Sian Blake

Sian Samantha Blake (14 September 1972 – 14 or 15 December 2015), also known by her stage name Syan Blake, was a British actress, best known for playing Frankie Pierre on the BBC soap opera EastEnders, appearing in 56 episodes between 1996 and 1997. She later had minor roles in other television shows, before retiring to become a sign language teacher and interpreter.

Early life and career Blake was born in Walthamstow, London on 14 September 1972, and attended the Guildford School of Acting. The youngest of three children, her father was Jamaican.

After working as a telephone receptionist at a doctor's surgery, Blake landed her most notable role: soul singer Frankie Pierre, a character who appeared in EastEnders during 1996 and 1997. She initially auditioned for the minor part of a nurse, but was encouraged to audition for the more long-term role of Frankie after impressing producers. She was initially signed on a six-month contract, but subsequently had her contract extended. One of the character's central storylines involved an affair with a regular male character which ended his on-screen marriage. Blake subsequently said that she left the series after receiving hate mail from viewers who found it difficult to separate fact from fiction.

Blake went on to have roles in Doctors, The Bill and Skins, as well as a second appearance in Casualty, before retiring from acting. She went on to become a sign-language teacher, and interpreter.

As well as television and film, Blake also appeared in and directed several theatre productions. Her acting credits include Joe Guy, Love's Labour's Lost, and Twelfth Night, while directing credits include Oxford Street at the Soho Theatre and The Burial at the Almeida Theatre. On 16 December, a family member reported her missing to the Metropolitan Police. Police interviewed her partner, Arthur Simpson-Kent, the same day, and he went missing three days later.

Blake's car was discovered on 3 January 2016 in Bethnal Green. On 5 January 2016, police searched Blake's home and found three bodies in the garden. They started a murder investigation. On 7 January investigators confirmed that the bodies had been identified as Blake and her two children, and said that they had each died from head and neck injuries.

Police said that Simpson-Kent was being sought in relation to the deaths; the BBC reported that he was believed to have travelled to Ghana in December. who had travelled there on 19 December; he was remanded for two weeks. Simpson-Kent's lawyer, Justice Srem-Sai, said that he should be released from prison until official extradition proceedings were underway.

On 26 January, Simpson-Kent appeared at an extradition hearing in Accra, where he told the court that he would voluntarily return to the UK; he returned to the UK on 12 February 2016 and was arrested at Heathrow Airport and charged with the murder of Blake and their two children. On 10 June, Simpson-Kent appeared at the Old Bailey where he formally entered guilty pleas to the murders of Blake and their two sons. On 5 October 2016, Mr Justice Singh sentenced Simpson-Kent to life imprisonment with a whole life order, meaning he will not become eligible for parole and is unlikely to ever be released from prison.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1994 Casualty Angela Carlisle "Talking Turkey" 1996–1997 EastEnders Frankie Pierre 56 episodes 1998 Siberia Maggie 2003 The Death of Klinghoffer Helen 2003 The Bill Ginny Episode 099 2003 Casualty Donna "Truth or Dare" 2004 May 33rd Social Worker 2004 Doctors Kim Ellis "Perfect" 2007 The Last Detective Claire the Singer "Dangerous Liaisons" 2009 Skins Interpreter "Everyone" 2009 The Secret Dancer Chloe Short film 2015 Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward Yugiri Mistwalker (voice) Video game