# Aruhan Galieva

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

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.
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 an Off West End Award 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 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.
In July 2025, Galieva appeared in BBC Radio 4 comedy series Time of the Week as part of an ensemble cast of character comedians.

## 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 |

## Stage

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2015 | King John | Blanche of Castile | Globe Theatre, London / Royal & Derngate, Northampton |
| 2015 | 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 |
| 2017 | Romeo and Juliet | Juliet | Watermill Theatre, Bagnor |
| 2018 | Much Ado About Nothing | Hero | Globe Theatre, London |
| 2018 | 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 |