Ayola was born in Cardiff , Wales in May 1968 , to a Sierra Leonean mother and a Nigerian father . She was raised by her mother 's cousin and his wife in Ely , Cardiff . Ayola 's heritage means she is Yoruba by descent , although she does not speak the language . Ayola studied at Windsor Clive Primary and Glan Ely High School , and was a member of the Orbit Youth Theatre , South Glamorgan Youth Theatre , South Glamorgan Youth Choir and the National Youth Theatre of Wales . She left high school before sitting her A Levels in order to pursue her ambition of becoming an actress . She explains : " I 've always wanted to act . I decided at 16 I wanted to make my living acting , but even if I couldn 't , I ’ d be in an amateur theatre company . " She then went on to attend the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama , studying for a three @-@ year acting diploma . Her first acting role was for the Welsh Eisteddfod when still at primary school , playing a lady @-@ in @-@ waiting at the court of King Arthur . Ayola has stated that it was Barbra Streisand 's performance in Hello , Dolly ! that inspired her to act as a child , though credits her adoptive mother with encouraging her to act professionally . Ayola 's first job was selling jeans on Bessemer Road Market in Cardiff . She worked as a chambermaid whilst attending drama school , and , six weeks prior to graduation , was offered a job with the ' Made in Wales ' theatre company which enabled her to obtain her union card .