Natalie Gumede (IPA: /ˈnætəli ˈgʌmədiː/, Gum-ed-dee) (born 21 March 1984) is an English actress. She is best known for playing Kirsty Soames in the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street. She previously played China in BBC Three's Ideal. She also appeared in The Persuasionists on BBC Two, and is a contestant in the 2013 series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Early life

Gumede was born in Burnley and lived in Colne during her early life, attending first Christ Church C of E Primary School and then Park High School. Her grandfather Josiah Gumede was the only President of the short-lived Zimbabwe-Rhodesia.At the age of 11 while attending Pendle Hippodrome Youth Theatre, she was picked by BBC producers to help present the north-west regional insert for Children in Need in 1995. She attended the London Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts graduating in 2003 from a three-year course in Acting and Musical Theatre.

Career

From 2004 until 2007, Gumede played China in the dark-comedy sitcom series, Ideal, who along with her friend Asia (Rebecca Atkinson), was one of Moz's regular clients.[citation needed] Her character featured in the pilot episode, and was a regular in the first three series.

In 2008, she featured in her first full length film, Clubbed, a British drama about a 1980s factory worker who takes up a job as a club doorman.

In January 2010, Gumede featured in the sitcom The Persuasionists, broadcast on BBC Two, set in the world of advertising, starring Iain Lee, Simon Farnaby, Adam Buxton, Jarred Christmas and Daisy Haggard.

In September 2011, Gumede made her first appearance in the ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, portraying Kirsty Soames, who became the domestic abusive love interest to mechanic Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall). She had previously tried out for the part of Kelly Crabtree, but lost out to Tupele Dorgu.For her portrayal of the character, Gumede had received the Best Newcomer accolade at the 2012 British Soap Awards.She was later nominated for Best Soap Newcomer at the TV Choice Awards and voted Most Popular Newcomer during the 18th National Television Awards.In Digital Spy's end of year reader poll, Kirsty's domestic abuse storyline with on-screen boyfriend Tyrone won Best Storyline with 28.3% of the vote. On 21 February 2013, it was announced that she would leave the soap after a year-and-a-half, and departed when her character, Kirsty went to prison on 3 April 2013.

Strictly Come Dancing

On 2 September 2013, Gumede was announced as one of the fifteen celebrity contestants, participating on the eleventh series of Strictly Come Dancing. Her professional partner is the eighth series champion, Artem Chigvintsev. They quickly became the early favourites for the title after a strong start.However, their progress also drew criticism after it emerged that Gumede had previously trained as a dancer when she was a child, and possibly gave her an unfair advantage.

Week No. Dance/Song Judges' score Result
Craig Revel Horwood Darcey Bussell Len Goodman Bruno Tonioli Total
1 Cha Cha Cha – "Rasputin" 8 8 8 7 31 None
2 Waltz - "If I Ain't Got You" 8 9 8 9 34 Safe
3 Rumba - "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)" 9 9 9 9 36 Safe
4 Quickstep - "Yeah!" 9 9 8 9 35 Safe
5 Samba - "Bamboléo" 8 9 9 9 35 Safe
6 Viennese Waltz - "Devil in Me" 9 10 9 10 38 Safe
*7 Jive - "Proud Mary" *N/A *N/A *N/A *N/A *N/A Given Bye
8 Charleston - "Bang Bang" 9 10 10 10 39 Safe
9 Tango - "Where Have You Been" 9 9 9 10 37 Safe
10 American Smooth - "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" 9 9 8 10 36 Safe
11 Paso Doble - "El Gato Montes" 9 9 8 9 35 Safe
Swing-a-thon - "Do You Love Me" N/A N/A 6 N/A 6
12 Salsa - "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" 10 10 10 10 40 Bottom Two
Argentine Tango - "Montserrat" 9 9 10 10 38
13 Cha Cha Cha – "Rasputin"
Showdance - "Steppin' Out with My Baby"
American Smooth - "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"

Television roles

Year Title Role Notes

2004 Von Trapped Madison Avenue
2004–2007,2010 Ideal China Series Regular
2005 Emmerdale Tania Coles 2 episodes
2006 Doctors Jenny Benjamin 2 episodes
2008 The Scum Also Rises Mimsy
2009 Doctors Celine King 1 episode
2010 The Persuasionists Susie
2011–13 Coronation Street Kirsty Soames Series Regular.
British Soap Award for Best Newcomer (2012)
British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance (2013)
British Soap Award for Best Villain (2013)
2013–present Strictly Come Dancing Herself Contestant, series 11
2013 Moving On Jo 1 episode

Film roles

Year Title Role

2008 Clubbed Jo
Stage roles
Year Title Role Theater Name
2006 Billy Liar Liz Liverpool Playhouse

Commercial roles

Year Title Role

2006 Coke Cola Zero Girlfriend
2006 Admiral Car Insurance Jane
2005 National Lottery Euromillions Rollover Woman
2012 DFS Sofa Advert Voice

Video games

Year Title Role Console
2008 You're in the Movies Heroine Xbox