives.

Early life

She studied at the short lived London branch of the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute before finding success as a VJ on Channel V and Television Personality in Mumbai, India.

Career

Footballers' Wives 2004-2006

After shifting to the UK, Rouass became famous for playing the role of Bollywood actress Amber Gates in the Cult ITV1 series Footballers' Wives between 2004 and 2006 and albeit briefly, on the ITV2 spin-off series Footballers' Wives: Extra Time. She has also played recurring roles on the British soap operas Family Affairs, Hollyoaks, appeared in episodes of I Dream, Casualty and Meet the Magoons and starred alongside Meera Syal in the television adaptation of her Novel Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee.

Rouass was ranked #87 and #69 on FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2004 and FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005 respectively.

Film career

After appearing in two Indian films early in her career (including one Bollywood film), Rouass made her English language film debut with a small role in The Four Feathers opposite Heath Ledger. Rouass has recently filmed appearances in the independent British films Freebird and Shoot on sight opposite Brian Cox, Om Puri and Sadie Frost and the New Zealand funded picture Apron strings.

In January 2007, it was reported in the British tabloid newspaper the News of the World that Laila Rouass could be about to land a "big role" in BBC Soap Opera EastEnders. Despite her pregnancy it was said that "bosses" were "willing to hang on for her". She will also be star as Egyptologist Sarah Page in the third series of the ITV science fiction cult series Primeval.

Personal life

In 2005 Rouass married businessman and millionaire owner of The Accessory People retail chain, Nasa Khan.

In October 2006, she went to see a doctor regarding back pains, only to find she was six months pregnant, and gave birth to a daughter, Inez, in February 2007.

She and her husband were separated for a short period but got back together.

Laila and her husband have now separated.